This is what I carried on my last day hike. Knife, mini survival kit (magnesium fire starter, 3 cotton pads, snare wire, compass, sharpening stone, fishing line and hooks, case pocket knife, signal mirror), Leatherman Wave, 4 ft of cord wrapped to my knife sheath and all day I ate edible plants.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Pack for a 4-5 hour hike
- Thread starter navihawk
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 945
Depending on how well behaved and how patient your dog is, you might be able to put a pack on him* too. That way he* could carry his* own bowl and treats and a bit of food, and maybe a couple of things for you too.
*Edit: Or her/she as the case may be.
As far as packs and gear go, I don't have much to add, but I'll be following the thread to see what kind of other responses come up. I've been considering either a large lumbar pack or one of the larger Camelback packs (one of the ones with lots of gear space) for day hikes. I'd be interested in hearing opinions from folks who have used both.
2-3 quarts of water, with at least one of those being in a canteen or Nalgene (not 100% sold on bladders yet)
purification tabs (not as effective or fast as a filter, but space is at a premium)
A cup that nests on the bottom of the canteen or Nalgene
whistle, mirror
small flashlight
pocket knife or small fixed blade
rolled poncho
spare socks
thermal layer for torso (and legs if you start off in shorts)
map and compass
decent FAK (for this kind of thing, I'd use something like the AMK UL .9 as a guideline)
ducttape
a few small snack type items
fire lighting method of choice and backup method, tinder
Don't bother getting a fire permit. Almost as soon as your tinder is lit, someone will be on top of you in the more hiked parts of the Whites.
purification tabs (not as effective or fast as a filter, but space is at a premium)
A cup that nests on the bottom of the canteen or Nalgene
whistle, mirror
small flashlight
pocket knife or small fixed blade
rolled poncho
spare socks
thermal layer for torso (and legs if you start off in shorts)
map and compass
decent FAK (for this kind of thing, I'd use something like the AMK UL .9 as a guideline)
ducttape
a few small snack type items
fire lighting method of choice and backup method, tinder
Don't bother getting a fire permit. Almost as soon as your tinder is lit, someone will be on top of you in the more hiked parts of the Whites.
BLASPHEMY!!! Skammer, I looked and looked, and nowhere, nowhere, do I see a knife listed.
Doc
I thought it was implied LMAO.
For this lightweight adventure I took my trusty large SAK Fireman Model.
Ducks and runs for cover.
I actually battoned it the next evening for the first time but baby'd it and was very careful, it worked ok but highly irritating.
Skam
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,194
Ditto on the ten essentials.
I take my PSK (with the essentials), some sort of knife, an Adventure Medical bivy (makes a space blanket look silly), a couple liters of water, extra food, extra clothing, camera. I always let someone know where I'm going and when I'm supposed to be back. In my case, my wife gets a highlighted copy of the map I'm taking and we arrange a check-in time. If I go past that by more than a few hours, she starts making calls.
For a 4-5 hour hike, it really doesn't matter much what kind of pack you use, as long as it doesn't fall apart and is comfortable. Grandma Gatewood used to hike the AT with her stuff in a sack and she used a shower curtain for a shelter. I could walk into just about any thrift store and come out with a useable pack for $5.
I take my PSK (with the essentials), some sort of knife, an Adventure Medical bivy (makes a space blanket look silly), a couple liters of water, extra food, extra clothing, camera. I always let someone know where I'm going and when I'm supposed to be back. In my case, my wife gets a highlighted copy of the map I'm taking and we arrange a check-in time. If I go past that by more than a few hours, she starts making calls.
For a 4-5 hour hike, it really doesn't matter much what kind of pack you use, as long as it doesn't fall apart and is comfortable. Grandma Gatewood used to hike the AT with her stuff in a sack and she used a shower curtain for a shelter. I could walk into just about any thrift store and come out with a useable pack for $5.
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 945
Navihawk, that's a pretty pooch you've got there. Looks like she'll make a great hiking partner.
I don't usually worry about TP on a day hike. I'm pretty regular and usually take care of business first thing in the morning. On an over-night trip I'd make TP the 11th essential, and coffee the 12th.
DaleW,
Thanks for the Grandma Gatewood link. I'd never heard of her before, and the story put a great big smile on my face.
I don't usually worry about TP on a day hike. I'm pretty regular and usually take care of business first thing in the morning. On an over-night trip I'd make TP the 11th essential, and coffee the 12th.
DaleW,
Thanks for the Grandma Gatewood link. I'd never heard of her before, and the story put a great big smile on my face.
Definitly bring some type of TP. I use baby wipes, yes baby wipes.
The only thing I don't like about bladders is that you can never tell how much is left unless you dig out the bladder and check. I find that being a PITA sometimes and it can cause you to forget something if you have to take out something to get your bladder out.
The only thing I don't like about bladders is that you can never tell how much is left unless you dig out the bladder and check. I find that being a PITA sometimes and it can cause you to forget something if you have to take out something to get your bladder out.
- Joined
- May 5, 2003
- Messages
- 2,494
Nice looking pooch. :thumbup:
My buddy bought a pretty nice set of doggy "saddle bags" for his big dog. We thought we'd use the dog to help carry water on a mountainous hike on a very hot and humid day (We were headed into the woods to look for a GPS that he lost! He set it down to tie his boot and walked off without it).
The second he put the pack on the dog, she kind of squatted down and froze. She looked so scared it was heartbreaking! I gave him a bunch of grief about it and he ended up carrying the extra water himself.
(we never recovered the lost GPS unit....)
Can anyone recommend one of the larger lumbar/fanny packs with attached shoulder straps? Or are they to be avoided?
Stay sharp,
desmobob
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2007
- Messages
- 1,066
Mountainsmith makes several sizes of lumbar packs. The several (if not all) can be equipped with shoulder straps. I used one for years as my day pack.
I disagree with the individual that said to carry bic lighters. They are notoriously for failing or breaking when they are needed most. Waterproof matches like those from REI are a great way to start a fire. Another good ignition source is one of the numerous styles of metal match. As for dryer lint being a good tinder I cant say either way but consider this. Cotton readily absorbs moisture and in humid damp environments has been known to pull moisture right out of the air. Wool is naturally fire retardant and most of the synthetics melt but dont burn. Buy yourself a decent commercial tinder or make your own using real cotton balls coated in Vaseline or petroleum jelly. The jelly will make the cotton balls fairly waterproof. For extra insurance I carry them in a waterproof container. Open them up to expose some untreated cotton and add a spark or frame.
I also agree that paracord is a better option than fishing line.
One thing to remember is that you have to be able to use the gear you carry when you are at your most disadvantaged. Choose wisely and above all practice using what you carry.
I disagree with the individual that said to carry bic lighters. They are notoriously for failing or breaking when they are needed most. Waterproof matches like those from REI are a great way to start a fire. Another good ignition source is one of the numerous styles of metal match. As for dryer lint being a good tinder I cant say either way but consider this. Cotton readily absorbs moisture and in humid damp environments has been known to pull moisture right out of the air. Wool is naturally fire retardant and most of the synthetics melt but dont burn. Buy yourself a decent commercial tinder or make your own using real cotton balls coated in Vaseline or petroleum jelly. The jelly will make the cotton balls fairly waterproof. For extra insurance I carry them in a waterproof container. Open them up to expose some untreated cotton and add a spark or frame.
I also agree that paracord is a better option than fishing line.
One thing to remember is that you have to be able to use the gear you carry when you are at your most disadvantaged. Choose wisely and above all practice using what you carry.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2006
- Messages
- 4,677
Thanks for all the dog compliments.I get it all the time,no lie.
Hey Pitdog,what kind of pack?
Hey Pitdog,what kind of pack?
This is what I carry for day hikes, if it was real hot then I may take a small back pack instead so I could carry extra water, but usually it's just this. And yeah it does contain some toilet paper...Iv'e never needed it but you never know !!!!
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2005
- Messages
- 19,385
Pitdog, that is a nice rig. When I say fanny pack, I mean something a lot smaller.
You can carry a small pack (2000cc), but you don't have to fill it up. Leaves room for things like a bulky poncho or rain jacket. Most of you guys carry far more water than I do. I carry maybe 1-1.5 liters of water for a day hike unless it is just extremely hot and I'm hiking exposed to the sun (ie. no trees). I'm not above taking a drink from a spring out in the woods. I have lugged 30 lbs of camera gear around a lot in the mountains. Gets heavy.
You can carry a small pack (2000cc), but you don't have to fill it up. Leaves room for things like a bulky poncho or rain jacket. Most of you guys carry far more water than I do. I carry maybe 1-1.5 liters of water for a day hike unless it is just extremely hot and I'm hiking exposed to the sun (ie. no trees). I'm not above taking a drink from a spring out in the woods. I have lugged 30 lbs of camera gear around a lot in the mountains. Gets heavy.
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2007
- Messages
- 12,294
It's a Maxpedition Proteus, obviously depends what you want but I wouldn't change one thing on this !!!!:thumbup: