Packing for wilderness travel Wilderness travel means you must carry a lot less than you do in the regular world; most experienced wilderness travelers will tell you they bring about the same amount of gear on a three-day trip as they would on a three-week trip. Being comfortable on course means minimizing weight while not leaving anything necessary behind. About this List This list is very broad. It is designed be a complete stock of all possible ideal combinations of clothing; enough stuff to pack heavy and keep you warm if temperatures are a bit on the cold side of normal but varied enough to pack light and carry fewer items if it is hot. Once on the course, your instructors will help you select from your stock the best combination of items for you; they will assess your personal gear, the group gear you will be required to carry, and balance it against your pack weight, physical size and temperature for the time of year. Because the list has to accommodate ALL the weather conditions you may encounter and consider the wide range of individual preferences and body temperatures of our students, it is very possible that you will not use every single item on this list. We suggest leaving the tags on any items you purchase for this course so that in the event they are not used on the trip, you may be able to return them. Please note that you should be aware of retailers return policies! Please bring everything on the list that is not specifically marked optional! If there are items not mentioned on this list you feel you will need, or you have concerns about cost and want help strategizing for less expensive options, call and ask your course advisor. Please note that companies such as the Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, REI and many others make high quality outdoor apparel. However, you don t need to buy all name brand clothing. You can shop at Army Surplus Stores, second-hand outdoor stores like the Wilderness Exchange or Play It Again Sports or overstock merchants like the Sierra Trading Post. Weather Summer weather in the Northwest varies; most often hot, sunny days will be followed by cool nights. Rain is less likely in the eastern side of the mountains where we run backpacking, mountaineering and canoeing courses, but is always a possibility in the temperate Northwest. We ve been known to get snow in the middle of July! The temperature averages in the 70 s with potential highs in the 90 s and lows around freezing. Be prepared by obtaining all the clothing listed on our list. A Note about Cotton Cotton makes for comfortable clothing, but in the wilderness, it can be dangerous. Once cotton is wet from sweat, rain or snow, it dries extremely slowly. Wet cotton sucks away heat from the wearer and can easily NW Outward Bound School 1 9/20/2016
lead to hypothermia. Synthetic and wool materials will keep you warm even when they are wet. That is why we ask that everything you bring is synthetic and nothing is made out of cotton. Definitions Outdoor gear is a huge multi-million dollar industry with its own specialized terminology. If you have any questions about what an item on this list is, please contact your course adviser. Below are some definitions to get you started: Hard Shell These are materials that are waterproof, windproof and breathable and generally worn when it s raining, snowing or really windy. Soft Shell These are materials that are water and wind resistant, but not waterproof. They are more breathable than hard shell materials. Fleece This is a synthetic pile material first developed by Patagonia. It s a great insulator, but it s not wind proof. In windy conditions, you ll often wear your hard shell over your fleece to combine the wind-resistance and insulation. Wool Is the natural material that, unlike cotton, keeps you warm when wet. It s a bit heavier than some of the synthetic fabrics, but generally less expensive. As a bonus, wool is naturally odor and bacteria resistant. Head 1 Warm hat ski hat ; wool or synthetic $10 $30 1 Sun hat Wide-brim is best, baseball hat ok. $10 $20 1 Sunglasses w/ keeper strap 100% UVA & UVB blocking. A keeper strap (such as croakies brand) is necessary to keep your sunglasses from falling off $25+ Hands 1 Fleece or softshell gloves Midweight synthetic fleece or softshell material. Wind-resistant material is preferred $30 $80 NW Outward Bound School 2 9/20/2016
Feet (also see pages 8 & 9) 3 Liner Socks Optional. Synthetic, very light weight, designed to be worn under hiking socks to prevent blisters 3 Hiking Socks Mid-weight, crew height synthetic or wool 1 Backpacking Backpacking boots. Please see our boot Boots guide for details 1 Camp Shoes Lightweight running shoes; an older well-worn pair is acceptable $5 $10 $10 $20 $125 $200 $50 $100 Upper Body 1-2 Sports Bra Synthetic with adequate support. Can $20 be combined with shorts for swimming 1 T-Shirt Optional. Lightweight synthetic $10 $30 1 Sun Shirt Loose, lightweight, light color, long $0 $10 sleeve. Meant for sun protection. 1 Long Underwear top Mid-weight synthetic $20 $30 1 Long-sleeved shirt 1 Fleece Jacket AND/OR synthetic insulated jacket 1 Rain coat w/ hood Lightweight wool or lightweight fleece $15 $50+ Summer courses: Mid-weight insulated jacket or synthetic fleece with a full-length zipper. Spring & Fall courses: Heavy-weight fleece AND mid-weight synthetic insulated jacket. A hood is recommended. Often referred to as hard shell. Must be 100% waterproof (not waterresistant). Waterproof and breathable fabrics are strongly recommended. A hood is required $100 $200 $125 + NW Outward Bound School 3 9/20/2016
Lower Body 3 Underwear Synthetic. Flat-stitched seams are recommended to reduce chafing. Female students should bring an additional 1-2 pairs of cotton underwear to sleep in. 1 Shorts Optional. Synthetic. Comfortable to walk in. Avoid swimsuits or board shorts 1 Long Underwear Bottom $15 $20 $20 $30 Mid-weight synthetic $20 $30 1 Fleece Pants Mid-weight synthetic fleece $30 $75 1 Hiking Pants Lightweight nylon or softshell $50 $75+ 1 Rain Pants Often referred to as hard shell. Must be 100% waterproof (not waterresistant). Waterproof and breathable fabrics are strongly recommended. Full side zips are recommended $100 + Accessories 1 Head Lamp LED-style only. No halogen bulbs. Bring $30 1 set of batteries per week of course 1 Watch w/ Must have alarm. Choose an $10 $30 Alarm inexpensive model 2 Water Bottles 32 oz. each. Plastic or stainless steel $5 $ 20 with screw top. Camelbaks or water bladders are optional. Please bring a backup if your Camelbaks spring a leak. 1 Bandana Cotton bandana. It s the only thing on $5 this list that can be cotton! Female students should bring 2 bandanas 1 Bug Head Net Netting worn over the head to keep the $10 NW Outward Bound School 4 9/20/2016
bugs away 1 Camera Optional. Do not bring anything larger than a small point-and-shoot. A sturdy case and Ziploc bag are strongly recommended to protect the camera Toiletries Prescription Eyewear 1 Toothbrush & Toothpaste 1 Hand sanitizer Prescription Medications 1 Feminine Supplies Contacts, solution and glasses. Be certain to have a backup to your primary eyewear (if you wear contacts, you must bring glasses) Travel-sized toothpaste $3 Alcohol based, 3oz $3 MUST be declared during medical screening process. Bring 2 sets in Ziploc bags An ample supply. Changes in diet, schedule and exercise can unexpectedly induce menstruation on course 1 Bug Repellant Smallest available; no aerosol $3 1 Lip Balm With at least SPF 20 $3 1 Sunscreen Small tube, water/sweat-resistant, SPF $5 of 30 or greater; no aerosol 1 Baby wipes Optional. Smallest package available. Miscellaneous Items 1 Travel Documents Copies of your travel itinerary, e-ticket, etc., NW Outward Bound School s contact phone numbers in case of a travel delay 1 Travel Money $50-$100 for Student Store, airport snacks and any other travel expenses. NW Outward Bound School 5 9/20/2016 $50
At course end, students are required to pay for lost equipment and any equipment that was damaged not through standard wear and tear 1 Clean Clothes A set of clean clothes for the way home 1 Towel A small bath towel for your post-course shower 1 Shampoo and Conditioner Optional. For Course End showers Outward Bound provides all other equipment including sleeping bags, sleeping pads and backpacks. There are no additional fees for the use of our equipment. If you DO wish to bring some of your own gear, here are our minimum standards for what MAY be acceptable for a few common items: Sleeping pads can be ¾ to full size in length. They can be made of closed-cell foam (Ridge-Rest or Z-Rest) or be inflatable (Therma-Rest ). If you bring an inflatable pad you must bring a patch kit as well. Backpacks need to have a minimum capacity of 75 liters, should carry 45-60 lbs. comfortably and be an internal frame design. Sleeping bags need to be made from synthetic materials (down fill is not appropriate for our purposes) and have a 0-degree warmth rating. If you bring your own equipment, your instructor will inspect it at course start. If it does not meet our standards you can store it in a secure location during your course. Please remember that the items above are not required for your course. NW Outward Bound School 6 9/20/2016
FOOTWEAR About Boots There is no single piece of equipment that will make a bigger difference in keeping you comfortable on course than boots. The single most important factor in choosing a boot is fit. They won t feel like your old, broken-in running shoes or your flip-flops, but they should be comfortable! Here are some general things to keep in mind: Do not buy hunting, jungle or work boots they simply won t stand up to the rigors of course. Purchase only boots specifically designed for backpacking or mountaineering (depending upon your course) Try to buy your boots from a store that specializes in outdoor sports, and find a knowledgeable sales person to help you with your decision If you have any questions, or want to know if a boot not listed below is appropriate, please contact your course advisor Finding the right fit A quality store that sells mountaineering or backpacking gear is the best place to start. Try on a variety of boots from various manufacturers each company s boots fit differently. Some advice: Wear the sock system (liner socks + hiking socks) that you intend to wear on course Try boots on later in the day, as your feet tend to be largest at that time When trying on boots, make sure to walk around a lot uphill, downhill, on edges Your boots should fit comfortably, but not be so big that your feet are swimming and not so small that your toes slam into the front of the boot when walking downhill If your boots do not have a waterproof liner, make certain to purchase waterproofing and treat your boots before you come to course Consider purchasing an aftermarket insole, such as superfeet. Some people love them and some hate them it depends on your individual foot Once you ve purchased your boots, wear them! You might look a little funny running around in backpacking boots, but taking the time to break them in before course is critical to your comfort NW Outward Bound School 7 9/20/2016
What kind of boots do I need? Backpacking Boots Backpacking boots are the most popular off-trail boots sold today. These boots have shock-absorbing composite rubber soles, injection molded mid sole/shanks/plates and soft, yet supportive, leather uppers characterize this category of footwear. Through the use of state of-the-art materials, it is now possible to purchase a boot that is at once relatively lightweight, comfortable, supportive, and weatherproof and requires only a moderate breakin period. Boots must be either full-grained leather or have a full waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex liner. Examples Include: La Sportiva Pamir La Sportiva Omega GTX Salewa Mountain Trainer GTX Asolo Powermatic 200 Asolo Fugitive Gore-Tex North Face Verbera Backpacker Scarpa Kinesis Pro Scarpa SL Active Scarpa Bhutan NW Outward Bound School 8 9/20/2016