Build a clothing kit for the conditions you actually face

Choose useful garments around the person, season, movement and available storage.

Plan for an actual person and activity
Identify who will use the kit, where they may be and what ordinary tasks the clothing must support. Think about standing, walking, using mobility equipment and resting, rather than selecting a generic list for an imaginary wilderness trip. Include the person's preferences, sizing and assistance needs. This guide does not determine whether conditions are medically safe or whether a journey should be attempted. Follow current weather and emergency instructions and obtain appropriate care for individual needs. Clothing can support a sound plan; it cannot make every exposure or environment safe.

Check fit with the rest of the kit
Try the selected clothing with the footwear, bags and equipment the person normally uses. Check whether fasteners can be operated, layers interfere with movement or garments fit with relevant mobility or care equipment. Do this in an ordinary safe setting rather than creating exposure as a test. Ask the person using the items what is comfortable and practical. A jacket that fits on a shopping day may not work with several other chosen garments. Record the actual combination that was checked so a later substitution does not silently change the arrangement.

Make changes of condition manageable
Organize the kit so a person can find an appropriate item without unpacking every bag. Use plain labels and keep individual sizes distinguishable where several people share storage. Consider how a damp or soiled item will be separated from the clean supply under suitable care and cleaning guidance. Do not pack essential clothing where it will predictably become unusable through ordinary moisture or storage damage. Keep the plan compatible with the space and load people can actually manage. More items do not automatically provide more useful protection if the needed garment cannot be reached or carried.

Consider footwear and everyday access
Check footwear that is suitable for the person's ordinary planned movement and the relevant product instructions. Do not assume unfamiliar new footwear will become comfortable during a stressful journey. Include any individualized fitting or care advice from the appropriate professional. Keep the way to put on and secure the items realistic for the person who will use them. If assistance is needed, discuss and practice it respectfully in advance. Avoid turning a clothing checklist into a claim that everyone can walk the same distance or follow the same route under different conditions.

Store the kit with a review date
Follow the materials' care and storage instructions and keep the contents identifiable. Review children's sizes and other changing needs rather than assuming a packed bag remains suitable indefinitely. Check closures and the condition of stored items during normal household reviews. If an item is borrowed for ordinary use, put its replacement on the active task list instead of trusting memory. Record seasonal changes and where the other season's items are stored. A small set that fits and is maintained is usually easier to manage than a large collection selected without a current user in mind.

Practice finding the right item
Ask the intended user or helper to locate a particular garment using the labels alone. Check that the kit can be opened in the normal lighting and position where it is likely to be used. Make the storage simpler if several similar bags cause confusion. Keep unresolved exposure or care questions directed to current public guidance and the relevant professional. Revisit the kit when location, transport, mobility or household needs change. A successful fit check is evidence about that combination at that time, not a guarantee of safety in extreme weather.

Clothing kit worksheet
User / sizing / individual needs: __________________
Expected activities and conditions: __________________
Garment combination and footwear checked: __________________
Fit, fastener or assistance issue: __________________
Storage location / labels: __________________
Clean and used-item arrangement: __________________
Seasonal replacements or borrowed items: __________________
Next fit and condition review: __________________

Original Best Survival App guide and worksheet. Reviewed November 1, 2026. You may print and share this original material with attribution. General preparation information; check current official/local instructions. Not a substitute for emergency services or professional care. Further reading (requires internet): https://www.ready.gov/kit