What I Wear For Field Work
Last post I talked about how to get an environmental job, now I’m going to give my top clothing recommendations for field work! As a woman in a male dominated industry, it can be hard to find clothing for field work that is actually durable and functional. Nothing in this post is sponsored or commissioned, just tried and trusted items I’ve used for my own field work.
Shirts/Tops
To be fair, I haven’t purchased a field work top in a few years, so I don’t have a link for this first item. I found my favorite dry fit, long sleeve, neon quarter zip at Walmart and haven’t seen another like it since sadly.
But that’s exactly the type of top love for field work and recommend.
- The neon is important for safety and visibility, especially in wooded areas and during hunting season.
- The long sleeves help protect against ticks.
- And the dry fit fabric is great for staying cool in the summer.
- The quarter zip is just a personal favorite of mine
Pants
I’ve bought men’s pants in the past because there simply weren’t any options in store for women. Try searching online for women’s field pants and leggings are the top results. Well I recently just invested in some Eddie Bauer pants and so far I’m obsessed! Ladies, if you’re built like me, a butt and a gut, you’ll love how these pants fit. I’m 5’3″ and typically straddle between medium and large for sizing. Overall I found these pants to be lightweight yet durable, enough pockets (yes functional ones not like the decorative pockets on jeans), water resistant, and actually flattering to the figure.
Jacket
I recently just purchased my third Columbia rain coat, the same exact one I’ve been wearing since college in 2012. I love this jacket because it’s so light weight yet waterproof, can fit layers underneath which is ideal for field work, and comes in a variety of sizes and colors for an affordable price. Each coat I’ve gotten has lasted approximately 2-3 years with HEAVY use.
Boots
Another product I’ve been using since college are Muck Boots. The perfect boot for any season and field condition.
I originally had the wetland muck boot, a lovely boot but somewhat wide and clunky. The next I had a pair were steel toe chore boots that were heavy and big. My latest pair which I’ve had for about a year is the Hale boot which are narrower, lighter, and more form fitting than other styles which I prefer for field work to avoid tripping over myself.
Again, one pair can stretch about three years, and I wear mine year round whether snow shoeing or summer field work. I never get blisters, but it’s best to wear tall socks just in case.
Gaiters
Ticks are my nightmare. I’m not kidding I become almost paralyzed with fear when I find them crawling on me. But dealing with ticks is unfortunately a reality of field work. Ticks usually cling to grasses or low branches and wait to sense vibrations of nearby animals then reach out to cling onto them as they pass by (I know, so disgusting). So you’re most likely to get ticks walking through vegetation.
KEEP YOUR CLOTHING TUCKED IN. Shirts into your pants and pants into your boots.
I go an extra step and wear these tick gaiters which are also chemically treated to help prevent and kill ticks. Put them over your shins, then put your boots on tucking your pants into your boots (easy if wearing tall mucks), then slide the tick gaiter down so it’s partially over your boots, covering that spot where your pants tuck in. This ensures ticks can’t crawl down inside your boot.
Sunglasses
It might not be something that comes straight to mind when considering clothes and equipment for field work but sunglasses are important, especially for things like vernal pool surveys. I give you, the cheapest pair of polarized aviators you will ever find and that aren’t ultra flimsy, these home depot sunglasses are perfect. Fashionable, effective, durable, and low price, what more could you want?
In conclusion
Field work is hard enough, so having reliable, proper fitting clothing is a must! I hope you find these recommendations helpful the next time you’re trampsing around a wetland or collecting soil samples in a field.
**As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through links in this post..**
