Pick one set of clothes to wear for a year

[HorseGuy]

Hypothetical question. An interesting thought experiment for you experienced bushcrafters to consider and discuss.

Over the past few years I've noticed there seems to have been a dramatic increase in the number of refugees moving around the world and permanently living on the road. There’s millions of them and I couldn’t help wondering from a bushcraft/survival point of view what clothes do they wear and how do they cope with washing and hygiene?

So my hypothetical question for you to consider is if you were to become a refugee yourself and had to choose just a single set of clothes which you would need to wear permanently for several months, maybe even years, what perfect set of clothes would you choose and why? Everything from the underwear to the coat and how you would cope with the washing/hygiene of them?

 

[Chris]

I read this title and thought it was my brother posting about his first year at university.

Boots - my Lowa Renegades as they’re very comfy and waterproof.

Boxers - Merino wool.

Socks - Wool hiking socks, probably Bridgedale

Merino wool longjohns

Fjallraven Vidda Pro trousers. They seem bomb proof and are easy to clean, don’t smell easily and are practical.

Merino wool baselayer, I have a Keela one. Takes a long time to smell bad.

Wool shirt. Thermal efficiency plus smell efficiency.

Woolly pully jumper. See above.

Zip up fleece jacket.

Goretex jacket. I have a Mountain Equipment one with pit vents which I like a lot, works for summer showers as well as on top of warm layers in winter.

Wool beanie.

Basically, as much wool as possible for its great thermal properties and smell resistance.

Leisure centre/Gym showers for washing myself and base layer. They often have hair dryers available as well for drying. Laundrette for washing/drying the rest of my clothes whilst wearing my clean base layer.

 

[John Fenna]

Two sets of wool everything - preferably merino - except my home made Ventile trousers and jacket and Altberg defender boots. All pretty bombproof and stench resistant.
Youth Hostel (I am a life member and have been since I was 16 - over half a century ago) or Leisure center showers and base layer wash (or mountain streams), launderette for major washing.
I spent a year on the road in my late teens/early twenties and this was pretty much my chosen kit then though my outer layers were just bought items/ army surplus.

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

Black Cashmere crew neck jumper worn next to skin, pair of Carharrt double fronted work trousers, icebreaker boxers, Smartwool socks, Blundstone boots, a fleece gilet and for a jacket for longevity a Barbour Border.

 

[Rex Mundi]

Merino base layers.

Merino blend socks courtesy of costco. Lovely & warm but longer lasting than just merino socks.

Pendleton wool shirt.

Kuhl trousers. Really good range of movement in them and hard wearing.

A Barbour jacket that I got as a hand me down. Absolutely bomb proof and I remain dey as a bone no matter what the weather throws at me.

Altberg defenders. Had em for yonks - resoled a couple of times. They're as comfy as slippers but with ankle support

 

[Billy-o]

Yeah, wool. Though probably trainers rather than boots

 

[Harold Godwinson]

Interesting question, I'd go with my standard,
Lowa mountain boots
Wool socks
British army lightweights
Merino base layer
Wool sweater
Barbour Beaufort jacket (with arms removed
Swanndri Mosgiel
Wool flat cap
Fleece snood
Wool mitts

And if I could get away with it a wool poncho too

 

[Chris]

Barbour Beaufort jacket (with arms removed

That must make it difficult to do the zip up!

 

[Damascus]

My birthday suit! I’ll get my coat….

 

[Harold Godwinson]

That must make it difficult to do the zip up!

Boom boom

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Well, since refugees don't usually have the choice & to remain in the spirit of the question...I'll have to go with what I already have & can grab at a moments notice........starting with a pair of cotton jean like trousers, a thick cotton shirt, a French army fleece jacket, an 80s Belgian army field jacket & a longish Aussie oilskin coat. I'll top that off with either a waxed leather or fur felt hat.....depending on the weather conditions I would be expecting to encounter. For footwear...I would prefer something by Haix but the ones I have are on their last legs so I'll go with a pair of Altberg Defenders, even though I don't like them.
Other than socks I can't wear anything in wool, it's just too uncomfortable.

 

[Aristotle]

Merino is good, but it wears very quickly.
A thin and a thick Wool jumper and a waxed jacket with a hood would be my choice.

A pair of 5.11 ripstop cargo trousers.

Non-membrane leather boots that can be re-soled.

Aussie Leather bush hat and a wool beanie

 

[Herman30]

Merino is good, but it wears very quickly.

Because of that 100% merinowool is not to be considered. Need to be some 15-20% artificial threads.

 

[Pattree]

If we’re talking about only using one set of clothes from the comfort of a stable and equipped home then all this wool might be fine.

If we are talking about street living then it’s fleece all the way. Warm, easy to wash and quick to dry. Get it from a charity shop and you’ve made zero impact on the Environment.

 

[Herman30]

@Pattree Original question was:

if you were to become a refugee yourself and had to choose just a single set of clothes which you would need to wear permanently for several months, maybe even years,

 

[HorseGuy]

Merino is good, but it wears very quickly.

Because of that 100% merinowool is not to be considered. Need to be some 15-20% artificial threads.

Interesting. I did not know this.

 

[HorseGuy]

Some interesting choices and comments there gents. Here’s my list which allows for plenty of layering options throughout the year:

Outer clothes
Keela Monro rain coat
Keela Skye Po fleece jacket
Keela CADS polo shirt
Keela Heritage Scuffer heavy-duty trousers
Cotton baseball cap
Jack Pyke double walled merino wool beanie hat
Paul James merino wool snood
Paul James merino wool fingerless gloves
Altberg Fremington boots

Base layers
2 x Keela merino wool round neck tops
2 x Keela merino wool leggings
2 x Keela merino wool boxers
4 x Bridgedale Lightweight merino wool socks

The boots need to be usable in both summer and winter periods. My feet get hot easily so I generally find lightweight three season boots and thinner socks work best for me even during in the winter. To help with washing and hygiene I would have two sets of each base layers so that I could regularly wash and rotate them. I would also have four pairs of socks to aid regular changing as I imagine good foot hygiene would be especially important if living on the road. All of these base layers and socks weigh virtually nothing so carrying more than one set of each would be no problem.

 

[EdS]

Because of that 100% merinowool is not to be considered. Need to be some 15-20% artificial threads.

No it doesnt.

Ive merino tops that are pushing 20 years old. And I've had synthetic base layers wear very quickly.

Its a question of understanding fibre thickness and what type of use the garment is good for

Adding synthetic fibres negates the advantages of wool.

 

[Ozmundo]

If I had to pick one set then pretty much my daily wear as it has all been darned or repaired and still going fine.

If this is a planned situation then having a change of underwear/base layer makes hygiene easier. For normal modern existence clothes don’t get that dirty.

Merino, I have some bits but I prefer Alpaca wool synthetic blend. But I under stand this is now “on trend”.

I have nalbindung socks made from Soay wool. These are very warm and very durable. They were used instead of shoes once upon a time.

Linen, natural not modern machine produced. I’d choose this as a warm climate alternative as a base layer. Hang in the sun to self clean.

Wool shirt, old pair of US BDU pants, wool “puttees” as boot liners, neoprene wellies or simple leather boots I can re stitch. Failing that duct tape to keep the Merrells going.

If was going to be predominately cold Buffalo belay jacket. Mainly wet, old pattern (Gen2?) ECWCS, much thicker than current goretex and doesn’t seem to have gone flaky despite being late 1990’s.

Woolly or leather gloves that I can resew and a watch cap. I can make a sun hat if it came to it.

Quality street tin of haberdashery supplies.

 

[HillBill]

The climate conditions would need to be taken into account for an entire year.

If i couldn't change anything, i would forego underwear. Socks would have to be durable, so some form of wool/wool blend. Trousers, based on my own experiences, probably some Helikon Tex Pilgrims. A merino base layer which can be removed if too warm,, a wool shirt and a wool jumper, with a shell outer ( which would only be worn occasionally). And a wool beanie.

Wool is great for all sorts, but i don't believe there is just a single set of clothing which would suit year long use.