Favourite gear

[Lizzy]

So I hope this thread hasn't been done before.... but I am wondering what everyones favourite piece of bushwalking gear is? Why? How long have you been using it for?
I love all my gear but I guess my Aarn Guiding Light pack would have to be my favourite- I find it so much more comfortable and am not all sore and as hunched over as I used to be while lugging my pack about. It has its draw backs with lots of straps, more bits to break and is not all that suited (in my opinion) to off track or steep scrambing, but for most of my my walks these days its fine. I also like access to camera, water, snacks etc in those front pockets. Half the time I end up stashing my walking companions gear they want to access while walking...I have had it for a good few years now and its been on walks here in NSW, down in Tassie and NZ.
Cheers
Lizzy

[Lizzy]

on a slightly cheaper note- I also love my possum socks from NZ- they are lovely and comfy and help prevent blisters I have also been wearing possum socks for a couple of years.

[Strider]

Socks are definitely up there for me. I have a pair of merino mid-weight socks from Mountain Designs that have been going strong for a couple of years now. They've long outlasted their Icebreaker equivalents and have kept their formm much better too. Sadly they are no longer available

[Bluegum Mic]

My dangerbird hammock. Its build, quality and comfort is amazing.

[Pongo]

My favourite bits of gear aren't necessarily 'the best' or 'highest tech' bits of kit I have. Instead I tend to have an affinity for tried and true equipment which has seen lots of use.

So my black diamond distance z poles would be my number 1. They replaced a pair of useless Macpac / Fairydown poles. The design is simple, once locked in place there's no risk of the pole collapsing. They've served me well and show no signs of letting up anytime soon.

My number two would have to me my 38 litre osprey kestral pack. It's my day pack and also a hand-me-down pack for overnighters, so it's seen lots of use and has helped several of my friends go bush. Lots of handy little features like pole stows (see above), pockets on the hip belt etc etc...

[Onestepmore]

My string of fairy lights
3 AA batteries and a whole lot of atmosphere

[Moondog55]

My army kidney cup.

[Scottyk]

My Trangia.
Simple, strong and reliable. Perfect bit of design IMHO

[Strider]

Actually, after giving this a bit more though, my absolute #1 piece of gear has to be my Zebralight H51F. Much more than just a headtorch!

[Snowzone]

My Trangia.
Simple, strong and reliable. Perfect bit of design IMHO

+1
But I do also love my WM sleeping bag. There is never a time when I don't look forward to snuggling down into my bag for a well earned dreamtime. Particularly after being well fed and watered.

[Ellobuddha]

Cold Weather - My down jacket - Marmot Ama Dablam. I love getting to camp and quickly setting tent then putting it on. Like a doona - comfy as.

Warm Weather - my Auscam hat - so simple so effective. A little carabiner on the back so it sits on pack for easy access.

[slparker]

My army kidney cup.

Its proper name, bizarrely, is a 'cup canteen'. I had two old green canteen holders on he hip belt of my pack for years. Can't say that I've used the cup for years, although I do have a little burner that fits it for solid fuel.

[TerraMer]

My chow kit - Snowpeak titanium bowl and carry on chopsticks, Sea to Summit extra long titanium spoon and my old trusty brandless but awesome 500ml double wall mug.
Also the favourite gadget of the moment, a ZOOM h4n portable audio recorder.

[Clusterpod]

Also the favourite gadget of the moment, a ZOOM h4n portable audio recorder.

I'm about to upgrade my aging DAT field-recorder with one of these. Glad to hear you like it!

My favourite gear is probably my La Sportiva leather boots. Done thousands of kms in them and they just keep on kicking.

[TerraMer]

Also the favourite gadget of the moment, a ZOOM h4n portable audio recorder.

I'm about to upgrade my aging DAT field-recorder with one of these. Glad to hear you like it!

Don't forget to get the fluffy mic cover for the Zoom and it improves sound quality if you comb it before recording. Seriously

[alanoutgear]

My Snow Peak combination head torch/lantern (relatively recent), and my MSR titanium cookset which I've had for years are "among" my favourite bits of kit.

Isn't it interesting how things change? In the '60s my favourite bit if kit would have been my faithful stainless steel Trangia which weighed in at nearly 1500 grams (ex fuel), compared to my new Fire Maple Hornet stove which weighs in at just over 40 grams (ex fuel).

[Strider]

My Trangia.
Simple, strong and reliable. Perfect bit of design IMHO

Apart from the weight!

[ULWalkingPhil]

I can't pick a favourite. I noticed this topic yesterday, and trying to pick out a favourite item. I like all the gear I have. I can't pick a favourite. They all work well together to help me enjoy my bushwalks without feeling like I have a monster on my back.

[puredingo]

My small Billy...Yep, that's right. I cook in it, sometimes eat out of it, boil suss water in it, pack other gear in it. It's as rusty as hell and looks like Henry Lawson once owned it but it never gives up and refuses to break so I can get a new one!

Hey Phil, I see your on the headland at Nth era there...How did you like the area?

[ULWalkingPhil]

My small Billy...Yep, that's right. I cook in it, sometimes eat out of it, boil suss water in it, pack other gear in it. It's as rusty as hell and looks like Henry Lawson once owned it but it never gives up and refuses to break so I can get a new one!

Hey Phil, I see your on the headland at Nth era there...How did you like the area?

A beautiful area. Great beaches and the views are great. Love the area. North Era camp site is not much. They could do so much better with a camp site.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[puredingo]

Sure is, I grew up just up the road and spent everyday of my life surfing or walking in that spot until my mid 20's and had to move away. The camp spot at Nth Era was a lot better before they put those dunnys in up the back. Now after heavy consistent rain it seems to stink up the place for days later.

If your heading South your better off making the effort to push on to burning palms, better camping and less heads...even better if you know somebody with a hut.

[DARRIN-G]

My favorite piece of gear is my Rab
Sleeping bag ,and the smell it gives every time I open my hiking box ,triggers off fond memories..

[Joomy]

Currently, my Crux AK-47X pack. It's excellent in every way and never let me down. But nothing is perfect. I wish it had hip belt pockets (MYOG ones coming up) and it could be lighter. But it's damn good.

[Julies]

Joomy, have you looked at z-packs hip belt pockets? I love them on my day pack which is minus hip belt pockets.

As for my favourite bit of kit? Probably the jet boil... love a quick coffee in the mornings!

[sthughes]

Well for me this is like trying to pick your favorite child! I can't differentiate between which is best, but I can give a short list of what I call me "end game" gear. That is gear I have settled on after the merry-go-round of buying-trying-selling/tossing. I'm a bit of a gear buying junkie, so tend to buy and try a fair bit, but sometimes I get something that just works so well I stop caring what else is out there, and if it ever fails or wears out I know I will buy it again, whatever the cost, whatever it takes to get in shipped to Aus. This is what I call my "end game items", and I guess these are my favourites. So:
One Planet Shadow pack
One Planet McMillan pack (for long or rough walks)
Trangia 27-5 UL (on Gas)
Outdoor Research Peruvian Windstopper beanie
Injinji merino socks
One Planet RFG Gaiters
One Planet Bush-lite sleeping bag
Hilleberg Soulo tent (just for winter/exposed use)

Icebreaker Merino LS crew neck top

[Joomy]

Joomy, have you looked at z-packs hip belt pockets? I love them on my day pack which is minus hip belt pockets.

As for my favourite bit of kit? Probably the jet boil... love a quick coffee in the mornings!

Hi Julies,

I have looked at them but I'm not sure they will work so well with my Crux pack as it has no daisy chains or external straps on the hipbelt to attach them to. I'm going to do some MYOG ones out of some spare Dyneema-X I have.

[Happy Pirate]

So I hope this thread hasn't been done before.... but I am wondering what everyones favourite piece of bushwalking gear is? Why? How long have you been using it for?
I love all my gear but I guess my Aarn Guiding Light pack would have to be my favourite- I find it so much more comfortable and am not all sore and as hunched over as I used to be while lugging my pack about. It has its draw backs with lots of straps, more bits to break and is not all that suited (in my opinion) to off track or steep scrambing, but for most of my my walks these days its fine. I also like access to camera, water, snacks etc in those front pockets. Half the time I end up stashing my walking companions gear they want to access while walking...I have had it for a good few years now and its been on walks here in NSW, down in Tassie and NZ.
Cheers
Lizzy

I bought a pair of 'Goretex' namebrand fleece-lined hiking pants off ebay for $45 that I suspected were fake. Tried them out once and LOVED them - I walked through snow and frost like it was tinsel. They must have been sly factory backdoor sales. They were so good I couldn't wait to do more Alpine hiking...
... then I moved to Townsville.....
;P
Steve 'Hotpants'

[Chrikka]

My Snow Peak titanium cookset, super lightweight and quality Japanese made.

[KANANGRABOYD]

I love my Marmot Driclime Windshirt. - Bought it when I was working at Moutain Equipment, when they first got in Marmot gear ( first in Australia back in '96).
I have lots of other fave items, but this jacket has been a "go to" bit of gear for many years.
Hard to beat.
P.S- also love my MSR Titanium spoon with jet and cable tool built in ( those of you who are old like me will know this item- it is great!...but back when it frist came out it was $49.95 retail!!!- still worth it!)

[baldhead]

My health, it enables me to head out bush
My gear doesn't seem as important as it used to be, in saying that I understand it's importance and my reliance on it to stay safe and enjoy myself.