CHOOSING THE RIGHT STUFF

CLOTHES MAKETH THE HIKER

LIGHTNESS, PACKABILITY and wearability are key elements of outdoor clothing, and it’s achieved via the designs and fabrics – which is why it’s worth considering these specialised garments over your everyday t-shirts, shorts or trousers. A breathable fabric is particularly beneficial in dealing with the immediate and long-term effects of perspiration which can otherwise be uncomfortable or cause chilling in cooler temperatures (when you still sweat if you’re exerting yourself physically).

The selection of a jacket is particularly important because it will make a significant contribution to keeping you warm or dry or both. Depending on your requirements, you might opt for a dedicated rain jacket which can be worn over a fleece or merino wool mid-layer if you also need to keep warm. This is a flexible arrangement which will cover you for day-to-day changes in weather and temperature.

If you’re going to be in a very cold area with sub-zero temperatures then a down-filled jacket will provide the most effective insulation (measured by the loft number). If the weather is likely to be both cold and wet, a jacket with a synthetic filling is a better option as it will better maintain its insulation when wet and also dry more quickly than down. However, these jackets are heavier and bulkier than a down equivalent, and the synthetic fill deteriorates over time.

A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD

While it might be romantic to think about sleeping under the stars, the reality is that a tent will be a lot more comfortable – especially if the weather deteriorates during the night. Ultra-light hiking tents don’t weigh much and are easily erected, but they’re snug so you can’t really do much else than crawl in and sleep. If you’re planning to spend a couple of nights or longer in one location, something a bit bigger with room to store your gear and to at least sit up when you’re not sleeping will be well worth the extra effort to carry.

WHAT’S COOKING?

YOU COULD WELL GET AWAY without cooking for a couple of days, but it’s hard to beat a hot cup of tea or coffee in the morning and eating your baked beans warmed through. There are quite a few lightweight hiking stove options using gas canisters, alcohol (i.e. methylated spirits) or even wood as the fuel. Many employ ingenious designs so they pack away quite small but can still handle a frying pan or mid-sized saucepan. The wood burning option is attractive because you don’t have to carry fuel, but you do have to find it (although we’re only talking sticks and twigs here) and any fire restrictions, especially in National Parks, will mean the stove can’t be used. However, some designs are dual fuel and can also use an alcohol. Gas stoves are popular because the canisters are compact and lightweight and the fuel is efficient. One example is the JetBoil which is a compact all-in-one stove, cooking pot and cup with a one-litre capacity suitable for tea, coffee, instant soup or freezedried meals. It’s stable, easy to light even in windy conditions and boils within two minutes ( visit www.jetboil.com).

ON YOUR BACK

Photographers have two separate requirements when hitting the hiking trails… carrying their camera gear and carrying their camping gear. Ideally, you’d like to be able to accommodate both in the same backpack, but the designs for general use aren’t always very photography-friendly, especially in terms of getting to your gear easily. You might decide to opt for a slightly smaller hiking pack and stow your camera gear separately in a ‘bum pack’ style bag you can wear at the front. Your camera is then always easily accessible and you don’t have to unshoulder the main pack every time you want to stop and take a shot. Photo backpack maker MindShift offers an interesting solution in its ‘rotation 180°’ models which incorporate a separate belt pack in their bottom sections. When you need your camera gear, you simply reach around and swing it out of the main back and around to your front. The biggest pack in the MindShift rotation 180° range has 38 litres of space so it’s big enough to hold everything you’d need for a few days away and, being designed for photographers, it has other useful features such as a sling for carrying a tripod (visit www.blonde-robot.com.au).