Overview...

What started as an awareness raising and ethnographic styled walk through Sierra Leone, this site now details the encounters of a not so academic academic who spends more time occupying Wall Street and squats than a university...

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Gear

So been perusing a bit in regards to gear this evening (not finding much mental capacity for anything truly productive).  At the behest of another request I am taking this 'registry' thing a bit more seriously.  It seems that there are some nice people in my life that not only want to support my trip emotionally, but physically as well!!  Thanks..  ;)

In looking through the REI site I found some good information stuff though.  Things like how to fit a backpack, ultralight backpacking (and its checklist), a first aid checklist, and the ten essential "systems":

  1. Navigation
  2. Sun protection
  3. Insulation (extra clothing) 
  4. Illumination
  5. First-aid supplies 
  6. Fire
  7. Repair kit and tools
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter
I'm gonna actually have to use this list and see what I can do with it!!  There is also a chart that compares the types of goods versus the how much weight one would be working with.

GearMinimalistUltralightLightweight
FootwearRunning shoesLight hikersHiking boots
Trekking polesCarbon fiber polesCarbon fiber polesStandard poles
Tent stakesNo stakes; rocksJust 4-6 stakesMost or all stakes
StoveFuel tabs, soda canTabs or canister stoveLightweight stove
CookpotTitanium mugTitanium mug or potLightweight cookset
UtensilSporkSporkPlastic utensils
Water filterHalogen tabletsTablets or filterFilter
Water bottleSoft bladdersBladders or bottlesBottles


I'm hoping I'll get into the minimalist category with some sprinkles from the ultralight stuff.  The Vibrams are certainly gonna help me out though!!  And their lists were for three days, not three months in Africa!!  But I'll make it happen. Also came a cross a site called backpackinglight.com that I will have to spend some time on.  Otherwise, good night...

1 comment:

  1. How about asking people in the hiking community to "donate" their REI rebates if that is possible?

    A trip to REI to talk to the people there to see what they say and to get you fitted for a backpack would be helpful! The same kind of info as for a tent, etc. When I did it the fit and feel became VERY clear very quickly.

    Maybe you can make a friend up their and get them to advertise what you are doing and "sponsor" you in some way..

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