Survival Clothing After TSHTF

Highly rated: Black Tactical Pants

An often overlooked subject for survival preparedness is the subject of clothing for after TSHTF or after a worst case scenario of collapse when there will likely be a shortage or lack of supplies for a possible long period of time. While most preparedness advice is to stock up on food, water, and other supplies, I don’t often see references to clothing.

Having the right clothing IS a big deal and WILL be a big deal while working a harder life after a major collapse. Not only will it be important to have the right seasonal clothes, but more importantly will be having HEAVY DUTY clothes, and plenty of them.

After a disaster or major collapse, you will be spending much more time outside, in the elements… not in your office at work. You will be enduring a harsher life while many or most of your customary creature comforts will be removed.

Your previous career will be changed to a new one of attempted self-sufficiency. You may be on your own or you may be one member of an organized group (your family, your neighborhood?) taking up the tasks necessary to stay alive without the help of a failed system that you once relied heavily upon.

You may be hunkering down, reinforcing / modifying your own home or a shelter, working a garden, hunting, on a security patrol, building and repairing things, gathering firewood, out in the rain and other elements, fishing, searching for supplies, hiding, etc., use your imagination to see your life during a post-collapse.

The clothes that you’ve been wearing to work and play may not hold up to the rigors of a SHTF world.

Buy the best quality heavy-duty clothes that you can afford. You get what you pay for. You want something that will hold up to the demands and something that will last.

Probably the most important item of clothing to be sure to have is heavy-duty pants. Next (or tied for 1st) is heavy-duty and quality footwear. Have plenty of dry socks and underwear (winter and summer). Have a variety of shirts (long and short sleeved) and sweatshirts/sweaters depending on your geographical environment. Have jackets that cover the seasons. You will need rain gear (don’t be cheap here). Accessories like hats, gloves

When choosing your clothes, I would suggest picking plain neutral colors or possibly camouflage patterns. Nothing bright. It will be important to blend in with your environment for the sake of security in a world that will likely be very dangerous.

Keeping your feet dry will be a huge deal. Pay attention to your footwear. Initially you will not be used to working harder and your feet will not be accustomed to heavy duty work. Without the right boots and socks you will be vulnerable to getting blisters or other foot problems, especially if you have new boots that don’t fit right or are not ‘broken in’. Keep comfortable walking shoes as well as a variety of purposed boots. Get footwear that is slightly larger than your ‘normal’ so that you have wiggle room to wear good heavy-duty socks or layers of socks.

If we ever enter a world of post-apocalyptic disaster, after a time, most people will be dressed in deteriorating clothes that are not meant for a life of hard work. Having a surplus of quality, heavy-duty clothing will not only ensure your own protection, but will be a very good barter item – should it ever come to that…

Example:
Very highly rated Olive Tactical Pants

Additional suggestion:
An email from a reader mentioned that in a SHTF situation, many or most of us will not be eating the same types of hi fat, hi protein, hi everything that’s not good for you diets. If preppers are planning on getting tactical clothing now, and they are like most Americans (slightly over weight) a good quality belt may also be in order because we will likely lose weight. Having great survival clothing doesn’t do much good if it won’t stay on you.
[Good Point... don't forget about the accessories to your clothing - belts, laces, etc.]

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