Best Clothing to Add To Your Survival Kit

by Tess Pennington

Protective clothing is essential in terms of disaster preparedness supplies, and are especially important for camping and survival.

Harsh UV rays, poisonous plants, insect bites and protection against changing weather are good reasons to wear protective clothing for survival or while camping or otherwise enjoying time in the wilderness.

So what are some of the best options in terms of this kind of outerwear?

Clothing That Absorbs Moisture

You’ll want to begin with a base layer, which is frequently referred to as long underwear. What you don’t want is a base layer made of cotton. Why?

Although cotton is fantastic for absorbing moisture, it’s not so great at getting rid of said moisture. Long underwear needs to stay dry, which will subsequently keep you warm, so look for blends that feature “moisture wicking” abilities. Your skin will remain dry no matter what the weather.

Clothing That Protects You From The Sun

Look for items that feature moisture-wicking properties, dry quickly, and are super-breathable. Long sleeves may seem a bit insane in warm weather, but as long as you are wearing something with the above features, you’ll be just fine. Sun protection is a necessary part of camping, so don’t forget to cover up. When shopping for clothing with UV protection, look for fabric that features a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating, which indicates how UV rays are absorbed. For example, if the fabric features a UPF rating of 50, it allows only 1/50 of the sun’s UV rays to pass through.

In addition to wearing a breathable shirt with long sleeves, you’ll want to find pants with the same features to keep legs from burning. A wide-brimmed hat is also a good idea, and don’t forget to apply and reapply sunblock.

Clothing That Protects You From Insects

Do biting insects seem especially attracted to you? Since you’ll be surrounded by the buggers while camping, add clothes that keep them at bay–think of adding them to your “bug out bag” packing list! In addition to rocking long sleeves and tucking pant legs into boots, you might want to look into clothing specifically designed to repel insects. Sure, you’ll look like a beekeeper or a walking mosquito net, but it’s better than the alternative!

Use these and other items to protect yourself while out and about in the wilderness!

Jacob is the editor at SurvivalBased.com. His website offers emergency preparedness products, as well as shares practical and useful prepping tips, tactics and tools. The goal at SurvivalBased.com is to help people be more than ready for any emergency situation—from the hardcore prepper to the family on a budget. You can follow SurvivalBased on Facebook and Twitter, and you can find more great articles on the SurvivalBased Blog

Tess Pennington is the author of The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals. When a catastrophic collapse cripples society, grocery store shelves will empty within days. But if you follow this book’s plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply, your family will have plenty to eat for weeks, months or even years. Visit her web site at ReadyNutrition.com.
This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition