Bugging out? What will you wear? MILSPEC is the best

(Bugout.news) Perhaps one of the most overlooked pieces of gear you’ll need if you have to leave the comfort of your home in times of turmoil is your clothing, and this is especially true if you find that you have to make it to, and live in, a remote area for a period of time.

Rain and snow, heat and dryness, humidity and moisture will take a toll on all your gear, but especially your clothing, so it is wise to invest in clothing that is designed to withstand all of these elements.

Having spent some time in the service and overseas in Afghanistan, there is little question in my mind that military clothing is some of the most hardy available, and especially military clothing designed for a specific region or climate.

But farmers and outdoorsmen will also tell you that you can get tough clothing from brands like Carhart and Levi’s. The point is, you’ll need to invest in a wardrobe that is robust enough to endure whatever environmental challenges are specific to your area.

Let’s look at some of the best gear out there:

Military panchos/pants: These are about the best I’ve seen for keeping you dry. For the complete set, make sure to pick up a pair of rain pants as well. You can find these items at any military surplus store, or order them online from any number of sources. Honestly, I’ve had to wear this gear for several hours at a time and in some pretty hard rain, and it kept me dry every time. And, as you can see, these ponchos can also serve as makeshift shelters:

Don’t forget the pants:

* Here’s a tip: Buy some cans of waterproofing spray and apply it liberally to your rain gear, for extra wicking and protection. You can add this to all of your outerwear and gear that will be exposed to the elements.

Heavy coats/winter wear: Again, the military gear is tough to beat, but some of the other brands work as well. What I like about the MILSPEC clothing is that it is designed to be protective and functional, because it has to be. For extreme cold, the once-ubiquitous M65 field jacket has been replaced by “Michelin Man” outerwear, and let me just say, it keeps you warm:

Camo-pattern coveralls also make a good outerwear purchase (just make sure you can function in them):

Footwear: Here, MILSPEC may not be the best, but the Gortex boots I wore in Afghanistan – the few times I encountered a stream bed with water in it – kept my feet dry and safe. Still, there most certainly are other footwear brands that will work as well. The thing about military Gortex boots is that they aren’t necessarily the warmest – so this is something you’ll want to keep in mind if you need footwear that is robust and designed to keep your feet both warm and dry. Tip: When you buy your footwear, make sure to wear it for about 24 hours total, so that you break it in. Believe me, you don’t want a pair of hiking or regular boots that you discover too late (like, the day you need them) that they are going to destroy your feet! If you can’t walk, you can’t bug out.

Here are a few of the better types/brands of footwear:

Regular clothing: Here again, military clothing wears well, lasts long and is designed to endure the elements. Shirts, t-shirts, and pants are all reinforced it the right places – knees and elbows – and are tear-resistant. Plus, there are all kinds of patterns and color schemes, each designed with a specific camouflage purpose in mind. Also, RealTree ™ and other popular patterns are also incorporated into MILSPEC clothing.

As with all of your gear, make sure it is functional before you have to rely on it. That means you actually have to wear it doing real-world prepping tasks to ensure that it is functional and so you can identify any shortcomings.

No gear works 100 percent with everyone, so you may have to try different types and brands in order to find what works best for you. But for my money, and based on my experiences, there is little out that that beats MILSPEC, in terms of cost savings, durability and adaptability.

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