Input on essential gear, please.

[Toucan Oasis]

I prefer Lowas and Danners. Danner boots are tuff as hell but not light in weight by any means

Thats ok
A "large" amount of people are worried about weight.
Lose 10 lbs off da derrière an two of the pack.

 

[Rotte]

I like Danner and Vasque as well. They seem to fit my foot well and are reliable. But there are many good makers out there--find what fits you.

 

[jw2n]

When looking for a compass with a global needle you should check those that do not specify it as a selling point. Many good compasses are passed over due to this not being listed in it's specs, even thou it will work. With the Pole in it's current position, a needle needs 19 degrees of vertical movement/tilt in order to compensate for the curvature of the globe, at the extreme distance. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, you will find it handier to have a compass where you can dial/adjust out the Magnetic Declination than worry about the GN. A Silva Ranger is a good example of this feature. However, there is one advantage of a GN that is frequently overlooked. When land-naving, you can be less precise in holding the compass level. Nice when moving in mountainess or rough terrain.

As for boots. I just recently did this for the first time, and the cost was not much higher than off the shelf. I had Viberg build a custom, made to measurment pair of boots for me. I have never had anything feel and fit like it in my life. They offer hiking boots, even thou their specialty is logging boots. Check it out, better than Viagra and Vodka.

 

[Guyon]

I like my Lowas and my Silva Ranger.

County Comm has a good military compass for a song right now.