It’s in our nature to adjust our choice of clothing to fit the current weather conditions, as dressing appropriately can make a huge difference in our well-being. Picking the right clothing, especially in a survival situation in which you might be stuck in the wilderness for a while, is a tough thing to do. Clothing choices can make the difference between life or death in a survival situation
It’s easy to put on a shirt and pants for a day, but when preparing for a SHTF situation, you may find it difficult to choose which can give you the most comfort and protection in certain weather conditions.
In this post, we have compiled a list of the best survival clothes that you should utilize for both hot and cold temperatures.
Best Survival Clothes for Hot Temperatures
Depending on your climate, some days can be extremely hot. It can feel as if you are going to melt just by being under the sweltering sun, and dressing in multiple layers or covering your entire body would seem irrational. It will only result in your entire body, including your clothes, becoming drenched in sweat. You need to wear as little clothing as possible with the consideration they have to be thin or loose, or even both. By wearing different types of clothing in different weather, you can keep yourself cool during warmer times.
By doing so, it will allow the circulation of air on our skin while venting the heat out of our body effectively. It should be taken seriously as hot temperature poses greater chances of dehydration which can put your life at risk. But remember- when your skin is in the sun, you NEED sunscreen and not just a t shirt! Don’t forget to pack that in your Get Home Bag, Bug Out Bag, or INCH Bag. You’ll need some good lightweight clothes for hot weather, so keep reading to see what materials make a great choice.
So in hot weather, you should opt for clothing that is made of breathable fabrics as these will help you to stay cool. Specifically, your clothing can be made of fabric like cotton, linen or jersey cotton. These fabrics will not constrain your body and aren’t going to make you overheat too much. And if camouflage is not a concern, you should opt for light-colored fabrics which absorb less heat than dark-colored fabrics. Lighter colors don’t also retain heat on your clothes for too long, keeping you comfortable and able to concentrate on other things like surviving. Exercise clothing is another great option as they are designed to absorb your sweat. But beware, some synthetic exercise shirts absorb sweat and don’t shed it very well- leaving you sitting in a nasty wet shirt after sweating. Try different styles and brands to find what fits you best.
And don’t forget about your shoes! Shoes are an important part of your outfit in a survival situation, winter or summer. Make sure you shop around for a good pair of shoes that fits your feet and will help you stay comfortable and injury-free when walking long distances. You should have a pair for warmer times and a pair for the winter. Make sure you’ve worn your shoes or boots for a while before you decide on them for good, so you know that your feet won’t end up injured.
Avoid clothing made of fabrics like polyester, nylon, silk, rayon or wool as these fabrics are not very breathable and they will only retain your body odors that were acquired from sweating, giving you an uneasy feeling. Even though silk in particular has the ability to repel your sweat, this fabric isn’t too great at reflecting the sun.
Here’s a list of clothes you should consider:
Hot Temperature Survival Clothing For Men
- Linen shirts
- Long-sleeve shirts to protect from the sun
- Canvas Short
- Rip-top shorts or hiking pants
Hot Weather Survival Clothing For Women
- Hiking pants
- Short-sleeve tops
- Long-sleeve tops to protect from the sun
- Linen pants (make sure they are thick enough)
- Rip-Stop material shorts or pants
Some Additional Survival Accessories To Consider
Hat, bandana, shemagh and towel – These will give cover to your head, protecting it from the sun. Bandana, shemagh and towel can also be used to wipe your sweat off.
Sunglasses – This will protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, especially when you are facing towards where it is.
Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) – This will help to protect your skin from the sun’s sweltering heat, preventing sunburn and other related skin conditions.
Best Survival Clothes for Cold Temperatures
Depending on your climate, some days can be extremely cold. In this case, the best idea is to focus on dressing in multiple layers while covering your entire body as much as possible. As a result of doing so, you will be able to withstand any cold weather day. And more importantly, you can maintain your body temperature, avoiding greater chances of acquiring hypothermia- which can put your life at risk.
There are three layers that you need to understand first.
The Three Layer Rule For Surviving In The Cold
In the cold, the general rule is to wear at least three layers. These layers each have a distinct purpose to keep the wearer warm, and you can see below:
Inner/Base Layer –This layer is the closest or you could say the one that touches your skin which will wick the moisture away from your body—choose moisture-wicking fabrics such as synthetic or wool. High- quality cotton will work in a pinch as well.
Middle Layer – This is the next layer to wear after the inner/base layer. This layer is your insulator to help you to create a layer of insulation from the cold. For this layer, choose an insulating garment like a down-stuffed jacket or vest, or a heavy wool sweater or heavy canvas jacket.
Outer Layer – This is the last layer to wear which will function to be your “shell,” or your barrier from the elements. This is where going high-tech and trying out the latest materials beforehand will come in handy. Shells are designed to be waterproof and windproof, but not all are created equal. Invest in a high-quality shell and you’ll thank yourself when it saves your butt.
Avoid clothing made of fabrics like cotton with variations which can be labeled as denim, corduroy, flannel or duck—as well as cotton-blends like cotton-polyester combination. You should also stay away from fabrics made of cellulose fibers such as modal, rayon, viscose, and lyocell as they tend to absorb water even faster than cotton and they can easily lose their insulation properties once they get soaked.
Here’s a list of clothes you should have on hand in your Bug out Bag and your INCH Bag for both Men and Women:
- Waterproof Hats
- Coats
- Hooded Rain Jacket
- Hooded Sweatshirt
- Wool Pants
- Wool Socks
- Wool Sweater
- Rain Pants
- Waterproof Boots
Additional wearables to consider:
Warm Hats– Can support our body temperature more effectively, reducing the amount of heat that escapes from our head.
Gloves or mittens– Aside from shielding our hands with various tasks, these two garments are excellent in fighting cold temperatures.
Scarves – A great idea to keep heat from escaping out of your jacket, keeping you warm and containing your body heat.
Some Parting Thoughts on Survival Clothing
This is not a comprehensive guide by any means. We just want to point you in the right direction when you choose the clothes that you’ll have around when SHTF. You need to always keep in mind that appropriate clothing is a significant factor as to how your body will react to a certain temperature—failing to do so will only result in discomfort, dehydration, or worse. More importantly, it deeply contributes to your odds of surviving in the wilderness, so you should learn your fabrics and which kind of survival clothes to wear and not to wear.
And we can’t stress it enough: GET WATERPROOF BOOTS AND GOOD SOCKS!
