No Short Shorts For SHTF

For those old enough to remember, the 1970s and '80s was the era of the short shorts. Just typing the words reminds me of the old Nair ads....

And shorter shorts weren't just limited to women. Athletic shorts and swimwear worn by men at that time were also shorter and tighter than is common now. A good example of this are the shorts worn by the Rhodesian Selous Scouts:

And these were the more modest ones!

    Of course fashions change. Bermuda shorts became more popular and it wasn't long until the modern cargo shorts made their appearance. And for a lot of men--myself included--cargo shorts are the standard go-to for outdoor wear in the summer. The reasons are obvious: they are cooler and provide more freedom of movement.

    But are shorts, even the longer cargo shorts of today, actually a good idea for dangerous environments? "No!" according to this article by Don Shift at American Partisan. Although shorts can have some advantages (and he discusses some of the advantages cited by former Selous Scout members) he notes that as the Selous Scouts transformed from true scouts primarily involved in tracking and became more of a light infantry force, even they abandoned their shorts for long pants (trousers for my British readers) because of the greater protection offered by pants. In fact, going to the opposite extreme, he observes that military units operating in the Brazilian Caatinga desert, which is filled with spiny and thorny plants, wear "tough, full-bodied denim uniforms reinforced with leather complete with gloves."

    Shift mentions concerns about snake bites, biting insects, cuts from pushing through brush or from thorny plants, or even scraps from suddenly having to go prone on a rocky surface. All of these could result in infections which, in an austere setting without access to medical care and antibiotics (such as we might find ourselves in a SHTF environment), could become quite serious or deadly. 

    "Post-SHTF," he writes, "it could be major diseases, including 'exotic' ones imported by the foreigners pouring across our undefended southern border. Imagine going prone on a rocky surface in a firefight and surviving unscathed, aside from a bloody abrasion to the knee, only to die in a few weeks from septic shock."

    And I have to concur. For just walking around in the open, shorts are great. But just working around my property, kneeling on the ground for some gardening, working among tall grass or cutting up brush, I've received scratches and bug bites when wearing shorts. Mowing while wearing shorts has also gained me a few cuts from the occasional rock or twig thrown out from under the mower. The ground where I often go shooting is covered with some sort of small thorny plant that, while not big enough to cause any significant bleeding if you kneel on them with exposed skin, are certainly enough to introduce contaminants or microorganisms. Some of the land in that same area have large amounts of exposed volcanic rock that would definitely tear up knees if you had to go prone. Ditto for going prone on a driveway, sidewalk, or similar. 

    Shift also points out that shorts (or exposed skin in general) are at risk from sunburn or even excessive heat:

Shorts may feel comfortable up to a point, but if it’s too hot, like over 100°, exposed skin is letting the heat in. If you visit Las Vegas or Phoenix, you’ll notice police officers wearing full length sleeves even in 115° heat. Yes, sunscreen has reduced the need for covering the skin in the summer sun, but heat control is more important in very high temperatures. One could always compromise (especially if there is a breeze) by wearing lightweight, but long sleeves.

Another article explains:

One reason behind this has to do with our sweat. Sweat is a natural bodily cooling mechanism, and long sleeves in a sweat-wicking fabric keep your skin drier than a short sleeve shirt. Long sleeves provide airflow between the fabric and your skin, almost like a wind tunnel keeping you even cooler. Additionally, the fabric on the sleeve provides a bit of shade to your skin that short sleeves do not. 

I have family members that are prone to sunburns, so they mostly stick to long sleeve shirts (although longer shorts or capri style pants seem less of an issue). If I'm getting clothing for outdoor wear, I try and watch for those that advertise their UPF rating. 

    While I generally see UPF ratings for shirts and hats, I don't know that I've ever seen (or noticed) pants with UPF ratings. But they exist, as a quick Google search revealed. But if you are just going to stick to denim pants, they have a UPF rating as high as 1700 (!) and will essentially block all UV according to this article (long sleeve denim shirts provide similar protection). Lightweight cotton or polyester fabrics may have very low UPF ratings--less than the 30 recommended by experts. And because darker or bright colored fabrics offer more UV protection than white or light colored fabric--and some UV fabrics use chemicals to boost their protection--be aware that the UPF can decline over time as the fabric is washed or fades. 

    In short (ha, ha!) shorts are fine for casual summer wear. But not for cleaning up after a disaster, hunting, or fighting off looters after SHTF. And just another reminder that you need to match your clothes to your environment and situation.