What NOT to wear: The worst clothes for a survival sitution

Fashion has no place in survival. During crisis situations, the least you need to worry about is how good you look. What is more important is knowing that you are well-protected and properly clothed to handle any emergency. Instead of a “how-to” list that we often feature in our preparedness articles, we’ve written instead a “do not do” guide on clothes that you should NOT wear during crisis events. (h/t to MoreThanJustSurviving.com.)

1. Clothes that are uncomfortable — Movement is essential. Dress in clothes that are comfortable. This allows you to focus your thoughts on surviving the situation rather than worrying about parts of your attire. This ranges from the obvious (such as stiletto heels in the forest) to the less so (like an itchy shirt).
2. Clothes that are not appropriate for the weather — Always dress according to the weather. The easiest way to go about this is to wear/pack more clothes than you actually need. If the weather gets cool, you can easily peel off a layer or two. One thing we’d recommend you to have in your bug-out bag is a space blanket or something similar. In case you don’t have a spare coat or jacket with you, the blanket can keep you warm.
3. Clothes that are muted — Camouflage pants may be great in theory, but you actually need to stand out during emergency situations. This makes it easier for the rescue team to spot you. Green pants or shirts will make you blend in the trees and this is the last thing that you want. If your clothes are not bright enough, you can use a brightly colored handkerchief or cloth to attract attention. Your spare thermal blanket should also be brightly colored.
4. Clothes that are not durable — Wear clothes that will last and are able to withstand whatever damage the environment you are in is giving. This means choosing the correct gear for the right environment. This involves a certain level of research and shopping. Before you go on any trip, make sure that you learn as much as you can on the specific clothes AND shoes that you need to wear and/or bring. A lot of clothes manufacturers right now have developed specially-designed items for various environments.
5. Clothes that do not offer protection — The most obvious example of this is wearing flip-flops in the jungle or running shoes in a swamp. Wearing clothes that do not protect you properly can result in injury. (Related: Guidelines for choosing clothing and accessories for any survival situation.)

Other things NOT to bring

In line with our “do not do” list, we’ve also considered items that should NOT be a part of your bug-out bag. As with the types of clothing listed above, these items are not necessary or useful during emergency situations. (h/t to UrbanSurvivalSite.com.)

• Heavy tools — A lot of us are attached to tools, be they our cherished saws, socket wrenches, or wire cutters. However, during a crisis, it is unlikely that you need to engage in heavy repair. What’s more, these things make your bag heavier than it has to be.
• Games — There are people who bring travel-sized games for fun or to help pass the time. Please don’t be one of them. These are absolutely useless during emergencies.
• Toiletries — This may be a hard one for extremely clean people, but items like shampoos and deodorants are not needed for survival. Remember that you are in a crisis situation — no one will really care if your hair is matted or if your breath stinks.

Being prepared for any situation takes a lot of research and planning. You can learn more helpful tips like this at Preparedness.news.

Sources include:

MoreThanJustSurviving.com

UrbanSurvivalSite.com