Continuing on from the last post, I’ll start with pants. Most people I know who go out exploring will just wear jeans, and usually that’s fine. If it’s warm, and dry, and you know you aren’t going to be around anything too sharp and jagged (and usually it’s your hands that will find the sharp things first) then go ahead and wear jeans.

If it’s cold and wet you might want to consider either some snow pants or BDU pants. Poly or Nylon/Cotton. Something that is able to dry out fast and is ‘windproof’ (again, don’t get wet and cold) will make your trip less miserable. If it’s warm and raining, at least you aren’t getting soaked.

Long underpants, like those waffle thermals, will keep you warm. Also, don’t wear snow pants during the summer.

And speaking of finding sharp things, you’ll need gloves. Usually a pair of cheap work gloves with some grip on them will work fine. I often get them from the Dollar store which means I don’t worry about cleaning them if they get too dirty. I also carry some thin ones that are nylon during the summer to keep me from directly touching anything possibly unsafe. If you remember my story from (Wasteland) you’ll see why that’s important. I also once wasn’t paying attention and grabbed at a window frame I thought was clear of glass, it wasn’t. If I had been wearing my gloves I wouldn’t have a scar on my palm.

I’ve tried a number of different bags during our trips including messenger bags (satchels!) and backpacks of different sizes and shapes. It generally comes down to how long I plan on walking and how much I need to carry. On our short trips to places that are nearby I usually use a cheap canvas messenger bag I bought from an army surplus store online. If we’re walking longer I have a backpack with padded shoulders and some pockets and compartments that make organization much easier.  It also makes it pain to switch lenses quickly and you don’t have immediate access, so, pick your poison. Oh, and as for frame backpacks, that’s overkill for these excursions.

Finally if you’re going anywhere near a building that was constructed before the asbestos ban, or might have rats, get an asbestos abatement mask. You can find them for less than twenty dollars (US) pretty much at any hardware store and you’re best off getting one with cartridge filters so you can replace them after awhile. The simple paper mask ones won’t really help you with asbestos, so avoid those.

If you really want to scare people, you can spend way too much money and get a full face mask, and maybe a hazmat suit. Be sure to warn everyone about the ‘outbreak.’

Also @TheMoxieMan suggests the company Filson for outdoor clothes. So give them a shot if you don’t like the military style stuff.

13 Feb This entry was published on February 13, 2013 at 11:37 pm and is filed under Behind the Concrete Curtain. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.