Quick answer
- Dress in three layers: a base layer that moves sweat off your skin, a warm middle layer, and a wind- and rain-proof shell.
- Pick wool or synthetic fabrics. Avoid cotton and jeans when it is cold or wet.
- In heat, wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothes, a hat and sunglasses.
- Keep a dry spare set of clothes in a sealed bag, plus sturdy shoes, in your go-bag.
How layering works
Clothing keeps you alive by managing heat and moisture. Layers let you add warmth when you stop and take it off before you sweat. The National Weather Service notes that air trapped between loose layers helps hold heat.
| Layer | Job | Good choices | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Moves sweat off your skin | Merino wool, polyester, polypropylene | Cotton T-shirts and underwear |
| Middle | Traps warm air | Fleece, wool sweater, synthetic or down jacket | Cotton hoodies |
| Shell | Blocks wind, rain and snow | Waterproof jacket with hood, rain pants | Thin “water-resistant” jackets in heavy rain |
Keep every layer a little loose. The CDC advises several layers of loose-fitting clothing in cold weather. Tight clothes squeeze out warm air and can cut off blood flow to hands and feet.
Layering rules while you move
- Start a little cool when you begin walking or working.
- Take off a layer before you start to sweat. The NWS warns that sweating can lead to chills.
- Put your warm layer back on as soon as you stop.
- If you get wet, change into dry clothes right away, as the NWS advises.
Fabrics: what to pick and what to skip
Wool
Wool stays fairly warm when damp and does not hold odor much. Thin merino works well as a base layer. Thicker wool is good for socks, hats and sweaters.
Synthetics
Polyester, polypropylene, nylon and fleece dry fast and cost less than wool. They are light and pack small. Keep them away from campfires, because synthetic fabric can melt from sparks.
Cotton
The National Park Service says to choose wool or synthetics over cotton. It explains that cotton absorbs moisture easily and won’t keep you warm once it is wet. Rocky Mountain National Park also warns against cotton and jeans.
Cotton is fine for a hot, dry day close to home. Do not rely on it if rain, snow, cold water or a cold night is possible.
Down vs synthetic insulation
Down gives the most warmth for its weight and packs very small. It loses most of its warmth when soaked. Synthetic insulation is a bit heavier but keeps more warmth when damp, so it suits wet climates.
Cold weather clothing
The CDC recommends a hat, a scarf or knit mask over your face and mouth, and mittens or gloves. It also lists a water-resistant coat, water-resistant boots and several loose layers. The NWS adds that mittens are warmer than gloves.
Wind makes cold much more dangerous. NWS Boulder notes that at a wind chill near minus 25°F, frostbite is possible within 15 minutes. Cover all exposed skin when the wind picks up.
Cold weather checklist
Know the warning signs
The CDC lists these signs of hypothermia in adults: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. A body temperature below 95°F is a medical emergency. Get the person to a warm place, remove wet clothing and call 911.
Frostbite often starts with redness or pain in the skin. Later the skin can turn white or grayish-yellow, feel firm or waxy, and go numb. See our guide to basic first aid skills and take a hands-on class.
Hot weather and desert clothing
The CDC advises loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing in the heat. It also recommends a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
Long sleeves and long pants in thin fabric shade your skin better than bare arms. A wide brim shades your face, ears and neck. Deserts often get cold at night, so carry a warm layer too.
Hot weather checklist
Wet weather and floods
Rain soaks you through the shoulders, knees and feet first. A rain jacket with a hood, rain pants and waterproof boots cover those weak spots. Quick-dry pants are better than jeans, which stay heavy and cold.
Pack one full set of dry clothes in a sealed bag. The National Park Service gives the same advice for anyone near water. Sleeping in dry clothes is one of the best ways to stay warm.
Good boots do not make floodwater safe. The NWS warns that just six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult. Stay out of moving water.
City disasters: earthquakes, fires and storms
After a disaster, the main risks to your body are often glass, debris and smoke. Your clothes should protect your skin, feet and lungs.
- Shoes: The Red Cross notes that broken glass causes many earthquake injuries. Keep sturdy shoes by your bed, along with a flashlight, glasses, a dust mask and a whistle.
- Work gloves: Leather work gloves protect your hands when moving debris or broken glass.
- Long sleeves and long pants: Durable fabric guards against cuts and scrapes during cleanup.
- Smoke: AirNow advises a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator for wildfire smoke. Cloth masks, paper masks and tissues do not filter it out.
- Power outage in winter: The NWS advises loose, lightweight, warm layers indoors, plus hats, mittens and blankets.
See our guides on earthquake preparation and urban survival for more.
Gloves, hats and sun protection
Your head, hands and feet lose heat fast and get hurt easily. Small items here make a large difference.
- Mittens for deep cold, because fingers share warmth inside.
- Liner gloves for tasks like tying knots or using a phone.
- Leather work gloves for wood, rope, debris and hot pots.
- Warm hat that covers your ears. Pack one even in summer if you are going to the mountains.
- Wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses for snow, water and desert glare.
- Neck gaiter or bandana for sun, dust, wind and as a spare cloth.
Boots and socks
Wear boots you have already broken in. New boots cause blisters, and blisters slow you down. Use waterproof boots for snow and wet ground, and ventilated boots for heat.
Socks matter as much as boots. Wear wool or synthetic socks and carry at least one dry spare pair. Change into the dry pair before you sleep.
Go-bag clothing list
Ready.gov advises a complete change of clothing suited to your climate and sturdy shoes in every emergency kit. It also lists a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Pack the clothes in a waterproof bag inside your pack.
Check the bag each spring and fall. Swap winter and summer items, and replace anything your children have outgrown. For the rest of the kit, see our list of 10 must-have survival kit items.
Common mistakes
- Wearing jeans and a cotton hoodie on a cold, wet day.
- Hiking hard in all layers, sweating through them, then stopping in the wind.
- Bringing only one pair of socks.
- Wearing brand-new boots on a long trip.
- Packing gloves but no mittens for deep cold.
- Forgetting a hat and sunscreen on a cloudy summer day.
- Leaving go-bag clothes unchecked for years.
Sources
- Preventing Hypothermia — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Heat Illnesses — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- During Extremely Cold Weather — National Weather Service
- What To Do If You’re Caught in a Winter Storm — National Weather Service
- Wind Chill Safety — National Weather Service, Boulder
- Turn Around Don’t Drown — National Weather Service, Tulsa
- Be Winter Ready For Your Adventure — National Park Service
- Hypothermia — Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service
- Ten Essentials — National Park Service
- Build a Kit — Ready.gov (FEMA)
- Earthquake Safety — American Red Cross
- The Right Respirator and Proper Fit — AirNow (EPA)