One advantage of recumbent bicycles is that you don’t need any specific bicycle clothing (such as padded shorts). We just use hiking gear which is more universal. We each also have a couple of “off-the-bike” items because we might take brakes from cycling, when we just want to spend time in a city without constantly outing ourselves as touring cyclists. We love merino clothing for everyday use because they don’t smell (or they just take a long time until they get really smelly) and dry fast.
| Miguel's clothing | Comments | After 2000km | After 10'000km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking zip-off pants | Salewa | great to use in the evenings and sometimes for cycling when colder | Doing great |
| Shorts | Decided for synthetic instead of cotto | happy with choice, it dries really fast | |
| Long pants / jeans (off-the-bike) | Used only in towns, when not too hot | ||
| 2 T-shirts (on-the-bike) | Icebreaker (merino wool) | Still happy, even if they get easily small holes | |
| Cotton | Used in the evening and as a pillow case. | Added a new cotton t-shirt to sleep with while having the other as pillow case. | |
| Long-sleeved shirt | Icebreaker (merino) | Used rarely but very useful. | |
| Long-sleeved shirt (off-the-bike) | Cotton | Used mostly over a t-shirt or for covering the skin when there was a very strong sun. | Almost not used, maybe should replaceUsed in colder conditions, on and off-the bike, very happy with a merino shirt? |
| Fleece jacket | Haglöfs | Used rarely but useful. | Used in colder conditions, on and off-the bike, very happy |
| 5 Underpants | Cotton | Replaced one in Argentina. | |
| 2 merino, | not much difference between merino and cotton. | One of the cotton pair got a big hole, but 3 pairs is enough. | |
| Socks (hike/cold) | merino | used once, too hot. | |
| Thermal underwear (top and bottom) | merino | not used | bottom used in the evening few times. Happy. |
| Hat (against the cold) | not used | Used when cold in Spain, very useful as it covers well the ears | |
| Sun hat Outdoor Research Runner | with removable protection for the neck. Stolen in 01.2017, bought the same in a local shop. | very useful under very strong sun. | Very useful, used almost everyday, even with light rain (with or without neck protection) |
| Buff | merino | used once as swimming cap | Used when cold, to better protect the neck. Quite useful. |
| Gloves | model for cross-country skiing | not used | Used when cold. They are not water proof and after rain and cold, it took long to dry. But happy. |
| Under-gloves | not used | not used | |
| Swimming trunks | probably forgotten in the camping in St. Sauveur de Rue. Bought new in Agen (FR), 07.2016 | Useful for rivers and swimming pools | |
| Rain-proof jacket (Gore-Tex) | Haglöfs L.I.M. | Used also as wind-cutter when the wind is cold | Very happy with it |
| Not so used, will leave in Portugal | |||
| Down jacket | Rab Microlight Alpine | Very nice in cold nights | Very useful both in the evening and as over-pillow. |
| Rain pants | Vaude | not used | Very useful when we manage to put them before we are wet. During some heavy rain in Spain, it started to get wet between the legs. |
| Rain shoe protection | Vaude | not used | Very useful when we manage to put them before we are wet. |
| Bike shoes | Shimano SH-MT34 | Very nice for cycling but not confortable/safe enough for long day hikes | Still happy, but maybe there are better ones for walking. |
| Hiking shoes | Nice to have for full day walk/hike | Happy. | |
| Rarely used except now in Apúlia. Will leave. | |||
| Flip-flops | replaced in Le Puy (FR) by a lighter model from decathlon. 06.2016 Stolen in 01.2017, replaced by a cheap model | Used for shower and short walks in hot days. | Essential for warm evenings, showers, etc. |
| Helmet | Alpina Mythos 2.0 LE | Used only on roads with more traffic. Otherwise the hat is more confortable. | |
| Cloth bag (clean/dirty clothes) | One is Exped Packsack M, other are syntectic | nice to have clothes in different "compartiments": evening bag to take to the shower, dirty bag, rain bag, cold bag and jackets bag | Very happy with this organisation and with Exped bag. |
| Eva's clothes | Comments | After 4000 km | After 10'000 km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long zip-off pants | Salewa 5 Continents, bought in 2009 in Russia. | Very useful, used mainly as shorts for cycling, and for hiking. | Used almost every day for cycling, either as shorts or as pants. |
| Reebok. I thought they would be good for cycling as they cover the knees. | Left in France after 2 weeks. They do not dry fast enough and seem to attract humidity inside the bag. | ||
| Second pair of zip-off pants | Quechua. Bought in France to replace the 3/4 yoga pants. | Used mainly as a second pair of shorts for cycling, and sometimes for going into town. Dry very fast. | Left behind for the last part of the trip, and replaced by a light pair of shorts. |
| Long pants for off the bike | Black no-name polyester pants. | Light and fast-drying, have happily used them as a more "elegant" version to go into town, restaurants etc. | I still think it's a good idea to have a "nicer" set of clothes, even if they don't get used that often. |
| Silk sarouel | Instead of a skirt. It's reversible and can be used in two colors. | Used almost every day, especially for evenings when camping. The silk is light, dries fast and doesn't attract odours. | It's slowly getting holes all over the place, so I may well leave it behind somewhere. |
| One merino tank top | Icebreaker | Used all the time for cycling. Replaced in Portugal. | Unfortunately the second top has already numerous holes in it and the colours have faded a lot. I still like merino clothes though... |
| Two merino short-sleeved t-shirts | Icebreaker | Used for on and off the bike and for sleeping in. | Bought a new one, used for cycling, which covers a bit more skin (therefore less risk of sunburn). |
| Fjällräven High Coast T-Shirt | Thrown away in Portugal because takes time to dry and gets smelly very fast. | ||
| A short-sleeved summer dress | Local Swiss brand (Monika Schneiter) | Very happy, used often on the beach and on non-cycling days, sometimes with pants or leggings. | Still very happy, it's incredibly good quality. |
| Bought on a market in South-East Asia | Thrown away in Portugal as it had gotten very ugly with exposure to sun and suncream. | ||
| Merino long-sleeved shirt | Icebreaker | Added to my wardrobe in Portugal. I felt I needed a second long-sleeved shirt for on and off the bike. | Used a lot for cycling in cooler weather and when needing more sun protection in South America. |
| Merino hooded jacket | Icebreaker | Used very often, but a bit heavy. | Useful for cycling in cool weather and for camping. |
| 4 pairs of underpants (cotton) | In warm weather 4 is enough but needs frequent handwashing. | I increased to 6 pairs because I was tired of washing so often. | |
| 3 bras | 2 icebreaker merino 1 "normal" | Happy with them | Perfect, wouldn't need more |
| 3 pairs of socks | 2 pairs of merino cycling socks (Teko), 1 pair of cotton socks | Happy, is enough | Good quantity. |
| Merino hiking socks (Icebreaker) | Not used until now | Used the hiking socks a lot in Chile, for chilly evenings. I bought a pair of winter cycling socks (Decathlon) in Spain as my feet and ankles were getting cold when cycling in winter. |
|
| Long merino underwear, top and bottom, black | Icebreaker | Used more than I would have thought. The long-sleeved top is useful for chilly nights even in the summer. The bottoms I use as leggings with the dress in colder weather. | Used all the time, in the evening or even for sleeping (in Patagonia). |
| Merino winter hat | Icebreaker | Not used | Got it out for the first time in the Spanish winter. |
| Sun hat | Mammut, replaced by a French brand in Spain, replaced by one from The North Face in Argentina. | Replaced the original hat by one that fits my head better and that has a protection for the neck. I use it when cycling in the sun. | The hat with neck protection looks a bit ridiculous, but is so useful when cycling in the hot sun. |
| 2 Buffs (1 merino, 1 normal) | Used the normal buff as sun protection for the neck a few times | Used mainly in Patagonia and in Spain (winter). One would have been enough. | |
| 2 pairs of gloves | 1 pair of thinner gloves (cross-country skiing gloves), 1 pair of waterproof overgloves | Not used | Used for the first time in the Spanish winter, and very useful then. The waterproof overgloves were very useful in the rain. |
| Swimming suit | Used a lot! | Not used very often in South America, but still essential... | |
| Waterproof Gore-Tex jacket | Haglöfs | Very good material and nice cut. Not used a lot on this trip. | Started to use it a lot in South America, especially Patagonia. It still seems to be waterproof most of the time. |
| Down jacket | Haglöfs Essens III Down Jacket | Nice and cosy, useful on chilly nights or to stuff the pillow. | Used a lot. Very comfortable and warm, but light at the same time. |
| Rain pants | Vaude | Not used | Used mainly in Patagonia and in Spain (winter). Very good rainpants, always kept me completely dry. |
| Rainproof overshoes | Vaude Bike Gaiter | Not used | Used quite a lot in Patagonia and Spain. They do keep the feet dry most of the time (when put on correctly). |
| 1 pair of trekking shoes | Salomon | Necessary for longer walks in town and for hiking | Useful for off-the-bike moments. Personally I wouldn't want to walk around with cycling shoes all the time. |
| 1 pair of cycling shoes with cleats | Specialized | Very happy with them, comfortable enough for walking a bit in town, but not enough grip even for small hikes. | Still very happy with them, they're sturdy and still no sign of needing to be replaced. They're not great in rain though, the water can leak in through the sides even with the gaiters. |
| 1 pair of Crocs | I chose Crocs instead of Flipflops because I imagine them more versatile (can be used with socks and more comfortable to walk in) | I use them all the time, also for shorter walks in cities. Very useful. | I still think this is a good choice for lightweight travel. I can even use them while swimming. |
| Bike helmet | Happy with it althouth not very comfortable with my recumbent bike (because of the headrest). | Now that I've left behind the headrest, wearing the helmet is more comfortable and I usually wear it, unless it's very hot and sunny. | |
| Cloth bags for organizing clothes in the panniers, and for collecting dirty clothes | Very useful for organizing things inside the panniers. The cotton is heavier than some fancier material, but it can thrown in the washing machine. | Still using it, although I might go for lighter material next time. |