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Backpacking Gear Notes (author unknown)
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Please remember that snacks will be locked in a car during
the trip. Do not bring a can of soda, it can explode in the heat (it has happened in my car, and it is a mess to clean up!).
Do not bring something that will melt, like chocolate. Do not assume the car driver will allow you to eat in his car. A light
snack that you can eat and share before getting into the cars is a good idea. Bring only healthy snacks on the hike.
Eating sugar snacks on the hike will temporarily pump you up; but, drag you down double within 30 minutes or so.
In cold wether, pack your water bottle deep inside your backpack
so it will not freeze. Make sure the lid is screwed on tight and pack it upside-down. Water freezes from the top, so if it
is stored upside down, the mouth of the bottle remains free of ice. Water bottle insulators also help to keep water from freezing.
If possible, fill your bottles with hot water before hiking. Also, heat your water bottle and place it at your feet
in your sleeping bag. This will keep your feet warm and provide water for breakfast.
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Mr. Little submitted a good article to read about Winter Backpacking
Clothing. Click Winter Clothing Tips to view this article.
Bring only the clothing that you intend to wear. It's
a good idea to change into fresh underwear and socks on the second day of hiking. That is about all the spare
clothes that I bring. There is no reason to change your pants, just because the one pair is a little dusty from the
day before. SOme of the newer hiking pants have built in swim suit type mess that serves the same purpose of underwear.
THese are nice if you plan to get wet because they will dry out while you are hiking. If you wear the regular underwear,
and you normally do not change your underwear during a campout, do not let your Mother pack an extra pair for
you when you are backpacking. Every extra article in you pack adds weight. Bring only what you will use!
You will be glad you did after the trip.
Get yourself some good hiking socks and sock liners.
Thick wool socks on Winter hikes or synthetic socks during warmer weather will last several days if you change out your sock
liners. When hiking, always change your sock liners. Liners will sponge the sweet off your feet and distribute it to
your socks. Also ,always bring an extra pair just in case you get the socks wet. If fact, seal the extra
socks in a zip lock bag to keep the weather out. You can find good outdoor socks and liners at Walmart, Target,
K-mart or your favorite outdoor equipment store. They should be thick and contain absolutely no cotton! If you
cannot tolerate wool, there are good socks made with wool blends or synthetic material such as snow ski socks. Expect
to pay $10 to $15 a pair (even at Walmart). 100% synthetic hiking socks, similar to snow skiing socks, are bit more expensive.
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Many experienced hikers will wear a poncho over a rain
coat or rain suit. A poncho can double as a ground cloth. It can also be made into a lean-to. A poncho breathes better than
a rain suit. It can also help cover your pack when hiking. There are special ponchoes with longer backs for back packing.
Get something that is light weight, but practical.
When you pack something, consider multiple uses for the item.
If the item does not have two uses, consider, again if you really need to bring it.
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Winter - Long Pants (no jeans)
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"Think Synthetics"
Bring a pair of wind-suit pants. Bring synthetics camping pants. Do not bring blue jeans, do not bring
the regulation Boy Scout pants (although there is now a good camping pant offered from the scout shop or Scoutstuff.org),
do not bring khakis. Polyester backed long underwear bottoms and shirt should be worn on Winter trips. Just
like a ski trip, wear polyester long underwear liners underneath light weight pants. Long pants are really seasonal
for experienced backpackers. I will only bring them along on a winter trip. Otherwise, it is wasted effort to
carry them. Polypro long underwear tops and bottoms are rated the best.
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Nylon or quick drying shorts
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Year round, I will wear shorts to hike in. Wear nylon shorts.
Some hiking pants have zip-off bottoms that convert to shorts. Good choice for year around comfort.
They can double as a swimsuit in warmer weather.
Some of the zip off bottom pants can double for swim pants on summer backpacking trips. In the summer, these
pants dry fast on you because your not wearing the standard underpants. The mesh lining of these pants is similar
to a swim suit. On longer trips, you can wash out nylon/synthetic type shorts and they will be dry enough to wear in about hour in Summer months.
No clothes will rub against you more than your shorts.
Wear something slick and soft.
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As I said before, if you don't plan to use it, don't bring
it. If you aren't going to brush your teeth, do not carry the toothbrush and toothpaste. If you are not going to wash your
face, do not bother with the soap.
I carry a pack towel (these quick dry towels that you can
buy at camping supply houses). Paper towels work just as well. I use the pack towel to dry off my tent (when I use a tent)
from the morning dew. The pack towel seems to work better than paper towels for this job.
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Insect Repellent / Sunscreen
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Both insect repellent and sunscreen are required on some trips.
Consider where you are going. Put a bit of sun screen in a film canister--you can make it part of your first aid kit. Then
you do not have to carry the whole bottle.
I used to think that insect repellent that you rub-on was
much better for campouts. Then, I went to Canada. I quickly learned that there are some places that an aerosol can of OFF
is worth its weight in gold. Consider your trip, bring the repellent if you think you will need it. Otherwise, leave it at
home.
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Backpacking with rain cover or trash bag
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Get a backpack that fits you. Most younger scouts have packs
that are too big, and the hip belt is useless for them. Get a cheaper pack for your younger scout, or realize that you
can sell the pack after your son grows out of it. It is hard to find packs for kids. We liked the REI Rising Star and
the Kelty Coyote 4750 (adjustable frame) for smaller backs. (You can rent pack at REI; but, get your reservation in early
in most caes). We have tried to adjust internal and external frames to fit smaller bodies, and we were never successful.
It is very difficult to change the shoulder straps, the hip belt, the rest on the small of the back, and keep everything working
together, properly.
You do not need a 7000 cubic inch pack. Keep the pack volume
under 3000 cubic inches, if possible. You will pack until you fill up the back pack. I would hope that your pack is full before
you reach 30 pounds!
The external frame packs are easier to pack, they can accommodate
a wider variety of gear. They do not hug you body as close as the internal frame packs, so they can be a bit more uncomfortable
on long or difficult trips.
If you have an internal frame pack, learn about compression
sacks. These are stuff bags with ends and straps that squeeze the contents down to a minimum volume. You do not save any weight,
but you can get things into and out of your pack easier.
A trash bag makes a great cover for your pack at camp in the
rain. It is much lighter than a nylon cover, too. You can also put trash in the bag, if it is not raining.
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Sleeping bag in waterproof stuff sack
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Down sleeping bags have the most warmth per pound of weight
that you have to carry. However, I really recommend a synthetic sleeping bag (holofil, thinsulate, etc). If your down bag
gets wet, you are cold and wet. If a synthetic bag is wet, it will drip dry in minutes. The higher quality filling materials
weigh only slightly more than down. If you have a bag that can get wet, you do not need such a great tent. You can save more
than 5 pounds on the tent weight by having a synthetic sleeping back that weighs about one pound more than down.
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Tents, Tarps or Bivy Sacks
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Many tents are over-built and too heavy. They block
the view of the stars and block the evening breeze. The thin nylon sides of a tent do not protect you from any animals.
I usually sleep under the stars. My tent does not have a rainfly. I have learned not to touch the tent walls during
a rain storm, and I stay dry. I do not have a vestibule, a gear loft, a guest bedroom or a welcome mat. The tent holds
me and no one else. My tent weighs 3 pounds.
A piece of Tyvek rigged as a lean-to would be bigger, lighter
weight and just as dry. Why do I carry a tent? Well, I don't always carry a tent. I do use my poncho for a lean-to
on campouts. I did not have access to Tyvek before. However, I am now anxious to give it a try.
Winter trips are a bit different because the size of
the tent and its enclosure collect body heat for warmth. Do not use high ceiling height tents in cold weather because
there is too much air space to naturally warm over night. Also, try to sleep at least two to a tent to add warmth
in below freezing weather.
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Personal First Aid kits with mole skin
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First aid kits are nothing more than some band aids, alcohol
wash-wipes, moleskin (perhaps the most important item) and tylenol or aspirin. If the problem is bigger, I will improvise.
Paper towels can cover bigger cuts.
I also carry a couple of needles and dental floss in my first
aid kit. The dental floss makes great string to sew together tents. It also works when food gets stuck between your teeth.
I have used it help tie a boot. Dental floss has lots of uses.
Some people like to carry duct tape. I have carried
it on trips, but never used it. So I leave it at home. Besides, duct tape is heavy.
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Water Treatment (filter or iodine tablets)
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I put a bottle of iodine tables in my first aid kit. I usually
filter my water. However, if my filter breaks or if the water is really scummy, I will add iodine. I have been told that a
vitamin C tablet will take away the terrible taste of the iodine. I have not tried it.
I suggest carrying 2 liters of water. Many people want to
carry more. I think you should drink a lot at the water sources and only wet your mouth during the day. If you carry a platipus
(plastic bag with a hose that runs to your mouth) you will drink twice to three times as much water. They might be convenient,
but they will force you to carry many extra pounds of water. A few plastic water bottles (or empty softdrink bottles) works
well for me.
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I do not carry extra batteries for my flashlight. I sometimes
wonder why I carry the flashlight. When backpacking, I go to bed when it gets dark and get up when it gets light. The flashlight
is for an emergency or to see what time it is when I wake up in the middle of the night. I still have not figured out why
I like to look at the time in the middle of the night. No matter what time it is, I behave the same, I roll over and go back
to sleep.
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Emergency Whistle/Compass
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I do recommend putting a whistle in your first aid kit. Not
only does it help if you get lost. Sometimes, it is necessary just to get the group to stop and regroup. Some compass/whistle
gadgets come together. It is always good to have c compass along.
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A lot of optional stuff is listed, like aluminum foil. If
you know you are going to use it, bring it. Otherwise leave it at home. Aluminum foil can be used as a wind deflector around
your stove. You will use less fuel with the wind deflector. Many use aluminum foil to coat their eating gear to avoid
cleaning after meals. Be prepared to tote the used foil back to the trailhead if you bring it.
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