Camp Clothing

The type of clothing you need for RVing, OHVing, camping, boating depends on the weather and type of activities you will be engaging in. Fortunately, an RV and even tent or car camping usually gives you enough room to have some latitude in your wardrobe. But the weight and space limitations, though generous compared to, say, hiking or back packing, are still limited and you need to make wise choices in order to be sufficiently prepared for various activities and weather conditions. For summer camping, don't forget your swimsuits. There may be opportunities to cool off in lakes and streams or visit water parks along the way.   Or just enjoy and old fashioned squirt gun fight.  It is also a good idea to keep at least one set of "work clothes" in case you need to do repairs on your vehicle or get involved in some kind of volunteer service project. I've seen travelers conscripted onto fire fighting crews during wildfires. Even some camp chores, like chopping wood, building fires, cleaning out the fire pit, or just taking out the trash might warrant wearing work clothes. Keep in mind just about any kind of camping and associated activities are going to be more demanding than your normal day-to-day lifestyle, so choose clothing that is durable and comfortable. Warm weather may suggest shorts and tank tops, but you'll actually be more comfortable -- and safer from sunburn and insects and, believe it or not, cooler  -- if you wear loose fitting long sleeved shirts and full length trousers. Even though they may be hotter in warm weather, dark jeans are usually better choices than khakis or other light colored items that will show dirt easily. Flowered prints and some bright colors may attract flying insects so if you find yourself the target of repeated air raids, consider changing into something less flamboyant. By the way, some perfumes, colognes, and after shave lotions also attract insects.  If you look or smell like a flower, you'll probably be the target of pollinating bugs!  And, yes, if you feel you are especially targeted by bugs, it might be true!  Some people give off a scent (usually undetectable to humans) that does attract insects.  Sometimes it is a function of diet or medications so, if you are one of those people, you might want to do some research to see what  you can do to mitigate your situation.

For OHV activities, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential (see previous post entitled Wear Appropriate Gear for details). For hiking, birdwatching, sightseeing, and similar activities, the clothing only need fit the weather -- and the wearer. Ill-fitting clothing can not only be uncomfortable and unattractive, it can often create unnecessary safety hazards. If rain is common where you're going, bring along a rain suit or at least a plastic poncho.  Plastic ponchos are inexpensive (I usually get mine at Dollar Tree) and take up only about as much room as a handkerchief.  If you plan for the climate and dress properly, you can be fairly comfortable in almost any kind of weather, but getting caught in the rain in ordinary summer clothes, even on a warm summer day, can be chilling, even to the point of dangerous hypothermia! Check the weather report before you go and frequently during your stay. There are inexpensive radios that operate on special NOAA weather channels that are very useful or just turn your vehicle radio on to a local station now and then. And keep an eye on the sky! No matter what the weatherman says, the sky will tell you what is really happening in your area right now! How often has the weatherman been right? You know, I suppose being a weatherman has certain advantages. Where else can you be wrong 70% of the time (or more!) and still keep your job? One of my favorite weather stories is the one about a fellow who called up his local radio station one December day to complain that he had just shoveled 18" of 10% chance off his driveway! Been there, done that, bought shirt, wore it out!

Organizing your wardrobe. In conjunction with picking your camping wardrobe you need to consider how you are going to organize -- what resources and how much room do you have? Simply packing a bunch of stuff in a cardboard box or a suitcase or duffle bag isn't going to make it very accessible and you might almost just as well leave it home. Note how much closet and drawer space you have in your RV -- or how much room you have in your suitcase, backpack, or duffle bag for tent camping. Store things in a logical manner so you can easily find what you need when you need it. Then adjust your wardrobe selections accordingly. That really warm, fluffy ski jacket may be very appealing as a backup for hiking in cold weather, but if it won't fit in your backpack, it has to go. RV closets are usually limited. There are some gadgets promoted to increase closet space. They don't really, but they may help you organize things to make better use of the space you have. Check out some of the hangers that hang multiple items (shirts, blouses, sweaters, etc) in a cascading fashion. This configuration takes up little room on the closet rod and makes pretty efficient use of the space below. Instead of cramming six shirts or blouses right next to each other and using up valuable rod space, they hang slightly below each other, taking advantage of otherwise wasted space beneath the bottom of shirts hung individually.  There can be many uses for a fabric back-of-the-door shoe other that storing shoes in the pockets.  It can be a good way to corral things like shampoo bottles and other bulky toiletries.   A couple of useful tricks for RV closets: 1) use plastic storage tubs in the bottom of the closet, in other cabinets, on shelves, or under the bed or dinette if your RV is short on drawer space. 2) use car-wash size sponges above the closet rod to prevent the hangers from bouncing off. Some RV closets use special hangers that attach securely to the rod. If you have one of these, you probably don't need the sponges, unless you are adding ordinary hangers. If the hangers aren't somehow controlled, any good bump is going to bounce them off the rod and you'll open the door to find everything in a pile on the closet floor, very effectively negating any benefits of hanging them in the closet. When tent camping, using several small bags or plastic tubs instead of one big one may make it easier to find things.  I learned to pack clothing in a duffle bag in basic training in the U.S. Army and the techniques are applicable to suitcases too and can do a remarkable job of keeping things orderly and wrinkle free.  One cool trick is to turn suit coats and similar garments inside-out, tucking the top of the sleeves back into the shoulders and folding them in on themselves

Some general guidelines. Use the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple Stupid! Unless you have extraordinary activities to attend (like a wedding or other formal affair), a simple wardrobe is best. Choose versatile items that can be easily combined to create various ensembles. Choose items that are easy to care for. Jeans are always a good bet for most camping trips. They're sturdy, comfortable, and easy to take care of. Also include items that will allow you to create layers for warmth if the temperature drops. You probably don't need your snow suits and ski gloves for summer outings in most parts of the country but bringing along a sweater, sweat shirt, and jacket is always a good idea. Summer nights can be surprisingly cool in desert and forest campgrounds. And don't forget dry socks, extra shoes, and extra underwear. Appropriate hats are almost always good to have. In hot summer weather they provide much needed shade and protection from the sun. In winter weather, they will help keep you warm. My grandmother used so say "If your feet are cold, put on your hat!" And guess what? It works! You can lose as much as 90% of your body heat through your head and a good hat can help keep it from escaping. Plastic ponchos are inexpensive and take up little room while providing pretty good protection against sudden rain. Keep one in your fanny pack or pocket.  I keep one in my dirt bike tool kit too.

About those snowsuits. If you are doing any winter camping and your activities include skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing, you will definitely want to dress warm. Likewise if you ride your dirt bikes or ATVs in cold weather or are participating in some other snowy fun. Clothing that is comfortable when standing around camp may not provide adequate protection against the wind chill factor introduced by sliding down steep slopes or speeding along on a snowmobile. Interestingly enough though, you should feel a little cool (not chilled) just standing around if you are going to be involved in activities that will cause you to warm up. Even riding a dirt bike, ATV, or snowmobile, can be strenuous enough to make you sweat even in cold weather. Some areas are prone to freezing rain during winter storms. If you are in such an area, make sure your snowsuits are at least water repellent if not waterproof or wear a rain suit or poncho. Winter gear designed for snow will not necessarily protect you against rain or melted snow, even though it may protect you against snow and extremely low temperatures -- as long as you keep it dry. Once it gets wet, you're going to get cold, perhaps lethally so. Best to dress in layers so you can easily adjust as you -- or the outside air temperature -- changes. Be prepared for wet weather with rain suits, ponchos, or other water resistant or water proof clothing. Or be smart enough to get in out of the rain if you have to! If you do get wet, retreat to your tent or RV as soon as possible and get out of your wet clothes and into dry ones. Arrange your wet clothing where it will dry, taking care not to get it too close to fires or heaters. If you run out of dry clothes, hang the wet ones up to dry and crawl into your bed or sleeping bag or wrap up in a blanket until you have dry clothes to put on. Never sit around in wet clothes!  It is an invitation to hypothermia and other distressing conditions.

An unexpected winter danger: dehydration. We're all pretty much aware of the dangers of becoming dehydrated in hot weather as the sweat drips off our bodies but did you know you sweat in cold weather too? And, of course, you lose moisture through simply breathing. Those little clouds of breath are your vital body fluids wisping away into the cold air. If you are involved in any kind of physical activities, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, chopping wood, etc you are likely to sweat under your warm clothing. This presents two dangers: dehydration and hypothermia. Dehydration happens when you lose too much of your body fluids, mostly water, through sweat and breathing. Loss of body fluids can be compensated for by drinking sufficient water and electrolytes. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below normal. This is a very dangerous situation and if not treated quickly, can be fatal. To guard against hypothermia you must be aware of how much you are sweating and the effect it is having on the ability of your clothing to retain body heat. You may need to shed some outer layers or open zippers during strenuous activities to avoid excessive sweating and moisture buildup. If your inner clothing gets sweaty and damp, change it for dry clothing before you become chilled.

Technology aids: modern technology gives us many ways to increase our level of comfort in extreme weather conditions. A simple aid to keeping cool in very hot weather is a spray bottle. A cool spritz of water now and then supplements our own sweat, reduces skin temperature, and makes us feel more comfortable. For cold weather, there are battery operated socks and gloves to help keep our extremities from freezing. Also consider the "Hot Hands" heating pads. These are chemical-based heating pads that, when exposed to air, create heat. One of these tucked into each glove -- or in each boot -- work wonders to keep the chill off. There are larger "body pads" for use under your shirt too. These are also a good way to help warm someone suffering from hypothermia. Tuck one in each armpit, one on the inside of each upper thigh, and one on the inside of each ankle. One on either side of the neck also helps warm the blood (and therefore vital organs). Well-insulated pants and coats together with thermal underwear will generally provide sufficient protection against the cold except in really extreme conditions, such as north of the Arctic circle! But you probably won't be doing a lot of winter RVing or camping there. For cold weather dirt biking, I found wearing a "Windchill" jersey under my Enduro jacket and "Windchill" gloves a lot more comfortable than ordinary jerseys and gloves and they kept us warm without the bulkiness of multiple layers of thermal underwear and sweatshirts. Thick motocross socks inside my riding boots kept my toes from freezing. Plain old "long johns" are always a good foundation for just about any cold weather activities, but are sometimes kind of bulky. Even a pair of women's panty hose will help keep anyone's legs and bottom a little bit warmer as well as being a guard against the chafing known as "monkey butt" from straddling a saddle or seat . Interestingly enough, they can be worn comfortably in hot weather without much discomfort too. If you will be involved in outdoor activities in cold weather, check out the "systems" of insulating underwear and socks available these days. Technology has given us light weight fabrics that have extraordinary thermal properties. There are various options for different layers of socks and underwear, depending on your level of activity and personal body heat parameters.  Some materials, such as wool, retain their insulating properties even when wet.  Some new synthetics are specially designed to wick perspiration away from your skin.  Proper layering of socks can help prevent blisters as well as keeping your feet warm.

Your head has a surprisingly dis-proportionate effect on body temperature. In cold weather you can lose up to 90% of your body heat through your head, so wear a warm hat. In hot weather, keeping your head cool can help regulate your whole body temperature. Over-exposing your head to the sun will make you much hotter, so wear a light weight, broad-brimmed hat to protect your skin from sunburn and help keep you cool. Blood vessels in the neck are fairly close to the surface, so keeping your neck cool (or warm) helps cool (or warm) your blood and keep your whole body more comfortable.  My favorite cold weather hat is a Russian "ushanka" (which means "ear hat").  These are often furry and have large flaps that cover your ears and part of your cheeks and pretty far down your neck.  They are VERY good for cold weather.  My favorite summer hat is a wide-brimmed straw hat.  They shade my face and eyes and can be easily soaked with water for extra cooling.

Extremities are difficult to keep warm in cold weather. Fingers, toes, ears and nose can quickly become uncomfortably cool or even frozen if not adequately protected. Mittens will keep your fingers warmer than gloves, but you sacrifice some dexterity. Chemical heat pads can be used to warm your fingers and toes. Even a thin nylon face mask will provide a surprising amount of protection for your nose, cheeks, and chin. A nice thick fleece or knit mask will do even better. Feet will require warm socks and, if possible, insulated boots. And keep everything dry! Wet clothing will cause you to loose your body heat something like 25 times faster than dry.  Your extremities get cold quicker because your body naturally begins shutting down blood flow to preserve your core temperature where your organs are, which is critical to survival.  Exercising your fingers and toes can help stimulate blood flow and help keep them warmer.  Things like clapping your hands or stomping your feet may also help.  Avoid tight-fitting gloves or footwear as that restricts circulation and speeds cooling.

Proper clothing for cooking. For the most part you probably don't need any special clothing for cooking. However, you might find an apron a good addition to protect your regular clothing. BBQ aprons are usually heavy enough to provide some protection against errant embers in addition to shielding you clothing from grease, smoke, and spills. A toque (chef's hat) is probably going overboard, but it might be fun and a nice gesture if you are preparing food for a large group and it will help keep your hair under control and out of your food. An inexpensive and compact alternate solution is a hair net. You may look kind of funny, but your guests will appreciate not having your hair in their food. A "do rag" or bandanna tied around your head is another way keep your hair under control when cooking.  No one wants your hair in their food and it is unlikely that you want food in your hair!

Night wear is seldom give any special consideration when camping. A lot of people just sleep in their clothes but, to be more comfortable, for the most part you will want to try to dress (or undress) for sleeping the same as you do at home to maintain as much familiarity and comfort as possible in order to sleep well. However, in extreme temperatures you may have to make some adjustments. If you find you are always cold in your RV bed or sleeping in your tent, look into warmer bedding or consider wearing warm pajamas, maybe even ones with feet. You might try putting on some clean dry socks at bedtime unless you're one of those people who feel claustrophobic if your feet are confined.  Wearing the same socks to bed you've been wearing all day will make your feet cold as the moisture in them evaporates.  On very hot nights you may want to reduce the amount of clothing you wear to bed and even then you may need to start out sleeping on top of your bedding or sleeping bag. Of course, the degree of privacy you have in your tent or RV may affect what you wear to bed and whether you can sleep outside the covers.  Overnight temperatures can often drop significantly so keep your regular blankets etc near by for when it cools down.  When hiking you may not want to sacrifice valuable pack space to carry pajamas.  If so, you'll have to make adjustments to your nighttime routine.  If you do sleep in your clothes, empty your pockets before you go to bed.  Sleeping  on your wallet, cell phone, or keys and be very painful by morning.  I once fell asleep in a lounge chair, sitting on my wallet.  When I awoke my leg had gone so numb my knee buckled when I tried to walk.  It took several hours to completely recover.

For basic camping, jeans, a long sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes are a recommended starting place.  Always bring plenty of extra socks and underwear.  You might think a T-shirt will be cooler in warm weather than long sleeved shirt.  That is not always the case.  A T-shirt leaves your arms exposed to direct sunlight.  Think about how Bedouins and other desert nomads dress.  They wear loose robes that shade them from the sun and allow perspiration to evaporate to keep them cool.  Long sleeved shirts also help protect your arms from noxious plants like stinging nettle and poison ivy.

For boating you might want to choose swimwear if you are going to be in and our of the water regularly.  However, if you don't plan on going in the water you would be most comfortable if you dress in a  loose-fitting, light weight long-sleeved shirt and pants to protect your arms and legs from excess sunlight while allowing enough ventilation to help evaporate perspiration to keep you cool.

Dress well!