Wilderness Camping Clothing
Don’t be caught short when camping. No matter what your age or level of experience, you should be acutely aware of basic (and not so basic) precautions in particular clothing. It does not pay to buy cheap clothing even for around the camp site. From the bottom up: you must be well shod, and that means
A pair of quality leather boots that you have taken care to break in before you hit the trail. Boots must give you adequate support, so make sure they come up to the ankle.
Woolen socks with nylon or polyester socks to wear next to the skin will prove to be warm in the cold and cooler in warmth.
A high-quality water-proof pancho for rain and snow is an absolute necessity if you are in mountainous country at any time of the year. Don’t skimp on this. A rain and snow pancho will keep you warm and dry and should be light enough to take along in your pack easily. With this, you won’t really need much more than a good sweater underneath. In non-wet weather a fuzzy for the day and a parka for the evening is necessary. Again, don’t skimp on the price.
Trousers are a matter of taste and comfort. Whatever else trousers be made of a durable fabric (denim or canvas), should have plenty of pockets and fit snugly. If you plan on hiking in shorts, the same holds true. In that case those boots must go up to your ankle.
Some people prefer to wear long sleeve shirts at all times; others delight in hiking in short sleeves. Your decision here is your ability to stand exposure. Like trousers make sure the shirts you choose are tough.
A hat or its equivalent can never be passed up; by far the best is a wide-brimmed hat that provides shade all around your head including your neck. This is especially important if you are light-skinned.
A bandana can be useful to hang down the back to give even more protection.
Wear cotton underwear and make sure it fits comfortably; an undershirt is a good idea; like the polyester socks they can help ventilate next to your skin.