Have Proper Clothing For Your Survival Situation
Clothing is an item oft-overlooked when people begin preparing for a survival scenario. But, surviving without the civilized comforts we’ve become accustomed to places a burden on the clothes we wear. So setting aside enough ready-to-wear clothing, or the fabric and materials to make it, to last at least one year.
Good quality outdoor clothing such as that made by Filson, Pendleton or Woolrich is highly recommended. Tightly woven fabric is more snag and tear resistant and wears longer. However, loosely woven fabrics are warmer. Natural fabrics like wool and cotton are more absorbent, and wool retains its insulating properties even when wet. But synthetics have greater strength, resist abrasion and mildew better and dry more quickly. Gore-Tex and similar fabrics, which are waterproof but breathable, are essential, and fleece items are important to have.
Here is a table of the basic clothing needs for one person for one year, adapt the list to age, sex, climate and lifestyle, but it is a great reference for a starting point.
Eight sets underwear (two long)
One pajamas or nightgown
One warm robe
Two t-shirts
Two cotton turtle-neck shirts
One straw hat
One knit cap or balaclava
One heavy-duty work belt
One pair suspenders
One or two sweaters
Two pair leather work gloves
One pair winter gloves, mittens or inserts
Two pair work shoes or boots
One pair waterproof boots/overshoes
Two pair shoelaces per pair of shoes
12 pair socks (eight light, four heavy)
Four pair of jeans, pants, overalls
One pair heavy wool pants
Two to four work shirts (chambray, etc.)
Two cotton flannel shirts (chamois, etc.)
Two heavy wool shirts
One water-repellant windbreaker
One winter work coat
One heavy-duty parka
For shoes, be sure they are well-fitting and broken it. It won’t do to don a new pair and then set out on a bug-out that requires you to walk many miles. Your feet will be protesting quickly.
And don’t forget to store foot powder. And keep a supply of moleskin in your first-aid kit to help with blisters and other foot sores.
And one final tip; wear a thin pair of socks over a thicker pair to help avoid blisters if you’re going to be on your feet for a long time.