CHICAGO BACKPACKING GROUP BEGINNER BOOTCAMP ADVISORY GEAR LIST (REVISED January 2009)

Transcription

1 CHICAGO BACKPACKING GROUP BEGINNER BOOTCAMP ADVISORY GEAR LIST (REVISED January 2009) This gear list is intended as a guide for those who are new to backpacking and who want to make an entry into this sport. This list is in no way exclusive of everything that you may need on a trip depending upon circumstances such as weather, location and trip itinerary. It is also not recommended that you simply buy everything on this list. Rather, it is recommended that a beginner consult with an experienced backpacker; either from the group or an employee at one of the outdoors stores in Chicago (e.g. Uncle Dan s, REI) when purchasing gear for your first trip. Critical essentials: Backpack: You will need a backpack that is intended for overnight backpacking trips. The size of this bag will, most likely, be no smaller than 3800 cubic inches (approx. 60 liters). This pack will have a hip belt and a suspension system (either internal or external) and can easily carry up to 40 pounds. It is critical that the backpack be suitable for your torso length (having a backpack fitted at an outdoor store is strongly recommended). It is also recommended that women buy/rent a backpack that is specifically made for women. There are a multitude of options and variations when shopping for a pack. The most important consideration is that it be comfortable and large enough for all of your gear. Additionally, your pack should have external water bottle pockets that you can easily reach when it is worn or a means of holding an internal water bladder that you can drink from as you hike. Most backpacks are not waterproof, and therefore a rain cover and/or a big plastic bag (large trash bags work well) is essential to keep things dry. Boots: Hiking boots are essential for a successful, safe and fun experience. Hiking boots must be broken-in prior to going on a trip. Breaking-in consists of wearing the boots gradually in town, or on day hikes, until they are comfortable and produce no hot spots or blisters.this can take some time so it's a good idea to begin breaking boots in at least a month in advance. Boots do not have to be heavy duty leather boots, but they must be comfortable and be able to support hiking 10 miles or more with around 40 (or more) pounds. A newer trend in backpacking footwear is the trail runner or light-weight hiking boot. These boots are cut more like shoes and are intended for those who hike with light loads (though some argue that trail runners are perfectly fine for loads up to 40lbs), or for people who day hike or engage in trail running. To start out with however, you will probably benefit from a mid-weight hiking boot. Sleeping bag and pad: You will need a sleeping bag that is appropriate for the weather conditions. If you sleep cold (that is you need more blankets, or an electric blanket, at home to stay warm when you sleep) you will need a bag that is rated warmer (lower degree rating) than the predicted weather. There are many options for sleeping bags. For the Midwest a bag that is rated around 35 degrees is a good three-season bag. Women often find that they prefer a slightly warmer bag (5-10 degrees) then men. There are two types of insulation for sleeping bags, down and synthetic. Down is made up of goose down feathers. It is very light weight and compressible. The downside is that if down gets

2 wet it looses its insulating value. It is also considerably more expensive. Synthetic bags are made of polyester fibers. Synthetic bags have improved greatly over the years in both quality and weight reduction. Synthetic bags are still heavier than down bags and they do not compress as well, though these qualities are quickly being improved. New synthetic bags are much lighter and compactable than the synthetic bags from only a few years ago. The upside of synthetic bags is that when they get wet they loose less of their insulation value than down and dry faster than down. To begin with you should probably start off with a synthetic bag as they require less tender loving care and tend to be significantly less expensive. In addition, you will need a sleeping pad. A sleeping pad insulates you from the ground and helps keep you warm by minimizing heat lost through conduction. Sleeping pads come in a variety of types. Typically you'll have a choice between closed cell foam pads such as Ridge Rests and inflatable pads such as Therm-a-rests. While closed cell foam pads provide excellent insulation at a very low weight, they are usually more bulky and provide less in the way of padding, especially for side-sleepers. Inflatable pads will weigh significantly more (on average between one and a half and two pounds) but generally compact smaller and provide more cushion between you and the ground. Shelter: This is primarily a tent; more experienced backpackers may use other forms of shelter, such as a tarp. You will need a three-season backpacking tent. This tent should weigh no more than five pounds. Most of these tents are known as freestanding tents. They generally accommodate one, two, or three people. You will probably want a single person tent, though a two person tent will be roomer (but heavier). A tent is also a good thing to share in order to reduce the weight you're carrying. Additional essentials: Hydration: You will need at least two water bottles or a hydration bladder that can accommodate at least two liters of water. Hydration bladders can also be combined with a drinking tube to allow for easier drinking while you are hiking. A minimum of two liters allows you to hike longer periods before filling up. Backpacking requires the gathering of water from un-potable sources, such as streams or ponds. This water must be treated either with chemicals or with a water filter. It is recommended that everyone have some sort of water treatment, such as water treatment chemicals or a water filter, although this is not strictly necessary on a Beginner's Boot Camp. Chemical treatments typically consist of either chlorine dioxide tablets or iodine tablets. These tablets take around 30 minutes to neutralize any bacteria or protozoen cysts in the water. Alternatively, you can use a water filter that can filter down to 0.3 microns. The downside to water filters is that they are heavier, can clog with sediment, and often do not work in freezing weather, are more expensive. They do, however, provide potable water without a waiting period. Kitchen: This includes a stove, cooking pot, eating utensil and a dish. A stove is something that you can possibly share (particularly on a Boot Camp) but generally it is recommended that you have your own as you can never be guaranteed of a partner to share with. You will need an eating utensil, such as a spoon (a fork and knife are not necessary) and an eating dish (something more bowl-like is best). There are many different types of stoves. For beginners you will probably want a canister stove. They are easy to use and the fuel is safely stored in sealed

3 canisters. Canister stoves consist of a small burner that screws into a fuel canister that contains a butane/propane mix. White gas stoves are considerably more dangerous and are only necessary in mountaineering and cold temperatures. More advanced backpackers may use alcohol or white gas stoves. Emergency: A whistle is an essential. If you get lost or if you get hurt a whistle is louder than your voice, and can be sounded well beyond the point you would go hoarse. You will also want a lightweight first-aid kit. This kit should contain over the counter pain relief, band-aids and bandages, triple-antibiotic, moleskin (for blisters), and alcohol swabs. There may be other items you want depending on how allergic you are or any medical conditions you have. It's also generally good practice to have a copy of the map of the area, a compass and the knowledge necessary to use them should you somehow get separated from your group. Personal care: If you are asthmatic bring your inhaler. Backpacking is a very serious cardiovascular exercise. Also bring any prescription medications you need to take. If you wear contacts it is suggested you bring a backup pair of glasses, and a small bottle of contact cleaning solution. Food: You will need to bring enough food for the trip. This includes breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners. Backpacking requires a lot of energy, and thus high calorie food is recommended. This is not a time to diet. The best food choices are those that have a dense caloric content and thus offer a greater calorie to weight ratio. For the beginner bootcamp you only need a lunch or snacks for two days, one dinner and a one breakfast. Food should not be perishable and durable. It should also be nutritious and easily cooked. This does not, however, mean that the food needs to be the prepackaged freeze-dried meals such as Mountain House. Much of the excess weight of food can be minimized by reducing the packaging or repackaging it altogether. Camp stuff: A head lamp or a small flashlight is essential. It will get dark and there will be no other light sources. Toilet paper is necessary as there are no bathrooms out in the woods. You will also need a small plastic trowel to dig a cat hole if there is not a latrine. It is also a good idea to bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer. You may also want a small pocket-knife to cut cheese or sausage. It is always a good idea to have a bandana or two, and a very small pack-towel can be nice to dry off your tent if rain is forecast. Camp shoes, such as sandals or Croc type clogs are nice at the end of the day. Sandals that have a heal strap are good because you can wear them while fording deep streams or small rivers without getting your boots wet. Clothing: You do not need to bring a large wardrobe. You should generally choose clothes made from synthetic fibers (eg. nylon) as they dry faster. In general, you should avoid wearing most any cotton clothing. When cotton gets wet it stays wet and can make you very cold. Even if it is as warm as 70 degrees outside, you can become hypothermic and your life could be put at risk. No Jeans! This gets a special note because it is vitally important to your safety and or survival. Jeans are made of cotton and do not dry very well.

4 Your clothing choices will have a lot to do with the weather and temperatures you expect to encounter. Within reason you should also be prepared for atypical weather. This does not mean however, that you need to bring lots of extra clothing. The recommended method of layering is an excellent way to make yourself as warm or as cool as you need to be at any given moment and reduces the number of clothing items you'll need. You will have to use your best judgment regarding this but at a bare minimum you should always be prepared for rainy weather so that you don't endanger yourself by getting wet. Beginning from the bottom, it is generally recommended that you wear hiking socks and liner socks. Hiking socks are often made of wool. Liner socks are very light and thin and are usually made of synthetic material. Liner socks are worn under the thicker hiking socks in order to keep your feet cooler and drier than if they were in hiking socks alone. Wearing liner socks and hiking socks also help prevent blisters by allowing any friction to occur between the two socks rather than between your skin and the sock. Synthetic shorts or pants are a good idea. While the choice between shorts and pants is up to the individual, pants will provide greater protection from the sun, bugs and evil branches and thorns. The best ones are hiking pant that have zip-off legs because they are both shorts and pants. Synthetic underwear is recommended but anything that is comfortable and minimizes chafing should work fine. Long underwear is recommended in more temperate seasons or locations and a light pair is always good to have particularly for sleeping in. For a top layer a wicking t-shirt is a good all around base. In cooler weather or at night you will likely also want an insulation layer such as a fleece or wool sweater. You will need reliable raingear. This includes a rain coat that is breathable and may also include rain pants. Alternatively you may prefer a good poncho, which has the benefit of ventilating better than a jacket and pants. Some sort of sun hat is recommended as is a lightweight stocking cap to wear at night and/or while sleeping. Some very lightweight gloves can also be nice if the forecast is for cooler weather. Bellow you will find a listing of essential gear and some optional gear/luxury items. Typically you should only bring 1-2 luxury items. Examples of specific gear items are for illustrative purposes and are not recommendations or endorsements. Grid of Gear: Item Backpack Example Osprey Atmos 65 (men) or Osprey Aura 65 (women) 4,000 ci (approx. $229) Boots Asolo Fugitive (men) Asolo Stynger (women) (approx. $170) Cooking pot Aluminum mess kit (approx $10-30) Eating gear Spoon (or spork) and plastic bowl (approx. $10-20) Head lamp Princeton Tec Scout (approx. $15)

5 Knife/multi-tool Gerber Clutch multi-tool ($15) Pack rain cover REI rain cover (approx. $20) or garbage bags Sleeping bag North Face Cat s Meow 20+ degree (approx. $159) Sleeping pad Therm-a-rest closed foam pad (approx. $25) Stove Snow Peak Giga Power (approx. $50) Tent REI Half Dome 2 HC (approx. $169) Toilet paper Plain, white, unscented in a sealable plastic bag to protect it from rain Water bottle/bladder Nalgene bottles or Camel-bak hydration bladder (approx. $20-40) Water treatment Portable Aqua Iodine $6.50 for 50; Portable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide $10 for 20. Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter $75.00 Whistle Fox40 (approx. $6-8) Other required or strongly recommended items: Small first-aid kit: including: any prescription medications you take, pain-killers such as Advil or Tylenol, Band-aids and small gauze pads, moleskin. Hypercortizone cream if you are especially allergic. Trowel (the plastic orange kind) for digging cat holes feet of small diameter cord/rope for bear bag (e.g. REI Braided Nylon Cord) Duct Tape (a few feet wrapped around a trekking pole or water bottle) or a very small roll Small bottle of biodegradable soap (e.g. campsuds) Sunscreen (SPF 30+) (small bottle) 100% DEET bug stuff (no aerosol spray) [non-deet products tend not to work] Feminine hygiene products (if applicable) and plastic bags to carry out used products 1-2 small garbage bags Applicable maps for the area (essential on more difficult trips) Compass (strongly recommended and it's important that you know how to use it) Small toothbrush and travel sized toothpaste Clothing (including what you are wearing): Item Quantity Bandana 1-2

6 Fleece or wool sweater 1 Hiking (wool) socks 2 Hiking shirt (short sleeved wicking t-shirt or long sleeved wicking shirt) 1 Hiking shorts/pants (hiking convertible pants) 1 Lightweight long underwear (tops and bottoms) 1 Lightweight stocking cap 1 Liner socks 2 Rain coat and rain pants (or poncho) 1 Sun cap 1 Underwear 1-2 Clothing (optional or according to weather conditions): Item Quantity Camp shoes or sandals 1 Down booties 1 Heavy gloves and/or mittens 1 Heavy long underwear (top and bottoms) 1 Insulated jacket or fleece jacket 1 Insulated pants or fleece pants 1 Lightweight gloves (or liner gloves) 1 Button down shirt with convertible sleeves (e.g. ExOfficio Air Strip) 1 Optional items and luxury items: Trekking poles Camp towel

7 Compact binoculars Small digital camera Lightweight camp chair (i.e. Crazy Creek, Therm-a-rest chair kit) or sitting pad GPS unit Sleeping bag liner Small journal Small book