Last week we looked at Alaska’s and Canada’s rules for survival kits in private aircraft. Both places legally require pilots to carry certain gear. But the rules are pretty general. So let’s go down the rabbit hole a bit and look at the details. This will take several posts to cover completely, but we’re going to start today with clothing. You can really help your odds if you dress for survival before you get on the plane.

This isn’t a camping trip

Let’s remember one very important fact here: we’re talking about surviving after a plane crash. Things have already gone badly wrong. The plane might be on fire. It may be sinking to the bottom of a lake. You or your passengers might be hurt. Maybe you were able to grab your survival kit. Maybe not. All you will have for sure is the clothes on your back and the stuff in your pockets. So let’s start there.

A small crashed plane in the mountains.
Source: Adobe Stock

Dressing for survival really boils down to dressing to stay warm and relatively dry. Your body only functions efficiently (or at all) if its internal temperature stays within a narrow band. Alaskan weather varies, of course, but in general it’s colder and wetter than we’re used to in the lower 48. So you must dress to conserve the heat your body produces. And the clothing must continue to perform, in miserable conditions, for a long time.

A Disclaimer

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How to dress for survival

Your clothing has to do a lot of jobs. It must protect you from sunburn and insect bites. It must protect your skin from minor scrapes. Also, it must move perspiration away from your skin and allow it to evaporate. At the same time, it also has to insulate you against the cold and wind, and keep itself, and you, dry in the rain. And it must provide some warmth even when wet. Finally, your clothing must dry out quickly.

Ideally, the clothing should also look at least tolerably decent, if not stylish. At least by the local standards. Hopefully you’ll be landing at your destination rather than surviving in the wilderness, so your clothing needs to be acceptable in town as well as in the back of beyond.

It turns out no one garment will do everything you need. Most garments can do a few things well. But you can select layers of clothing that, when worn together, can provide the entire package.

Materials matter

Let’s look at some common clothing materials, and how each one stacks up.

Natural Materials

Cotton (including jeans, sweatshirts, flannel shirts, and t-shirts) feels nice when it’s dry, but absorbs a lot of water and takes a long time to dry. When wet, cotton provides no insulation, and in fact draws heat from your body. Avoid flying in cotton clothing. Cotton is fine for bandannas and handkerchiefs.

Traditional wool like that found in sweaters continues to offer the advantages it always has. It’s warm, even when wet, and dries tolerably quickly, though not as fast as the synthetic fibers. Wool fends off campfire sparks much better than synthetic fibers. It feels pretty scratchy on sensitive skin, though. Wool shirts and sweaters are great choices that can look stylish as well as practical. Trousers of wool are harder to find than they once were, but would be a great choice.

Merino wool is the wool of a specific breed of sheep, and is much finer than other wool. It’s commonly used in socks, underwear, and base layers (i.e. long underwear). Merino offers the same advantages as traditional wool, but is far less itchy. Some people do find it slightly itchy, though, so try before you fly.

Down refers to the underfeathers of ducks and geese. These are used as insulation in jackets, gloves and sleeping bags. In dry conditions it performs better than anything else, but if it gets wet it’s useless. It’s also very difficult and time-consuming to dry back out. It is a fine choice for sleeping bags but probably not the best for a jacket in a survival situation.

Synthetic Materials

Polyester is a synthetic fiber. It comes in many forms, including woven cloth, batting, knits, and fleece. In any form, it doesn’t absorb much water, and dries out quickly, while providing some insulation even while wet. It does melt when hit with campfire sparks though.

Nylon has many of the same virtues and vises as polyester. Like polyester it is a synthetic fiber. It’s tougher, and less prone to tearing than polyester. Nylon can be coated with waterproofing more easily than polyester, so it’s often used in rain gear.

Gore-tex and other waterproof-breathable fabrics are not technically fibers, nor fabric in themselves, but need to be mentioned here. They are actually a film or coating that’s bonded onto fabric, usually nylon or polyester. The film allows water vapor to pass through, but blocks liquid water. It therefore renders the fabric waterproof, but still somewhat breathable. It makes great rain gear.

Still curious about fabrics? Check out this post!

Dress for survival in layers

The key to dressing for the wilderness is to dress in layers. Each layer plays a specific role, and together they will keep you warm, dry, and alive. Let’s consider them in turn. We’ll look at what they do, what they should be made of, and things to consider when you select them.

Base layers and underwear

Base layers move moisture away from your skin and let it evaporate. They also help provide insulation. Underwear (and bras) also help move moisture, as well as providing support to sensitive body parts. Choose polyester or merino wool for the next to skin layers. For bras, choose something comfortable, supportive, and fast-drying. Again, avoid cotton.

You can get base layers in a wide range of thicknesses, and therefore levels of warmth. You will have to decide based on the conditions expected in the time and place you’ll be, of course. In general, choose two thin layers over one medium, or two medium over one thick. You will find it more versatile, and probably warmer too.

Shot of light, mid, and heavyweight base layers.
L to R: Lightweight polyester base layer top, mid-weight merino wool top, and heavyweight polyester.

Shirt and pants

Your shirt could simply be your base layer top, or you could add a sweater, wool shirt, or synthetic shirt. I’ve already mentioned the virtues of wool shirts and pants, but synthetics are also great. You can find many choices from brands like Prana, Kuhl, and Patagonia that look good, are easy to care for, and yet perform well in the wilderness. As always, stay away from cotton.

Insulation

Start with a fleece jacket, waterproof gloves, and a warm hat like a stocking cap. Put the hat and gloves in the pocket if you’re too hot. Consider taking a balaclava or neck gaiter for some extra lightweight warmth.

Outer Shell

A waterproof-breathable jacket with hood, and pants to match, top off the ensemble. These protect you from rain and wind, and allow moisture from your perspiration to escape so you don’t end up soaked from the inside. You probably won’t want to wear the pants until you’re outside in the rain, though.

Footwear

There are two schools of thought regarding waterproof footwear. One camp swears by it, and will accept nothing else. The other camp claims that eventually you’ll mess up and get water over the top of your waterproof boots and turn them into buckets. So boots or shoes that aren’t waterproof will at least dry faster. In moderate weather I tend to favor the second camp. But for Alaska I’m leaning more toward waterproof. I have had to wear non-waterproof shoes in snow, and it was awful.

For socks, choose merino wool, or synthetic if you’re allergic to wool. Get ones that are thick but not so thick that they mess up the fit of your boots. And try the socks and boots on together.

This outfit should help keep you alive in some pretty harsh conditions. With the addition of some things in your pockets, you should have a fighting chance. We’ll talk about that stuff next week. See you then!