List of things and equipment for a hike

  This list was compiled with an eye primarily on summer hikes in the Crimea. That is, if you are going to Crimea in the spring or autumn, you should take a little more warm clothes (a warm hat, gloves, a lined jacket, fleece socks), a warmer sleeping bag, a more reliable raincoat.  

List of things and equipment

First, a short list with the main items of equipment and clothing sorted into 4 categories:

• mandatory - everyone should have it;
• recommended - I advise you to have this with you, but I don’t insist;
• optional - something you can do without, but if you really want..
• unnecessary - leave it at home, or in the storage room at the station

Backpack

The optimal volume of a men's backpack is about 80 liters. A women's backpack should be about 60 liters. Don't think that buying a small backpack will make it easier him. This will only add to your problems with packing things. Backpack should be large, but there may be few things in it.
By the way, absolutely all your things should fit INSIDE the backpack. By hanging something outside, you risk losing it or tearing it on bushes. A rug attached to the side of the backpack will quickly become “shaggy.” For participants of our Crimean hikes there is backpack rental.

Tent

Sleeping bag

For hiking in spring and autumn you need a winter one sleeping bag (weighing about 2 kg). In summer, a sleeping bag weighing 1 kg is enough. The manufacturer and type of sleeping bag (blanket or mummy) are not important. Not too much trust the temperatures indicated on the sleeping bag. All this is very individually. Sleeping bags are also available for rental. 

Travel rug (foam, mat)

The best option is a traditional Izhevsk rug (available in rental). Izhevsk rugs are inexpensive but reliable. They will serve you for many years and will be useful not only on hikes, but also on the beach, in the gym and on picnics. Nowadays fashionable self-inflating mats require too much careful handling; you won't be able to lie down on the stones.

Telescopic trekking poles

  These are something like folding ski poles. They are very They help when hiking, as they relieve some of the load from the legs. If you have problems with your knees, or your feet often roll in, you can’t go to the mountains without poles. Also with sticks it’s much safer to walk along difficult terrain - two additional points the supports won't hurt anyone. Some ultralight tent models use trekking poles as supports. The only negative is the rather high price. We don't have trekking poles for rent:(

 People always ask me if it’s necessary to take trekking poles. The answer is no. On simple summer hikes you can do without them (simply by breaking the staff in the forest). But I highly, highly recommend getting trekking poles. Or replace them with ski poles of a length convenient for walking.

Raincoat

The most budget option is polyethylene raincoats ($2-3). But be prepared for the fact that such a raincoat will tear very quickly. It's better to have a spare.

Much better for hiking are special raincoats-ponchos made of durable waterproof fabric ($20-30). This poncho raincoat immediately covers person and backpack. This allows you to save on purchasing a separate capes for a backpack.

Backpack cover

Do not believe the statements of manufacturers and sellers, that their backpacks do not get wet. Protection for your rucksack is a must. This there may be a separate cape for a backpack, or a large raincoat-poncho, covering both the person and the backpack. The presence of a cape does not eliminate the need to pack all things in plastic bags (garbage bags).

Shoes

Trousers

The ideal option is light sweatpants made of synthetics with mesh lining. These pants weigh little and dry quickly directly on the body, they are not bitten by mosquitoes. Please note - enough just pants. There is no need to collect 10 pairs for all occasions. I don't recommend it you should take jeans on a hike - they are heavy, and when they get wet, tinder takes a long time dry. It's a bad idea to use wide leather belts like army Under your backpack they can easily rub your lower back or literally crush your sides.

Shorts, underwear, swimsuit.

Just shorts.

I hope some shorts are enough for you. For the rest, also without fanaticism, please.

T-shirt

I recommend buying a thermal T-shirt from a special fabrics (for example Polartec PowerDry). Clothes made from this fabric are most effectively removes sweat from the surface of the body and dries very quickly. B As a result, you will feel “dry and comfortable” even under backpack.  The prefix "thermo" does not mean at all that this is a T-shirt with miracle stove, it just dries quickly.

Warm sweater

Even in summer in Crimea you may need warm clothes. In the mountains, the weather changes at lightning speed, you need to be prepared for it. The ideal option is a sweatshirt made of Polartec fabric or plain fleece. Also A regular wool sweater will do. Absolutely not suitable cotton sweaters and other nonsense. There should be one warm thing, but real.

Let me remind you that we are going to the mountains where the weather can change very quickly and not at all for the better. When reading the weather forecast, consider that in the mountains the temperature is on average 10 degrees lower than on the coast (I'm talking about Crimea).

Warm hat and gloves

Windbreaker jacket.

The purpose of such a jacket is to protect you from the wind and possibilities from rain (jackets made of membrane fabrics such as Gore-Tex). Therefore, a windbreaker must have be hood. Without a hood, your head and ears can easily inflate. Here What a windbreaker shouldn't have is a warm lining. Maximum - regular mesh.

Headdress

Finding yourself in the sun (in Crimea) without a head cleaning means getting in line for heatstroke. Something must cover your long-suffering head.  Best for summer hikes Wide-brimmed Panama hats are most suitable. In a regular cap you can badly burn your ears.

Socks

Pay attention to special hiking socks. They are made of a material that wicks away sweat well, has no seams, and is tightly sitting on the leg. This reduces the likelihood of formation calluses.
 

Mug, bowl, spoon

Camping utensils should be light, durable and... roomy. Accordingly, they are absolutely not suitable for hiking ceramic mugs, cast iron plates and flat saucers. Categorically Disposable tableware is not suitable. No forks needed at all.
Personally, to save weight, I don’t carry a plate with me. I have a big one light steel mug (0.6 liters), which serves as both a plate and cups (one at a time, of course). This is very convenient, because... encourages you to wash dishes immediately after eating (before tea).

Towel

A towel on a hike is not the first item necessary. You don’t have to take it at all (I don’t take it). Dry off in If necessary, you can use a T-shirt. If you're not at all If you imagine your life without a towel, buy a special tourist one microfiber towel (quick-drying and highly absorbent fabric).

Empty plastic bottle

This bottle is where you will carry water to drink throughout the day. 2-liter bottles are best suited for this. They are convenient fasten under the ties on the side of the backpack.

LED flashlight

Be sure to buy a headlamp LED flashlight. It costs only 5-10 dollars and is extremely convenient. The LED flashlight's set of batteries lasts for more than 100 hours of glow, while a regular one “eats” batteries in just several hours. What you definitely shouldn’t take on a hike are huge and heavy police type lights.

Camping first aid kit

A traveling first aid kit should be lightweight and at the same time universal. Of course you need peroxide, brilliant green, and a bandage. Required take a lot of plaster (bactericidal and regular). You will also need cold medicines, activated charcoal and something for stomach.  An elastic bandage and anesthetic ointment will help in case of joint problems.  If you need specific medications due to with special diseases, do not forget to take them (and at the same time warn about this us). In general, take only what you know how to use.

Sunscreen

During the hike you will be under open sky. And if from the very first day (!!!!) you don’t protect yourself from exposure to sunlight, you risk serious sunburn. Take sunscreen with a high protection factor - no less than 30.

Other hygiene

Girls tend to take a huge arsenal of creams and various cosmetic products on a hike. But in vain. Cream, like toothpaste pasta, we need one for ten. Here's some toilet paper Definitely - she finds it very convenient to wash dishes.

Camera 

I warn you right away that recharging equipment in there will be nowhere to go. Therefore, either save batteries or take spare. There will be no time to use photo tripods, so there is no need to take them.

Mobile phone.

For safety reasons, each participant in the hike must have a phone. There is coverage in almost all mountainous areas. The most stable signal is from the operators Kyivstar and MTS-Ukraine. Russians should take care of roaming in advance. In order for the batteries to last a week, the phone must be kept turned off and turned on only once a day. 

Don't take it with you

- Axes, saws. We do not cut down trees, they must be protected. We are collecting brushwood.
- Photo tripod - you are unlikely to use it more than 1-2 times per trip (there won’t be time for that)

- Boilers, gas burners
- Heavy books and magazines, because there will be no time to read.

- I'm going. There will be plenty of food - read our hiking menu

Total weight 

Now, so that you can better understand why I’m shaking over every gram, let’s calculate the weight:

  backpack 2 kg;  sleeping bag 1 kg; mat 0.4 kg; tent 2-4 kg; shoes 1.5 kg; clothes 3 kg; first aid kit and hygiene 1 kg; photo, mobile phone, flashlight, dishes 1kg; water 2 kg, food 3 kg.
Total 17.5 kg (this is with a light 2kg tent).
For a women's backpack this is already 3-4 kg too much.
That is why we try, if possible, not to give food or tents to women.
Which does not free beautiful ladies from the need to fight for every gram of their backpack.
Men, given the prospect of being loaded down with “feminine” products and tents, should also Lighten your backpack in order to have a power reserve.

In any case, be sure to agree on the list of things with me.
Be sure to let us know if you suddenly decide at the last moment to take another tent, a bag of food “just in case” or something else an item heavier than 10 grams does not appear on the list.  On a hike all the weight general, there is no my or your backpack. If someone becomes weak and cannot carry your things, I or other participants will have to drag them.

Alternative equipment lists.

It is difficult to cover such a vast area as choosing camping equipment in one article. Therefore, I have written a number of additional materials on this topic.

• Budget equipment - about how to inexpensively pack for a summer hike in Crimea.
• What hiking equipment do I use - a story by the author of this site.