Equipment Outfitters

Shirts, Pants, Socks and Shoes

Camp-style clothing should be hardwearing and in a colour that disguises dirt. Fabrics that are easy to wash, quick drying and don’t need ironing are the way to go. They need to be quite colour-fast, though, especially if you plan to use a laundrette where the sorting is done by others.

Shirts with long sleeves (they can be rolled up if it gets too hot) will protect your arms from the sun while you’re driving. Buy them in a light, summery fabric such as polyester/cotton. Big collars can be folded up to protect your neck in the angled late-afternoon sun.

A pair of light-fabric trousers will also protect against the sun’s deadly rays during the day and stinging insects in the evenings.

Shorts with elasticised waists, deep pockets and wild patterns seem to be a successful formula. If you can swim in them as well, so much the better.

Hikers will already know that good, thick socks not only save your feet but provide an airspace between foot and shoe that keeps feet cooler than if you were wearing thinner socks with a tighter weave. Ordinary socks are fine for everyday use, but can be the cause of painful blisters if you are planning extensive walks.

Shoes and sandals should be hardwearing. Many adverts imply that the two are interchangeable, but this is not always true. Good- quality sandals can be worn just about anywhere, but shoes provide ’sideways safety’ — they protect your feet from thorns and other sharp objects that may damage the sides of your feet and they stop small sharp objects from getting between your foot and the sole of your shoe, or between your toes. Ankle boots provide extra support and protection, but in either case good-quality design and materials is a minimum requirement if you want them to survive extended outdoor use.

Winter Clothing

There are whole ranges of specialised clothing designed for use in very cold climates. While most South Africans will never need them, it is good to know they exist. But do bear in mind that cold is a bigger enemy than heat, and greater precautions need to be taken if you are venturing into remote, cold-weather areas.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses need to protect your retina from ultra-violet rays, so look out for a sticker noting the UV rating somewhere on the lens. Buy the pair with the maximum rating.

Frames should be light but strong, and the latest (and most expensive) material is Titanium. Great care should be taken when choosing the lenses, though. The better the quality of the glass lens, the sharper the picture will be, and with a good pair you should detect no deterioration of visual picture. Do also investigate the newest sport sunglasses, made from splinter- proof plastics.

If you already wear glasses, you may want to have them coated with UV-resistant layer. This light-sensitive material darkens when exposed to sunlight, but is almost transparent when you are in the shade again. Depending on how dark you want them to go, you can have more than one coating added. Three coats would do quite dark, although not as dark as ordinary sunglasses.

Do not neglect your children’s eyes! If you meet with any resistance to sunglasses, explain that ’shades’ are, in fact, a fashion statement. Special elastic bands will keep them on barely there nose bridges, and brightly coloured ’safety lines’ will stop them from falling onto the ground and getting stood on.

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