What you wear at camp matters more than most people think. Not in a fashion sense. In a "will I be comfortable and not soaking wet at 3am" sense.
The Three-Layer System
Base Layer: Against Your Skin
Pulls sweat away from your skin. Best fabrics: Merino wool, bamboo, or synthetic polyester. Worst fabric: Cotton. It absorbs sweat and holds it against your skin.
A $20 polyester shirt from Kmart works fine for shorter trips. For anything longer, merino and bamboo are worth knowing about — both have natural antibacterial properties that slow odour build-up significantly. More on that below.
Mid Layer: Insulation
Traps warm air close to your body. Best options: Fleece pullover, lightweight puffer jacket, wool jumper.
Two thinner mid layers give you more control than one heavy jacket. A fleece vest plus a light puffer covers a wider range of temperatures.
Outer Layer: Weather Protection
Blocks wind and rain. A lightweight waterproof jacket with a hood. Look for sealed seams and a DWR finish.
Legs
Summer: Lightweight shorts or convertible pants. Quick-dry fabric, not denim.
Winter: Fleece-lined pants or softshell hiking pants. Thermal leggings underneath below 5 degrees.
Jeans are the worst camping pant. Heavy, slow-drying, restrict movement, no insulation when wet. Leave them at home.
Footwear
Camp shoes: Closed-toe sandals for around the campsite. Open-toe thongs are bad at campsites where you'll step on sticks, pegs, and hot coals.
Walking shoes: Proper hiking boots or trail runners you've already broken in. New boots guarantee blisters. Zip up boots can be a good option as well as they are easier to get on and off when stepping into the tent.
Socks: Merino wool. Always. Bring at least three pairs.
Sun Protection
Australia has some of the highest UV levels in the world. Cancer Council Australia recommends sun protection whenever the UV index is 3 or above.
- Wide-brimmed hat (not a cap)
- Sunglasses with UV400 protection
- SPF 50+ sunscreen, reapplied every two hours
- UPF-rated clothing for extended exposure
Cold Weather Extras
A beanie makes a bigger difference than a thicker jacket. Thin merino gloves for cold mornings. A buff or neck gaiter serves as scarf, headband, face cover, or emergency hat. In my Military days, my thick merino wool Bennie was a game changer while sleeping or in the mornings.
What Not to Wear Camping
- Cotton everything — fine for a summer afternoon, recipe for discomfort when conditions change
- Jeans — heavy, slow-drying, restrictive
- Brand new boots — break them in for at least a week first
- Dark clothing in summer — absorbs more heat
- Perfume or scented products — attracts insects
- Jewellery — catches on ropes and branches
Quick Reference by Temperature
| Overnight Low | Base Layer | Mid Layer | Outer Layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 20°C | Synthetic tee | None | Light wind shirt |
| 10-20°C | Synthetic long sleeve | Light fleece | Wind/rain jacket |
| 5-10°C | Merino long sleeve | Fleece + light puffer | Waterproof shell |
| Below 5°C | Merino thermal set | Heavy fleece + puffer | Shell + beanie + gloves |
Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for both daytime highs and overnight lows at your campsite. The difference can be 15-20 degrees.
Fabrics Worth Knowing About
Most camping clothing advice stops at "avoid cotton." Worth going a step further.
Merino wool resists odour naturally. The fibres have antibacterial properties that synthetic fabrics don't — you can wear a merino base layer two or three days running in varying conditions without it getting unpleasant. Less to pack, less to wash at camp.
Bamboo does a similar job at a lower price. The fibre structure is naturally antibacterial and noticeably softer against skin than most synthetics. Better at managing odour than polyester over multi-day wear, and increasingly available from Australian retailers.
Synthetic polyester still works well for short trips and high-output activity where you're sweating hard regardless. It dries the fastest of the three. But it picks up and holds odour quicker, which matters on a four or five day trip.
The practical upside of choosing odour-resistant fabrics: you pack fewer clothes, wash less at camp (important when water is limited), and the clothes last longer because they're going through fewer wash cycles overall. Fewer pieces that go the distance beats a bag full of cheap gear you're replacing every season.
The One-Bag Test
If you can't fit all your camping clothes into a single medium bag, you're bringing too much. Three thin layers you can mix and match beat six individual garments.
For the full gear picture, our What to Take When Going Camping checklist covers all eight kits. If you're planning your first trip, the First Time Camping guide gives the full overview. For practical tips, see Camping Hacks Australia. If you're packing for kids, the clothing packer is a Montessori-style printable that lets them pack their own bag using images — takes one job off your plate.
If you want the full Ultimate Camping List, it's free on the site. Create an account, save it, tweak it and pack smarter next trip.
Helping you camp with confidence.