Practical gear

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
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Feb 2, 2005
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While I would like to get out on some neat trips like a lot of people here, my weight has been holding me back. I am working on that right now, and having a great time. On Monday, I was going to go for a walk on a local trail, but decided instead to get out in the snow and do some things in the woods. I mainly hiked the fields and woods, looking for tracks, and generally enjoying the quiet of falling snow. However, I had a Gossman PSK, a Vic OHT and a Gossman PSK Sr. Also, my cellphone and a smaller Nalgene bottle filled with water. Also, my hiking stick that is wrapped with paracord. I was not far from home, still on our property.

Got me thinking about a PSK in an Altoids tin. What do I need for hiking, really wandering aimlessly, about in the snow? First, I am a big guy. Bad knees, big chance of falling and maybe spraining something at the least. Lots of hills.

I see people putting whistles, firestarters, hundred foot of paracord etc in their PSK's. For the average Joe, with a pocket knife and cellphone, what do you need? I would think, for my hikes on small, easily accessible, trails (stone trails or dirt and grass, I have moved on from paved trails :D), that the bare necessities would be all that is needed. What are those?

I usually stuff my coat or jacket pockets in winter, early spring and late fall. Late spring, summer and early fall, I usually have just a t-shirt and shorts. I try to stick with cargo shorts when I am hiking, to carry more stuff.

I am looking at spending most of my weekends on either day or half day hikes, at local trails. Better than spending my summer in the movie theater or at home watching movies. But, what do I need? I have the knife and cellphone covered, and the water bottle, but what else? I am guessing antiseptic and a small roll of gauze for starters. Not that easy to carry around in an Altoids tin. I'm going to sit down and make up a PSK list, going off of Doug Ritters psk tin, and post back.

Most hazards I have seen have been my health holding me back on trails. On a local trail, I almost passed out from hiking an almost vertical hill, just to prove to myself I could do it. People in great shape were walking past like they were walking down hill, some actually stopped to see if I was okay, and hiked up with me.
 
I'd add:
A couple band-aids
Some Advil or Tylenol in the small foil packs
Some bug repellant in warmer weather.
A needle/pin. Large enough to use but small enough to use on splinters.
A small flashlight in case the hike takes longer than expected.

A good hat with a full brim in case you gotta walk out in the rain and for protection from the sun is a good idea too.
 
The Altoids tins are a bit silly in my personal opinion. Most of the tools that you can fit inside are to small to do serious work.

I cary one of the County Comm pocket organizers filled with thus:
* Swedish fire steel
* waterproof / airtight peanut lighter
* folding razor
* technicians screwdriver
* light my fire spork

All of these are in blaze orange, and all from County Com. Additionaly, i have:

* Pen
* note pad
* adhesive bandages
* quick disolve benadril tabs

for your situation, the only thing you would need to add are a pair of tall boots with good ankle support, and a bandana for a sling. A few additional first aid products would be wonderful as well; maybe an Izzy dressing for a serious injury, some asprin and imodium tablets.

This should all fit in the smallest messenger bag or even a fanny pack with room to spare.
 
SHS?

From my personal (dammit) experience, weight loss is a diet thing. Exercise is a toning thing. The two together work better, but diet is the key on weight loss (did I say "dammit?")


Consider benadryl if you have allergic reactions, wound repair...disinfectant and bandage, foot maintenance...moleskin stuff, and...as you implied, sufficient water.

Start slow. Slow is good. Slow will make it easier to look forward to the next trip and make sure you get back from the current one.

wacherass.

Kis
 
I am working on the weight issue, gotta remember that when I walk to Subway today, instead of getting take out. Take out tastes good, Subway does not. Meals prepared at home are even better, on the wallet too ;).

Something I noticed, I drained that Nalgene bottle full of water pretty quick. Most of the places I will be hiking have access to streams etc, but I would not be comfortable drinking the water, unless I boiled and treated it. I am also allergic to stings, a sweat bee can knock me out (6'3" and 350).

Thanks for the responses, I will be looking at the ten essentials. I noticed that, while a lot of threads in here are fun, and the psk's etc look good, many of you are far beyond me in your abilities, I can't start where a lot of people on here are comfortable. I hope to post a PSK start when I get home, and to start working on assembling it this weekend. I usually have Immodium and ibuprofen with me in the truck, but not in my bag or pockets when I am out hiking. Take the ibuprofen before I start etc.
 
All good suggestions posted above ... as far as health the more often you go out on hikes the more your endurance builds up ... just take it slow and enjoy nature's gifts.I've had some weight issues and found that just changing my "diet" helped tremendously. I pretty much cut down on carbs and increased protein intake in my meals and drinks lots of water. This and some excercise ( such as hiking) will increase your metabolism and help in shedding those unwanted pounds.

Good luck !
 
Break up your meals too, 6 small meals instead of 3 big ones, this will help rev up your metabolism, as well as several daily walks.
 
I am very happy to hear that you are getting more proactive about your health, and in a way that you will find to be very enjoyable, and limitless once you achieve your fitness goals.

My advice to you, is to take it easy when you are out, and avoid overdoing it, so that you dont become injured, and need a bunch of knee surgeries to fix it. This comes from a reformed fat guy. I lost 70lbs last year. It is very easy to fall into a habit of bad ating and laziness. I put on quite a few pounds after my son was born, and I was getting focused on my family and carreer. KUDOS TO YOU BRO!!!!

PSK? Well a whistle to alert people close by, button compass for basic orienteering, firesteel, chunk of fatwood, tiny flashlight, safety pins, jute twine, ad a few matches or a mini bic, or peanut lighter. If you dont wanna put alot of thought into it, Start with the RAT E&E kit, and +or- to it from there. Its a good kit, and a solid base for customization.

Live well bro, J
 
I'm too fat, but I can still hike. One of my new peices of "ultralight gear" I hope to obtain in 09 is to lose about 40 lbs.

Silent, I can usually do level and downhill pretty well but uphill is hard. Last year I hiked about 10 miles in a day all uphill (although at a moderate grade) and I had to take breaks.

One thing I can suggest based on personal experience is a set of hiking poles. If you let the hiking poles take the weight of your arms it makes a big difference going uphill.:thumbup:
 
j williams said:
I lost 70lbs last year. It is very easy to fall into a habit of bad ating and laziness. I put on quite a few pounds after my son was born, and I was getting focused on my family and carreer.
Click to expand...

Wow, congrads J Williams!!!!

For me the worst thing is lack of exercise. Seems like when I am exercising my appetite is less.

The problem is working. I drive an hour each way, and work from 9 to 5:30 so it's really hard to find time. In backpacking season I try to do a lot of night hiking at home, I have a 2 mile loop thru the woods I do by headlamp, but that just keeps me in hiking shape, doesn't shave off much weight.
 
Lemme just say, this isn't the first "I gotta lose weight so I can hike" thread I've posted. Around this time of year, the cabin fever gets bad, and I plan out hikes for the year. I either end up working on a Saturday or Sunday, and go out to lunch etc with friends, or after work I would get two hulking pit beef smothered sandwiches, and be so bloated and tired, it was all I could do to get home. Since before the holidays, I've been sticking to smaller portions, and getting more excercise. I don't know how much weight I've lost, because I'm afraid to weigh myself. My clothes are falling down without a belt, with a belt, they are still really loose. Able to get into old coats and jackets and shirts etc. Hell, hopefully it will stick this time. I was walking every day at work, had people going with me, a good walking group. When the cold weather hit, that was over. I just got back from Subway, ate a tuna fish wrap, I'm full, had some iced tea. Used to be, I would put away a foot long sub, three peanut butter cookies and a soda (yes, diet Sprite :D), and still be hungry.

If I want to get to half of these places I have listed, I will need to be in better shape. Can't enjoy a panoramic view if you can't breathe.

Lemme say, my weight hasn't stopped me from hiking, I just want to go to some spots that my weight might seriously hurt me.
 
I've got a small amount of stuff, all contained in a lowepro belt style camera case. I'm unpacking it now to give you a list. I throw it in my day pack for longer hikes, but for ones for only a couple of hours I will just put it on my belt. My daypack is a Gerber hydration pack, so that can hold 100 oz, and I usually have my guyot bottle which may or may not be full.

This is addition to what I have in my pockets, which is usually two knives, a firesteel
It contains:

Suunto A-10 compass
Iodine water purification tablets
two glow sticks
bic lighter
space blanket

First aid kit in an altoids tin(this fits in the camera case as well)
2 asprin (can be chewed in event of a heart attack)
2 dramamine (not really related to being in the woods, but I always have this close to me and my g/f gets really motion sick)
4 antacid pills (for my g/f as well)
2 immodium
2 tylenol
antiseptic towlette
disposible scalpel with handle cut down so it fits in the tin (#15 blade, FWIW)
small sample sized tube of Rx steroid cream (like cortisone)
individual use size antibiotic cream
2 adhesive bandaids
10 motrin (this is my preferred painkiller so I bring more of it along)

I still need to add a couple benadryl tablets and a sheet of moleskin.

On longer hikes when I have a daypack I have a trauma bandage that I take with me


I'm working on a small firekit that will be in an altoids gum tin and will also fit (I hope) into the camera case. I was thinking:
a mini bic
a few lifeboat matches
relighting birthday candle
a few sticks of fatwood
then I would pack the vacant areas with dryer lint

My kit is lacking cordage, but I almost always have my paracord bracelet on, so thats good for about 20-30 feet, and has a shackle bolt on it to boot.

Keep at the weight loss, and I don't know how you can say subway doesn't taste good. It's one of my favorite places to eat. I love to get a turkey sub, load up on the veggies (except for lettuce and tomato), throw some salt and pepper on there and a little bit of vinegar. I find that things like onions and hot peppers and olives really add to the taste of what is an otherwise somewhat bland sandwich, so give that a shot. I prefer this to any of the fastfood places, and on the routes I drive alot I know which exits have subway's so I can stop at them. The no-fat dressings are good too, I love the honey mustard (still has calories of course).
 
cmdionne said:
I don't know how you can say subway doesn't taste good. It's one of my favorite places to eat.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. Subway isn't bad, but it isn't far above cardboard most of the time, in my opinion. I mainly eat there because I get excercise walking down the hill from work, and back up. Also, it is cheap, and filling most of the time. The only chain sub I have ever really liked is Wawas smoked turkey sub. Of course, I get, or used to, extra mayo, sweet peppers, onions, grated parmesan, hot pepper cheese, horseradish creamy sauce, light oil and oregano. Went from the classic to the shorti though:D.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Thanks for the tips. Subway isn't bad, but it isn't far above cardboard most of the time, in my opinion. I mainly eat there because I get excercise walking down the hill from work, and back up. Also, it is cheap, and filling most of the time. The only chain sub I have ever really liked is Wawas smoked turkey sub. Of course, I get, or used to, extra mayo, sweet peppers, onions, grated parmesan, hot pepper cheese, horseradish creamy sauce, light oil and oregano. Went from the classic to the shorti though:D.
Click to expand...

Yer making me hungry. ;):thumbup:
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Thanks for the tips. Subway isn't bad, but it isn't far above cardboard most of the time, in my opinion. I mainly eat there because I get excercise walking down the hill from work, and back up. Also, it is cheap, and filling most of the time. The only chain sub I have ever really liked is Wawas smoked turkey sub. Of course, I get, or used to, extra mayo, sweet peppers, onions, grated parmesan, hot pepper cheese, horseradish creamy sauce, light oil and oregano. Went from the classic to the shorti though:D.
Click to expand...

I hear you, there is nothing I love better than a subway spicy italian with mayo and olive oil and cheese on it too, but if I'm eating that I might as well be eating a whopper. But even if you're keeping things healthy you can still the peppers and onions and a couple of the slices of subway cheese aren't all that bad for you either. Load up on spices in whatever you eat, it helps keep things interesting too. At least at the subway I go to they have a shaker of oregano they can put on your sandwich.

I pretty much cut out any non whole grains, and focused one eating more lean protein and veggies and I've been losing weight without even missing any of the food I used to eat. Also if having a "cheat" meal once in a while will keep you on your diet, do it. I try to limit myself to one "cheat" every week to 10 days. If you figure that 10 days is 30 meals, that means even with my cheat meal I'm eating right about 95 percent of the time.

Cut up some raw veggies and dip them in hummus for a snack, or have a small handful of nuts (need to be careful with serving sizes though).

Another good meal that I make a lot is just a big bowl of salad and I mix some nuts and chopped up green/yellow/red peppers in. Cut up some turkey lunch meat, mix in some sunflower seeds, a little bit of blue cheese crumbled up (any cheese will work). Mix in a little balsamic vinegar and some salt and pepper. Maybe a few olives. Substitute any lean protein for the chicken and change other things up a bit and the possibilities are endless, grilled chicken, grilled lean cuts of beef, grilled venison. You could mix some tuna in there too. Stay away from the carbs as much as you can, and you should see some differences.

Eating breakfast is also key, it jumpstarts the metabolism. an egg white omlette with some low fat cheese and a turkey sausage patty will jumpstart your metabolism for the day and you wont be as hungry later.

Sorry about the rant, I just wanted to let you know what worked for me. You can still eat very well and lose weight.
 
SHS,

Kudos to you for doing something about this! I've let myself get way out of shape and put on a lot of weight. Like HD, my major ultralight gear for 2009 is to lose a bunch of weight. (Maybe we should have a WSS weight loss challenge. . . )

+1 on hiking poles and the Heat Sheet. I also think it would be a good idea for you to carry more water - and make sure you are drinking frequently. A 2 liter hydration pack that holds a little gear is small and carries easily.

Get in the habit of letting somebody know where you are going and when you'll be back. Right now since you are hiking solo and the risk of injury is multiplied by your health/weight this is even more important.

If you move on from well used trails to wandering around in remote areas, consider the SPOT satellite tracker.

-- FLIX
 
hollowdweller said:
Wow, congrads J Williams!!!!

For me the worst thing is lack of exercise. Seems like when I am exercising my appetite is less.

The problem is working. I drive an hour each way, and work from 9 to 5:30 so it's really hard to find time. In backpacking season I try to do a lot of night hiking at home, I have a 2 mile loop thru the woods I do by headlamp, but that just keeps me in hiking shape, doesn't shave off much weight.
Click to expand...

Thanks HD... I am still workin onsome, as I wanna get down to my weight in the Army, but, I was a rail, so...

I hear ya, I drive an hour each way, clock in and sit on my ass waiting for an ambulance call. Unfortunatly theres not a whole lot to do but boredom snack when things are slow at work. Ten, when you do get hungry, you get a call and miss a meal, further snacking late at night. Little to no sleep. Its definatly all about disapline.

Night hiking by headlamp is a ball!I do it myself from time to time.:thumbup:

Tell you what did it for me. The Abs Diet. Best Diet Ive ever done. hands down. That and weightlifting, following the circuit routines the abs diet lists.:thumbup:
 
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