I found myself invited on a hiking trip out in the Monongahela State Park in WV without a proper pair of boots.

I got a pair of Wal-Mart hiking boots and they work just fine for most things. There are obvious drawbacks (lack of true waterproofing, thickness of sole, etc.), but for $18 and a last minute purchase they served me just fine. My father has a pair of high end boots, but he is going to keep a pair of the Wal Mart ones in his trunk as backups.


But on the general topic- the first “survival fashion” tip that really struck home for me was to stop wearing cotton. Working up a sweat and then finding yourself in a cold environment is bad news. Switching to Capilene was a smart move for me, as I am probably way more likely to face hypothermia than fire.