Beginner equipment

[JediKnightBoB]

Hi guys, new to the forum and adventuring. I've done a bit of daytime trail walking but am looking to start multi-day trees. I'm looking at a couple of items to start and was just hoping for some tips etc. To make sure I'm on the right track.

I like the look of the Sportztrack Rambler 88 rucksack, and the Ecolite Summit boots. Does anyone have any experience with any of their products? I'm on a moderate budget, so I don't want the best items money can buy, but I don't want to be a few hours from camp and roll an ankle or snap a strap off my bag, either.

Thanks in advance!
Benjamin.

[Ent]

Hi

Would not recommend the Eco-lite boots unless at a reasonable price as they are more Rivers' grade type boot. In other words similar quality can be found at a place like Rivers far cheaper. Often boot manufactures like Redback make non steel cap versions of their safety boots and this type of boot offers value for money.

Not familiar with the pack but have a long hard look at the way the harness attaches. Seen more than a few packs where the harness has torn away with failed stitching. Often better to haunt the shops and wait for a recognized brand to come on special. Lowe Alpine can be had at good prices and are well built packs if your budget does not extend to the high end brands. Also will give you a chance to work out what capacity suits you best.

Cheers

[MartyGwynne]

Hey I bought a cheaper type of pack about two years ago to try to start going lighter and it is a Katmandu pack. I have used this pack for a longish 5 night walk along the Great Ocean Walk (Otways), for a cheep pack it has performed well and would not hesitate to use it for other longer trips. OH and Easter is coming up they usually have a lot of stuff on 'special'.
Other wise check out other online adds you see such as on Gumtree ebay etc.
Boots for me are a no brainer option I buy them new and pay about $400-$500 for the best ones which fit me in the shop full of boots made for bushwalking but that is just the fact I have bad feet and have suffered from poor boots before. BUt the same applies there too check out the easter specials and clearances etc check out what size and style you like and feel good in the store then you may be able to find some used boots (a lot of worn once but not quite the right size or don't like walking etc)
Best of luck there is a lot of cheap gear out there you just have to be very active in looking and vista the real life stores as well as the online ones.
I have found the lighter the boots the less they will support your feet as your pack gets heavier, but if you are young you can get away with it for a few years.

[Moondog55]

Do you have a flexible budget?

Look only at 3-season sleeping bags and tents until you get experience. Simpler is better.
Get a good pad and mattress tho, say a Thermarest 38mm thick and a CCF pad. Reasonable pack around 55-60litres any raincoat and overpants from a chain ( even the cheapest stuff is better than the very best of 30 years ago sometimes ) pile and fleece clothing from Target and K-Mart.
Cheapest cooking gear, Op-Shop and garage sales and the bottom of the cupboard
Get the very best fitting and most comfortable boots you can afford and a decent set of gaiters, it is after all Bush-WALKING

[JediKnightBoB]

Thank you all.

Cheers for the tip about going for the non-steelcap work boots, Ent. Moondog you've given me plenty to consider, so thanks heaps. I already own a decent tent and have access to some sleeping gear and thermal gear owing to Dad's frequent interstate motorbike trips.

My own motorcycling means I also have lots of waterproof gear, so yeah, it's just the boots and the pack that I need to get sorted off the bat. Good point about the cookware though, I hadn't really thought about that enough.

Cheers guys!
B.

[wayno]

Motorcycling waterproofs tend to be heavy compared to tramping ones, they could be rather hot to tramp in as well...

[tasadam]

I bought some lightweight workboots from an industrial tool shop. I was there for something else, but they caught my eye because of the price, $59 down on clearance from $179.
They were my size, and were surprisingly comfortable.
I've worn them every work day since, for about 18 months.
I had owned them for more than a month before I realized they were steelcaps, a tradie mate commented on them.
While not bushwalking boots, they are of similar shape and certainly very comfortable, and very lightweight.
They would most likely need something to compliment any waterproof-ability that they may or may not have, I can't comment as I haven't had them wet.
Had them long enough to need to replace the laces though, bought the Scarpa-type replacement laces that I buy in bushwalking stores locally. Don't think I will need to replace the laces again.


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[tasadam]

I should add that it would always be a better option not to skimp on boots.
See this topic.
viewtopic.php?t=2872#p124857
So often you see a pair of boots duct taped together on the overland track.
The thing that surprises me most about that though, is not how many boots fail, but how many people must carry duct tape!!


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[jacko1956]

I ALWAYS carry duct tape!
You can keep all your fancy stuff from the chemist. Nothing stops a blister from forming as well as duct tape!!

[MartyGwynne]

my 10 year old near worn out Scarpa SL's have now had countless laces etc.
The leather is near worn through the goretex lining is all coming off inside, lace keeper broken and the heels are getting badly worn (dicky feet which need orthotics to walk in).
I am now up for a replacements (exactly the same) as the last 102km walk I did (a 'dry' south coast track with side trips) the boots were a little less than great for drying out on the less wet days as they have been in the past. But no blisters - never had one blister in these boots in over the 1000 kms of walking where as I had bad trouble with blisters and sore feet till I got those boots and worked out I needed orthotics.
For boot which cost around the $430 mark they have only cost me about $43 per year and will last around the home for a few years yet.
SO I guess my rant is don't skimp on boots if you can make it happen at all. Borrow money to get get good boots which fit and are comfortable. The boots you need in Queensland may be rather different than what you need in wetter colder southern states. Check the web for who sells and fits bushwalking boots near you area and follow their advice. Enjoy.
PS I also started out with cheapies and was fitter those days so the pain was not too much of a problem.
Packs are packs and are packs, as Moondog said they have come a long way over the years, so just don't fill the thing up with stuff you 'may' need kep the weight down and life will be easier.
Marty.

[Ent]

So often you see a pair of boots duct taped together on the overland track.
The thing that surprises me most about that though, is not how many boots fail, but how many people must carry duct tape!!
.

Um? I carry so called 100 mile tape or something similar. Never needed it myself nor our group but when venturing around the OLT it is in high demand. Started carrying a meter and now about three meters of the stuff. Brought some Gorilla tape as that is suppose to be the bees knees but not used it yet.

Scarpa website points out that most people have their boot too long before replacing them. Still a well broken in set of boots is something to be treasured.

Cheers

[wayno]

go with brands stocked by reputable outdoor shops.. or stocked by dedicated reputable outdoor retailers, lookf for reviews on the products online, if you can't find reviews or anyone online who has used the brands you're looking at then I'd pass on it.
only go cheap if you really can't wait to save for better gear

good pack brands

black diamond
osprey
one planet,
macpac
berghaus
the north face
deuter
vaude
arcteryx

[Moondog55]

I have worn out 2 pair of SCARPAs, both size 45.5 SLs, one of the great boots of all time, I am now wearing something in the same style by La Sportiva.
you never loose money buying good boots, I got 6 and 8 years from the Scarpas and my La Sportivas are coming up for 7 years soon and need replacing

[jacko1956]

I can't stress enough that what is the bees knees for one person may well be torture for another.
Try getting 3 friends together and all sit in a circle with bare feet and you will see what I mean, No 2 pair of feet are alike and many people don't even have matching feet!
I have 1 foot that is a 10 1/2 and the other is a 10.
Go to a proper footwear shop (Athletes Foot is one here in WA) and get properly fitted. There are about 3 different shape/sizing systems in use by different manufacturers, e.g. US sizing or European. I am not referring here to the actual size listed on the label but the FOOTBED style used by the manufacturer.
Once you have the right sizing you can buy any footwear using that sizing system with confidence. Pretty well ALL reputable manufacturers make good shoes/boots and you can buy one that appeals to your tastes and budget.
BUT APPEARANCE IS NOTHING IN IMPORTANCE COMPAREDTO CORRECT SIZING!
An earlier post here criticised Merrell as an example and I love mine.
Once you have the size then comes the decisions re full boot, half cut or trail shoes etc.
Don't you just love the way one can of worms leads to another.
Just remember as the Yanks say... Hike Your Own Hike. You have to kit yourself out for your needs and likes and no one "guru" will have all the right choices for you.
If in doubt go cheap until you have a better knowledge.

[steveh72]

Whilst not wanting to touch the "boot subject" other than my "Rivers" Hiking Boots were cheap, but damm comfortable, not the most waterproof boot in the world, but for ankle support they have been great and I have no regrets.

However the back pack point made by Ent I can vouch for, - I went the cheaper pack first trying to save a few bucks and Murphy's Law being Murphy's law, the stiching attching the harness to the bag failed, unfortunately it chose to fail on the wrong side of Cradle mountain and it made for a very uncomfortable walk back through the Twisted lakes (1/2 day of up & down walking), Ent was occompanying myself at the time and can confirm my tale of woe.

So my advice is get the best pack you can afford and avoid "Explore Plant Earth" packs.

Cheers

[Moondog55]

OK you may get away with a "Cheap" pack, but just in case you should invest in a decent repair kit, as I once had a "Good" pack whose stitching gave way under the stress of a beginner skier falling down once too often with a loaded pack.
Nothing fancy but a couple of strong needles and a few metres of tough thread do not weigh much will not go astray, Guterman button thread is good for a lot of stitching

[jacko1956]

My current backpack is a ULA Circuit pack purchased direct from USA for US$200 and about $50 postage.
This is not expensive compared to the average in the mainstream outdoor shops BUT, it is a pack that MUST have a weight less than about 16kg total (the pack weighs 1.1kg) or it feels like a sack of potatoes on 2 strings. You MUST have everything else light to use such a pack.
My previous packs include 2 purchased for $10 and $15 from op shops. They are excellent packs as well. One is a mountain designs pack that is a no frills pack of the sort used by a business that takes groups like schoolkids on hikes. It is perfectly serviceable. The other is an ex army reserve pack by the look of it that is khaki and has had a couple of straps cut shorter but has more features than the first. I still happily use either when I go out with my son (the strap sizing on the Circuit fits him better).
I would strongly recommend keeping an eye out for similar options. Those 2 packs have more than repaid me my $25 and I learnt what I like in a pack without spending $300 plus on what a good salesman cons you into. I would NOT buy a cheap pack new.

[steveh72]

Well said Jacko - try not to buy a NEW cheap pack.

Wise words indeed.

Steve

[jacko1956]

"Well said Jacko - try not to buy a NEW cheap pack.

Wise words indeed."

Nah - not wise at all. I just fake it...

[bailz66]

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6933

Had some similar queries a few months ago when I started

The thread i created is the one above and although I overspent by a long way a few good points throughout