Equipment for carrying things, cooking, shelter, sleeping, and other things

What Do I Really Need? Determine What you need For the trip at hand For the trips you plan to take What would be nice to have Don’t buy everything at once

New Gear Shopping For Gear -Needs v Wants -Expectation v Functionality -Price v Price Breaking it in

Carrying your Equipment A major part of hiking/camping is carrying things around Backpacks Size Frames & Types Straps Choosing a backpack

How Big? Short Answer: Depends on the trip Long Answer: Consider litres Daypacks (15-35L) Weekend Packs (35-55L) Backpacking Packs (55-75) Expedition Packs (75+)

Frames and Types Types Zipper Top Loading Frames (needed for heavy loads) Help keep load on the hips External Rare Internal More common Conforms to back

Straps Hipbelt Transfers weight to hips Shoulder straps Keeps load on back Load-Lifter straps Keeps backpack centered Centre strap Prevents straps from falling Compression strap Squishes load

Choosing a Backpack Decide on your needs Cost Types of trips you will do What to look for Comfort Compartments Ease of access to items Weight Other features (hydration pack, ice axe loops, etc.)

Footwear Plan your footwear Heading out on a big trip and need some boots? Break them in around town and on smaller day hikes first. Consider the weather– light hikers or trail runners might do for a short trip in dry conditions, but won’t do for a muddy trail Consider the terrain– trails are marked by difficulty; research the type of terrain you’ll be hiking on (hilly, loose rocks..a marine trail) and choose your footwear accordingly

Footwear All the shoes you’ll need Your everyday old runners– good backup shoes for times when your hikers may get wet (sandals will serve this purpose too). Often adequate for day hiking. Trail runners or ‘trail shoes’– like runners but with a little extra support. You can hike in these, but watch your ankles. Hiking boots– try on lots of pairs, consider: Climate (do you need breathability or water-proofing), weight of the boot, fit & comfort, and price

Footwear The shoes you don’t want to hike in: Anything that doesn’t breathe (no Doc Martins) Sandals and open-toed shoes Sneakers with no support (Pumas? Street shoes) Anything ‘breaking down and shaking down’ Anything not yet thoroughly broken in Socks Matter Well-fitting, weather appropriate, wicking socks will help prevent blisters and serious discomfort on the trail.

Clothing Layers: Base Very important, especially in the winter It’s all about ‘wicking’ Choose a material and weight appropriate to the weather and activity (silk or synthetics) Mid The everyday stuff– nothing special required here, just be comfortable Insulating Fleece (lightweight, dries quickly) Wool (very warm; heavy, smelly, cold and slow to dry when wet) Outer Wind and Water-proofing Keep these layers handy & don’t leave them behind

Clothing General Rules: Plan carefully– plan to wear the same item of clothing more than once Bring extra socks and underwear; bring nothing else ‘extra’ Keep bugs & sunburn in mind– lightweight pants and long-sleeved shirts are often preferable to shorts and t-shirts Technical fabrics are excellent for base layers, insulation and outwear– invest in a few technical, lightweight items and packing becomes a lot simpler No jeans! The trouble with cotton… What to sleep in? This is really a matter of personal choice, but warm base layers work and can do double duty during the day. A toque is nice during cold nights.

Clothing Somebody else’s useful packing list: Boots Fleece Jacket (winter) Gaiters (if rough weather is expected or if you are travelling through snow) Gaiters Hat Jacket (light in the summer, heavy in the winter) 1 Pants (shorts for the summer) 2 Socks (don't skip out on the socks) 2 T-Shirts (undershirts work great) 2 Underwear (long underwear for the winter) Rain Gear (Rain pants are very valuable in bad weather) Toque (do not buy Cotton) and/or brimmed hatCotton

Cooking If doing trips overnight cooking is often needed or wanted Fires Not always allowed Stoves Allowed, but extra cost Cookset

Fire You need Matches, Lighter, or Magnesium Block Something to burn To make sure fires are allowed

Stoves Alcohol Pro: Safe, easy to use Con: Not hot Propane Pro: Hot, easy to use, easy to cook with Con: Heavy, cannot easily refill White Gas/Multifuel Stoves Pro: Very hot Con: Difficult to use and cook with

Cookset Cookset: Consider Types of pots/pans needed Volume Weight Things to eat with: Decide what you really need Cup Bowl Utensils Kitchen Sink

Sleeping If you are doing an overnight trip you need… Tarps Tents Sleeping Pads Sleeping Bags

Tarps Tarp Pro: Light, Simple, Cheap Con: Not the greatest shelter

Tents Tent Considerations Winter vs. Three season Winter tent is stronger, thicker, but heavier Size (they’re all small) Weight Stability Color Groundsheet/Footprint Not usually needed unless very cold or very wet

Sleeping Pads The Ground Pro: Light Con: Cold/Uncomfortable Air Mattress Pro: Warm and Comfortable Con: Huge and heavy Foam Pad Pro: Warm and Comfortable Con: Bulky Self Inflating Foam Pad Pro: Warm and Comfortable Con: Not cheap

Sleeping Bags Synthetic versus Down Synthetic Warm when wet Easier to clean Heavier and bulkier Down Warmer when not wet Hard to clean Lighter and more compressible

Sleeping Bags Things to consider: Temperature Rating Design (mummy bag or not) Mummy warmer, barrel roomier Space inside Weight and bulk Liners

Other Equipment Water Container Nalgenes Flasks Water bottles Hydration Packs Food container Stuff sacks Odorproof bags Bear Canisters/Bags (don’t work) Compass/GPS Use to navigate with maps

Other Equipment Headlamp/Flashlight Batteries Headlamp more convenient Soap Biodegradable camp soap Trowel & Toilet Paper Not all places have toilets

Other Equipment Sunscreen First Aid Kit One Day Multiday Bandages Medications Personal Antihistamines Ibuprofen Knife Folding Knife Swiss Army Knife Multitool Stuff Sacks Compression Sacks

Water How much to carry? Can vary greatly depending on person, temperature and level of activity At least 2 litres a day to drink Consider cooking Carry only as much as you need Are there water sources along the way? Is it safe? Unless very certain or brave its best to assume water should be treated

Water Treating water Boiling Pros Kills all bugs (at least 5 minutes) Cons Water tastes different takes time and energy doesn’t remove dirt Filtration Pros removes dirt and some microorganisms Cons Complicated, heavy Doesn’t remove all microorganisms Chemical Ie: Chlorine Dioxide, Chlorine, Iodine… Pros kills most micro-organisms (chlorine dioxide does) Cons Water may taste strange (chlorine dioxide doesn’t)

Food What to eat? Cooked foods are usually best reserved for dinners on multi-day hikes, but instant pancake mixes and hot cereals can also be a good option for breakfasts, depending on the trip. Snacks! Trail mix, nuts, energy bars, dried fruit, jerkey (meat or veggie) etc. are excellent choices both for convenience and nutrition Salt + carbs + calories are important considerations while hiking Stopping to prepare a lunch can consume time on the trail you may not have. It can also be a major hassle.

Food Weight Matters Unless you’re car camping or going on a weekend trip consider leaving the fresh foods at home. Canned & ‘space’ (boil in a bag) foods pack well but add weight and garbage you must carry out. Alternatives:  freeze dried prepared backpacking foods (available at outfitters like MEC)  Dehydrated foods like oatmeal & other cereals, dried fruit, instant milk & beverages, instant rice, pasta, instant soups, dried beans etc.  Dense breads like bagels or rice cakes  Energy bars & gels

Food Consider Bulk:  Repackage foods to reduce their bulk & weight  For example, Cooking spices can be mixed and stored in a small ziplock bag, an empty film canister, or a drinking straw with its ends taped shut.  Avoid excessive packaging; aim for re-sealable or single- serving options.  For example, single serving envelopes of hot chocolate or drink crystals make for an excellent morale booster

Food

Meal Prep & Planning Organize & store your meals by type (breakfast, lunch & dinner) Keep your snacks (especially for day one) accessible Ration & label your foods by day– ration generously, but be sure to make calculations so that you’re not carrying excess weight Dividing foods into individual meal containers is a good idea (i.e. you may be eating oatmeal twice, but two ziplocks full of oatmeal labelled “day one” and “day two” will help you not to run out) Do your prep at home Ex. chop, dehydrate & combine dehydrated ingredients for an instant chilli at home

Food Meal Prep & Planning– Useful Ingredients You Can Find in the Grocery Store Dried milk Egg replacer (baking only) or instant eggs Spices! Dried grains and beans and vegetables (mm, potato flakes!) TVP Instant sauces & gravies Canned foods (depending on the trip) Juice crystals, tea, coffee, hot chocolate

Food Meal Prep & Planning– Fancy Style Consider dehydrating you own foods Oven method vs. buying a dehydrator Where to find recipes Backpacking magazines, the internet Cook stove add-ons impractical?