Gear
Motackle Outdoor World Coffs Harbour will give CCSS members a discount.
The Quickie Gear List for a Day Walk
- Lace up Bushwalking shoes or Trainers
- Merino Socks; or Coolite, to wicker sweat.
- 20L or > BackPack; Fitted to your spine, with waist belt.
- 2-3L Hydration Bladder & a water bottle
- High energy proteins, scroggin, rubbish bag.
- First Aid: Snake bandage, Hydralyte, survival blanket, blister tape, Analgesia, Antihistamine, protective gloves, pen & paper.
- Head torch; Spare batteries
- Mobile phone ~ charger~ camera~ sunglasses~ car keys, cash
- Toilet paper ~ Shovel~ Chux ~ Ziplock bag ~ Alcohol Handwash
- Clothes; buff, hat, raincoat, long sleeve shirt, beanie, gloves, fleece.
- Sunscreen, Insect Repellent, Lip Balm
- Gaiters; Shoe covers
- Walking Poles
- Recovery shoes e.g. crocs, thongs for post-walk, plastic bag for muddy shoes.
The Gear List for Sisters who want to know more
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Footwear is the most important need in bushwalking.
Joggers are great on easy terrain. Stronger supportive lace-up walking shoes will be needed on steep rocky terrain.
( When purchasing a good inner sole first, Logistics sell one for every foot condition. As your shoes will come with a very inadequate inner, it's just a lining, nothing else)
Then try on many styles brands at a specialist shop aim for a size bigger than your normal size to take into account the inner sole and a 2 layer sock system feet swell after a few hours especially in heat.
"Cut your toe nails 5 days before you walk not the night before. To prevent bruising and sore spots."
- Socks to prevent blisters: Not Cotton ~ Not Bamboo
Apart from well fitting shoes, wickering socks are essential to prevent sweat, which creates blisters.
Merino are great in cold weather. In heat a Cool Lite sock, they are synthetic with a special dry release material in them. (Outdoor World sell Smartwool socks for every different season, and they are my favourite.)
- Day Back Pack 20 - 30L is a good size with waist harness
Avoid sales, avoid buying on line unless you have tried it on.
The fitting of a pack is as important as your footwear it needs to be very comfortable
Be sure your pack is big enough to fit in adequate gear.
Waist Belt is necessary as it stabilises the pack and takes the weight out of the shoulders, but it must sit mid across hip bones & belt up at navel. Get the assistant to measure and fit you. You wouldn't buy bushwalking shoes without being fitted, the pack is the same, your spine and gorgeous curves also need to be fitted. Outdoor World can do this for you. Ash the Store Manager is very helpful.
Why am I bragging about this so much?
"Having a good daypack is equal to having good footwear.
You know those shoes you put on and you go. YES there so comfy !
I want those ones. The pack needs to fit your body the same way."
It will make all the difference to your experience of bushwalking.
It will reduce pain and fatigue. You can walk longer and can be incredibly comfortable carrying 4-6 kgs
And you will hardly notice the weight at all.
- Hydration Bladder: 2-3 L plus an extra bottle
Water ...water... water it's very hard walking and drinking at the same time.
Hence the water bladders make all the difference as you can continually suck sipping water, which is the most effective way of hydrating rather than big glugs along the way.
Hydration is crucial so you don't go into Ketoacidosis.
Dehydration will cause a very Not Feeling Good Effect!
Fatigue ..Fatigue.. Fatigue..headaches.. dizziness.. nausea.. Tachycardia
At its worst, you will fry your brain and organs and go unconscious to death.
Its very real and we do hear of deaths of young healthy adults in very hot conditions who don't drink enough, dying!
Dramatic I am!
So please drink..drink.. drink..
" Drink well the night before a walk and the morning before the walk, if you start off well hydrated. You are already ahead."
- Hydralyte a Bushwalkers rescue remedy
Add Hydralyte to water and you will be bouncing along that track.
It's all those electrolytes you sweat out, so routinely I take 2 in summer at the start of a walk that I know is 2hrs or longer, where I know I will be sweating. It makes all the difference from dehydration to rehydration.
"Its lunchtime and I still have 7kms to walk. All I want to do is have a Siesta. 2 Hydralyte and dark chocolate. Whamo. Im off bouncing"
I also use my hydration bladder and this remedy while I'm driving long distances. Magic !
- Food : Always carry some high energy food
Even if you're not planning to have lunch out there, have some protein bars, nuts and sultanas, dark chocolate, cheese and biscuits.
"All best plans can turn into long wild adventures with Sole Sisters."
- Raincoat: At the very least a poncho
I love my Patagonia jacket, super lightweight, very breathable in hot conditions, great for Coffs Harbour, Qld, NT and super dry when wet as it has sealed seams. It's so good at keeping you dry. You could use it for all multi-hikes and with a fleece super warm. (except alpine conditions when you definitely need a Gortex).
I would go up a size when buying, so you have room for a fleece underneath.
Make sure your coat has sealed seams, otherwise it won't be rainproof.
"Tell Outdoor World you walk with Sole Sisters and ask for a discount on high-price items shoes, jackets, packs, or multiple items etc "
- Head torch:
"Remember how Dad always kept a torch on the fridge in case of a blackout"
You never know what may happen on the track and without light there is darkness & it's not much fun trying to walk in it.
Just a great way to get lost and have an accident.
See it as part of your First Aid Kit.
Plus it comes in very handy for exploring caves and gorges.
- First Aid
Protective gloves
Compression bandage most important item : For snake bites or bleeding
Fixamul tape for blisters/ scissors to cut it
Survival blanket (for warming up a cold person)
Hydralyte
Antihistamines for allergic reaction to animals or plants
Aspirin for a heart attack or migraine
Painkillers
Pen and paper
- Mobile Phone: switch to Flight Mode to save battery
Car keys are kept secure, many packs have a safety clip to attach them.
Camera, never leave this at home. I love your photos.
Leaders will carry a CB Radio and PLB when remote.
- Toileting
Alcohol Gel hand wash
Toilet paper for poo. For the environment, you must dig a hole and bury it.
Chux for wee. Please don't use tissues in the bush for wees or runny noses.
Carry a hanky or Chux and ziplock bag to keep in.
- Suncare.. Insects..Ticks
Clothes to cover is the best remedy for the sun, long sleeve shirt and pants
Hat & Sunglasses
Sunscreen, which will generally just sweat off.
Insect Repellant to spray boots before entering leech areas
Again clothing is the best remedy.
Lavender oil is great for bites and sunburn
The quicker you kill a tick the least reaction. Use the freeze spray or Lycra scabies cream then you can remove the tick once it is dead without squeezing the head.
- Gaiters
Workman Boot covers are great for beach walking and open areas to keep pebbles and sand from getting in.
Longer gaiters are great for mud, long grass, rocky areas, snake protection and snow and rain.
They also will prevent your boot laces catching or coming undone, hence tripping you up.
- Walking Poles
I have the brand Leki which are now 11yrs old and still going strong
Need to be height adjustable and light.
You may need gloves on a long hike for hand blisters till you get use to them.
They stabilise and prevent you from falling, great for rock hopping, creek crossings, or descents.
A must for heavy load backpacking
Take 70% force out of the joints protecting your backs , hips, knees, ankles and feet.
- Winter
Beanie, gloves, neck warmer and fleece.
- Alpine
Gortex jacket is life saving..rain pants..space blanket..water proof gloves
Surgical gloves as a back up..Doggy bags for feet..Rescue Bag.
Here are links to more information on packing and gear for Bushwalking. Bushwalking Gear