Clothing

A mistake people commonly make is thinking they've got plenty of clothing. Another is to fail to think about the no-energy, low-technology context. Each winter day, most arise in a warm house, eat a hastily microwaved breakfast or stop by Carl's Jr. on the way to work. Most run scantily clad from warm house to warm car, from warm car to warm office, then reverse the process in late afternoon. In a crisis, there is no car, there is no heated office, there is no heated home. By default, the same temperature inside home is the same as on the outside, there is just no wind.

Summer

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Winter

Here are some suggestions garnered from a recent tip passed around by someone with lots of high-altitude, cold-weather camping experience. When not more specific, these details assume a man who typically wears 2X shirts.

Feet

• Socks. 1-3 pairs. Inner liner polypropylene sock plus 1-2 outer wool socks.
• Boots. Foot is 12½ D, but wear 14 EE leather boots. The larger size allows wearing a liner and a wool sock with room to spare affording insulation without compressing feet or socks. Feet remain warm at -15°.
• Snow boots Purchase at least one extra pair of felt linersm which absorb moisture from feet, and must be rotated to dry out daily.
• Gaiters, an extra layer over the boots and lower legs, to keep snow out of pant legs and boots.
• Closed cell foam pad. Cut 20" square piece to place under boots when sitting or standing in the same spot. The foam pad is an extra layer of insulation.

Legs

• Underwear. Never 100% cotton.
• Long Johns. 3X Tall, available in light, medium or heavy-weight, weather- and activity-dependent.
• BDU trousers. 2X plus belt, 65% polyester and 35% cotton.
• Wool or canvas Overpant. 3X plus belt.

Body core

• Underwear. Never 100% cotton.
• Long Johns. 3X Tall, available in light, medium or heavy-weight, weather- and activity-dependent.
• Shirt. BDU, 2X Tall, 65% polyester and 35% cotton.
• Vest. Fleece inner vest, 2X Tall and fleece Outer vest 3X Tall.
• Sweater. Polyester or wool inner sweater 2X Tall and outer jacket 3X Tall, with hood.
• When very cold, wear 7 layers of clothing to remain warm, especially at rest.

Neck

• Neck warmer. Fleece
• Scarf. 1’×7’, to circle neck, ears, face and head if needed, fleece or wool.

Head

• Watch cap. wear up to two, an inner and an outer.

Gloves

• Liner/ polypropylene.
• Outer many choices.
• Joanne made us triple layer fleece Over mitts, which fit over our inner and outer gloves
• Items that are always with me; in my pockets or in a small day backpack
• Fire starter 3 methods – Matches – Lighter – Fero rod and a knife
• Char tin with charred punk wood and juniper bark inside
• Fire kindling – small package ~ one-quart
• Extra pairs of socks – Inner / Outer
• Water – in stainless steel bottles, that can be set near the campfire to warm
• Food / Treat (ready to eat w/o cooking)
• Flashlight - Extra batteries (every family members needs a flashlight, the days are shorter)
• Wind breaker jacket 3 X or a mil spec Poncho
• 550 cord
• Sunglasses and neck lanyard
• Lip balm

"Heart" warmer

A pocketed device, made from 100% cotton "dam cloth" purchased from Cal-Ranch, to be worn over the body core. A strap goes around the neck which is adjustable for size and the heart warmer pocket is placed under the jacket. The pocket holds a suitable stone that has been warmed near the campfire. This is an external heat source to warm on very chilly days or nights. A second stone can be warming near the campfire to replace the first. Use a smooth stone the size of a large bar of soap. Do not collect rocks from water without drying them out a long time; they may shatter when heated.

Bed warmer

Similarly, for night, a bed-warmer stone that's brick-sized. Roll in a bath towel (or "dam-cloth"). Often lasts all night long.