Clothing

[jca21]

there have been many posts on the forums about bug out bags, go bags, emergency survival kits, survival vests, pocket kits, altoid tins, hiking kits, backpacking hits, hunting kits, fishing kits.. the list goes on and on.


but when it comes down to it isnt the clothing that we wear in the wild just as important.. if not more important?

on day hikes i prefer not carrying a pack but it also depends largely on the amount of distance that i have to cover in a specific period of time. also this is purely out of my personal experiences and opinions

a nice stroll through the woods on a misty saturday morning doesnt necessarily merrit the use of a backpack full of survival gear (i know people will argue that being prepared for the worst is the best case senario) but in many cases you can be comfortable with just what u can keep/carry on your person/body.

time and time again i've been hiking where people came "over-prepared" adding weight to an already heavy pack. this slows them down, causes them to require more breaks and most likely limits their capabilities to evade/survive/escape.

now of course 99.9% of the time you wont be needing to escape/evade with an enemy force of 200 guerilla soldiers chasing you

but.... there is the odd occasion where all of us like to play war games and what not in the woods with our buddies.. it keeps us in shape. prepared and alert... also its just plain damn fun


so here i pose the question. in your opinions from first hand experiences and extensive knowledge

"do you find clothing more important then your packs?"

i pose this question purely out of curiosity.

and also here is a list of the gear i carry with me on my person when hiking without a pack.

***On Belt:

-Kershaw D2 Outcast (hung on left side for cross draw purposes)
-Cold Steel Military Classic R1 (which has replaced my SOG Seal Knife on the right)
-Spyderco Endura IV (in pocket)
-Leatherman profile (on back right side of belt.
-flashlight on belt (usually goes where ever theres space)
-canteen with water purification tablets taped onto the side

***Vest (i know i made a remark about survival vests in the first section of the post but the Vest i wear is usually a standard fishing vest):

-50 feet of fishing line with hooks and sinkers in top left pocket
-pocket sized first aid kit in top right pocket
-good 10 meters of 550 paracord in bottom left pocket with a role of camoflauge tape
-signalling mirror and compass in bottom right pocket

***Hat:

-wide brim akubra hat

***Pockets:

-box of water proof matches
-swedish firesteel
-small altoids case full of dryer lint and cotton balls
-pair of sturdy gloves incase work in the bush is required
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

that pretty much puts it to what i carry on my person/body when im hiking with no pack. i've been able to go comfortably for 24 hours in the bush (got lost by being stupid). the kind of war games we play is capture the flag. may not sound too fun to most people but its a good way to get out in the bush and learn tactics and strategy. also you learn to familiarize yourself with travelling through un-marked areas. also we play with slingshots and paintballs ( i know i didnt list the slingshot in the gear list but i dont necessarily take it with me everytime i go)

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so...... to re-iterate my question:


"do you find clothing more important then your packs?" (and why?)

also

"what is your output/gear when travelling without a pack?"

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just thought i'd throw this up here im sure there will be mixed responses but all good and all educational.

cheers ^^

 

[ghostguy6]

I think they are both equally important, without the clothing your stand a better chance of getting hypothermia, but you also need some way to carry the extra clothing you take off as it warms up. I have personally seen an army cadet spend all day doing strenous activites wearing a parka, he chose to leave it on because he had no way to carry the parka around with him other than wearing it. Later in the evening he started to show signs of mild hypothermia because the sweat that the parka had absorbed was keeping him cold. If he had a a small daypack with him he could have carried his park with him, allowed his sweat to evaporate into the atmoshere and he would have had a warm jacket to put on later.
If I am going on a day hike I take a small hydration pack with some room to store my knife, lighter, small first aid kit, ect. The bungee cord on the outside also allows me to store my extra clothing. It doesnt take up alot of room, I think the pack is rated at 10 liters.

 

[jca21]

i also have seen the "sweat and freeze" thing happen with a few of my friends.

when out wearing a jacket i roll it up tie it with the paracord and make a sling in which i can carry my jacket and walk around..

im sure that can be considered making a make shift pack but its not an ACTUAL pack that im carrying.

btw what was the cadets name i might know him

 

[akennedy73]

"do you find clothing more important then your packs?" (and why?)

The rule of three's says:

3 hours without shelter

3 days without water

3 weeks without food

(and 3 months without beer!)

Clothing is shelter. It is of primary consideration, long before tools to secure clean water or food. Or packs, fire, knives or anything else. Exposure in extreme environmental conditions will kill you quick.

Which reminds me - I need to source a new pair of gore-tex pants. Last time I went camping I discovered my old military gore-tex pants aren't waterproof if it's raining and there are 25mph gusts! That's what I get trying to save money buying surplus on E-bay! Test your gear when failure is still an option!

"what is your output/gear when travelling without a pack?"

I'll try to get to that question later...

 

[jca21]

3 months without beer... HOW CAN YOU LAST THAT LONG??!?!?!!?

 

[ghostguy6]

btw what was the cadets name i might know him

I dont know his first name, I was only along as a civillian volunteer so I wasnt around to long, I do recall it was a french name pronounced something like " Boo-teers". Everyone else just called him butters, kinda suited him, he didnt seem all that bright

 

[sog]

I think clothing is more important. My BOB is a backpack. All EDC's. Two pair of jeans on. Sweatshirt, two shirts, t-shirt on. Wool socks and Wigwam undersocks on.

Parachute pants, longjohns, 3 pair underwear and t-shirts, handtowel, washcloth, socks, and whatever in the pack.

In cold weather a raincoat or poncho is mandatory to prevent hypothermia (over 55 degrees is still a concern). Down coat. Sleeping bag and pad. Tarp/reflective blanket.

Stove. Some freeze dried. Water bottle and purification tablets.