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.
 Layers:
Clothing
 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

 General Rules:
Clothing
 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)
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 hat
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

Cons





Water tastes different
takes time and energy
doesn’t remove dirt
Filtration

Pros

Cons




Kills all bugs (at least 5 minutes)
removes dirt and some microorganisms
Complicated, heavy
Doesn’t remove all microorganisms
Chemical

Ie: Chlorine Dioxide, Chlorine, Iodine…
Pros

Cons



kills most micro-organisms (chlorine dioxide does)
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
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?