5 Tips for Choosing Camping Clothing
The apparel you choose for your outdoor excursion can make a world of difference in your comfort and safety. Camping outdoors forces one to be exposed to the elements, and your first line of protection comes in the gear you choose. With camping clothing, there are a few important things to keep in mind when investing in the right pieces. Here’s five tips to choosing camping clothing for your next overnight outdoor trip!
Temperature Rating : Not that camping clothing comes with temperature ratings, per se, but knowing what your clothing is designed for is essential to choosing the right pieces for your camping season. For instance, a mild-weather, 3-season camper who isn’t planning any nights out in freezing temperatures will probably want to opt for lighter styles for cool evenings and ventilated designs for withstanding the heat of the day. On the other hand, those who know they’ll be outdoors when there’s even a risk of freezing temperatures at night will need to focus on warmth by investing in thermals as well as taking into account the temperature ratings of their sleeping bags for optimal nighttime comfort.
Water Resistance : It’s truly difficult to find any type of camping gear that’s rated as 100% waterPROOF, but water resistant items are easy to come by - especially in regards to camping attire. Choose a rain poncho that is light and fits easily in your pack, and if you plan to do any hiking or backpacking, opt for a style with ample room to also cover your pack. If you know you’ll be trekking in particularly foul weather, invest in a full water-resistant suit with pants included for the best water protection with the most coverage.
Wind Resistance : When you’re exposed to the elements for longer durations of time, you’ll find that elements such as wind that typically go unnoticed can become bothersome. Wind has a way of working itself through many standard items of clothing, chilling you quicker. Choose jackets, pants, and even face masks with wind resistant properties to keep your body isolated from the chilly elements.
Ventilation : We glossed over this before in regards to choosing different items for different weather conditions, but there’s more to ventilation than just your clothing. Also consider backpacks with ventilation to keep the pack up and off of your back. Uncomfortable sweat buildup is a thing of the past when you’ve got a backpack with ventilation! Even your choice in tent can include ventilated openings to keep airflow through the tent during warmer summer nights.
Durability : There are many types of campers with many different requirements for apparel. For instance a climber/camper will need a completely different arsenal of clothing than a trail hiker/camper with the same duration for their camping trip. Those who are mountaineering or hiking in rough terrain will want to opt for accessories such as gaiters and packs with ripstop nylon or other durable materials to keep debris out of your shoes and equipment in one piece. For the more casual camper, you can likely forego the extra equipment in lieu of more leisure-minded items (fleece socks for comfy camping nights, anyone?).
