What I carry and why I carry it.
8th December 2020
Soooo….the stuff I carry when out walking either by myself or with others (coachees or adventure experiences).
First off, this is my kit for me by me and I carry it. I’m sure others carry more, I’m also sure others carry much less. What you carry is a personal choice based on your comfort levels, your risk profiles, were you are walking, for how long, how high and who with.
This is what I would carry for a days walk (around 8 hours) to make sure that I and the individual I am with are safe.
What I carry and Why I carry it – So let’s break this down.
Clothes
Layering your clothes are an important part of keeping warm, reducing sweat (and thus overheating under any waterproofs) and generally feeling great.
My base layer is a long-sleeved t-shirt that can wick sweat away from my body to the outer material and is easier to evaporate. It’s a technical base layer made by Trespass.
What I carry and Why I carry it
On top of that, I have a light fleece if it’s chilly (around 4’C or lower) and on top of that, I have windproof. The light fleece si a cheap one made by Regatta.
The windproof is made by RAB and is a ‘Borealis’ jacket. Lightweight, stretchy windproof material with pockets that are rucksack friendly.
The trousers are also made by RAB (I’m not sponsored by the way!) and are the Alpine Kinetic waterproof trousers. They are soft, flexible, stretchy and totally waterproofs and can be worn like a normal pair of walking trousers.
To complement this I also have the RAB Alpine Kinetic Jacket. Again, totally waterproof.
Cooking
What I carry and Why I carry it – This is my two-person cookset. When I’m out by myself I’d only carry the small titanium mug (on the right), which is just larger enough to put a boil in the bag food ration with enough water for a brew after.
The larger set, on the left, is a great set but too big/heavy for one person walking & camping.
The gas canister (C100) fits inside the titanium mug, along with the lighter and the MSR Pocket Pocket II stove.
Sea to Summit collapsible mugs complement the layout, again I’d usually only take one mug.
The dark plastic bag contains t-bags and sugar sachets.
All of that goes together and into the dry bag.
Sitting Mats
Cold bums are not nice, neither are wet bums. 2 x Multimats foam sit pads give me some comfort. Again, by myself, I’d only take one.
Hygiene Kit
A trowel to dig the hole for my number #2’s when out camping, toilet paper, dog poo bags to collect the paper and hand sanitiser.
24hr Food Rations
This is my emergency ration pack. Enough calories to keep me warm, fed and safe.
2 x dehydrated meals, breakfast & main course (can be eaten cold)
1 x pudding boil in the bag with a chemical heater. Just add water and it works like a charm.
Flapjack, hi-energy drink, dextrose tablets round this off.
All kept in a dry bag labelled…food!
Sleeping Kit
This is the bare minimum I’d carry and on a camping trip I’d carry a larger sleeping bag.
This kit however ensures that I can keep a casualty warm, dry, safe and under shelter should the need arise.
The red dry bag holds my tent, compact and uses walking poles and it’s bright orange. Hard to miss!
What I carry and Why I carry it
I have a Snugpack synthetic sleeping bag (comfort 4’C), Alpkit bivvy bag, a Sea to Summit Thermolite liner and a Therma-Rest Neo Xlite pad. The pad is a winter pad so with the rest of the kit I / casualty will be warm enough.
In winter I’d carry a Thermarest Questar -6’C sleeping bag and in Autumn I’d take the OEX Helios EV 3’C sleeping bag and a sleeping bag liner. The full kit list is here.
I also carry a small lightweight groundsheet.
When I’m out camping by myself I’d carry an OEX down sleeping bag rated to -3’C (compacts to about the same size as the SnugPack) and possibly a Wild Country Zephyros 1-person tent.
Warm Kit
Spare hat, gloves, thermal fleece buff and a down jacket with spare socks in a plastic bag. Along with a pair of SealSkinz waterproof gloves and Karrimoor gaiters finish this off.
Hydration Kit
Two Platypus collapsible 1l water bottles are the main items here. By myself, I’d only carry 1l of water though using the filter system to top up.
My filter system consists of a Sawyer Squeeze water filter coupled with a CNOC 2l wide-mouthed bladder. I also carry (just in case!) water purification tablets.
Navigation Kit – What I carry and Why I carry it
Paper map, compass, whistle (for attracting attention!) and a protractor are my main items. Using these I can keep track of exactly where I am.
I also carry an old Garmin GPS. Still serviceable and will give me a 10 figure grid within 5 mins of turning it on.
In addition, I also carry my phone which has the OSGB online mapping system. I download the maps I will be using before I start walking. It can be used without a signal, so I’m not reliant on mobile coverage.
Being a geek I also tend to memorise the route as much as possible.
The extra compass/whistle are for my walkers so I can teach basic map reading and navigation skills.
Top Lid
My lunch of a snickers bar, high energy cereal bar and nuts / dried fruit mix goes in here. Also are spare batteries for the GPS.
Two head torches; one for walking and one for inside the tent.
Inside the plastic bag is a green dry bag. Inside that is a 10,000amph battery with cables for iPhone / Android phones.
I also carry an emergency compress bandage (known as an Israeli bandage). This compliments the tourniquet I carry on my left should strap of the rucksak.
First Aid Kit
Simple kit, with a few additions of painkillers (paracetamol/ Nurofen) and sachets of anti-diarrhoea and re-hydration drinks. Plasters, bandages, tape and tweezers.