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December 30, 2016
Culture

What to wear camping

Going bush isn't a new idea, but a good camping spot like Mount Remarkable might just show you a version of the South Australian landscape you never knew existed. Pack light but be sure to pack for adventure.

  • Illustrations: Jasmin Neophytou
  • Words: Joshua Fanning and Sharmonie Cockayne

FOR THE LADY

There’s more important things than wearing the right clothes when camping (like remembering to bring enough beer), but there’s no easier way to ruin a camping trip than by wearing something impractical – so chuck these in your swag before you leave.

You’re in the bush. In Australia. You’re going to get sweaty and, more than likely, you’re going to get burnt. Mask the sweatiness and keep the sun off your nose by taming your hair into a sleek pony and pulling it through Camilla and Marc’s chic Baci Cap.

A plain white tee is a classic on all occasions, and this Love Tee by Lululemon will not only keep you looking good, but also regulate your sweaty, sweaty pits.

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For all the campers:

There’s something about living under the open skies that legitimises the vest – an otherwise questionable item of clothing. The Patagonia Bivy Hooded Vest keeps your heart and lungs warm, but your arms free for action as you transition from hot desert day to cool starry night.

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Pack in your home-prepared trail mix, and roll up the top of your water-proof Braasi Industry backpack – you’ve got gorges to hike up and waterfalls to see.

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You never know when you’ll chance upon a waterfall or a creek on your morning walk with #frederikthesausage. In case of spontaneous swimming, always wear a pair of bathers in place of underwear. Or better still, for those who dare not outfit repeat, Patagonia’s Mamala Bathers are reversible – orange for an adventurous Saturday, and turquoise for the sleepy Sunday.

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Activewear! Yeah! Said no one ever. But these Motus Capri Tights by The North Face do allow for maximum movement, breathability and comfort when climbing the particularly stubborn parts of the Hidden Gorge trek.

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Practical shoes can scream “dressed by Mum”. Not Scarpa’s Cosmo sneaker though. With these you can climb over rocks or traipse through thickets of cacti and remain both blister-free and drab-free. 

FOR THE MAN

Being a man while camping doesn’t just mean getting the fire going, it also means looking like the kind of man who can get a fire going.

No-one looks good in a new Akubra – the hat needs sweat and stories before it can safely be worn in public. Take your made-to-order Akubra Pastoralist hat and beat the hell out of it with cross-country hikes and yahoo moments in the Southern Flinders Ranges so you can bring it back to the city and wear it with pride.

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You’ll be eating canned food and cutting chunks of salami and cheese while you’re away. If ever there was a reason to own a swiss army knife – this is it!

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A good check shirt from Sugar Cane at Right Hand Distribution moves perfectly between rolled-up sleeves at noon and a full length cuff at night. 

For underneath, offsett the roughness of camping with an unbelievably soft, organic cotton t-shirt from Vege Threads.

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We hate the swooshing sound camping gear makes when you walk. Stay silent in the wilderness with an old pair of jeans and avoid looking and sounding like a total tourist.

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Forget hiking boots – the trek to Hidden Gorge criss-crossing Mambray Creek requires a shoe that can either get wet or be taken on and off quickly. The super light and flexible Nike Roshe Two will get you up mountains, between crevices and through rivers with ease and the absence of that unmistakable hiking-boot thud. Those Bonds Explorers your Mum gave you for Christmas are suddenly your favourite present.

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