So, the day of your camping trip has arrived, and your bag is lying open on the floor while you consider what clothes to take. Savvy clothing choices can be the vital difference between a great adventure and a miserable time where you can’t wait to get home.
Being too hot in the day and getting sunburned, or eaten alive by insects, or spending the night in a freezing cold tent and unable to sleep will definitely put you in a bad mood, spoiling the whole experience. Whether you’re camping in spring, summer, autumn or winter, carefully selecting the right clothing to take with you is vital.
Before you begin planning your adventuring wardrobe, you need to do some research into where you’re going and what the weather is likely to throw at you while you’re there. Camping in the UK in the spring, summer and even autumn can be highly unpredictable weather-wise, with warm and sunny – even scorching – daytimes, but dropping to chilly evenings and nights. All of which goes to show that you’ll need to be prepared for every eventuality.
Be prepared for the weather
Whatever time of year you’re heading out, you’ll need a raincoat. As we know well, in this country a rain storm can just pop up unexpectedly at any given moment, so a waterproof raincoat is a must. Pack a lightweight, but breathable, one for summer camping and a thicker version for camping in the cooler seasons. You’ll need to wear fabrics that are moisture-wicking to prevent overheating or getting too cold if moisture can’t evaporate. You’ll need to take a hat, in fact probably more than one! A waterproof hat you will need for the rain, but a warm beanie is a great way to stay toasty in the evenings by the campfire and even in bed. It's worth considering hot weather as well.
Even in the UK we can have hot weather, as recent summers have proved - with record temperatures. A cap or wide-brimmed hat will keep the sun off your face and neck to prevent sunburn, or you could consider a multi-purpose bandana that can be used as a hairband, head covering or around the neck. Throw in a swimsuit if you’re going to be anywhere near a safe body of water, or water shoes for scrambling around a stream or the side of a lake, and whilst you’re packing for the weather, don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent.
Day and night
Make sure that you pack different clothing sets for day and night, so when the temperature changes – so can you! During the day, depending on the weather, you’ll need to have layers which can be added to, or taken off, as the temperatures rise and fall. Longer sleeves and trousers can help to cover your skin to protect from sunburn as well as insects and poisonous plants. You should always choose fabrics that allow your skin to breathe. Cotton and denim will hold moisture which can lead to you becoming chilled, even in warm weather, so leave the jeans at home. Ideal fabrics are polyester, nylon, down and fleece or even wool which allow moisture-wicking, helping your body to regulate its own temperature properly.
At night you will need to layer up as the temperatures drop, and to go to bed you should change into a complete new set of clothes. In the evening whilst you’re sitting round the fire, preparing and eating food or toasting marshmallows, you can simply throw on some warmer layers such as fleeces, hoodies or even an insulated coat if the chill is really setting in. However, as you’ll have been sweating into the daytime clothes, you’ll sleep better if you’re comfortable in a clean set of clothes, so make a complete change. Long-sleeved tops and sweatshirts and pants are a better bet when under canvas, because they’ll trap the heat better around your body than your normal pjs - and a beanie to keep your head warm will help retain body temperature when the air chills. Layer up your bedding with added blankets as this will trap warm air more effectively, and a hot tip for a comfier transition to getting dressed in the morning is to put the next day’s clothes under your sleeping bag. This will mean your body temp can warm them up through the night; much cosier to put on than below-freezing underwear before your morning coffee!
First-day outfits
Make sure that you select something practical to arrive and set up camp in. Too loose or too tight clothing will make the exertions of unpacking and putting up the tent uncomfortable. Avoid clothes that are too smart as your set-up is likely to make a mess of them; soil, fire pit ash, grease, oil and even dust from the tent being in storage for a while can all contribute. Hardwearing cargo pants have handy pockets and are a practical fabric for kneeling and bending as you organise your new home-from-home for the trip. It’s always wise to have clothes that can get dirty, muddy or wet, as you never know what eventualities you might face. They can always be hung up to dry in the evening or slung into a bag to wash when you get home again but having a set of scruffy clothes is really useful when you’re in the great outdoors.
Layers
Layers are your best friend. You need a range of base, mid and outer layers to keep yourself at the optimum temperature and comfortable throughout the day and night.
Base layers
Base layers include socks, underwear, vests and thermal layers. It’s best to avoid pure cotton for these as they will retain moisture and prevent your body temp from regulating itself and you can get chilled even on a warm day if your base layers stay damp.
Mid-layers
These need to be shirts or fleece jackets - clothing items that are thinner but designed to keep your skin covered and trap warm air close to your body. When you’re getting warm while out on a hike on a cooler day, you can strip the outer layers back to the mid layers and stay at a comfortable temperature. Even on a warm day mid layers protect you from sunburn, insects or poisonous plants and some have handy vents to help you stay cool.
Outer layers
These are the waterproof and wind-resistant jackets and trousers that you need for inclement weather, or evenings when the temperatures drop. These should be your toughest line of defence and it’s worth investing in quality items to ensure you enjoy all aspects of your adventure.
Protect yourself
As mentioned previously, you need to protect against the weather, but another way to protect yourself with your clothing is to make sure that you keep socks pulled up and arms and legs covered when you’re out walking, as there are risks from insects other than mosquitoes. Ticks can transfer from grass or foliage you’re walking through to get onto, and then into, your skin – and some are disease-carrying, even in the UK. So, when you peel off the layers at the end of the day a tick check is a good way to protect yourself from future discomfort – and while you’re at it, check your clothes as well, in case you have any undesirable hitchhikers! Put a layer between you and the wildlife to keep your skin unmolested.
Protect your feet with strong and waterproof footwear, nothing is more disheartening than having wet feet all day and you don’t want to end up with trenchfoot! If you’re walking in boggy areas, or just wet weather, you need shoes that will keep most of the moisture out whilst supporting your ankles and feet. A couple of different pairs of shoes are best as you can then change into something dry or less sturdy when you return to camp. But all footwear needs to fit well and be comfortable.
What not to wear
- Designer brands and expensive jewellery – these can far too easily get ruined or lost and it will just leave you out of pocket – you don’t go camping for the fashion statement; so be sensible.
- Flip flops – these are too flimsy and don’t offer any protection to your feet, so if you take them with you then only wear them in the tent or the shower block.
- Denim or cotton clothes – as mentioned earlier they retain moisture and don’t dry out quickly, so better to leave them behind.
- White clothing – this will just get dirty, so better not to take it in the first place. Light-coloured clothing is a great idea in the summer as it doesn’t absorb heat as much as darker colours, but avoid white.
- Perfume or aftershave – these can attract insects and animals, visitors that you really don’t want in your campsite.
Preppers Shop has years of experience in helping to kit out campers with practical clothing for adventures in the wild. With our range of camping clothing alongside our military surplus catalogue of footwear and clothing, we are sure we have a wide range of appropriate clothing items for your next trip. We also stock a range of clothing and accessories available for kids so you can kit out the whole family.
Whether you’re a newbie camper who needs advice, or a hardened camper with a more technical question, then contact us by phone or email and one of our experienced team will be happy to help.