Equipment advice
As one begins to pack their bags before leaving on a trek, the same questions almost always arise....what should I take? How can I keep the weight of my bag to a minimum? Here is a walking discovery basic equipment list and some tips and tricks, that will answer these questions.
This list of basic equipment is specific for the activity that you are engaging in and does have to be modified according to the season that you will be traveling. The complete list appears in the detailed program under each trip in the section titled "Important Information".
Basic equipment- A warm fleece hat- A cap or a hat to protect from the sun - Sun glasses (minimum index 3 or 4 for high mountain) - Thermal top and bottom, short and long) underwear (fast drying). - Fleece turtle neck top - A warm fleece jacket (light weight/well insulated) - A waterproof/breathable shell jacket (Gore-Tex) - A pair of gloves - A rain poncho - Hiking shorts - Lightweight hiking long pants - A Camelback or a water bottle. Shoes and technical material- hiking socks- light ventilated hiking shoes with a good traction on different type of terrain, for people with fragile ankles: waterproof ankle hiking boots and a sole offering good traction. - a pair of telescopic walking poles |
Luggage
- A back pack equipped with broad straps,
with an adjustable anatomical back reinforcement, and a capacity of 7 to 9
gallons, for your daily belongings Miscellaneous
- A
change of clothes.
|
Trips and Tricks
- In the event of rain without wind, a large umbrella is ideal. If your umbrella can be wedged between your back and your backpack, you can even have your hands free to take pictures or read a map. The use of an umbrella, however, becomes more problematic on steep terrain and in windy conditions.
- The combination of a rain jacket and pants in a breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex is the best choice. The rain poncho is reserved for breaks: a perfect shelter while snacking under the pouring rain.
- A rain bag cover to protect your backpack and its contents is essential in wet weather.
- The use of freezer bags can totally waterproof and protect your camera or paper documents (passport, airline tickets, etc.).
- A pair of walking sandals is always useful, either for evenings at the camp site or hiking while crossing rivers. They are also used in case of a blister, so as to enable you to continue on your walk.
- The Swiss Army knife is suitable for many purposes: opening a bottle or a can, screwing a wrist strap on a walking pole... It is by far the most universal tool (despite the disadvantage of its weight).
- Walking poles are needed to relieve the knee on the downhill and to assist in the pace of the hike during climbs. However, it is imperative to walk with both poles to respect the symmetry of movement.
- A Camelback allows for regular drinking without having to take a bottle out of your backpack each time. The only drawback of this system is that you can not see how much water you have left in the "reserve". An extra water bottle helps level the inconvenience.
- The warmth of your sleeping bag should cater to the type of accommodation and destination.
- Choose the right sleeping bags:
- and choose one for temperatures between 5 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit when traveling to cold countries and staying either in accommodations or in tents. You can also add a polar or silk liner to the first sleeping bag to increase the level of comfort and warmth.
- Small objects that make life easier during a trek or a trip:
- An electrical outlet adapter (there is no international standard for
electrical outlets, so an adapter is crucial when it is necessary to recharge a
digital camera battery, an MP3 player, a cellular phone...).
- A second water bottle to allow time for water purification tablets to take
effect without having to give up drinking.
- A lighter to burn toilet paper.
