The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Incorporated

Bushwalking Equipment
Contributed by Nuri Chorvat.

The reader is also advised to consult the far more extensive FAQ hosted on this site.

Equipment

What to Take ?

Generally, this will consist of essential items and optional items. Since the weather can change rapidly, protection from rain and cold is essential, even though the walk may have started in glorious sun shine and a clear blue sky. Persons who decide not to carry protective weather gear (to reduce the pack weight) run the risk of getting cold and/or wet and thus jeopardise the safety of the group. The group may have to stop and quickly warm the affected walker. This may take some time which could cause the group to return in darkness with the possibility of trips, falls and eye injuries or be forced to make camp for the night. Walkers who do not carry the right gear and thus put the safety of the group at risk may not be invited on future walks.

What Not to Take ?
Definitely no animals or radios. Check with the leader before bringing along children or friends. Clubs usually have restrictions based on their insurance policies: understand these.

Daywalks

Essential:
Backpack (30-45 litres) to carry all of the following items :
Water in a container (2 litre wine bladder or two 1 litre plastic bottles)
Food (nourishing, high energy)
Personal medication (Eg. Ventolin)
Personal first aid kit (see below)
Rain coat with hood
Swiss army knife (Eg. Victorinox "Rucksack Lock" or "Camper")
Compass and plastic whistle on neck cord
Warm jumper - with hand warming pockets (Eg. Polartec 200 material)
Small notebook + pen/pencil
Watch (not your best - it may get scratched)
Mug
Torch + batteries (Eg. Petzl "Zoom" head torch)
Spare insect repellent
Spare sun screen cream
Toilet paper, soap and plastic trowel
Money + identification (Eg. drivers licence)
Medicare card (in case of accident)
List of Search and Rescue contact phone numbers

For off track walking, add :
Maps (1:25000 scale CMA maps in clear plastic weatherproof cover)
Gaiters (to protect shins)
Fire starters (Eg. waterproof matches)
Signalling mirror
Emergency body-size plastic bag (emergency sleeping bag)

Optional:
GPS personal navigator (Eg. Garmin 45 or 38) - Better suited to outback Australia
Communications (UHF CB radio or mobile phone which is switched off )
Spectacle safety cord
Camera
Binoculars
Swimming costume
Small hand towel
Closed cell foam mat to sit on (also use as a first aid splint)
Sun glasses
Sweets (Eg. barley sugar, eucalyptus and honey, chocolate, etc)
Leather gloves for scrub bashing
High energy snack bars
3m x 4m waterproof sheet or tent fly
Water filter or water sterilising tablets
10 metres of 25mm webbing tape or 4 mm climbing cord for pack hauling (only 1 per group)
Stove with billy, tea and sugar
Thermal top in winter
Plastic shopping bag to carry out any rubbish.

Overnight Walks

Equipment as for daywalks plus the following:
Large backpack 65-75 litres (Eg. Macpac "Cascade")
Waterproof pack liner
Tent or tent fly + ground sheet + pegs + poles + cord (+ mozzy net)
Down sleeping bag
Insulated sleeping mat (Eg. Thermarest or closed cell foam mat)
Food in plastic bags (separate meals in separate bags)
Stainless steel spoon (+ knife from daypack - fork not used)
Stove + fuel
1.5 litre cooking pot (or Billy can) + pot lifter (suits 1 person)
Small plastic scourer pad
Camp water bag - 4 or 6 litres (canvas or wine bladder)
Small hand towel (300x500mm) + small face washer
Personal hygiene items (Eg. Toothbrush, mirror, comb, tissues)

For cold and/or wet conditions add:
Thermal long sleeved top (Eg. Peter Storm chlorofibre)
Thermal long johns
Thermal balaclava
Thermal mittens
Waterproof over trousers
2 plastic bags to fit over dry socks in wet boots in camp

For longer walks (over 2 days) add:
Extra food - dehydrated
Extra water
Spares clothes
Spare socks

Maximum Pack Weights ?
For your safety and trip enjoyment on overnight walks, limit the weight of your pack to a maximum of 25% of your body weight. E.g. If you weigh 80 kilograms and are reasonably fit, your pack should not weigh more than 20 kilograms. If you carry more, you start increasing the risk of sprained and twisted ankles, and knee, leg and back problems. You will also slow down the group. Bushwalking is meant to be enjoyed not endured. Weigh your pack and keep it light. Share tents and cooking gear where possible

Note: The leader is probably carrying extra safety items for the group (E.g. extra water, group first aid kit, climbing tape, communications device, water filter, etc). But do not rely on using this gear when you should have your own, and consider offering to help to share the load.

Remote Area Group Items

If you intend travelling into remote areas, you may consider taking the following items.
Water filter (Eg. Katadyn "Pocket Filter")
Desalination hand pump (Eg. PUR "Survivor 35")
Communications (UHF CB radio or mobile phone which is switched off)
Global Positioning System (GPS) personal navigator (Garmin 45)
Solar panel + rechargeable battery (for radio, GPS + torches)
Remote area first aid kit (+ know how to use it)

First Aid Training ?
It is recommended that all persons going bushwalking complete an approved First Aid course such as the St.John Ambulance Remote Area First Aid Certificate.

Personal First Aid Kit (Assumes a minimum group of 4 persons)

[Note added by web master, 2004: many of the items listed here never get used in practice. You should periodically review what you are carrying, whether it is used, and whether any drugs are out of date.]

Essential: (To be carried by each walker)
1 Container (E.g. Zippered pouch in waterproof plastic bag)
4 Pain killing tablets + emergency aluminium foil blanket
1 10cm x 2.3m heavy duty crepe bandage (E.g. Handycrepe)
1 8x10cm waterproof island dressing (E.g. Cutilin Plus)
1 Triangular bandage (E.g. Surgipack)
1 Accident Action List
1 Medical Evacuation Form

Optional:
2 Antihistamine tablets
2 Bandaid elastic fabric strips or patches (E.g. Handyplast) or roll of bandage.
2 Antiseptic swabs (E.g. Betadine Swab Aids)
2 Safety pins - 1 large + 1 medium
2 Small sachets of salt (E.g. McDonalds)
1 "Stingose" 25ml spray
1 5x7cm non-adherent wound dressing pad (E.g. Telfa)
1 Splinter probe - double ended (E.g. Manicare)
1 b slant tweezers S/S or gold tipped (E.g. Manicare)
1 Emergency reflective foil blanket (E.g. Surgipack)
1 2.5cm x 5m waterproof tape (E.g. Leukoplast)
1 b needle + thread
1 Scissors + nail file (trimming toe nails on long trips)
1 Pair of latex gloves (E.g. Ansell)