Gear and Resources

2010 New Year's resolution was to lose 1kgm of overnight gear weight per year.

Comment: Digital PLBs a must after 1 Feb 09. A useful review here . I think I'll wait a little past 1 Feb (now early 2010!) for the KTi to be approved.

I didn't have much of an idea about gear when I took up walking again, after a break of about 40 years. Some say minimal, others say high-tech. Get what suits you, after talking with the experts and, if you can, try before you buy. CBC has gear that you can hire and try.

AA Rechargeable Batteries

3 With more requirements for AAs, a pair of Energiser 2450mAh for $13.97 bought at short notice in Feb 10.

2 By May 2009 I'd cycled my various rechargeable cells too many times, so ordered 4 MAHA Powerex NiMH 2700mAh cells (arrived in a useful plastic holder) via the www.servaas.com.au site. $31 posted to the door in 48hrs. I'll see how they go - and go they do. Lovely to have reliable batteries again which will run the GPS for at least 8 hours and still have plenty of puff!

1 I run my GPS all the time to record the track. When essential (eg. for a multiday walk) I'll fork out $10 for a pair of Lithium single use AAs.

Boots

8 With some water work coming up on 24 Jan 09, 27 Jan 09 and 3 Feb 09 I lashed out and purchased a pair of Dunlop Volleys. I now feel like an old hand - the living legends often wander around in the bush in Volleys. Seriously, they are light on the feet and very grippy for rock-hopping and wading in creeks and generally in wet conditions. I guess the disadvantage is that they don't provide much ankle support.

7 Hi-Tecs just about on their last legs, so replaced them with exactly the same on 7 Jan 09. They are Hi-Tec Addos. This time I purchased from Seears Workwear for $169.00 (incl a Seniors discount); same boots in outdoor shops for $199.95. These are not overly technical boots, but the point is they are perfect for my foot. They do not need to be super-waterproof as I mainly day walk and get through the soles so quickly. So the lesson for me is - find something that is comfortable and works and stick to it.

6 I tried a different tack, shopping at Paddy Pallins on 26 May 08 for a pair of Hi-Tec boots at half the price. If they are reasonable, I can get two pairs of these for the price of one pair of the others!

5 With extra quick service from Jen, the MD store manager, by 11 May 2007 I handed over $18 and had a replacement pair of Raichle Scout black GTX boots. 1420gm a pair, so a test of the light(er) and robust. Thanks again to Mountain Designs. Maybe I'm hard on boots. By May 2008 the Raichles were nearing the end of their life.

4 From October 2006, it's now Mountain Designs Tasman (full leather, Gore-Tex lined) with Nikwax Conditioner for Leather to maintain them.  1640gm a pair, but you can't get robust and light! But by April 2007, these boots exhibited upper and sole separation at a toe and a side. So back to MD to have them examined for warranty replacement.

3 So back I went in January 2006 and found a pair of Raichle Mt Guide GoreTex boots, of the lighter variety requiring less walking in - so I could get back into the bush. Excellent boots. Use NikWax Nubuck & Suede Proof to maintain them. Within 9 months, one of the soles began to 'onion peel'. Mountain Designs, the retail outlet, sent them to Queensland for assessment and organised replacement within 8 days. That's great and Mountain Designs continues to win my business.

2 I took the opportunity to try both leather and the lighter weight offerings. Wild No 98 did a walking boot survey which helped. But I decided that my ageing ankles needed full support, so settled on Scarpa Trek Pros (full leather), which received a good rating in the review. A pair of blue gel heel inserts add some padding. I thought I'd walked them in, but they made a mess of my feet on a walk to Mt Kelly (my fault). 1670gm a pair. So I didn't use them for a while - this particular style known for its narrow fitting. But with other boots starting to wear out in H1 2008, I used them for short walks. They certainly are robust and I understand that Scarpa are making wider fittings now.

1 A basic pair of Hi-Tec boots did great service till November 2005, particularly after I learned that you need to nourish the leather to keep it supple and water resistant (Sno-Seal is good). But worn heels, cracked uppers and paper thin soles led to replacement.

Camera

4 Continuing the theme of weight reduction (along with volume reduction and convenience), in Feb 10 a Canon Powershot SX120IS (10Mp and 10Xoptical zoom), an 8GB card and a little bag (all up $362). So now I'm equipped like Mike B and Karen C - only hope I can emulate their pics. Weighs in all up at 345gm, versus 1156gm for the 400D (less zoom lens) in a bag.

3 I must have been a good boy in 2006 because, in early December a pre-Christmas present of a Canon EOS 400D Twin Lens Kit digital SLR camera arrived. Now, to learn how to drive it!

2 I next used a 3.2 megapixel Canon PowerShot S1 IS camera with 10X optical zoom, usually set to take large resolution (2048*1536 pixels) and Superfine compression shots.  I use a 1GB compact flash card in it, which allows plenty of room for a good number of photos (more than 500 at the above quality) and sound bite descriptions. It takes 4 AA rechargeable batteries, rated at 2500mAh.; (IrfanView freeware is used to reduce the pics to 800*600 and 80% jpeg quality, then Easy Gallery Generator freeware to organise them onto this web site. I've chosen not to publish photos which might easily identify people.) If anyone would like a copy of a picture in its original size and quality, please just email me.

1 I started with a Canon Ixus, 3.2 megapixels and 3X optical zoom.  It was very compact, but I found the optical zoom a limitation and the battery (after a couple of years) needed a good pocket warm before performing in the cold.

Clothing

I use the layered approach to clothing:

Thermals - Target brand thermal T-shirts are fine for me. When it's cold (snow, night time), I put on thermal long-johns.

Mid-layer - I'm very pleased with an Icebeaker brand New Zealand superfine merino wool long-sleeved top.  It was expensive, but I wear it to death.

Top Layer - When necessary, I use a Mountain Designs 2nd layer thermal. Normal wear for cool day or weekend walks is a Target short sleeved 'puffer jacket'.

When it's not cold, any old shirt will do. A lighter colour will be cooler than a dark colour. Long sleeves may be useful, but I like short sleeves. But it's always wise to carry an extra layer to pop on during breaks, particularly in the wind on top of a hill.

Down Jacket - having borrowed a mate's down jacket on a couple of serious occasions, a trip to the USA in September 2007 provided the opportunity to obtain a Western Mountaineering Flight Jacket. A nice little piece of kit weighing a modest 350gm in a Sea to Summit Sn240 stuff sack. About an AUD/gm.

Shell - Spare no expense. An absolute must - get the best available, Gore-Tex.

3 I think any serious walker would be mad not to use a Gore-Tex shell. My Stratus shell was returned from Mr Tex with a full technical inspection report. As I suspected "water pressure testing of the fabric in your garment revealed extensive puncture damage in the shoulders, back and down both sleeves. These pin-sized puncture holes are not a fabric flaw - they are mechanical damage to the fabric that has occurred during use." - ie. wear and tear. However, the largest punctures were repaired, the jacket laundered and a fresh treatment of the Durable Water Repellency done, the jacket posted back with a care kit and an accompanying item. The technical report even told me that I'd sweated in the jacket - "A visual inspection found a build up of contamination in the seam tapes around the neck, chin and sleeve areas. Contaminants such as perspiration, body oils, suntan creams, moisturisers, etc can build up over a period of time and during use. If left in a garment for an extended period of time, and garments are not washed thoroughly or regularly enough for their level of use, contaminants can cause irreparable damage to adhesives of the seam tape and between laminated layers of the fabric." Well, I don't use suntan creams or moisturisers, but I sure am guilty of sweating in it. And, of course, it's had some rough treatment in it's life.

Huge congratulations to Mr Gore Tex. Hats off to you!! That's above and beyond the call of duty/guarantee and, even though I didn't need such service to remain a life-long customer, I'm sold. To top it off, the WL Gore Customer Service contact may come down to Canberra and Tuesday walk with us!

2 With Winter 2008 coming up, I bit the bullet and purchased a Paddy Pallin Vista shell. Love the long cut and it's 60gm lighter that the previous.

1 In November 2004 I got a Mountain Designs Stratus shell (Goretex 3-layer XCR fabric) and Mountain Designs Cascade Goretex overpants which served me well for a few of years. Wet and snowy in Tasmania a couple of times and the occasional wet day-walk and snowy weekend in Namadgi. But by late 2007 it started to leak. I tried washing it and reproofing it with Granger's XT - Spray Waterproofer, then sticking it in the tumble-dryer as instructed. No joy. I tried this twice. A couple of wet (inside and outside) walks! In May 2008 I had the thought of trying the Gore-Tex guarantee. I rang the Sydney number and got an excellent response - send it up and they'll test it. I guess it will be 'wear and tear' v a fault. But Gore-Tex were certainly willing to have a look at it. Watch this space for the outcome.

Trousers - always young-at-heart shorts - with zips to add on legs when really necessary.  In the rain, I sometimes wish my shorts were shorter (I have a friend who walks in very short 'rugger' shorts) or my shell top was longer to keep the exposed bottoms of the shorts from soaking up the rain.  I do sometimes wear shorter shorts (which my daughter calls Kel shorts - will only have meaning if you're a Kath and Kym fan).

Gaiters

3 By December 07 my walking companions noticed my gaiters were sagging (a bit like the way I felt), so replaced with Sea to Summit Quagmire Gore-tex from my favourite MD store.

2 Also a pair of Sea to Summit 450D ripstop nylon gaiters, longer, which are excellent in Tasmania/colder climes.

1 An excellent pair of Kathmandu NGX gaiters which breathe from the upper area (500D Nylon with NGX lamination upper; 1000D Nylon bottom), coming to comfortably below my knees.

Hat - Just a disposal store Army type cloth hat (I could use a wider brim). A cheap acrylic beanie for cold (it's more than adequate to arrest the head loss heat).

Gloves - Mountain Designs Talon fleece gloves for the cold, topped by Mountain Designs Trekker gloves for the wet. If you want to protect your hands pushing through scrub or grabbing onto bushes on steep slopes, try a pair of gardening gloves.

PLB/EPIRB

If you are going to flout the cardinal rule of bushwalking - never walk alone - then at least carry an PLB. Perhaps it's a good idea at other times, too.

2 I purchased a GME MT410 406MHz PLB (with a story attached, more later) which was mailed to me on 10 March 09. Within 24hrs it was on its way for its first outing to Stewart Island, NZ.

1 I originally used a GME MT310 made by Standard Communications.

Note that analogue 121.5Mhz EPIRBs will no longer be detected after February 2009. Only digital 406Mhz PLBs will be detected. For more information, see Australian Marine Safety Authority .

First Aid Kit

As well as a personal protection Equip first aid kit, I have:

Setopress PEC high compression bandage, 10cmX3.5m. For snakebite, excellent that it has green (for moderate compression) and brown (for high compression) rectangles printed on the bandage. When stretched to apply pressure, the rectangles become squares.

GPS

3 Interesting comment from a walking companion in Feb 10 that his (newer) GPS recorded 5 times the number of track points mine did - and hence an ever so slightly longer trip distance (thanks Stephen M for mentioning this to Mike B who passed it on). The final logic to cause an upgrade to my GPS. Other issues seem to be aligning with the majority of fellow walkers in going Garmin and having topographic maps available in the GPS. So a Garmin Oregon 550 Outdoor Adventure Pack was ordered from GPSOZ in Mar 10. $979 included the Oregon 550 GPS (which has a 3.2 megapixel camera with Geotagging), Oztopo maps loaded on a micro SD card (I up-ed this from 2GB to 4GB) and a few other bits and pieces delivered to my door less than 24hrs after ordering. Data exchange with Garmin equipped walkers will be facilitated. A little hiccup with the card and a missing bit of mapping, but fixed with a couple of phone calls.

2 In March 2007 the GPS stopped talking to my PC. Who was to blame - GPS, data cable, serial-to-USB converter, OziExplorer software or PC? I put an ad on this blog front page to borrow a data cable, but no response. From March to June, I had to load waypoints into the GPS by hand prior to a walk. On a walk, I'd set several waypoints. These I'd manually enter into OziExplorer so I could check/adjust my planned track to get an estimate of the actual. After a couple of walks, I got smart(er) and exported the track (and waypoints) onto the SD card in the GPS and then saved these to my PC for use after things got working again. They are in a different format to OziExplorer files. Sick of getting nowhere, I rang GPSOZ in Sydney and they were very happy to send me down a data cable to try - which fixed the problem. Once again, hats off to GPSOZ .

1 Don't rely on it! Learn to use a map and compass! But it's a good backup and lazy way out. I use a Magellan Meridian Platinum.; It's a bit bulky (I've seen others with more compact GPSs, probably more suited for carrying in the bush), but does an excellent job.  I'm still working out all its capabilities. Got it on ebay. I leave it on all the time, so it records the actual track covered. It takes 2 AA rechargeable batteries, rated at 2600mAh.

Hydration

After my first bladder sprung a leak, I reverted to what is often hailed as the perfect hydration system - a used PET bottle. It's also said that you should take the time to stop and grab your bottle to have a drink. But I missed being able to suck on a tube without stopping and taking my pack off. I'd had a couple of Platypus collapsible bottles (handy for carrying port as well as water!) and was reminded that they make a tube to fit these bottles. So it's back to the tube. From memory, the scrub pulled the mouthpiece out of the tube and it was lost, so now just the Platypus bottles in my pack.

Maps and Compass

Learn to use a map and compass! I enjoyed the CBC Navigation Course as a refresher - the last time I navigated was 30 years ago in the Army Reserve.

2 In November 07 I lost my compass (the numbers on the dial were fading anyway, from all the twiddling), so replaced it with a Silva Ranger 3 model.

1 I use a Silva expedition 4 baseplate compass and the relevant NSW LPI 1:25000 2nd edition topographic/orthophoto maps. The AUSLIG 1:100000 Australian Capital Territory (Special) topographic map is also good for an overview.

Packs

Overnighters

3 Continuing in the theme of 2010 NY resolution, I ordered a GoLite Pinnacle lightweight pack over the internet from Backcountry Gear in the US. Excellent service, 29/1/10 to 4/2/10, order to arrival. All up AUD254 v ~$312 from Aussie internet sites. Shaved 21gm off it by trimming unnecessarily long straps.

2 But the Easter 2007 sale at Mountain Designs was too good not to save money, so a WE by Sea to Summit Mountain Expedition pack came home.

1 Kathmandu Alpaca pack! But I got it for $90 from allclassifieds.com.au and I can very easily fill it (but less easily carry it). I use both a pack liner to keep the contents dry and a lightweight Kathmandu pack cover to keep the pack from absorbing moisture. Sold in Dec 09 to a good home.

Daypacks

3 With a sale on in October 2009 and the Berghaus starting to wear, I got a Kathmandu 40l Altai as a backup.

2 Berghaus Freeflow II 35+8 litre day pack. It's a crazy shape, but it sits away from my back and lessens summer sweat. Has its own pack cover and I use an added garbage bag pack liner when necessary.

1 I sometimes carry a little packaway plastic pack for day trip/side trip use.

PC Software and Maps

You can be an armchair walker (or be well prepared) using PC-based tools. The software I use is OziExplorer GPS Mapping Software with the 3D option. The data is NSW LPI Topoview CD#5, covering my part of the world (these are digitised 1:25000 maps, but only the first edition 1969-1991). To make the 3D work, you need Geoscience Australia's 9 Second DEM data. I got all this through GPSOZ , who are very helpful. I also purchased from Maptrax a digitised Auslig 1:100,000 Topographic ACT (1997) - WGS84 Datum Corrected map. In August 2005, GPSOZ advertised a DVD of all NSW 1:25000  and 1:100000 map data - not map images like NSW LPI Topoview CD#5 - (now available free from maps.nsw.gov.au ), calibrated ready for use by OziExplorer, for $30 for their trouble.  Too good not to purchase, I ordered and paid for it by telephone and it was in my letterbox within 24 hours. Great stuff!

As at Q1 2007 one can purchase GDA94 (second edition), mainly 1:25000 map coverage of NSW, but at around $269. This is called LPI TopoView Raster 2006 and I succumbed in June 2007, purchasing from GPSOZ . Again they responded within 24 business hours by post. Excellent!

A little story to get it installed and functioning to my liking using OziExplorer as the map viewer:

It comes on 2 dual-layer DVDs and if you don't have such a reader, you're nearly stuffed. I have a networked work PC available with a suitable DVD reader, but you cannot install the TopoView Raster 2006 system (software and data) across the network. So I installed it on the work PC. The installation is not very flexible, dumping everything in C:\Program Files\TopoView2006\.... The full install took about 30 minutes on a reasonably smart PC and loaded 14.6GB of (mainly) data.

I then copied across the digital map data that I required/could fit on my laptop - all the current second edition maps of NSW and all the old first edition maps (so I can now delete my old NSW LPI Topoview CD#5 maps). Thank goodness I do not need the TopoView Raster 2006 viewer and other software which was installed on the work PC (I use OziExplorer), as there is no way to copy this to my laptop. The directory location and structure had to be preserved when copying the data across - see later on .map files for the reason.

Next, grab the .map files from GPSOZ at http://www.gpsoz.com.au/OziExplorer_Users.htm . Select the link under NSW Lands Dept TOPOVIEW Raster 2006 and run the self-installing file which places the .map files in appropriate subdirectories in C:\OziExplorer\Maps\NSW Topoview 2006.

Of course, if I had a dual layer DVD reader, plenty of hard disk storage and used the TopoView Raster 2006 full product, everything would be seamless and wonderful. And I'm sure there are features I'm missing out on/haven't yet explored. But it's great to have second edition 1:25000 maps of my favourite haunts available through OziExplorer!

Personal Equipment

3 MP3 player - Thomsom 4GB MP3 player with FM radio and voice recording. Mar 10 $39.98 from Dick Smith 48gm with AAA battery and earphones.

2 Toothpaste - cultivate your friendly dentist and ask for 20gm sample tubes!

1 Fly net - a must for spring and summer!

Sleeping Bag

2 My son and his wife arrived for Christmas in December 2006 with a Western Mountaineering Ultralite Super bag, rated at -7°C and weighing 800gm in its stuff sack (advertised 735gm with 395gm of fill). Thankfully, it didn't cost the $/gm as in local Canberra stores and family were happy to hand it over for AUD500.

1 My Roman Palm Passport is fine for summer and very light and compact. But something more serious is needed for cold and snow.  An Autumn walk to Mt Kelly was the perfect opportunity to try adding a Sea to Summit 'Reactor' sleeping bag liner . Recommended by Terence U at his lightweight gear talk, it advertises adding up to 8°C and weighs 265gm. We'll see about the extra warmth and it weighs 280gm in its stuff sack.

Stoves

I spent some time thinking about stoves.

I began with a Trangia burner and a 500gm coffee tin to act as a windshield and chimney, the basis for the design being the HP03 DIY Stove (Mode A) as described by Rob H in the May 2003 it. I cut the bottom out of the tin, punched some air holes around the sides near the top, took the lid off, then inverted it. I found a small billy which would comfortably slide into the tin, 'hanging' by the lugs to which the handle attaches. The burner fitted in under, with the billy hanging clear. The point of keeping the lid for the tin was that, to pack it all up, pop the lid on, invert the tin, Trangia burner goes in, billy on top containing a small plastic bottle of methylated spirits (enough to boil some water for a cuppa on a day walk or cook tea and breakfast for an overnighter) and some matches. It makes a neat package. I call it my 'modified H...field cooker'! As comparisons show, alcohol stoves are simple but slow (but they can be used in a tent vestibule when the weather's not much chop).

I'd seen a mate with an MSR Pocket Rocket - simple and fast for one and two day walks.

Wild No 94 did a gear survey on fuel stoves and I was convinced, for long, higher altitude/cold walks, to buy a liquid-fuel stove, rather than alcohol or gas. Throw in the fuel availability issue and I chose an MSR Whisperlite Internationale, able to burn Shellite (white gas), kerosine and ULP.  Twice now, a friend has purchased the wrong fuel for me.  The first time it was methylated spirits (that cost a 30 minute trip back to Devonport) and the second time white spirits (that cost sooty cookware, a stove dismantle on the Overland Track and, luckily, the purchase of some correct Shellite at Pine Valley Hut from a generous fellow who was walking out).

You should be careful carrying a fuel stove on an aircraft. You certainly can't carry the fuel (so check that you can buy it at your destination after arrival). The fuel stove is classed as a dangerous good and should be prepared as follows:

I understand that even if you fly into Melalucca in SW Tasmania the above applies and you have to buy your fuel from the air charter company down there!

After 8 months using my MSR Whisperlite Internationale (it is an excellent, fierce and fast stove, ideal for long, unsupported walks) and with a few more weekend trips coming up, I purchased an MSR Pocket Rocket and fuel mix canister. The ants pants for lightweight weekend stuff, performing excellently in the snow (I did sleep with it). A Canberra Bushwalking Club member (David L) kindly answered my 'wanted' ad in the club newsletter and provided me with a strip of aluminium builders flashing to use as a wind guard.  It sits 23cm high. But heed MSR's warning on this modification - they say don't use a wind guard, as the gas canister could overheat and explode. So it's only 60cm long to make a ½ circle to keep the wind out, not a full circle like the supplied wind guard with the Whisperlite. The gas burner's heat is very localised, so be careful when you cook in steel utensils - your tucker can burn. Aluminium cookware is better, as it conducts heat more effectively. Same deal as above applies to carrying gas fuel canisters on an aircraft.

Tent

3 I must be a good boy, because Santa again came early in 2009. He flew in from the USA a Tarptent Moment (866gm in stuffsack), Tyvek groundsheet (142gm - 48gm when cut to the footprint of the floor = 94gm; or a piece of plastic cut out to the footprint of the floor = 82gm) and extra crossing pole (192gm). With some seam sealer and express postage, the lot was AUD330.

2 Santa came early in December 2005 and brought a Mountains Design Positron 2 tent (even though the description is for a tunnel tent, it's obviously a dome!). MD had a Christmas sale and my children gave me a birthday gift voucher and family will contribute for Christmas. Weighing in at 1.8kgm, it'll allow me to carry an extra 1 litre of 'personal comforts' to share and still win. The Plateau went to a great person who, I hope, gets plenty of use out of it.

1 My Mountain Designs Plateau tent was excellent. Quick and easy to pitch ('Triple pitch' system), 2 poles crossing at the top of the dome, roomy 2-person tent that took my pack across my feet, large vestibules to cook in, 2 openings for cross flow ventilation and a very handy gear loft. Penalty - 2.9kgm. I looked for something lighter.

I asked a local guy at Fyshwick to make me a groundsheet out of good quality nylon to protect the tub (400gm) and I added some 'elastic bands' to the eyelets he sewed in.

Weights

Item Weight
(kgm)		 Alternatives
Safety Equipment    
GME MT410 406MHz PLB 0.283  
First Aid kit 0.375  
Total 0.658  
Navigation    
Map and compass in map case 0.215  
Garmin Oregon 550 GPS, 2 AA batteries in case case 0.226 Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS, 2 AA batteries in carry case - 0.28kgm
Total 0.441  
Pack    
GoLite Pinnacle 0.939 WE Mountain Expedition - 3.1kgm
Pack cover 0.170  

Total

1.109

  
Shelter    
Tarptent Moment with 2 pegs in stuff sack (866gm) , extra crossing pole (192gm) 1.058 Mountain Designs Positron 2 - 1.8kgm
Tyvek Groundsheet (modified) 0.094 Groundsheet - 0.4kgm

Total

1.152

  
Sleeping    
Western Mountaineering Ultralite in 2 stuff sacks 0.810  
Sleeping bag silk liner 0.130  
Sea to Summit Reactor thermal sleeping bag liner 0.260  
Therm-a-rest Prolite 4 sleeping mat 0.450  
Black Diamond Moonlight Pro headlight, 3 AA batteries 0.190  
Thomson 4GB MP3 player, 1 AAA battery 0.048  
Total 1.888  
Hygene    
Comb, toothbrush and paste, chux 0.066  
Trowel and toilet paper 0.085  
Total 0.151  
Clothing    
Paddy Pallin Vista jacket in stuff sack 0.870  
Mountain Designs Cascade pants 0.440  
Western Mountaineering Flight down jacket in stuff sack 0.350  

Total

1.660

  
Camera    
Canon Powershot SX120IS in carry case 0.345 Canon EOS 400D twin lens digital SLR camera, Li-H battery in carry case - 1.7kgm
4 spare AA batteries for GPS, camera, headlight in case 0.128  
Total 0.473  
Cooking and eating    
MSR Pocket Rocket in container, billy grips, wind shield, matches, billy, Jetboil Jetpower canister (full 192gm gross), plastic spoon, chux, detergent and scourer in carry bag 0.551 MSR IsoPro gas canister (full 355gm)
Plastic cup 0.042  

Total

0.575

  
Total 8.125  

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This page last updated 8Mar10

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