Could I get a gear check please?

[DanShell]

I surprise myself how many times I put my poly pro gloves on in Tassie. They don't usually stay on for long but nothing worse than that painful frozen fingers feeling.

Just on your gear list, any provisions for personal hygiene, electronics, knife, lighter, some spare cord etc? Sorry if its all been mentioned, I haven't read the entire thread.

[JohnStrider]

The first aid kit includes personal hygiene items.

Electronics such as GPS etc and a knife have yet to be purchased. I'll probably be carrying an old Bic lighter which weighs next to nothing.

[stry]

I just noticed that you are planning to take one hiking pole.

I love poles. They have been the saviour of my knees, and to get the most benefit, you need two. On track, climbing or descending, two are more than twice as good as one.

Off track, in scrub, I usually use only one, as a walking stick come balance aid.

They are a pain to travel with, so if you are taking one, you might as well take two. The lighter the better.

[RonK]

The first aid kit includes personal hygiene items.

Electronics such as GPS etc and a knife have yet to be purchased. I'll probably be carrying an old Bic lighter which weighs next to nothing.

It would be a good idea for your list to include those items you intend to carry even if you are yet to acquire them.

[JohnStrider]

Aldi gloves and beanie added.

[GPSGuided]

There's thermal bottom and rain pants, but where's your pants? Just one pair of socks for 10 days in a cold and wet place? There doesn't seem to be much redundancy in the wardrobe for those wet days and in camp. +1 on the beanie or some other form of head insulation. Heat loss from the head is high and really needs to be covered.

[Moondog55]

There's thermal bottom and rain pants, but where's your pants? Just one pair of socks for 10 days in a cold and wet place? There doesn't seem to be much redundancy in the wardrobe for those wet days and in camp. +1 on the beanie or some other form of head insulation. Heat loss from the head is high and really needs to be covered.

Good pick-up
I was thinking this was the pack weight and not an FSO list
Therefor I was assuming JS was going to be wearing a base layer and a LW shirt and pants/shorts; but rereading your list JS I am no longer sure.
I've never walked in NZ but I would assume it was both cooler and windier than either here or Scotland where I have experience.
Post back after your shakedown week-end and tell us how it went

[JohnStrider]

The equipment featured in my list is what I will be carrying, but I'll be wearing a LW breathable tshirt I got from Torpedo, football shorts, merino socks (on rotation) and my Skins will go underneath my shorts. Debating whether the skins will be enough or do I shell out for a pair of pants that can be zipped into shorts. My Skins have been good to me so far in all conditions.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks. Hard to gain a sense of equipment adequacy when bits and pieces are left out from the list. Affect the match.

[JohnStrider]

Thanks. Hard to gain a sense of equipment adequacy when bits and pieces are left out from the list. Affect the match.

Yeah apologies about that. I'm too busy focusing on what I'm carrying, how much it weighs etc etc

I think I'm getting closer to a complete list. Just need to start adding electronics and a filtration system which will probably end up being the Sawyer Mini.

Cheers for you input, GPSG

[stry]

The equipment featured in my list is what I will be carrying, but I'll be wearing a LW breathable tshirt I got from Torpedo, football shorts, merino socks (on rotation) and my Skins will go underneath my shorts. Debating whether the skins will be enough or do I shell out for a pair of pants that can be zipped into shorts. My Skins have been good to me so far in all conditions.

You could pick up some NZ cred. by wearing rugby shorts JS. I'm sure the Kiwis would know the difference, although I wouldn't

Unless Skins are worn for their compressive features, I am not a fan. Based on only one trip wearing them in NZ, I found that they offered no insulation as compared to long thermals under shorts. The other thing I found out the hard way is that Skins are very slippery on grass. I fell on a tussock slope, got an instant wedgie and accelerated down the slope feet first on the Skins. Hit a depression before it got nasty - it was already out of control. A lot of tramping guides and a lot of walkers seem to wear them, but never again for me - long johns and shorts for me.

[Moondog55]

It seems my last post got lost in the aether

Old rule of thumb for clothing
3 layers for the legs 5 layers for the torso.
In bad weather also for the feet and head.
Vary the layers thickness and warmth according to the conditions, shorts would count as a half layer but because shorts cover the important femoral artery area of the legs they give more warmth that that would seem to indicate a bit like a vest in that regard
I write my gear list as FSO [ From Skin Out] just so I do not forget anything

[GPSGuided]

5 layers for the torso? That made me count... 1, 2, 3, 4... Ummm

[Strider]

Two baselayers, 2 mid layers, and a shell?

[Moondog55]

Assuming worst case scenario
Singlet or T-shirt eg Cap2/polypro
Long sleeved thermal top eg Cap3/ polypro / PowerstretchPro
Warm top Polartek 100/200/300 or insulated jacket
Warm or insulated vest
Storm parka
Alternatively
Merino polo shirt
Long sleeved thermal
Windshirt
Warm vest
Raincoat or storm parka
Summer maybe only 3.5 layers including the cotton sun shirt


Yep 5 layers
Mixed and matched according to season and situation, much flexibility in a multi layer system

[GPSGuided]

Two baselayers, 2 mid layers, and a shell?

It'll have to be pretty pretty cold for me to have two base layers.

A Google on the 5 layer body and all I found was this... Five Layers of the Human Energy Field.
http://healing.about.com/od/ethericbody ... -field.htm

[stry]

MDs second list has a very useful inclusion of the merino polo shirt.

The polo shirt has a collar. Very good on a sunny day. I have worn a long sleeved thermal under a merino polo on several autumn trips in NZ and it worked very well. Add the windshirt (which I haven't used seriously - yet) and I think you would be set for most dry days when moving.

I don't find the first list excessive. With some variation of the elements, that is close to what I carry for the torso, but I would only wear all of it at the same time when in camp or not moving for a protracted period. I also carry two base layers for the legs, but wear only one. My second base layer, both top and bottom is mainly reserve and for dry camp wear.

[Moondog55]

Two baselayers, 2 mid layers, and a shell?

It'll have to be pretty pretty cold for me to have two base layers.

A Google on the 5 layer body and all I found was this... Five Layers of the Human Energy Field.
http://healing.about.com/od/ethericbody ... -field.htm

How cold is cold tho?
I do this and have done so for decades now
I started when a friend came back from a winter in Tassie after experimenting with 3 layers of Helly Hansen Lifa underwear
Sleeveless T, long john and the zippered turtle neck neck and the only other warm garment she took was a LW insulated ski parka
I would start wearing the 2 underwear tops about 5 to 8C
It works best for me if the top layer of underwear is a zip necked
The number of layers was discussed in another thread a while back

[JohnStrider]

The equipment featured in my list is what I will be carrying, but I'll be wearing a LW breathable tshirt I got from Torpedo, football shorts, merino socks (on rotation) and my Skins will go underneath my shorts. Debating whether the skins will be enough or do I shell out for a pair of pants that can be zipped into shorts. My Skins have been good to me so far in all conditions.

You could pick up some NZ cred. by wearing rugby shorts JS. I'm sure the Kiwis would know the difference, although I wouldn't

Unless Skins are worn for their compressive features, I am not a fan. Based on only one trip wearing them in NZ, I found that they offered no insulation as compared to long thermals under shorts. The other thing I found out the hard way is that Skins are very slippery on grass. I fell on a tussock slope, got an instant wedgie and accelerated down the slope feet first on the Skins. Hit a depression before it got nasty - it was already out of control. A lot of tramping guides and a lot of walkers seem to wear them, but never again for me - long johns and shorts for me.

Haha will keep the rugby shorts in mind

Can see how that would happen with Skins. I've worn them since day one and they seem to do the trick. Have hiked in them in hot conditions as well as cold/wet conditions. In the event that it begins to rain and get cold, I've got a pair of rain pants I can put on that will add some warmth to my legs. We've been having some shocking weather in Melbourne at the moment so it's given me an excuse to wear the top I bought from Torpedo, my Costco fleece and my Kathmandu vest. The combination of all three keeps me really warm. Particularly when the rain sets in. Chuck on my rain coat or Montane featherlite smock, and I reckon i will be ok up top should things go sour.

If things get even colder, I can always chuck on my MD long sleeve thermal top underneath my Torpedo top or whatever other tshirt I wear. MD55, I think both of your lists make a fair bit of sense and I have most of it/variations of them.

[Moondog55]

It's all trial and error
We give advice based on our own experience and our reading
It's simply that some clothing mistakes are deadly. Death from exposure is a real possibility, even for experienced people but cold stress is even more insidious because it is additive and creeps up on you, by giving you all this information and advice we are really telling you that we have made mistakes of our own and learnt from them. Skins are nylon /lycra aren't they?

[JohnStrider]

Yes they are, MD.

Every hike or camping trip I do is always has a trial and error element to it. It's all part of the fun. Every time I have been camping I have learnt something new and at least eliminated one item.

But receiving advice from people on this board is valuable. Really appreciate every bit of advice that comes my way as it gives me something else to think about, particularly if i haven't considered it before.

[GPSGuided]

I would start wearing the 2 underwear tops about 5 to 8C...

Thanks for the physical reference and gives me something to think about. I thought you sweat easily and was surprised that you already have two base layers at 5 degrees. To me, I think I'll be calling for more layers when it's -5 or less, especially with a bit of wind. Guess it depends on the particular mid-layers used.

[Mitchc]

Assuming worst case scenario
Singlet or T-shirt eg Cap2/polypro
Long sleeved thermal top eg Cap3/ polypro / PowerstretchPro
Warm top Polartek 100/200/300 or insulated jacket
Warm or insulated vest
Storm parka
Alternatively
Merino polo shirt
Long sleeved thermal
Windshirt
Warm vest
Raincoat or storm parka
Summer maybe only 3.5 layers including the cotton sun shirt


Yep 5 layers
Mixed and matched according to season and situation, much flexibility in a multi layer system

Honestly think I would melt into a puddle wearing that

[Moondog55]

In my experience the base layers get rid of sweat faster, and when I'm walking I may not have any other layers on except the windproof.
It was 5C and a wind straight of Corio bay the other day and I was almost comfortable with the long john top, the polyester polo and the goretex but I was warm when I added the polarfleece [ 300 wt] vest.
While I own 200 wt and 300 wt fleeces what I take walking is more likely to be 100 weight or lighter.
After wearing them for 10 or 20 years what was 100 weight has probably changed to 50 weight through abrasion and loss of fibres
My new Powerstretch top is a lot warmer than my 20 YO Polartek 100 shawl collar mid-layer top
Wearing the LW Cap under the Powerstretch means that when I am warming up and need to vent the cooling down of the skin is not so rapid and I find that is a factor in being comfortable. Rapid cooling of the pectoral and sternum area can make me start shivering if i am in that transition state moving from comfortable warm to hot ; and I like to vent as much as possible to try and avoid the sweating. Every little bit I do to avoid saturating my clothes with moisture helps.

[Moondog55]

Do you do much skiing in bad weather or snow travel Mitchc?
First list is much warmer than the second list obviously.
One winter coming up past the Red Robin mine it was so cold and windy I was shivering wearing 3 layers [ Lifa polypro top/ Polartek 100 turtle neck and a 300 weight Polartek jacket] plus the goretex and needed my big down parka as soon as I stopped to make camp.
This was despite machinery Spur being a reasonably hard slog in snow and working hard The down parka is seriously warm and normally reserved for sleeping in
The Alps [ Victoria or the Snowy] can get seriously cold at times

[Mitchc]

Do you do much skiing in bad weather or snow travel Mitchc?
First list is much warmer than the second list obviously.
One winter coming up past the Red Robin mine it was so cold and windy I was shivering wearing 3 layers [ Lifa polypro top/ Polartek 100 turtle neck and a 300 weight Polartek jacket] plus the goretex and needed my big down parka as soon as I stopped to make camp.
This was despite machinery Spur being a reasonably hard slog in snow and working hard The down parka is seriously warm and normally reserved for sleeping in
The Alps [ Victoria or the Snowy] can get seriously cold at times

Yes, I have been snowboarding for 14 years now including, two full seasons in Whistler, British Columbia. Been on top of Whistler mountain in -20 (not factoring the 50km+ wind chill).

I run quite warm, especially when moving. Once stationary, a couple of the right layers, and I am very rarely cold.

[Moondog55]

Don't you find -20C and below much more comfortable?
I do
I do run cold tho but I have taken the same layering system to Americas East coast
I assume you mean -20F at which temperature I have my Arctic Parka on as well as 4 layers

[Mitchc]

Don't you find -20C and below much more comfortable?
I do
I do run cold tho but I have taken the same layering system to Americas East coast
I assume you mean -20F at which temperature I have my Arctic Parka on as well as 4 layers

I was talking -20C. With the wind chill it was apparently closer to -30C. I never use Fahrenheit as a measure cause I always forget how to convert it in my head

That was the coldest temperature I had encountered, and if I was camping, or going out of bounds I would probably dress differently. However, for inbound I believe I was only wearing 3-4 layers, and nothing fancy (more if you count neck warmers, balaclava, and helmet), but I was nice and toasty.

[Moondog55]

I dress differently for the piste, fewer layers but they are thicker by far. Because skiing the runs is so stop and start and when moving there is that nice ventilating breeze I would wear 3 layers normally as my ski parka is reasonably well insulated when the liner is buttoned in. Skiing the piste tho is quite a bit different to walking or touring

[JohnStrider]

Hit and run mission in NZ was a success in terms of testing out gear. Went for a quick hike on the Taranaki Falls trail which is about 6km and located in the Tongariro National Park. Conditions were cold and windy with light rain in the second half of the trail, which was also the most exposed part of the track (the first half is mainly rain forest area/conditions).

The $5 beanie I got from Aldi was fantastic and kept my head really warm. I also wore my MD base layer merino LS top, my MD fleece over that, my Kathmandu vest over that and my rain coat over that. The coat obviously got wet but was dry within a few hours of being back in the car and back at our accommodation in Turangi. For whatever reason, I didn't bring my gloves with me and while my hands didn't too cold, I reckon they would have been kept much warmer had I chosen to bring them with me. The good news is I'm heading off on the long weekend, so I'll be able to test them out then. The other layers performed exceptionally well.

The Skins were fairly good too. Yes they aren't an insulation layer by any stretch, however it wasn't like my legs were freezing cold. In saying that, I may end up looking at getting myself a pair or pants that can be converted into shorts.