How Clothing Works
Note: The clothing system is currently under heavy development so this page will change frequently.
Equipping clothing
You cannot equip clothing from the inventory screen. It must be done from the clothing screen. There are three ways to get there:
- Press the [C] key on PC
- Click the clothing icon in the quick menu
- Click the clothing icon in the top right of the inventory screen
Most clothing categories allow you to layer multiple items. But keep in mind that more clothing both increases your weight and reduces the time you can sprint.
If there is a "plus" symbol in the corner of the clothing slot, it means you have another item that could go there. Cycle through them by clicking the arrows next to the image and compare their stats to see which item you prefer.
Clothing Condition
The condition of your clothing works like any other item. Once it reaches zero, it cannot be repaired and becomes worthless. Keep it in good condition by mending it with pieces of cloth and/or leather and a sewing kit (or fishing tackle in a pinch).
The condition of the clothing item affects how well it works against the cold and wind. That makes choosing the best clothing difficult because it's hard to tell how well it will perform when fully mended. To help with comparison, this chart shows each item's stats at 100% condition.
Clothing stats
Warmth
How much it protects you from the cold. This affects the "Feels Like" temperature. The warmer it is, the slower your warmth meter depletes.
Condition
How "worn out" it is. Once it reaches zero, it cannot be mended.
Weight
Affects your speed once you pass your max carry weight, but does not affect how long you can sprint (see "Mobility" below).
Mobility
This affects how long you can sprint. On the sprint meter, you will see a portion grayed out which has been subtracted from your sprint time. This is caused directly by the mobility of your clothing.
Wind Resist
This affects the "Feels Like" temperature while the wind is blowing. The higher this stat, the less the wind affects your warmth.
Water Resist
How resistant the item is to soaking up moisture. See the section below about wet and frozen clothes.
Protection
How much "armor" you have against predators.
Water Saturation
How soaked the item is with water.
Wet and Frozen Clothes
Certain weather conditions or other events will get your clothes wet. This reduces their warmth, makes them heavier, and increases the risk for certain afflictions. The only way to dry them out is with a fire. You may either sleep in them next to the fire or drop them next to the fire.
The type of material the clothing is made from affects how they function when wet. For example, wool clothes still provide some warmth when completely wet, while cotton clothes do not.
Once completely wet, clothes can begin to freeze. Frozen clothes heighten the risk even further for afflictions to develop. You're better off naked than wearing frozen clothing because frostbite will affect your character for the rest of the game.
Custom Clothing
Some clothing can be crafted from animal hides. You'll need to find a workbench to do this.
Curing hides and gut
Crafted clothing requires that the ingredients be cured first. To cure an item, just drop it on the floor of a shelter (cannot be outside) and leave it for several days. Hover over the item to see when it's finished curing, and that's it. It can be left on the floor or stored in a container. Cured items stop losing condition once they're fully cured and can be stored indefinitely.
Mending custom clothing
Custom clothing can only be mended with the same ingredients that it took to craft. For instance, a wolf hide coat requires another wolf hide and animal gut to repair.