This guide is aimed at helping you understand the equipment required for expeditions, on the last page there is an equipment list aide memoir which will help you check whether you have everything. A well equipped group ready to start their Gold Expedition. We also give advice on whether you really need to buy items or if they can be borrowed, and if so, where from. This has been written by staff, many of whom not only Instruct, but have experience in the retail business. It should be noted that not everything is suitable for everyone and some items, especially boots, will come down to personal preference. If you are coming on one of our expeditions and would like any specific advice, please do contact us and we ll be happy to help wherever possible. Enjoy! Footwear: The most concentrated on item will be your footwear, this is also the item that is most open to individual preference as everybody s feet are different. A few handy points: Get fitted out for your boots. Allow time to try on different pairs of boots, for at least 5 minutes each. If your feet don t feel comfortable when you take them off, the boots aren t right for you. Don t buy anything that is too stiff, likewise, if you can bend the boot more than 90 degrees easily in your hands, then the boot won t give you as much support as it should. The most expensive isn t necessarily the most comfortable. A boot which is extremely good quality and is well designed, might not be the one that fits your foot best. Try them on with a decent pair of walking socks, preferably those you plan to use on expedition. Do Not be persuaded into trying them on with 2 pairs of socks, it just means they re too big to start off with. Walk around in them, your heel should not lift noticeably, nor should your toes hit the end of the boot. Leather boots (left) durable, but will take longer to break in, fabric boots keep out less water, but are often more comfortable. Make sure that the sole does not bend more than 90 degrees easily. Low cut approach shoes will not provide sufficient support around the ankle. Walking socks, those with padding on the heel and ball of the foot are good. Other footwear useful for expeditions is a light pair of trainers or sandals to wear at the campsite. Gaiters should be considered on Gold Expeditions. Padded or shock absorbent insoles will help, especially if you get back or knee pain. Tip - Take time to choose the boots that feel right for you. Think of them as a long term investment if your feet have stopped growing. They will be useful for festival s, university, travelling or messing about in the snow! Looking after your feet on Expedition: Sore and tired feet on expedition will affect how you feel. There are simple ways of protecting your feet. Cut your toe nails in the week before an expedition. Take some talcum powder and apply this to your feet at the end of the day, it will dry them out and help clean them. If your feet start to hurt, do something about it, cover up any hot spots with tape, plaster or bandage. Apply blister plasters if necessary, but, don t take these off. Apply them securely and they will last for days. Pad your feet out, wound dressings are good for this, most of all, take your boots off and re-lace them every now and again, they will feel better. Wear good quality walking socks, a good pair will be fine for more than 1 day and will help protect your heels and the balls of your foot. Use a walking pole/s, this reduces impact on your legs by 30%. 2009-2013
Clothing: If you get your clothing right, you will stay warm and comfortable and shouldn t get too hot even when working hard. Choose clothing which is light and dries quickly, nothing too heavy, although a nice hooded top or thick fleece is great for colder evening at camp, or to use as a pillow! Upper body: Base layer/active layer or thermal top. This will draw moisture away from the body when you are active. Loose fitting, quick drying t-shirt or polo shirt - not cotton. Fleece or similar top, half or quarter zips are good as it allows some ventilation. A gillet or body warmer can also be another option. Water proof jacket. Thermals are lightweight and cosy to sleep in. A couple of thin, light layers is good, especially long sleeves to keep out cold or sun. Lower body: Walking trousers, tracksuit bottoms or leggings. Make sure they aren t too heavy, or they will feel uncomfortable if wet. No denim jeans! Thermals or long shorts are an option for night time. Shorts or ¾ length trousers. Water proof trousers. Tops that can be unzipped are good for ventilation. Lightweight trousers or leggings allow you to move easily. Spare Clothing: There is a fine balance between too much and not enough. Think more about a set of clothes to wear during the day and a set of clothes (which are kept dry) to wear in the tent at night. Even if you put wet clothes on, they won t be long drying themselves out once you are walking, it won t feel pleasant at first, but carrying less weight is even more beneficial. Any spare clothing should be kept dry in a rucksack liner or dry bag. Bin bags can t be guaranteed to keep out the wet. Water proof Jackets & Trousers: Unfortunately, you may need these from time to time, or most of the time depending on how unlucky you are. Be aware of the difference between water repellent, which is a chemical finish to a garment, rather than water proof, which will have been tested and proven to hold out a certain amount of water. Water proof clothing will have taped seams (see picture), and will feel shiny or crinkly. Another essential use of water proofs is to keep out the wind. Jackets should feature a cover or storm flap over zip which helps keep the elements out, as well as a hood, which as much as keeping your head dry, stops water getting down your neck. Waterproof clothing with taped seams. Water proof trousers should be robust and not too tight fitting, we see endless pairs torn or splitting! Zips which come part of the way up the leg are particularly useful if you want to get the trousers on in a hurry, as you will then be able to put them on without having to take boots off. Hats & Gloves: Even if the weather is set to stay fair throughout the day, clear skies mean it will be colder at night. Hats, gloves and anything that can protect exposed skin, balaclava s or neck gaiters will help keep out the elements. Hats or caps also provide vital protection from the sun, but don t forget the back of your neck and ears, these are areas that can burn badly. 2009-2013 Wristlets: These are incredibly useful for anyone with poor circulation or who suffers from Raynaud s. Simply find an old pair of socks, cut off the end, cut a thumb hole and you will have added warmth to the key circulation area of your wrist!
Rucksack: Key things to consider are size, the larger the rucksack, the better the structure and padding of the rucksack as it will have been designed to carry large loads. An ideal size for a rucksack is 50-65 litres, your aim is not too fill it! Anyone who is organised and has thought through their packing, will be able to fit all essential items inside a 50 litre rucksack. You should have good padding around the waist and hips, this is important as most of the weight is carried here, there should also be padding on the shoulder straps. Many organisations or Schools have rucksacks that can be borrowed or hired. There are different styles of rucksacks for women and most rucksacks can be adjusted to suit the different back lengths of everyone. Any good outdoors store will be able to help. Rucksack Essentials: Inside the rucksack, you will need a rucksack liner of some description. This is a strong bag which will help keep your spare clothing and sleeping bag dry. Bin bags are not always reliable, a standard rucksack liner will cost around 5 and will keep your essential kit dry, alternatively, dry bags, which can be rolled down and clipped, cost a little bit more, but offer greater protection. Most rucksacks now come with a rucksack cover, which also helps in protecting your gear against wet weather, do not rely on these alone though. We will assist you with packing your rucksack if we feel it is badly packed and adjusting it if it doesn t fit properly. Night time equipment: Getting a good night s sleep on expedition can be difficult, even though you may be tired after an active day. Sleeping Bag: Consider this carefully, the correct sleeping bag will ensure a you stay warm, but, it must also pack down to a reasonable size to not take up too much room in your rucksack. A good sleeping bag can be very expensive, although if you shop around, you should find a good balance. If you are out on expedition in the early or late part of the season, overnight temperatures may drop below 0. Check the sleeping bag for its temperature ratings. For additional warmth, a sleeping bag liner is recommended, especially the silk ones. If you are buying a sleeping bag, think of it as a long term investment, very useful for staying at friends, camping trips, festivals and travelling! Sleeping Mats: These are an essential item as they help insulate you from the ground. They also ensure that underneath your sleeping bag does not get damp and will give some level of comfort. There are 3 basic types: Foam Sleeping mats, the traditional version, you will have seen these rolled up and attached to the backs of rucksacks. Reeded Air beds. These will often require blowing up, but, the reward is greater comfort and extra distance between you and the floor. Self inflating air beds or mats. These are now the most popular version, mixing comfort with ease as all you have to do is allow the mat to self inflate itself. You may need to blow additional air to make the mat feel harder and practice packing them away before hand. Rucksack with well padded waist belt and Shoulder straps Head torch Torch - a head torch is best as it allows your hands to be free for any tasks such as cooking or washing up. Something small and light enough to fit in your pocket is great. Make sure there are spare batteries for torches amongst your group. 2009-2013
2009-2013 A guide to equipment for Expeditions Personal Supplies: Depending on preference, you will need some, if not all of the following to see you through the expedition: Cutlery set or a spork Cup/Mug and plate/dish Drinks bottle or bladder pouch - you should carry 1.5-2.5 litres, we can replenish water en route and at camp. If using a bladder pouch, bring a small drinks bottle with you for emergencies. Personal toiletries, sun cream, small or lightweight towel, some talcum powder. Some of these, for instance toothpaste or sun cream, can be brought along and shared by the group, saving weight. Personal 1st Aid, medication and sanitary supplies: This should include any medication you take. A few bandages, a couple of wound dressings, some plasters of different sizes, blister plasters, scissors, tweezers and a roll of micro-pore or zinc oxide tape will be enough. Work out what you need as a group, then prepare individual packs using these items and any of your own personal preference or requirement. Group Supplies: Many of the items listed here can be brought along individually, but, any organised group will work out that not everyone needs to bring everything and equipment and supplies can be shared out amongst the group, encouraging everyone to get involved and take responsibility. Survival or bivi bags Knife or multi tool: One of these amongst the group is handy. Be careful with knives!! No longer than 3 inch blade. Lighter and/or matches, waterproof/windproof versions are best. Washing up kit: Don t forget these. A small container with washing up liquid, a sponge scourer, a small towel to dry items and a scrubbing pad for harder to clean items. Toilet supplies, toilet roll, wet wipes and a trowel. First Aid supplies, possibly including plasters, bandages, blister plasters, wound dressing, scissors, tweezers, some tape, paracetemol, after sun, emergency blanket, sting relief cream, insect repellent, etc. In case of emergency, water purification tablets are a good idea too. Major Equipment: As the following can easily be borrowed from Operating Authorities, School, Scouts, Cadets etc. we have kept this section fairly brief, but are happy to provide any advice you would like should you wish to buy your own. Tents: You are welcome to bring along your own tent, as you should be used to putting this up and are more likely to take responsibility for this equipment, a 2/3 person tent is ideal. Check the hydrostatic head is more than 2000mm. And check the weight, anything more than 1.5 kg per person (when split and shared) will be heavy and bulky. We will give you instruction in how to pitch a tent properly! Stoves & pans: The most common form of stove for DofE Expeditions is the Trangia stove, often coming with a meths burner, which include 2 pans, a frying pan and sometimes a kettle. There are many different forms of stove, although we do not recommend the military style hexi-burner, which are banned in many areas. Gas stoves are convenient and generally heat food & liquid quicker than meths. Check that the fitting works with the gas containers and ask advice if unsure. Gas canisters must be reseal-able, not the pierce able variety. We will check all stoves and give instruction in how to use these safely, or check that you are proficient in their use if it is your own stove. Maps: You will be issued with maps in 2 different scales, 1:50000 and 1:25000, both have different advantages and disadvantages. You should bring a map case though. Compass: These again can be issued or borrowed, although you are welcome to bring your own. Spork Bladder Pouch, any water container is suitable though.
- Equipment Checklist Footwear: Tick off here Equipment Continued: Tick off here Walking Boots - NOT approach shoes Socks & spare socks Trainers or Sandals to wear at camp Clothing: Base layer or thermal top Base layer or thermal bottoms Loose fitting quick drying T shirt or polo shirt x 2 Warm layer, fleece or hooded top x 2 Optional Gillet or Body warmer Walking trousers Shorts Hat Gloves Water Proof Jacket Water Proof Trousers Equipment: Tent Stove & Pans Fuel - either gas or meths Rucksack (65L is a good size) Rucksack liner (not bin liners or carrier bags) Sleeping Bag Sleeping Mat Torch (Head torch is best) Compass (maps are provided) Map case Food (Silver - food for 4 days) (Gold - food for 6 days) Cup/Mug/Plate/Bowl Cutlery or spork Drink bottle or bladder pouch Water Purification Tablets Route Plans and Route Cards First Aid Kit Survival bag Whistle Washing up kit Toilet/sanitary supplies Matches and/or lighter kept dry in a bag! Personal Supplies: Toiletries, Medication, etc. Towel First Aid kit Blister Plasters Note paper or waterproof paper Camera Pens or pencils Mobile Phone Optional Individual Items: Walking Pole(s) Gaiters Sleeping Bag Liner Midge Net