Bug out clothes play an important role in bugging out. Many people that are preparing for the worst will put a lot of time and energy into bug out bags, plans, and locations. Those same people may not stop to think about the clothes on their backs. Unless you’re bringing your home with you, you’ll need to bring clothes.
Survival supplies are the most important thing. But, you might have trouble getting far into your survival plan with stilettos or a suit and tie. Let’s break down what you should be looking for. Both in the clothes you wear out the door when you’re bugging out and the extra clothes you’ll want to pack in your bag.
Bug Out Clothes: The Base Layer
First, the base layer. No clothing has more contact with sensitive parts of your body than your socks and underwear. These are usually under other layers of clothing. Because of this, they have a tendency to overheat or get uncomfortable first out of anything. When they do get uncomfortable, It’s going to slow you down or even take you out of commission for your exit plan.
For socks, you’re going to want to look for merino wool. They’re more expensive than the cheap cotton socks at your local dollar store but they will pay off. Merino wool is tough and most importantly it’s comfortable. This reduces your chances of getting blisters, even when wet. For underwear it’s not a specific material but a set of criteria you should be looking for. You want underwear that won’t bunch up, dries quickly, and is breathable. If you find a pair that satisfies these requirements, stick with it!
Bug Out Clothes: Shirts and Pants
If you haven’t picked it up yet, the overall theme of this article is that you want your bug out clothes to be functional. Shirts and pants that are breathable and dry fast will always be a good idea. They let you recover from getting wet faster and stay more comfortable.
Getting wet in a survival situation can be life-threatening if it’s cold out. For this reason it’s also a good idea to dress in layers. It gives you more flexibility with your temperature level. And it could give you additional options if only some layers are wet and others are still dry.
Bug Out Clothes: Colors and Styles
When looking for colors you want to blend in. Some preppers and survivalists recommend camouflage, but we don’t. If you and your family are all decked out in camouflage you’re going to look out of place in an urban environment. Worse than that, you’re going to look prepared. If people in desperate situations know that you’re prepared with supplies, things can gut ugly.
When you’re picking the style and colors of your survival clothes, it’s best to keep this in mind. Choose functionality over form, but don’t stand out in a crowd. There’s another interesting fact that can be important if you’re headed into the woods. Mosquitoes like the color blue. This refers to lighter blues and less navies but this is something worth taking into account. Mosquito bites can sometimes be serious, but they’re always annoying.
Bug Out Clothes: Shoes or Boots?
Shoes are also going to be one of the most important choices you make when it comes to your bug out clothing. If your plan involves walking you’re going to need something sturdy to walk on. We recommend a good pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots. The shoes will be lighter and less bulky. This may give you an edge on your total supply weight and on the wear on your feet.
The boots would also be a good option. They provide a little extra protection and support to your ankles. This is important to make rolling them less likely. If you don’t have these, go for something like sneakers or tennis shoes over dressier, fancier shoes. Once again, function over form.
Bonus Items!
Some bonus articles of clothing you may want to consider are ponchos or personal mosquito nets. The ponchos are really a good idea. Sturdy ones are still light, but disposable ones weigh almost nothing and can still be reused. In a survival scenario, a couple square yards of plastic can serve a lot of purposes. Most emergency kits should contain at least a disposable poncho.
They also make mosquito nets that you can hang from your hat. These are also a light accessory but they may be overkill depending on where you’re bugging out to or from. However, if you’re in a heavily mosquito dense area, or the mosquitoes are known for their disease, these nets may well be worth packing.