What is the best clothing to wear while hunting and fishing....something to wick away the sweat from the skin.....(mainly socks and gloves)...Thanks

 

Gortex over cotton.

 

I will make one concession to The Tow Guy and allow you to wear a pair of cotton undies, but that is it. If you've ever gotten a pair of jeans wet you know how warm wet cotton can be and how long it takes to dry.

The modern high tech thermal underwear (Thermax...) and insulating layers (Polarfleece...) are wonderful if you are going to be outside and active. They do not absorb water so they insulate even when wet and dry quickly. You can get hot and sweaty without feeling a cold wet T shirt against your skin. I will wear cotton & wool if I'm cutting wood or working around the house and know I can get back to someplace warm in a couple hours but for hard core outside the modern fibers cannot be beat.

There are downsides to the modern thermals. It can be expensive. The primary layers (long johns) work best when they fit tight so they sometimes feel like a second skin and the static electricity can almost kill you when you try to take it off. It is a bit flammable and melts so be carefull around the campfire and no welding.

GoreTex is a modern wonder. It is expensive and worth every penny it if you can afford it. All that stuff about keeping the water out but still breathing is pretty much true. You will still sweat and get wet if you push it too hard but it is a word of differnece compared to olde fashioned rain gear.