Jungle Living Gear

B

bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
4,290
Jungle Living Gear
This is just an example of my personal gear that I take into the jungle. This is in no way the only way or the right way to carry items, just what works for me. For those that are going on one of the upcoming RAT trips, this may help you get a general idea of what could work for you. I will keep it short and simple and if anyone has any questions or wants me to go further in depth feel free to email or PM me. All the gear has already been proven to work in the tropics with the exception of the knives since this is the first time for these ones! On with the show!

Backpack –Fanatic Fringe Alpine Trail. Total Capacity 2400 cu.in. Body-2000 cu.in, Pockets-400 cu.in. This Pack uses No See-um Mesh for the pockets, and Sil Nylon for the top closure. This pack is constructed of coated 1.9 oz Nylon Ripstop and coated 200D Nylon Oxford. It features three nylon mesh pockets, padded shoulder straps, top draw cord, and a haul loop. The pack is double stitched, shoulder straps are reinforced, and all stress points are bar tacked. This ack carries a load rating of 20 pounds.

This will be the second trip to the jungle for this little guy. It weighs 5 oz. and is extremely comfortable. Mesh pockets for quick grab items. I used these pockets last time for wet ponchos and storing vines for lashing poles together.

IMG_0548.jpg


IMG_0543.jpg


The Guts
Most of the gear is in plastic bags for water protection. Flash light, socks, first aid kit, bandana, gloves, hammock, bug net, poncho, and head net for around camp. I use two ponchos in the jungle for times when the shelter is set up with poncho/tarp and we go for a night hunt or for walking around camp when it’s raining, then I use the plastic disposable type. It really works for me and I recommend this system.
IMG_0503.jpg


Shelter
Byer Hammock (11 oz.) with blue campmor poncho/tarp (8 oz.) and a mosquito net. I prefer to sleep in a swamp bed but when on the boat or need a fast shelter, this works great.
Gallon Zip Lock
This is where I keep my first aid, emergency type of items. I also keep them separated so it’s easy to find what I need.
IMG_0525.jpg


Glucose Tablets
Jeff Randall gave me this idea for quick energy, there were a couple times last trip when these really came in handy.
IMG_0532.jpg


Hydration
Platypus 2 L hydration bladder. I use this as a pillow when backpacking.
Press 2 Pure filter and water bottle. Good for Crypto and Giardia.
IMG_4366.jpg


Pocket and Neck Gear
This is the gear that is always in my pocket or around my neck. TOPS firesteel with magnesium rods, multifunction whistle/compass/thermometer, TOPS signal mirror, and a LED light. Silva compass in pocket with mini-kit. Belt made of 550 cord .
IMG_0538.jpg


The mini-kit is simple with duct tape, LED light, firestriker, Bic lighter, pj cotton balls, small fishing kit, and iodine tablets.
IMG_0530.jpg


Knives for working and having fun!

IMG_0517.jpg
 
Last edited:
Excellent Bear, thanks a bunch! I will email you when you get back. I do have some more questions. Have a great trip, I know you don't sleep much bro, but get some rest, your gonna need it.
 
Hey man, sweet gear. I really dig the pack. I like the idea of the glucose tabs, and the brush ups. How does the filter work for ya? No need to boil if you use it? No guyot, or naglene? Does your pack accomidate the hydration bladder?

I also noticed no deet. Do you prefer not to use it? Does anyone carry it, or did you treat your gear?

Like I told ya earlier man, stay safe and have fun. I cant wait to see how that steel stacks up. Especially the JK. I remember the nessie you had last time and it looked 100 years old when you brought it back....hehe this should be sweet!

I know your busy man, but how do you pack all this for safe travel to peru? Does anyone have bad luck with the baggage handlers down there? How do you carry yor ID/money/passport?
 
j williams-Hey man, sweet gear. I really dig the pack. I like the idea of the glucose tabs, and the brush ups. How does the filter work for ya? No need to boil if you use it? No guyot, or naglene? Does your pack accomidate the hydration bladder?
Yes you just stick the hose out and sinch it up tight. I have been doing it on the trail for a while now.I also noticed no deet. Do you prefer not to use it? Does anyone carry it, or did you treat your gear?
Never use the stuff, it really wouldn't help much. Long sleeve shirts and watch where you chop, you must look up.
Like I told ya earlier man, stay safe and have fun. I cant wait to see how that steel stacks up. Especially the JK. I remember the nessie you had last time and it looked 100 years old when you brought it back....hehe this should be sweet!
It will age a knife!
I know your busy man, but how do you pack all this for safe travel to peru? Does anyone have bad luck with the baggage handlers down there? How do you carry yor ID/money/passport?
One small suitcase checked in. I carry passport and money in a cargo pocket where I can see and feel it. When in the jungle Mike Perrin and I did the same thing with our cameras, we put it in a zip lock bag in our pocket. I also keep my passport with my camera in a zippy.
 
Since you got the time.....

Here some dumb ones. Its a 7 day trip in the Amazon, whats your preffered clothing

I expect you would want something that sheds water and drys quick.

Pants?

type and do you bring more then 1 pair?

Shirt same?

You said you have an extra pair of socks, but I expect they're not cotton.

I know this is you 2nd trip so you probably made some changes from your first.

What are the big mistakes you noticed on other guys who you went with?

Thanks for your time bro.
 
tonym said:
Since you got the time.....

Here some dumb ones. Its a 7 day trip in the Amazon, whats your preffered clothing

I expect you would want something that sheds water and drys quick.

Pants?

type and do you bring more then 1 pair?

Shirt same?

You said you have an extra pair of socks, but I expect they're not cotton.

I know this is you 2nd trip so you probably made some changes from your first.

What are the big mistakes you noticed on other guys who you went with?

Thanks for your time bro.
Click to expand...

Tony I'm always willing to help out. But just know that my style may not suit you or the other guys reading this when it comes to comfort or mental comfort. So I wear one shirt that is long sleeve and synthetic. Don't worry about name brands when it comes to pants or any clothing just make sure it isn't cotton, except for your bandana, that is alright. Any hiking pants from target or walmart that is 100% nylon or polyester is what I wear. I am using the same pants I did last time and last week for that matter and they were $15 from walmart. Cargo style with zip off legs and they dry fast. I only hike in 99. cent dress socks that are from target or walmart I think it's the George brand. I used them on every hike in the past two years with no blisters. They are very thin like liners so there isn't much room for them to hold water. I don't like to buy into gear hype when it comes to clothing. I have backpacking buddies that get everything at REI and Sports Chalet but if you look at what it is really made of you will realize it doesn't matter where you get it. Most workout type shirts are perfect for hiking and the jungle.

As for the changes I have made to my gear from last time, nothing really. I am taking a simple maglite instead of a headlamp for ease of battery loading and I want to try out a piece of gear I made which is a flashlight holder that is exstremely light and made from elastic and velcro. This will be my headlamp. It is also easy to get AA batteries in small villages and hardware stores in Peru than it is batteries for some headlamps.

Other peoples mistakes? I don't know about that but almost everyone had too much gear. Mike and Jeff will come to your room and go through the gear to make sure you don't have too much stuff or help out if you need something. One guy had almost all the same gear as me, he got my gear list from jungletraining.com and showed up with the same tarp, knife and other stuff, he went pretty ligh too. Some had too many knives and short thick blades that didn't really belong there. I am a bad example but if I wasn't field testing and writing I would have a small thin knife and machete.

What works for me is not the only way remember I go very light. It's easy to have an organized clean camp when you don't have lots of extranious gear hanging from the trees!
 
Right on bro :thumbup: I was hoping you you weren't going to tell me that the brand name stuff was what I needed. It looks like I am not going to have to go cloths shopping after all. I got a crap load of those nylon cargo pants with the zip off legs, only I got them at Target:p

I do need to grab some jungleboots though. Did you say Altima was the ones the Jeff and Mike recommend?
 
thanks for the post bear, very useful!

i really like the looks of that pack...

i don't think i'll end up in the jungle anytime soon, but if i do, i will keep this in mind.
 
Great write up. I would have thought a heavier built pack would have been needed, but then again most every pack I own is designed and built to withstand a limited nuke strike... :)
 
That looks like a great set-up, very practical and minimalist. I also use a 2 liter platypus as a pillow, empty in the hammock and full on the ground.

I really like the Glucose tablets, just guessing but are they sold at Target by any chance? I carry locally made "rapadura" raw sugar cane blocks for quick energy but it isn't as readily converted as pure glucose. I also have to waterproof them. Honey works great too but it can be a mess to carry.

All my electronics run on AA batteries too. I find that once my batteries die in my camera they work like new in my AA min-maglight with LED conversion. IME you can't have enough batteries or GIG's of memory on a trip like this especially if you plan to film clips.

The back-up disposable ponchos are great too, cheap and effective. I wrap all my disposable poncho, space blanket, or emergency tarp packets with a meter or so of duct tape to effect repairs or aid in joining them together for shelters. If you carry any kind of plastic sheeting for any reason you have to carry heavy duty tape right along with it. The disposable ponchos are great stuff right up until you trip or slide down an embankment and they turn into left-over packing material.

I'm interested to see how your leather sheaths hold up. My leather sheaths are all growing mold after a rainy season trip. A mix of beeswax, paraffin, and neatsfoot oil seems to work best. I can't get kydex down here or I would go with that for rainy season.

"A machete and a thin blade knife". I couldn't agree more. Maybe I missed it but what are you using for field sharpening? I use either a small mill file for damage to the machete or a diamond rod for touching up the edge.

Neosporin ointment is the bomb.

In rainy season here I don't use DEET very often, mosquitos just aren't the problem here like up there. In dry season I have to juice up with DEET and also treat my clothes with permethrine or I load up on chiggers so bad I can't sleep. Chiggers are the pure essence of itch.

Great thread.

Mac
 
Awesome post, thanks for all the great info. I hope to make one of the RAT courses in a few years.
 
Man, thats great Bear.

Edited: I noticed no blanket. Too hot?

Can you provide a link to the pack?
 
Excellent Post Bear! Take a notebook and bring back some good lessons learned on what you take with you...

ROCK6
 
great looking gear bear...:thumbup: i bet you're going to have a blast... i'm waaaay jealous... i remember the pics from your last trip, they were epic...

have a good one and stay safe....

mike
 
Hey mike me and tonym are plannin on goin next year, you should go too, we could reak all sorts of havoc then buddy!:cool: oh yeah we could......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top