Thu, May 3 2012 - Intro to Backpacking Gear (View Original Event Details)
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Sixteen EOCers and Grant MacEwan Mountain Club members are wiser for having attended a fabulous presentation at Campers' Village (west-end location). Shaun and Cam were full of information, advice, tips, and even a funny story or two as they took us through the store and covered the basics about hiking boots, layering, sleeping bags and liners and pads, tents, and backpacks. I can't believe how much information was jammed into a couple of hours.
Below are some notes I took during the session:
Boots
- fit is the most important thing
- use insoles (e.g. Superfeet) to increase comfort and support in boot
- replace the insole in the boot with an insole like Superfeet
- insoles can last up to a year with daily wear and you can keep them clean with a little bit of soap and a toothbrush
- friction, heat, and moisture are the things to be aware of when it comes to boots. You can address friction with a good insole and you can address heat and moisture with the proper socks (merino is recommended).
- dry boots by putthing them up on their heels - the water will puddle inthe heel and you and you can dump it out and have drier toes for the next day.
Layering
- moisture management/wicking layer (e.g. wool) as the base layer, which is closest to your skin
- an insulating layer (e.g. fleece) as the mid-layer
- a wind/water-resistant or waterproof breathable layer (e.g. hard shell or soft shell) as the outerlayer
Sleeping Bags
- mummy vs. rectangular - mummy packs down better
- down vs. synthetic - down heats up faster, packs down smaller, lasts longer but is useless when wet; synthetic works when wet but cold spots develop over time due to crushed fibres/insulation
- use front-load washer ONLY to wash sleeping bags (especially down-filled bags)
- flip them inside-out to dry
- don't store in compression sack; hang it up or store it in a mesh bag that allows the sleeping bag to expand a bit
- pour some carpet deodorizer in the bag and vacuum it out to clean
- if you go to bed with wet socks it doesn't matter what type of sleeping bag/pad/tent you have; you will be cold.
Sleeping Bag Liners
- can use a liner to add warmth to the bag as needed
Sleeping Pads
- we discussed the features of Thermarest vs. EXPED and the most important thing is the R-Value, which indicates the insulation factor. Personal considerations about weight/insulation/packing size will determine which pad is the right one for you.
Tents
- take tent out of stuff sack and store it folded up like bedsheets
- store poles straight
- retreat fly for waterproofing
- set-up tent on a bit of a slope so you don't end up sitting in a puddle of water when it rains
- use groundsheet/footprint to protect your tent and to prolong the life of your tent
Backpacks
- Osprey, Deuter, and Gregory are the three bands Campers' Village carries and recommends
- Campers' Village offers custom fitting for backpacks and we will have an event in the near future to offer this opportunity to EOC and GMMC members.
Some Useful Links (thanks to my hubby for tracking these down for me)
Campers' Village Guides
http://www.campers-village.com/store/content/6/Checklists-%26-Guides/
Campers' Village Backpacking Guide
http://www.campers-village.com/store/content/32/Backpacking-Checklist/
Osprey How to pack your pack
http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/web/how_to_pack_your_pack
Gregory How to pack your pack
http://www.gregorypacks.com/blog/?p=53
Deuter How to pack your pack
http://www.deuter.com/en_US/tipps-and-tricks-421.php?title=Packing%20A%20Backpack
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Mark G at photos@edmontonoutdoorclub.com. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to thirty of your favourites (only) for a day event, or up to sixty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.