I have been pondering the same sort of situation lately, and a lot of your ideas I’ll put to use.

OK with you if I pass on some of what I come up with?

My situation would involve the country and climate here on the south Oregon coast. Meaning, steep country and a butt-load of rain.

Thanks for the response.

Mitch

Thanks for the feedback. I would like to spruce up this list a little more, as you suggested, and perhaps I will…it’s kinda one of those things I keep putting off until “next week”. Anyway, concerning clothing, here are some brief suggestions, and they’re going to vary significantly depending on where you live, as well as the season…it may not be a bad idea to have a 3 or 4 season clothing rotation next to your bag of gear.

Keep a change of socks, underwear, and an under shirt. Layered clothing is a good idea, however, you want to be sure to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes to encourage blood and air flow. I’d recommend staying away from cotton for your socks, pants and shirt/sweater, and opting for wool instead. Wool is a bit easier on the skin, and it doesn’t dampen quite like cotton does. Depending on your climate, you may want to invest in a bottle of wool wax (lanolin oil) to throw on your socks and sweater. This helps create an extra moisture barrier.

You’re going to want a hat as well, not only for keeping your head warm, but the sun off of your face and neck as well. A bandana isn’t a bad idea either, as it can be used as a hat alternative as well as an ad hoc tool to keep dust and other foreign particles out of your mouth and eyes. It should go without saying, but a solid belt is a staple to any set of survival clothing – a “holster belt” is usually ideal, as they’re built to stay rigid under the weight of a loaded pistol, as well as anything else you want to hang off of it.

As far as shoes are concerned, I’d recommend a sturdy, worn-in pair of hiking boots. If you don’t already own a pair, head over to your local Army surplus store and see if they have a broken-in pair in your size. New kicks look nice, but you’re gonna be asking for blisters if you wear them on a long trek. Also, make sure they fit on those thick wool socks!

I know that’s a pretty light list, but hopefully it gives you a good idea of what you’re looking for. Let me know if you have any questions, or would like to add anything.

Thanks again!

Good article.

Thanks.

If you are in a hurry preparing an EOTWAWKI (end of the world as we know it) pack, like, while the sky is falling, you can grab your old pair of BDU pants and make a sling pack. Tie the legs together with some parachute cord and stuff it full of your necessities, then cinch the waist shut. Slip it over your head and arm and haul ass to high ground. The external cargo pockets are great for things you might need in a hurry, like toilet paper after you drink some questionable water, and your favorite pistol if you run into Charlie in the jungle. Best part is, they are already camouflage. If you put your hard items inside your soft items and roll them tight the pack wont beat you up too badly on a long trek, and your sleeping bag stuffed in last will make a nice seat, or a soft landing if you fall over backwards…

I did a little research and found that on most products, it looks like they’ll ship to South Africa. This looks like a pretty decent article to tell you how to do it:

http://www.amazonsouthafrica.co.za/amazon-delivery-to-southafrica.html

Good luck, and thanks a lot for reading!