Gear Geek 10 Essentials

Hey Jay. What is the white thingamigigger next to the whistle?

Hey Ken that is chap stick…

The three bottles to the right: I assume Aquamira pair and DEET? Could use some labeling. :)

You are correct Ben-You know your gear!!–I did not label it because like you everybody knows there 10 Essentials-Right!!! Duct tape maybe is not a Ten Essential but sure is handy to have if you need to repair something….

Replace that yellow first aid kit bag with a similarly sized ziplock one and you'll drop half an ounce.

Uncle!!! Jay, can you list the items? Please? Thanks.

I think it's:

1) Bag from a first aid kit (0.7 kit?).
2) Petzl e+Lite
3) Swiss Army Knife Classic
4) Mini Bic
5) Compass/Whistle of some sort
6) Chapstick
7) Dermatone Tape
8) First Aid Kit
9) Duct Tape
10) Aquamira
11) 98% Deet

Dan- You got them all right-except it is Dermatone sun block…

I'm a big big fan of Gorilla Tape. It's a little heavier than your average duct tape, but man-oh-man does it hold!!!

Wrap a little around your trekking pole and you'll not even notice it's there.

I think that's the bag that holds them all…

So what would you be keeping the water you purify in?

+1 on the Gorilla Tape.

Water would be held in a 2 1/2 liter Platy (84oz).
I like the yellow bag because I can put my car key, ID, CC, $$, all in the same bag.

I use the same bag.

I like it.

Half of those things would not make my *essential* list, but maybe I'm just not a true gear geek :0

Or maybe I missed the point of the post :(

No point of the post Lynn–Just having fun..Everybody has different comfort levels and geographical requirements. What would be the 10 Essentials N.Z.? Just curious..

"What would be the 10 Essentials N.Z.?"

I doubt there is any one set of *essentials* for NZ anymore than the rest of the world. But most of your items look like *just-in-case* items rather than essentials. I certainly wouldn't carry the knife, bic, Aquamira or the Deet, for instance, but would probably carry a headnet if I was going into buggy territory! I don't always carry a compass, depending on where I'm going, but would sometimes take a GPS, and always take a PLB.

My essentials:

Sleeping bag
Food
Fire-starting stuff
Shelter
Rain Jacket

I like your list, but we're getting into 'survival' territory here, and of course geography defines your kit choice.
For example, no point taking DEET, Aqua Mira, whistle, into the Australian Outback. Few people die because they didn't have duct tape with them but a sun hat makes lots of sense.
I am with the tramper. Adding perhaps a straw and some form of water carrier.

I should of listed my 2 1/2 Liter Platypus–Length of trip, location of trip and season of a trip all bring different types of Essentials—My Essential are completely different on a Weekend trip vs. a 7-10 day outing. My Essentials are more about comfort vs Survival. On cross country outings I definitely like a compass and my Bic liter lites my Esbit Tab,pipe and small fire. DEET is definitely needed in summer months of the Sierras (No Doubt)..

"Adding perhaps a straw and some form of water carrier."

Yeah, not usually *essential* in NZ, but probably number one priority in many parts of Oz! Unless you're aboriginal and are used to going walk-about…in which case you only need knowledge to survive.

Jay said: "My Essentials are more about comfort vs Survival"

Mine too. But my kit has a few more items – I'm chicken, I guess!!!

I think the best way to determine whether your 10 essentials are sufficient is to go out with them, get yourself 'lost' and survive a night…or 2.

"I think the best way to determine whether your 10 essentials are sufficient is to go out with them, get yourself 'lost' and survive a night…or 2."

You know that is a great idea. Who's going first?

If you are going to go wandering about in the woods, you should have enough gear with you to get through a night or two and handle a sudden change in weather. Time and time again I have seen people headed up a mountain trail late in the afternoon with cotton clothing and *nothing* else. No map, no compass, water bottle, rain gear, and so on.

Just this July 4th, it was cool and cloudy. I had been up a trail with cloud cover to about 4500 feet, misty and cold at the top where there was a lake and snow fields on 6000 foot peaks above, with cold air falling to the lake level– low 50's F, possibly colder. I was cold when stopped for lunch break at the lake and added a polyfill vest and gloves to add some comfort, and I'm very warm-blooded. As I headed back down the trail there were several parties headed up wearing cotton tees, sweatshirts and the like with no equipment at all— just a barehanded stroll in the woods. In couple of the parties, one person had a small backpack. One poor college-aged girl was stumbling up the trail with sweatpants and flip-flops. It was a rocky, steep, muddy trail too.

I was concerned at the late hour. I got back to the trailhead at 5:30 and there were a number of people that weren't half-way up. It was looking like rain and the heavy cloud cover and steep terrain meant just a few couple more hours of real daylight. As I drove back down the pass, a big rain squall was working its way up. I wondered how wet and cold those hikers were going to be in a few minutes. Navigating that rough trail with no lighting, cold and wet in cotton clothing was a recipe for a disaster.

It happens every summer, with people not knowing their way around, getting stranded in the dark, losing one of their party or getting off the trail, getting cold and wet, making the wrong choices, and getting SAR more "practice" than they care to see. Sadly, a few die and it just doesn't need to happen.

You don't need $1000 worth of gear for a day hike. Some bottled water from the store, a $12 pack of purification tablets (that can be shared), a compass and map, a fleece, a paring knife from the kitchen drawer, a first aid kit put together from home supplies, a whistle and a flashlight from the hardware store, an old book pack, a Bic lighter and some matches in a pill bottle, a poly-fleece, and a rain coat could go a long way to protect a hiker. Just basic stuff. I could put together a kit for well under $50. Most people have the more expensive items like the rain coat and pack.

Here's the list I go by:

Navigation system: map and compass. Add GPS to suit. Know how to use them.

Lighting: headlamp, small back-up light, and spare batteries

Reserve food: a granola bar, several pieces of hard candy, etc.

Extra clothing: enough to handle a night out appropriate for the season. This is important for day hiking where a sleeping bag and shelter aren't included. Rain gear is assumed. Add a space blanket or emergency bivy plus some insulation, gloves, and beanie.

Sunglasses

First-Aid Kit

Pocket Knife

Fire starting: small lighter, matches, firesteel and some waterproofed tinder

Hydration system: water container and filter, or spare purification chemicals– for example, a few Micro Pur tablets taped to your water container.

Whistle

Insect Repellent

Sunscreen