Need gear suggestions for Peru/The Amazon Jungle

averageiowaguy

averageiowaguy

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Mar 22, 2011
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I'm headed down there in May for a week. Its a new and unfamiliar environment. Here is what the website lists for gear:

"Passport, Patrol Pack, Machete and/or fixed blade knife, Compass & Pace Count Beads, Water bottle or hydration pack, Water purification tablets, Mosquito net, Poncho, Fire building tools (lighter and/or Ferrocerium rod), Fishing kit (small amount of line, lead sinkers and hooks), Personal first aid kit (to include toiletries), Jungle boots, Quick-dry clothing (BDUs), Flashlight, Watch, Hat, Notepad and pencil/pen, Camera w/ extra batteries."

What I was wondering specifically about was a Machete recommendation, mosquito net recommendation, and ESPECIALLY the boots. I've no idea about any of that.

Thanks for any replies.
 
I was going to suggest a HIRO Machete as used by Myke Hawke but it seems they are no longer being made !
 
If you're willing to do a little work to get it sharp, a cheap Tramontina should do you fine. If you don't want to make a project of it perhaps you might try a Condor. The length you want depends on the nature of the work (or play!) that you'll be doing. Brush clearing will require a longer blade, while general utility/heavy duty knife work would be best served by a shorter blade, imo.
 
Altama panama sole jungle boots - as with any new boots make sure you break them in first
 
I would take a video camera, the guys at ESEE are good people. I am going to take that class one day
 
Thanks for suggestions guys. I think I will go with the Altama boots. Should I get the one with the steel plate (Military Spec) or the Jungle Vulcanized without the metal plate? From what I've read the metal plate is more for when the guys have to jump out of aircraft to prevent foot injuries more than for protection of the bottom of the foot. What about an Ontario 18" machete? Yes this is for the ESEE course.
 
I'd second those altamas without the metal plate as well as a short to mid long machete... Whatever you end up going with, post about your experience when you get back!! It sounds like a fun trip and I'd love to do it myself someday :)

Eta: im sure you know but do make sure you break those mofos in before the trip or your feet will get destroyed...
 
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Thanks for the replies. Basically what you guys said was later confirmed straight from the horse's mouth. I ordered the Altima Jungle boots, panama sole, without the metal plate. I'll start breaking them in the moment they arrive. For machete, it was suggested that I just buy one in country and I'm gonna do that. For mosquito netting I talked to my cousin who is a cameraman for OLN and spends ~9 months a year in Africa and ASIA. He suggested and I ordered this. For headnet, I ordered this. If you read the description carefully you'll notice that she comes along with you and just swats the mosquitos for you.

Now for the fun part. What knife to bring? I'm only bringing one. Likely candidates at this point are an ESEE-3, ESEE-4, Busse Badger, Busse Boss Jack, Mora Classic Original 1, Mora 2000. I have all of those knives so I don't need to buy anything. I've listed them in the order of my preference. What would your order be?
 
I had the pleasure of going in March of last year. I took a Blindhorse Bushcrafter and a Scrapyard Scrapper 5 CG. The Blindhorse is a great knife, but was a mistake in the Amazon. Carbon steel rusted before our 7 hr hike in was done. It rained CONSTANTLY. The coated blade of the S5 faired much better, but still rusted on the sharpened edge. My choice for a return visit will be the S5 LE in Infi. While not stainless, it would do much better. I love ESEE knives and from your choices would probably take the ESEE 4 and the Mora 2000 (that is stainless ?). Also make sure you FAK has a REALLY GOOD pair of tweezers/forceps. I was amazed at just how much plant life was completely covered in spines. I mean like if you see a fuzzy tree, it is covered in spikes. You will be getting stuck. I would also have a bit of extra antiseptic for said wounds.

As far as machete, I would get one of the cheap ones in country and plan on leaving it with one of the locals when you get done. You will meet some good people and want to do something for some of them. A machete they can always use. Also do your best to find one of the little waterproof digital cameras. I took a small Samsung digital video camera which amazingly hung in there, but it was daily soaked by rain. Oops, to go along with that, I would get a pill bottle full of cotton balls/vaseline for tinder. You need something to help you get your fire going.

Sandals, crocks, flip flops, something to let your feet dry in the evenings around camp. A must.

I have never been in the jungle before this. It is one of the most miserable places I have ever been. It is also one of the most incredible. Wouldn't hesitate to go back!!

A Waodani chief (Gabriel) just back from hunting for lunch;

DSCN0258.jpg


Group shot with the village leaders; bet you can't tell which one is me;

DSCN0213.jpg


Have a great time and be ready to be soaked!!!!!!

Doc
 
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Doc:
Awesome photos! What would you recommend for clothing? What worked well and how much did you bring?
 
I took about 3 pair of the Magellan shirts and pants. Pants had the zip off legs and the mesh underwear built in. They would dry very quickly and were pretty comfortable. Forgot to mention sun screen. You will be on the equator and it is intense. If you hang the cloths in the sun, they won't take long at all to dry. We bathed in the river, so I took a biodegradable soap and bathed first in the clothes and soaped them up, rinsed, hung them up do dry, then repeated.

Hope that helps
Doc
 
cool dude :D hope you have a blast...

Since you asked, from what you already have, I'd take the ESEE3... It's still one of my personal favorites and it pairs up nice with a larger blade. Second choice maybe the Boss Jack if it's not too thick :)

JW
 
averageiowaguy said:
From what I've read the metal plate is more for when the guys have to jump out of aircraft to prevent foot injuries more than for protection of the bottom of the foot.
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter since you already bought the boots, but I thought the metal plate was put into jungle boots after the Veit Cong started punji sticks that would impale the soldiers foot.

Hopefully that won't happen in the EESE course. :)

Chad
 
I would take along a fishing arrow point that you can fashion for spear fishing in your first aid kit. There are some really big catfish down there in those rivers. I spent 6 months in Colombia working and was in the jungle about one-third of the time; in a small village near the jungle one-third the time, and in the big city the other third. Be aware, you will be wading streams/water ways. It is not like here in the states. I used a queen sized sheet an awful lot down there as a cover at night. It is hot. But I'm more comfortable with something to shield me from the skeeters. Yes, there was the malaria concerns as well as defense concerns out in the bush.

I wore those 6" LL Bean boots with the leather uppers and rubber bottoms an awful lot when I was in the village. It rained A LOT and the streets were dirt. Mud and more mud...
 
I missed this post, before you picked up the Altima's. I much prefer Wellco's to Altimas and used them for years. However, I recently tried OTB's Jungle Boots and have worn them around my property (in the lake and flooded areas) and must say they are absolutely top notch and I wish I had them when I was stationed down in Ecuador/Peru. Don't forget some good sandles! A lot of the natives will walk around barefoot...don't do it! I used Teva's way back in the mid 90's, but would recommend something like Chaco's now. As mentioned it will allow your feet and boots to dry but not slow you down and allow you to work around camp without fear of a cut, bite or sting.

Take along a box of Ziplock bags...quart and gallon. They will come in handy to keep electronics and other essentials dry.

Good luck and take plenty of pictures!

ROCK6
 
We didn't fish when we were there. The Waodani used nets in the river while we were there and caught some type of little minnow thing that they ate. I took the typical altoids fishing kit but never used it.

Doc
 
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