I’ve come to learn that the right clothing can go a long way while urban exploring.
You want to wear something that will keep you protected from both the weather, and hazards you might encounter while exploring.
When I look for clothes to explore in I look for items that are durable, practical, and inconspicuous.
Here’s some of my favorite urban exploration clothing that help me keep protected and comfortable.
Rothco Soft Shell Tactical Jacket
Protection
This is a great all round jacket with many different practical features for all round protection. This jacket is perfect for nearly all season except for harsh winters.
This jacket is great for reflecting high cold winds and rain while retaining head underneath.
The Rothco Tactical Jacket comes with a waterproof polyester outer shell and a warm, but not too warm inner lining.
The over all build it lightweight but still rugged enough to not get torn on fences, metal, or anything else moderately sharp you’d come in contact while exploring.
Features
This jacket is awesome for people who love pockets (like me). It comes with 6 zippered pockets that can safely and easily store flashlights, sd cards, or whatever tools you need to carry with you.
This jacket comes in 7 different colors from military camo, to khaki. Which is great for people who like variety and don’t really want to look like the next ninja warrior while entering an abandoned building.
One of my favorite features is the detachable hood which neatly tucks in the back along the collar.
This jacket perfectly combines affordability, practicality, and durability into one package that just makes sense. It’s personally my go to jacket for exploring for pretty much 90% of my travels.
You can check it out on Amazon here.
Cryskully Bomber Jacket
This would come in as a great alternative to the Rothco Tactical jacket for those who don’t need as many pockets and prefer a different style.
Protection
The Cryskully bomber jacket offers moderate protection from the wind and rain. It’s definitely a durable build but does not offer waterproof protection or a detachable hood.
Features
The Cryskully jacket has multiple pockets that both button and zip. It has some smaller zipper pockets on the chest that are great for smaller items such as batteries or memory cards.
The jacket comes in 8 different colors and zips up on the left, so if that bugs you, you may want to opt for the first option. If you’re interested you can find it on Amazon. Just make sure to check the sizing chart to make sure you get a great fit.
MySunTown Ushanka
I live in the rust belt of the United States and it can get down right brutally cold here. I often explore harder to access locations in colder weather to make going after me less appealing.
But doing this means I need to be more prepared for the weather than any security guard is. This hat not only makes me feel like a sexy Russian man, but keeps my head nice and warm even in the coldest of conditions.
Quality
The build quality on this is great. It’s exterior is built to deflect wind while the interior faux fur will keep your entire head insulated and warm. The exterior is water repellent so if you’re in a rainy sleet mixture this will help keep you dry as well.
Features
The SunTown Ushanka comes in 4 different colors, black, blue, white and red. One of my favorite things about this hat is the detachable wind guard for your face. I always forget my face covering, and having it literally attached to the hat is a life saver when winds pick up.
The hat fits nearly everyone and has an adjustable chin strap if you prefer a snugger or looser fit. Its definitely is one of my favorite pieces of urban exploration clothing.
You can grab one here on Amazon.
JKSafety High Vis Vest
I could list the best urban exploration clothing without having a high visibility vest in here somewhere.
Now if you’re confused, wearing a high vis vest can often make people perceive that you belong somewhere you really should. This is a passive form of social engineering. I don’t use this tactic much anymore, but it does work as long as you can look and play the part.
Features
The vest ultimately gets the job done. And the job is to look like you’re an official or on a job site. The vest is lightweight and can easily be thrown in a trunk, or folded into your backpack.
It features a handy transparent pocket on the front where you can display all your, err, credentials.
It’s got some hand pockets that are nice as well, although I can’t say I use them much when this is my entry strategy.
There’s not too much else to say other than if you want to look like a highlighter with authority I’d definitely pick one of these bad boys up.
WTACTFUL Work Gloves
A good pair a gloves is essential for urban exploration. I personally have used the WTACTFUL brand of gloves for years now and they still look and feel new. I’m not super picky with my gloves, but these check all the boxes for me.
Durability
The WTACTFUL gloves are built with reinforced microfiber so they’re both strong and comfortable. The stitching is well done and you can feel right away that these are a solid pair of gloves. The palms are also reinforced to allow for much for wear and tear than standard work gloves.
Features
Along with the gloves being durable and suited for grimy, rusty conditions they are also very comfortable. The thumb and middle fingers have a special coating which allow for the use of touch screens, which is great if you plan to use your phone or have a touch screen camera.
The WTACTFUL gloves also secure nicely with Velcro around the wrist to ensure they don’t slide off.
They come in three different colors and are priced competitively for gloves of this quality.
Amazon should carry them if you’re in the market for new gloves.
Urban Exploration Clothing Conclusion
These are just a few of my favorite pieces of clothing I use while exploring. This list might expand or items may get replaced depending if I find anything else that works better.
If you’re looking for other exploration gear or tools be sure to check out the other items I’ve reviewed on the gear page.