Underwear for hot weather hiking/excursions

[Anonymous]

We are traveling on an excursion cruise over New Years. The cruise is in Panama and Costa Rica and there are many hikes and zodiac trips...I am very excited. The question I have: what underwear (top and bottom) will be good in this heat, for someone who sweats a lot, yet will wash/rinse easily in the sink of the cabin? I am in perimenopause and my main symptom is I sweat like a MF at the slightest bit of heat (frustrating because I never used to feel the heat or humidity at all). I've got clothing covered, things that are lightweight and wicking and quick dry. But I've looked and I'm not sure what kind of underwear to get. I'm usually a 32 D/DD (so not small boobs) and I have the lovely added challenge of a shoulder injury which means I can't wear sports bras that pull over the head. If anyone has something to recommend I'd appreciate it, thank you.

[Anonymous]

This may not be what you want to hear, but for me bike shorts have been a revelation. I'm 49 and just discovered their magic. I have 2 pairs from Jcrew in black. No underwear. They are good for the pool, beach, biking, and hiking. Basically I wear them all day and am always ready for whatever activity that might come up.

I'd pair them with a bikini top and a flowy tank.

[Anonymous]

For sports bras, the panache one is pretty good and fastens in the back. I wouldn’t say it’s “quick dry” but it will hold up to sweat.

The enell one is absolutely insane looking but very, very supportive and closes with 50 hooks in the front. It is very unflattering but those puppies are up and in and you could sweat through it 50 days in a row with no movement.

For underwear I would personally rather have cotton and just deal with hanging them to dry if you don’t have laundry, but if I were looking for synthetic underwear I’d start at REI.

[Anonymous]

I wear Lululemon athletic shorts with a built-in liner. Not sure of the style name but they are 5" inseam so not super short. They're lightweight so they dry quickly.

[Anonymous]

You want merino wool.

[Anonymous]

I sweat a ton and I run in the DC “soup” of summer heat and humidity. I pair Knix brief style “leak proof” underwear with quick dry bike shorts. If I don’t put the absorbent underwear on, I will look like I peed my pants from the sweat rolling down the small of my back. I also like REI’s swiftland 5” running short. They are lined and extremely thin. They are the right balance of loose and fitted for hiking. I have ample thighs for my frame and they do not ride up between your legs. They dry extremely fast.

I have not found a sports bra that dries fast. I am dripping in any bra. Panache makes a popular sports bra that has an underwire and a traditional clasp. I would opt for that or the Panache “Ultimate High Impact Underwire Sports Bra”. The wireless ones always feel sopping wet to me and then I get cold if I go indoors. The panache bra doesn’t hold the water and it’s literally the one sports bra I put on and never think about. Nothing moves and no chafing, even for half marathons.

I like light loose tops over the bra. Gap Fit makes some of my favorites that are not Lululemon or Oiselle.

Oiselle tool belt roga or roga 4” are also good choices of loose shorts with a liner, but the waistband can get a bit sweatier than the REI option.

I’d wear a bandanna and tie and extra one on my ankle or pack to wipe myself if needed.

[Anonymous]

10:47 - I meant the SheFit or the Panache bra.

Knix, ThirdLove, Brooks, Oiselle - anything with that thick fabric they use to create structure for a wireless bra - holds onto enough sweat you can literally wring it out.

People think underwire is the devil, but once you find an underwire sports bra that fits correctly, you will never go back. Underwire sports bras will never be cute and double as crop tops or have elaborate straps meant to peek out from your top - but once wire is involved the rest of the bra can be lighter because the wire is doing the work.

[Anonymous]

I never used to sweat either and now it's awful. I've been using MegaBabe Body Dust powder and it's pretty amazing. I lightly dust everywhere I sweat and it keeps me much drier.

[Anonymous]

34DDD and I wear the panache back-hook sports bra. I buy it in 34DD. I don’t wash them out on vacation because they dries slowly in humid climates but I will say that it’s sturdy enough to let the sweat dry after a morning of 95 degree tennis and wear it again for more tennis the next day. I usually bring 3-4 panache bras for active trips so I can take them off as they get sweat-soaked and switch to a dry one for the next activity.

For underwear, I’ve tried quick dry underwear and washing it out in the sink, but it never gets as clean as I want it to. And as a very sweaty person, if I wear non-cotton underwear, sweat, sit around a bit, and sweat again, I think it starts to smell and be generally gross. Sorry but it’s true.
Now I just pack 3+ pairs of cotton underwear per day and change frequently. It’s worth it and it doesn’t take up much space. I save my sadder underwear for travel and discard as I go if I’m worried about packing space.

[Anonymous]

I have a front zip sports bra from brooks that i like. I also recommend running shorts with built in brief for super hot weather. I have some in black, also from brooks that I wear out like they are real clothes. If you go to a good running store they will have some options you could try on.

[Anonymous]

Op here, thank you all! I am hesitant to "go commando" in bike shorts or similar as I need to wear a pantyliner all the time and have found in the past that it doesn't stay in place if I wear it with bike shorts or spanx or similar. But I haven't tried that in a while so maybe clothes are different now.

I do have cooling towels I use to wipe myself down, but the idea of getting some bandanas to just use for wiping is a good one. And there is a powder???? I will be ordering that immediately if not sooner.

I was thinking I'd have to rotate multiple underwear and clothing pieces a day and it sounds like that's what others do too. It sure is fun getting older!

[Anonymous]

These are my favorite brand for sweaty, hot days: https://a.co/d/c9ajDvK

They make sports bras too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want merino wool.

I love wool. I knit! But they’ll never convince me of this. I would not say I have a sensitivity to wool but I am never wearing wool underwear. My skin is crawling just thinking about it. No. No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sweat a ton and I run in the DC “soup” of summer heat and humidity. I pair Knix brief style “leak proof” underwear with quick dry bike shorts. If I don’t put the absorbent underwear on, I will look like I peed my pants from the sweat rolling down the small of my back. I also like REI’s swiftland 5” running short. They are lined and extremely thin. They are the right balance of loose and fitted for hiking. I have ample thighs for my frame and they do not ride up between your legs. They dry extremely fast.

I have not found a sports bra that dries fast. I am dripping in any bra. Panache makes a popular sports bra that has an underwire and a traditional clasp. I would opt for that or the Panache “Ultimate High Impact Underwire Sports Bra”. The wireless ones always feel sopping wet to me and then I get cold if I go indoors. The panache bra doesn’t hold the water and it’s literally the one sports bra I put on and never think about. Nothing moves and no chafing, even for half marathons.

I like light loose tops over the bra. Gap Fit makes some of my favorites that are not Lululemon or Oiselle.

Oiselle tool belt roga or roga 4” are also good choices of loose shorts with a liner, but the waistband can get a bit sweatier than the REI option.

I’d wear a bandanna and tie and extra one on my ankle or pack to wipe myself if needed.

I like the panache bra a lot, I wear it, but I’m an E or F cup and I wouldn’t run in it. Fwiw. For a smaller cup size it might be fine.

[Anonymous]

I used to really like Patagonia underwear, and still have a number of pairs, but the quality has really gone downhill in recent years. But still may be worth it, especially if you can get on sale. I have a couple pair from Exofficio that I like too.