how much clothing do you have/tips

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stevea

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I'll be boondocking full-time as a snowbird following the seasons out West. Any advice on how much clothing to bring will be appreciated. I'll be outside a lot and plan to bike, run, hike etc.

No heat or AC in my camper other than a fan, windows and Bob's propane stove hack is planned.
 
If you're near the water, it can still get cold in the PNW, San Francisco, etc. That favors cold weather clothing or a good sleeping bag at the least. Most people won't need truly heavy jackets, but a few undershirts and a sweatshirt or two wouldn't hurt.

And when it gets hot, you can get soaked in sweat in just a few minutes, especially if there is no breeze. You're going to be a pretty greasy and smelly person if you aren't extremely scrupulous about hygiene and don't wash your clothes regularly and thoroughly, so summer can be a very demanding season when it comes to how many clothes you go through. Where I live, it can be around or over 100 degrees for a solid month, and very hot for a few more. At that temp, you only have a few minutes outdoors -- in the sun, maybe less -- before you and your clothes start to get sweaty.

I'd suggest that you'd be lucky if one t-shirt per day is enough, especially if you want to be anywhere in public and if you don't want to sit on your seats/lie on your bed in moist and/or smelly clothing that will then start to make your room smell bad. One pair of underwear will probably be fine if nobody but you is messing around in there, and wearing socks more than a day is highly recommended against. In fact, if you're not hiking, I'd suggest wearing sandals most of the time.
 
When I have been out there, that is what I did, boondocking mostly. Maybe once a month in a rv park to take care of all business at once, laundry, dump, fill, propane, groceries, long shower, some people contact. I took showers on M-W-F's with baby wipes in between. I mostly carry jeans and T shirts. I can wear a pair of jeans for a week as I don't do anything strenuous or dirty. A T shirt will go two days most days. If it gets to 80 where I am I move to cooler temps. On the other hand if below about 40 I move where it is warmer. I don't tolerate heat well. I don't stay in towns/cities except passing through and a good meal every now and then. These are my two temp extremes for comfort. If it's hot I move right away and if colder at night I will stick around if there is a warming trend coming. That is the great part of the mobile lifestyle, go where the weather fits your clothes. That being said, a few layers for warmth and some fleece to sleep in. I have a furnace if it gets to cold for my comfort. Easier to heat than to cool.

So the list for me looks like something this:

16 sets Underwear/socks
2 pairs of long johns
3 pairs of jeans, no shorts
8 T-shirts plus a couple of "dress" ones and a shirt with a collar
two heavy flannel shirts
several jackets of varying weight, two with hoods and one hooded windbreaker/rain jacket (umbrella too)
watch cap
gloves
baseball caps
wide brimmed hat
2 flannel pj bottoms and 2-32 degree tops
1 summer weight pj set
pair hiking boots
pair open toe slippers/shower
pair insulated slippers
pair insulated lounge booties
pair tennis shoes
rubber boots (in basement storage)

Sure I am missing something but that is all I can remember at the moment. It should get you to thinking.
 
It might be helpful to add that the more you sleep in clean or relatively clean clothes, the less you'll have to wash your sheets/blankets/pillowcases and pillows, sleeping bags etc. Taking extra measures to keep your face and neck clean before getting into bed helps a lot too.

Plus, washing up a bit after a sunny summer day just feels right. Very right. And so does sleeping at least somewhat clean.
 
I follow the weather, avoiding extremes as much as possible. I'm far more likely to encounter summer heat than winter cold. That said, my list is:

12 short sleeve tees
6 long sleeve tees
1 100% cotton hoodie
1 fleece pullover
1 flannel shirt
1 chambray shirt
1 down vest
1 flannel jacket with quilted poly lining
7 pairs of jeans
1 lightweight nylon pants
6 shorts
1 swim trunks
1 pajama bottom
24 briefs
24 pairs of gym socks
2 pair heavy wool socks
2 pair semi-sandals
2 pair sneakers
1 pair Crocs
2 ball caps
1 broad brim hat
2 watch caps
2 pair leather & fleece gloves
1 pair leather work gloves
 
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