What Gear is Essential

Bushwalking gear and paraphernalia. Electronic gadget topics (inc. GPS, PLB, chargers) belong in the 'Techno Babble' sub-forum.
Forum rules
TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby walkerchris77 » Fri 08 Jan, 2016 8:20 am

He he
User avatar
walkerchris77
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 861
Joined: Fri 15 Nov, 2013 11:42 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Warin » Sun 14 Jan, 2018 3:41 pm

Alittleruff wrote:Personal/ First Aid needs some work.
Include- A space blanket... you know, just in case. And well, if you are even contemplating not taking a sleeping bag you may just need it! Also, a triangular bandage (multitude of uses for first aid)


A shirt or tshirt can be fashioned into a quite effective 'triangular bandage' and they usually already have it on. You will need at least one safety pin.

Alittleruff wrote:, some crepe bandages


Nup. Compression bandages for snake bites etc. You want more than one to cover a leg.

Alittleruff wrote:, tape, scissors, tape, bushmans/ airogaurd


Insect repellent is not first aid .. it is a comfort aid.

Alittleruff wrote:, hydration tablets, some water purification tabs as a back up to your straw (which you may get rather frustrated with, kind of like drinking heavy ice cream through a straw at McD's!). You will need some band aids


Band aids are unlikely to save a life short term, consider them to be comfort aid.

Alittleruff wrote:, and some gauze


Non stick.

Alittleruff wrote:, disposable gloves, and possibly some antiseptic creme


I prefer a powder - tends to stop the bleeding, making bandage application easier. In th etropics you want a powder not a cream nor a liquid.

Alittleruff wrote:and some alcohol wipes (can be used to help start a fire if you need in an emergency as well as the usual), Panadol


Panadol = comfort aid.

Alittleruff wrote:, aspirin (aspirin can be used in first aid to help anyone with a suspected heart attack, and well, you are in that age category, take some.) String can be handy too.


Strings is avalible from tent guys, laundry line, shoe laces.

Alittleruff wrote: First aid gear is a priority not an after thought.


First aid gear should be preceded by a first aid course. Preferably one that caters for your circumstance. Most courses assume your going to get help within 30 minutes, if your going remote at all it could be much longer than that and you'll want a much longer course.

Tip- use their first aid or any other gear of theirs for treatment - they are going to leave so their gear is not required. Your going to stay so your gear is required - including your first aid kit.
User avatar
Warin
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1407
Joined: Sat 11 Nov, 2017 8:02 am
Region: New South Wales

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby rcaffin » Fri 02 Feb, 2018 11:47 am

Compression bandages for snake bites etc. You want more than one to cover a leg.

Not, mind you, that many experienced walkers have ever been bitten: we know to avoid. Excess weight.
Insect repellent is not first aid .. it is a comfort aid.

Yeah, right.
Band aids are unlikely to save a life short term, consider them to be comfort aid.

Funny - they are the thing that gets used all the time. I suppose it is' comforting' to not be dripping blood all over my clothing.
Aspirin

Just remember that some people are allergic to any NSAID (eg aspirin) and can easily die. The ambos have to deal with it all the time.

It may be worth remembering that First Aid is just that. It is not ER in a major hospital.

But I agree with the string, torn up clothing and safety pins. Rarely needed in practice, but negligible weight.

Cheers
Roger
User avatar
rcaffin
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1221
Joined: Thu 17 Jul, 2008 3:46 pm

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby peregrinator » Fri 02 Feb, 2018 12:21 pm

rcaffin wrote:
Compression bandages for snake bites etc. You want more than one to cover a leg.

Not, mind you, that many experienced walkers have ever been bitten: we know to avoid. Excess weight.

Roger


If you’re prepared to die for the sake of carrying 61 grams (just weighed mine), then . . . I’m lost for words.

Other than to ask, should I also ditch the PLB that weighs a massive 194 grams?
peregrinator
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1776
Joined: Fri 15 Apr, 2011 2:50 pm
Region: Victoria

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Lamont » Sat 03 Feb, 2018 11:28 am

This is so, so easy- this little number
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Glantop-Alu ... wLbgT-fqJA
weighs about 130 grams (this is the slightly lighter aluminium but I have about 300-400 uses up and it is still like new), put your coffee inside and it is tiny. Got one for my daypack and one for my big rucksack. Sat on the beach at Point Addis this morning, 12ks into a 22km walk, drinking coffee from this- Perfetto!
If anyone wants the dimensions just ask. Ciao ciao.
User avatar
Lamont
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1960
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2016 1:27 pm
Location: Upper Kumbukta West
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: https://www.againstmalaria.com/
Region: Other Country

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Zapruda » Sun 04 Feb, 2018 11:10 am

Lamont wrote:This is so, so easy- this little number
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Glantop-Alu ... wLbgT-fqJA
weighs about 130 grams (this is the slightly lighter aluminium but I have about 300-400 uses up and it is still like new), put your coffee inside and it is tiny. Got one for my daypack and one for my big rucksack. Sat on the beach at Point Addis this morning, 12ks into a 22km walk, drinking coffee from this- Perfetto!
If anyone wants the dimensions just ask. Ciao ciao.


Brilliant idea! And 130 grams is definitely worth it. Nothing like the smell of a Moka pot steaming away in the bush.
User avatar
Zapruda
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1690
Joined: Thu 07 Apr, 2016 10:46 am
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Lamont » Sat 10 Mar, 2018 3:53 pm

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=8883&start=120
there is a picture of the little devil at the above link FYI
Last edited by Lamont on Sat 10 Mar, 2018 5:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Lamont
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1960
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2016 1:27 pm
Location: Upper Kumbukta West
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: https://www.againstmalaria.com/
Region: Other Country

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby slparker » Sat 10 Mar, 2018 4:06 pm

Zapruda wrote:
Lamont wrote:This is so, so easy- this little number
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Glantop-Alu ... wLbgT-fqJA
weighs about 130 grams (this is the slightly lighter aluminium but I have about 300-400 uses up and it is still like new), put your coffee inside and it is tiny. Got one for my daypack and one for my big rucksack. Sat on the beach at Point Addis this morning, 12ks into a 22km walk, drinking coffee from this- Perfetto!
If anyone wants the dimensions just ask. Ciao ciao.


Brilliant idea! And 130 grams is definitely worth it. Nothing like the smell of a Moka pot steaming away in the bush.

Just ordered one myself. Lighter than my aeropress...
slparker
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1404
Joined: Fri 25 Apr, 2008 10:59 pm

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Lamont » Wed 28 Mar, 2018 5:06 pm

G'day Splarker,
apparently there is some variability in the weight according to crollsurf (his is a wee bit heavier-but he agrees with me it seems on the quality which is tops)so it may be a tad heavier but the size should be identical.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=8883&start=120

G
User avatar
Lamont
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1960
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2016 1:27 pm
Location: Upper Kumbukta West
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: https://www.againstmalaria.com/
Region: Other Country

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby crollsurf » Thu 29 Mar, 2018 7:46 pm

Yeah, very happy with the Moka 1

My mobile phone is now essential, especially since I bought the new fandangle Galaxy S9+. These new phones, iPhone X and Pixel 2 included, are so good in so many ways. S9 is dust-proof and water-proof to 1 metre, so care free.

Navigation: If the map is downloaded, the response is immediate. The screen resolution is amazing. Accuracy is more than good enough.

Entertainment: The sound out of this phone is reasonable, even better sitting in a pot. A pair of buds, tuned to your hearing and they are excellent. Image quality is well above expectations if you want to watch a Netflix download in your tent at night.

Camera: Probably the best thing about these flagship 2017/2018 phones. They squeeze a lot out of a 12MP Camera, optical image stabilization and a whole lot of software working in the background. The screen works very well when lining up a shot, even in direct sunlight. Yes, with direct sunlight on the screen! Thats a little bit special when hiking. The S9+ has a 2x zoom, even better.
I would still take my 24MP compact for the money shots but it sits in my pack now, if I take it at all. For macro, around camp and happy snaps of views along the way, they give a quality good enough for your laptop or the average computer screen.

Other than a PLB, my phone is second on the list of essential gear. It wont stop you freezing at night though!
Last edited by crollsurf on Thu 29 Mar, 2018 9:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
crollsurf
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2206
Joined: Tue 07 Mar, 2017 10:07 am
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Lamont » Thu 29 Mar, 2018 7:57 pm

Your camera shoots RAW too! Shoot one RAW+Jpeg. I like the RAW version slightly auto tuned using Snapseed on the S7 it is a bit bit less "refined."
Download Snapseed if you haven't already it is just perfect! -quick edit of the raw image and hey presto.
Camera still required ?...... maybe. For me, not any more.
I have printed A3 from the phone and the images from my S7 are good (which I have) and yours is quite a step up!
User avatar
Lamont
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1960
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2016 1:27 pm
Location: Upper Kumbukta West
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: https://www.againstmalaria.com/
Region: Other Country

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby crollsurf » Thu 29 Mar, 2018 8:11 pm

Lamont wrote:Your camera shoots RAW too! Shoot one RAW+Jpeg. I like the RAW version slightly auto tuned using Snapseed on the S7 it is a bit bit less "refined."
Download Snapseed if you haven't already it is just perfect! -quick edit of the raw image and hey presto.
Camera still required ?...... maybe. For me, not any more.
I have printed A3 from the phone and the images from my S7 are good (which I have) and yours is quite a step up!
Thanks Lamont. A quick search on RAW only returned apps that cost $$ or $$$. I'll give Snapseed a look.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
User avatar
crollsurf
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2206
Joined: Tue 07 Mar, 2017 10:07 am
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Lamont » Fri 30 Mar, 2018 3:42 am

Forgot to say, Snapseed is free! Their RAW facility is quite new, it always edited Jpegs
It is really intuitive and so simple to use. Have a play. With a bit of mucking around you can put it on your pc. Cheers.
User avatar
Lamont
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1960
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2016 1:27 pm
Location: Upper Kumbukta West
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: https://www.againstmalaria.com/
Region: Other Country

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Brent_D » Thu 18 Feb, 2021 7:26 am

Warin wrote:
Alittleruff wrote:Personal/ First Aid needs some work.

First aid gear should be preceded by a first aid course. Preferably one that caters for your circumstance. Most courses assume your going to get help within 30 minutes, if your going remote at all it could be much longer than that and you'll want a much longer course.



They do exist, but most places will expect your to have done and have good basic knowledge first. At work we get paid to do a 3 day remote “first aid” course every 3 years.

It goes a fair way beyond what most people would consider practical and most of the injuries/illnesses wouldn’t come up hiking. If you’ve got a plb there is only a handful of places that are actually that remote (outside of weather related delays) in Aus. Outside Aus is different story.
Brent_D
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Nothofagus cunninghamii
 
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue 02 Feb, 2021 5:54 pm
Region: Victoria

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby potato » Thu 18 Feb, 2021 8:44 am

Yes, I do remote area first aid as a requirement of my work. Not cheap, but worth doing especially if you can get work to pay for it.
potato
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu 28 Jan, 2016 1:06 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Gadgetgeek » Sat 06 Nov, 2021 4:09 pm

Its shocking how fast a place that is "accessible" goes to not the moment you need an evac, PLB or not. I know its a bit preaching to the choir here, but anyone on the fence about a wilderness course, if you can afford decent gear, you can afford the course, and you'll learn a lot!
As for wilderness first aid, the curriculum is getting better. and the more people who take it, the course providers will only get better at it. I do wish that there was less of a "professionals only" attitude, but maybe that's just my exposure.

Experience doesn't buy luck, and all of the wilderness pros I know have had a snakebite or near miss either personally or in the group they were with. At some stage there does get to be some "member measuring" about who carries most or least, but either way, I think that if your ego is making gear choices, its probably gone wrong.

Current essential gear is my Garmin inReach mini. Mostly for the messaging, its likely that if I did have to SOS, I'll need to also let home know if its for me or someone else, and given my medical history the tracking makes it a better choice than just a plb. The subscription may be a turn off for many, and I'll be honest, not done as much solo as I'd have liked since I got it (isn't that a common tune) but its the freedom that it represents for me that is important.

I also want to point out that while it may be obvious, any gear has to fit any patterns/habits/tactics/training that the person has. On another forum someone asked about the suitability of a certain survival strategy for getting caught out in a blizzard that they had read about. They rightly pointed out all the ways it would not work for them or their location. However for the context of the person in the story, it made perfect sense to me, having also been taught how to respond to a similar situation at a similar age to the person in the story. Point is, the internet is full of people who's skills and gear fit them so well that it would be foolish to follow them, and yet since they are "experts" its tempting to ignore our own experience, skills, and capabilities.
Gadgetgeek
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1214
Joined: Sun 23 Sep, 2012 4:10 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby CBee » Sat 06 Nov, 2021 5:32 pm

For me personally, Neurofen tablets are an essential piece of gear. Not for my hiking buddies though, so they never carry painkillers. And it's all good because they just keep using mines.
But it's impossible to write a definitive list of essential gear as I have carried snake bite bandage for many years and never came near a snake attack, but I know someone who was bitten in the City while walking in a busy park.
CBee
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 510
Joined: Fri 21 Dec, 2018 7:18 am
Region: Queensland

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby farefam » Sun 28 Nov, 2021 12:55 am

After my last walk, where I left it behind to save weight, I really missed having my beanie in the evening. So that has moved into my "essential" category.
farefam
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 228
Joined: Wed 04 Jun, 2008 7:17 pm

Re: What Gear is Essential

Postby Moondog55 » Sun 28 Nov, 2021 6:37 am

farefam wrote:After my last walk, where I left it behind to save weight, I really missed having my beanie in the evening. So that has moved into my "essential" category.

The more head hair I lose the more "essential" mine is
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11056
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Previous

Return to Equipment

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 38 guests