Advice for someone new to hiking

[embeilio]

Hi,
I'm a girl in my early twenties just getting into hiking. I did my first overnight hike a few weeks ago at Wilson's Prom which all went pretty smoothly. I carried about 8kgs on my back which included 2 litres of water, some food, a mattress, a sleeping bag, a portion of the tent (my hiking partner carried the rest) and other bits and pieces.

I'm hoping to do another hike around Christmas in the Bogong High Plains however I have insufficient gear and I am not prepared to pay LOTS of money just or my second hike (i might decide i hate hiking after this trip). I am happy to buy shoes and I will probably need a better/larger pack with appropriate back support.

So, I was hoping someone here would be able to advise me on a suitable pack and shoes (preferable low-rise) for a female just starting out and any other gear I might need.

I will be able to borrow my dads tent which is a MSR weighing about 2kg. And ideally i'd like my pack to weigh around 10kg but I realise this could be pushing it.

So, if anyone has any tips or advice please let me know

[Nuts]

Hi embeilio, welcome to the forum.

There are such a vast array of shoe and pack options. I'd suggest a better way is to link some models that you have seen (in person or online). It is much easier to point out the compromises of any particular piece of gear than pick one from the many good options.

Personally I would look at Italian brands (even) for 'mid'-shoes, whatever is available to you locally, something sturdy. I'd go for a lightweight pack from the start if you are already thinking about the weights. For packs I'd again suggest something available 'in store' is best... still there are many... Osprey at Paddy Pallin comes to mind as a light option, One Planet (Mountain Designs stores?) for a tough /heavy local brand.

Many people move to ever lighter gear though the retail source for most of the lighter (and cheaper) gear is likely overseas. You will need either a lot of research or some experience. Even then importing gear could be hit and miss.

[davidf]

My 2 cents.

Shoes. Comfortable sandshoes are fine. Just make sure the soles aren't too soft. With a pack you are heavier and the walking you are doing is repetitious on the foot. No need for fancy, just a moderately stiff runner which you may already have. Don't take something that's new or half cactus as you'll pay.

Are you sharing a 2kg tent? Then its 1kg or get something lighter.

Buy good socks! Beg or borrow a GOOD sleeping mat.

You can buy light and cheap summer sleeping bags fom brands like Roman etc which will do the trick for around $100 for a 0 degree bag. Buy a fancy light puffy jacket online if you have extra $.

Take light food which is cheap. Ansley harrietts rissotto or couscous, mae goreng noodles, instAnt pho', instant porridge and supplement with a bottle of glenfiditch and a few blocks of chocholate to trade for wonderful meals.

[AlbinoNeutrino]

It snowed this weekend on Mount Bogong, and I've seen snow fall up there in December, so at the very least be prepared for all weather in terms of clothing and shelter. An alternative plan that you could consider is basing yourself at Falls Creek (or Mount Beauty) for a few days in comfortable accommodation and then doing a few day hikes. There are many beautiful day walks that can be taken from Pretty Valley or closer to Falls Creek, and the classic day walks up the staircase and eskdale spurs from Mountain Creek are certainly worth doing. That way you don't have to invest in all the gear up front and can get a taste for what is involved.

[Genesis]

You will need,

1. Good boots
2. Good sleeping bag & mat
3. Good Tent
4. Good pack
5. Good Waterproof Jacket
6. Good preparation
7. COMMON SENSE....

Quite often people forget #6 all the other can be purchased

Genesis

[roysta]

My 2 cents.
Shoes. Comfortable sandshoes are fine.

Given the OP is new to this and where she plans to go, I wouldn't be going down the sandshoe track.
Sub alpine or alpine requires a bit more thought.
As Nuts mentioned, there are lots of low cut shoe options available and until you know where you're at, it's better to shop in store rather than online.
Osprey is one brand that carries a wide range of light packs (many of them women specific) and they're widely available.
However, there are other brands as well.
If you're in Melbourne, Bogong Equipment might be a good place to check out.
The key is finding a store where people know what they're talking about, in some stores staff haven't got much of a clue.
Keep asking questions and good luck with it.

[Pongo]

Hi Embeilio and welcome to the forums.

How well shoes and packs feel and work vary from person to person. One persons misery is another persons bliss. This is owing to the fact that everyone is a different shape and size and so products fit us all differently. So instead of recommending a type of shoe or a type of pack, I strongly recommend you spend a lot of time trying packs and shoes out in order to find what works for you.

Load up your pack with a decent amount of weight (say 15kg) and wear it in the store for an hour. Similarly, wear the shoes you try for a long time. Jump up and down, kick into the ground to see if your boot is moving around, and pay attention to spots where there is friction (a little rub is a painful blister in the field). Buy neither in a hurry and make no apologies for coming back multiple times before you commit to a purchase. These are things you shouldn't rush.

Given that you have done an overnighter at the prom, could you post a list of the gear you carried in this thread? I would love to hear what worked well for you and what didn't. This may well help other forum members provide you with advice that is tailored for your situation.

In regards to saving costs, you can hire gear fairly readily, which is a great way to try out equipment before you buy it. Alternately, hike with other people and borrow their spare equipment. If the later option appeals to you but you don't have many people to hike with I help run a hiking group in Melbourne which you're welcome to look in on. The link for us is in my profile.

Happy trails.

[davidf]

Some people wear boots all the time others don't (I am not anti boot).

Agree with the above about weather. A good raincoat, good thermals and good extra socks and a beanie that's a bit windproof should go in the mix.

The socks, thermals, beanie and warm jacket are a great investment for whatever path you take whether its bushwalking or not.

[icefest]

There is a thread here on how to get cheap equipment. If you are a typical early 20's person and would prefer not to spend too much, have a search for that.

[vicpres]

Hi Embeilio

Welcome to bushwalking. When starting out in an y new activity, buying new gear should be the last option for all your gear requirements. First and cheapest option is to beg/borrow from friends and family. If you can't obtain all you need that way, next best option is to Hire. Most if not all Melbourne bushwalking shops hire bushwalking equipment and clothing. Check the web sites of Bogong Equipment, Wilderness Shop, Eastern Mountain Centre as all have their offerings online. Probably the only item I wouldn't borrow or hire would be boots as it's vital that your feet ate well looked after.

If you decide to continue to bushwalk, don't fall into the trap of buying lots of flash/fancy/expensive gear early on. Start with buying things that have multiple uses e.g. boots/footwear as well as being a pretty personal purchase, if you purchase light weight and smart looking boots they can be used for walking in all sorts of places, including in cities. Next buy a good waterproof jacket. They may seem expensive but if looked after properly they can last 10-15 years and can be used when shopping, walking the dog, to/from work, on holidays etc. A good strong waterbottle or two can also be used any time. I have two aluminium ones that I have owned for 30 years that have done literally hundreds of hikes and countless holidays, road trips and flights. A sleeping bag is also a fairly personal item and can be used in many situations.

Whatever it is you are buying, the first and most important question any salesperson should be asking you is "what sort of walking are you planning on doing, and where". If they don't ask, go somewhere else or ask to speak to someone more experienced.

The Bogong High Plains are a great place to walk, but as others have said the weather can be very bad at any time of the year. I have been visiting the high plains every January since 1984 and have snow several times, rain, hail, wind, but mostly warm to hot and sunny. Don't try to do too much, too early in your walking 'career' as you may get put off. You haven't said how many days you are looking to be away for, but here are plenty of options around Falls Creek, Pretty valley and the Mount Nelse area that are not too taxing.

[perfectlydark]

I concur with vicpres. You dont need to spend a fortune particulaly if your unsure if you will continue the hobby. Ive spent maybe $500 in the past year getting gear from scratch. Some people wouldnt spend less on a tent. The point is you dont need the latest and greatest, just what you are comfortable with and as long as its safe for the conditions you are expecting then go for it.
ive learnt many lessons along the way (never where khakis if you think its going to rain for one lol) but in the end I just slowly accumulate better gear as money becomes available

[Moondog55]

The experience needed to buy very expensive gear well is sometimes painful to acquire [ speaking as a teenager who left his oilskin and second jumper at home to save weight on a Razorback traverse in the 70s when it snowed] which is why this forum is a great help. Beg, borrow or hire the big ticket items to start with but don't skimp on the personal safety items like your storm parka (and for the High Plains over-trousers) and as I have said many times; Op-Shops are a great place to find cheap warm wear

[embeilio]

Hi guys, thank you all for your responses!

I'll be doing the hike with my dad and brother. We are planning to go from Mt Hotham to Mt Feathertop and then down to Harrietville. Regarding gear I have got the pack and the tent covered now. I can borrow my brothers spare hiking pack and will be able to share the MSR tent.

What I really need now is shoes. I would really like to get some proper walking shoes because all I have at the moment is a pair of nikes that get wet easily and put pressure on my toes after long periods. I would prefer low-cut walking/hiking shoes as I feel they are more versatile and I do a lot of walking and frequently go to the 1000 Steps, so they would come in handy there. Would there be any brands you could reccommend for shoes? And what about extras... do they need to be waterproof? gore-tex? vibram soles?

The other thing is a sleeping mat. For a one night hike is it really that important? At Wilson's Prom I slept on a Static V inflatable mat which was good but I won't be able to use that on this trip because my brother will be. I thought I would just sleep on a yoga mat to help minimise my pack weight.

My sleeping bag I have had since I was a kid and it has served me well. I've slept in it in Adelaide and Central Australia in winter and in Howqua Hills in May this year. How cold can it get at Mt Feathertop in summer? Should I be looking at getting a down sleeping bag or like some of you have suggested just do it on the cheap and stick to what I already own?

Also stove and cooking equip will be carried by my dad (presumably haha).

Thanks again for all of your advice.

[perfectlydark]

You could survive.on a gym mat which will cost around $10. Not sure on how cold it gets there but it might do the trick, or a self inflating mat for a bit extra thickness (I use a 2/3 length denali mat, my feet dont need to pampered). Shoes im still trying to figure out so someone else might be more help there. I can say cheapy big w shoes are useless though (from painful experience haha)

[bailz66]

You will need,

1. Good boots
2. Good sleeping bag & mat
3. Good Tent
4. Good pack
5. Good Waterproof Jacket
6. Good preparation
7. COMMON SENSE....

Quite often people forget #6 all the other can be purchased :)

Genesis

Where abouts can I purchase Common Sense? I want to give it to a few people for presents at Christmas.

Thanks

[Lizzy]

A closed cell foam mat (thicker yoga type mat)is fine (especially when you are young!). They are not the most comfy but are cheap & light. I used one for years (now I have discovered the delights of neo airs). I bet most people on this forum started on one of these mats if they have been walking many years.
In regard to water bottles- don't buy them just use PET bottles- old soft drink bottles are just about indestructible.
Sounds like you should be able to get away with your sleeping bag- add thermals & beanie if cold.
Have a wonderful time
Lizzy

[Onestepmore]

Embeilio, there's lots if different opinions on shoes, low vs high, light vs heavy. I'm female and I personally walk in a low cut pair of Oboze, I bought from Kathmandu in the sales (never pay full price there). I find them really comfy, and they are nice enough looking to wear casually too. My hubby walks greater distances than me, but he just buys his walking shoes from Rivers outlet stores. He prefers ankle high ones. They don't last as long as 'proper' walking boots, but he's had no issues with them regarding comfort or support.
PS there's no such thing as a completely waterproof shoe so don't be swayed by that description as a deal decider

[drakkar]

- Don't forget the adventure by getting caught up in gear hype (even though it's A nice distraction when you're stuck in day to day life)

- beg and borrow your initial set ups, use cheap old stuff. So when you do splurge you appreciate the finer differences

- regardless of how tired and miserable and wet and hungry and cold and sore you may be, don't watch your feet...

- all of the above posts

[Hallu]

Your choice of shoes will highly depend on the terrain and on your feet. I myself have problems with heavy boots when walking more than 5 hours a day, and I can't wear shoes that have too thin soles because I have blisters. So I stick to thick soled light shoes such as Solomon. Now the Wilsons Prom Southern circuit is rather easy walking, so you may not know what's coming for you on tougher terrain. You could have blisters, you could have tendinitis, knee problems, ankle problems, whatever. So don't try and buy expensive heavy boots just yet, stick to quality light hiking shoes and you'll see if it's not enough.

Regarding packs, many brands out there. It again depends on the beating the bag's gonna take. Osprey's a good brand, it's a good compromise between the cheap rubbish and the incredibly expensive good stuff such as Arcteryx. There are a couple of less expensive packs out there, such as this one : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CX ... os_product , dunno if 50L would be enough for you with a tent, you'd probably be safer with 60 or 70L. In the mountains, don't take ground insulation as a joke, you're gonna need something to isolate you from the potentially very cold ground. On the other hand, it could also be scorching hot up there, in summer it can be pretty brutal, don't underestimate that too.