my kit, any opinions? anything i should change or keep?
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I wear leather boots from South Africa called Rougue, water resistant very good.
Its it really heavy going i`ll put on sealskins and maybe gators
Its it really heavy going i`ll put on sealskins and maybe gators
On my feet, woolen Barbour gun socks and my pair of British Army Issue boots, because they're nice and comfy now.
If I could choose something else, probably some Russell's Stalker mocassins and a pair of Merino wool socks.
All this kit talk is making me wonder if I should try to get by with less. My first solo hiking/camping trip, I took a 45lb pack and some very strong Scarpa Delta boots. Ofcourse the boot's were more nearly for mountaineering so my feet hurt like hell, and the pack although good (Karrimor) didn't fit right because I'm so tall. That 45lbs really took it's toll on my body, and I didn't see any of the sites I set out to see, I also didn't get as close to nature as I thought I would. More kit means less fun as far as I can see.
Matt
If I could choose something else, probably some Russell's Stalker mocassins and a pair of Merino wool socks.
All this kit talk is making me wonder if I should try to get by with less. My first solo hiking/camping trip, I took a 45lb pack and some very strong Scarpa Delta boots. Ofcourse the boot's were more nearly for mountaineering so my feet hurt like hell, and the pack although good (Karrimor) didn't fit right because I'm so tall. That 45lbs really took it's toll on my body, and I didn't see any of the sites I set out to see, I also didn't get as close to nature as I thought I would. More kit means less fun as far as I can see.
Matt
I wear a pair of Le Chameaus.
I have worn all sorts of boots from Para Boots through to Dry Boots.
I wear them all the time and in the woodlands during the winter months I wear canvas gaiters. Naturally, the job of Hurdle Making is very demanding on your kit and your boots are usually the first to fall to bits.
I have been charcoal burning, hurdle making, coppicing, logging and I have even climb trees in them ( and in due course, fallen out of them!). They seem to be pretty much bomb proof. I have worked in sub zero temperature and they have been through the hottest summer in years. They have also been plastered in calf sh*t twice a day everyday since June( and I mean twice a day as we haven't had a day of since June!) and they are still going stong!.........and they give great support around the ankles.
Jack.
I have worn all sorts of boots from Para Boots through to Dry Boots.
I wear them all the time and in the woodlands during the winter months I wear canvas gaiters. Naturally, the job of Hurdle Making is very demanding on your kit and your boots are usually the first to fall to bits.
I have been charcoal burning, hurdle making, coppicing, logging and I have even climb trees in them ( and in due course, fallen out of them!). They seem to be pretty much bomb proof. I have worked in sub zero temperature and they have been through the hottest summer in years. They have also been plastered in calf sh*t twice a day everyday since June( and I mean twice a day as we haven't had a day of since June!) and they are still going stong!.........and they give great support around the ankles.
Jack.
I like Army issue socks - comfy warm and hardwearing.
I rate Scarpa boots highly. Few years ago I bought a pair of their Manta M4 mountain boots - these are quite rigid in order to take a crampon. All the books say you should break in boots before wearimg them for a longer trip, but they were so comfortable straight out of the box I wore them the next day for a trip up Ben More Assynt and Conival. No blisters, no problems, worked fine with the crampons.
I've never had boots as good as these, and when they wear out I'll just buy another pair (so long as they're still being made).
I rate Scarpa boots highly. Few years ago I bought a pair of their Manta M4 mountain boots - these are quite rigid in order to take a crampon. All the books say you should break in boots before wearimg them for a longer trip, but they were so comfortable straight out of the box I wore them the next day for a trip up Ben More Assynt and Conival. No blisters, no problems, worked fine with the crampons.
I've never had boots as good as these, and when they wear out I'll just buy another pair (so long as they're still being made).
I tend to prefer high leg boots for the ankle support having sprained both ankles badly.
I wear Salomen gore tex, not as nice as my previos leather salomen "clima tex" that i got in Canada, they were like comfy slippers, but didn't last long and couldn't be repared. The new ones also creak, so are hopeless for stalking.
My other pair is the German army paraboots, resoled after the Glastonbury flipper incident they are still going strong.
My boots are certainly broken in, the salomens are on the virge of breaking out! But i still get sore feet if i am carrying a heavy pack. That 45lbs all gets transfered to your feet so they are under alot more pressure than usual.
Insoles and good socks seem to help alot, but getting that pack size down is the key me thinks.
Rich
I wear Salomen gore tex, not as nice as my previos leather salomen "clima tex" that i got in Canada, they were like comfy slippers, but didn't last long and couldn't be repared. The new ones also creak, so are hopeless for stalking.
My other pair is the German army paraboots, resoled after the Glastonbury flipper incident they are still going strong.
My boots are certainly broken in, the salomens are on the virge of breaking out! But i still get sore feet if i am carrying a heavy pack. That 45lbs all gets transfered to your feet so they are under alot more pressure than usual.
Insoles and good socks seem to help alot, but getting that pack size down is the key me thinks.
Rich
Rich have you tried sorabathane insoles - they may ease your achy feet - work for me now and when I was a foot slogger.
Wore same German Army Para Boots for about 7 years and then got a Grade1 pair of Gore tex and Thinsulate lined Brit Army Pro Boots from Ebay for £35 +pp. Excellent for support and comfort and already broken in on a tour of the Balkans!
Keep an eye on Ebay for 2-3 weeks and you can get a great deal. They retail anywhere between £110-150 and will last for years
Keep an eye on Ebay for 2-3 weeks and you can get a great deal. They retail anywhere between £110-150 and will last for years
I can second the recommendation of Sorbothane insoles I've used 'em for years, both the footbed, double strike type and the thinner all sorbothane type (which I'm using in a pair of Danners at the moment). Realy comfy kit.
Cheers
Shaun
Cheers
Shaun
I've not really found Sorbothane to be very suitable for me. It's ok for a short while but seems to lose performance quite quickly.
if you can get hold of issue arctic socks then grab em while you can cos they`re exellent, the bigger the bergen the more you carry(found that out the hard way" and my boots are these http://www.bucklerboots.co.uk/ put b1000 in the search thing on the site, i love em
RAPPLEBY2000 said:
When I did the Camp Craft course the other year, Ray actually had us all sit down on the first morning and discuss what we had packed and what we would pack. Someone asked "So what do you pack?"
Ray comes back with about a 50 litre pack and proceeded to talk us through everything he takes and what he would add in, basically it would have just been some food.
If I can find my notes would anyone be interested in it?
Scott
p.s. My first post so hello everyone. Recognise a few names from some of my old woodlore courses.
Sorry it took so long to find the notes, but I got them in the end. As a precursor this was shown to the course a couple of years ago - 2002 so it may have been refined. It also doesn't include the clothes Ray was wearing on his body which made up some of them.
This is what Ray had in his rucksack. His was a 55 litre rucksack and he reckoned he could get all his kit and food in here for a week assuming he was cooking on a fire - go figure!
* Rucksack
Big enough for the job. Be warned your equipment will get bigger to fill the space you have available.
* Hootchi or Tent
Suitable for the job
* Sleeping Bag
* Knife, Folding Saw, Bottle, Loo Roll & Lighter (Keep Waterproof)
Kept in one pocket
* Small Cooking Pot, Water Bottle, Water Purifier, Mug and Spoon
Kept in one pocket
* Petzl Tikka Torch, Compass, Map Case, Insect Kit (Mosiguard and Head Net), V. Small First Aid Kit. In a gun cleaning case the following: Plastic Blow Torch lighter, Sharpening Stone, Leatherman Pulse (Needle Nose), Gun Oil (Best for wiping on knife and axe to prevent rust) Emery Cloth, Needles and Artificial Sinew or Thread, Mirror, Whistle, Superglue and Batteries.
Kept in the top pocket
* Crook knife and mirror in the inner top pocket. Small amount of gaffer tape.
* Ventile Jacket
* Spare thin wool sweaters x2, gloves and hat or cap in summer. Keep clothing in Outdoor Designs dry bags.
* Wash Kit - Soap, Comb, Small Towel, Toothpaste and brush, Shaving Kit
* Sleeping Bag
Keep in a dry bag as well as a stuff sac (With compression unit)
* Goretex Bivvy Bag
Would then need to add in food.
This is what Ray had in his rucksack. His was a 55 litre rucksack and he reckoned he could get all his kit and food in here for a week assuming he was cooking on a fire - go figure!
* Rucksack
Big enough for the job. Be warned your equipment will get bigger to fill the space you have available.
* Hootchi or Tent
Suitable for the job
* Sleeping Bag
* Knife, Folding Saw, Bottle, Loo Roll & Lighter (Keep Waterproof)
Kept in one pocket
* Small Cooking Pot, Water Bottle, Water Purifier, Mug and Spoon
Kept in one pocket
* Petzl Tikka Torch, Compass, Map Case, Insect Kit (Mosiguard and Head Net), V. Small First Aid Kit. In a gun cleaning case the following: Plastic Blow Torch lighter, Sharpening Stone, Leatherman Pulse (Needle Nose), Gun Oil (Best for wiping on knife and axe to prevent rust) Emery Cloth, Needles and Artificial Sinew or Thread, Mirror, Whistle, Superglue and Batteries.
Kept in the top pocket
* Crook knife and mirror in the inner top pocket. Small amount of gaffer tape.
* Ventile Jacket
* Spare thin wool sweaters x2, gloves and hat or cap in summer. Keep clothing in Outdoor Designs dry bags.
* Wash Kit - Soap, Comb, Small Towel, Toothpaste and brush, Shaving Kit
* Sleeping Bag
Keep in a dry bag as well as a stuff sac (With compression unit)
* Goretex Bivvy Bag
Would then need to add in food.
very interesting post,
so no water proofs, and no fishing kit???
didn't expect a mini kit, but the repair and servicing kit in the case is interesting.
two mirrors?
cheers, and.
so no water proofs, and no fishing kit???
didn't expect a mini kit, but the repair and servicing kit in the case is interesting.
two mirrors?
cheers, and.
:-D :-D 
I use cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in the casualty department often. It smells like superglue but is purple. The trick is to put it on the surface rather than into the wound, and also avoid the embarassing error of glueing yourself to the patient.
Interesting kit list - thanks very much for digging it out.
Just wondered re shaving. I'm told in very cold conditions it is better not to shave. In the TA we had to shave on exercise (I think to ensure good respirator seal against the face).
Always liked the bit in Crocodile Dundee when he hides the safety razor so he can impress the girl by shaving with his knife.....
Interesting kit list - thanks very much for digging it out.
Just wondered re shaving. I'm told in very cold conditions it is better not to shave. In the TA we had to shave on exercise (I think to ensure good respirator seal against the face).
Always liked the bit in Crocodile Dundee when he hides the safety razor so he can impress the girl by shaving with his knife.....
Super glue or its medical cousin was invented during the vietnam war as a quick way of sealing wounds.
superglue and dermabond (a brand name for the stuff in hospitals) is pretty much identical in basic makeup, using superglue for closing wounds is fine
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