Tuesday 26 February 2013

Lots of Stuff



Well gear lists are now starting to appear for the 2013 TGO Challenge.  It is with some trepidation that I make this post.  Other people's lists always seem to be lighter and smarter than mine!  But this is my current state of thinking.  I am sure some readers will be horrified by the base weight of 11.7kg. All I can say is that this is lighter than when I started planning!

I feel I need to justify some of the weightier choices, so here goes.  Firstly, my choice of pack.  Until recently I used a Golite Pinnacle but I have replaced this with the ULA Catalyst. This is probably of higher capacity than needed, although I reckon a fair proportion of the claimed volume is actually in the mesh outer pocket.  I purchased this pack because the XL size has a very long back length.  I am 6 foot 3 inches and the Pinnacle hip belt used to sit on my waist.  The ULA hip belt sits on the hips and this makes for far more comfort when carrying a large load.  Indeed, this is the first pack I have had which has fitted me properly since my fully framed Karrimor Randonneur pack which I had in the early 70's.

The other weighty item, by today's standards, that I will probably take is my Akto.  This is instead of the Trail Star, although I haven't yet come to a final conclusion about that. I want to have a few more nights in the TS before May and to use my as yet untested new Oook nest. Unlike the rest of the world I am still entirely unconvinced by this combination - I reckon that the TS and the nest simply lacks sufficient length for someone of my height to sleep comfortably, despite it having a footprint somewhat larger than the O2 Arena.  If my next few nights in the TS are not succesful I will be flogging it. I do not actually think the weight penalty of the Akto is that great once you add pegs and a nest  or bivi bag to the TS's sold weight.

I also know that there are some non-essential items in what follows, eg Exped Pillow and some bits of clothing. These may get whittled down nearer the time. Hope I haven't missed any essentials, though.

Oh and I forgot to include my Sawyer water filter in the list below - 122 grs with the large pouch.

So have a gawp, have a laugh but do comment!




Kit
Weight
Comments
Grams
Pack
ULA Catalyst
1400
Packliner
146
Camping / Sleeping
 
 
Akto
1650
Sleeping Bag Rab Neutrino
760
In its waterproof stuff sac
Silk liner
120
Exped Pillow
81
Neo Air X lite large
485
Includes Neo Air repair kit
Duomat sit mat
150
Tent J Cloth
 
15
Polycro for porch
25
Kitchen
Stove, feet, windshield
Optimus
185
Pan
Evernew 0.9l
115
Pot cosy
28
Mug
Lifeventure titanium
65
Fuel
382
1*230gr cartridge
Steel
28
Matches
15
Fork / spoon
32
Long spoon
12
J cloth
15
Water container
Platypus 2 litre
37
Platypus 1 litre
36
Swiss army knife "Classic"
22
Can opener
10
Purification tablets
10
Plastic food bags
10
Tiny sponge scourer
4
 
 
 
Health and Hygiene
First Aid Kit
160
Various dressings, wipes, pain killers, tick thing etc
First aid kit dry bag
26
Crepe knee bandage
45
Bisoprolol
10
Asprin 75mg
10
Hayfever tabs
5
Compeed
11
Ear plugs
2
Imodium
10
Gehwol Foot Cream
57
Chafing gel
40
Sunscreen
51
Chance would be a fine thing
Sudacreme
40
Toilet roll
70
Hand sanitiser
100
Wash Kit
Dry bag
30
Toothbrush and paste
45
Comb
6
Dr Bronner's
60
Spare Contact lense
4
Contact lense fluid
65
Reading glasses in case
107
Midge repellant
110
Midge head net
50
Lifesystems towel
166
Trowel
61
P Bottle
62
Navigation
Silva compass
40
Maps
250
Weigh amount guessed here
Ortilieb Map Case
64
Watch
40
Smartphone / GPS
Galaxy 1
117
With Viewranger 1:50k
Spare batteries for phone
64
2 spare @32gr
Phone case
60
Aquapac
Phone charger
62
Accessories
Repair kit
Dynamee
40
Duck Tape
15
Shock cord
40
Whistle
15
Theadtorch
Petzl Tikka
80
includes its 3 AAA batts.
Notebook and pen
60
Waste bag (Yellow Pod)
38
Dry Bags
129
Xped Light L,M,S,XS + Standard weight S
Camera
270
Includes spare battery
Wallet
150
Rail tickets
10
Bus / train details
0
Cheques for B and B
0
Spare Clothes (Carried)
Pants
Rabs Meco boxers
72
Base layers
Merino top
285
Rohan
Rab Meco long johns
148
Montane Prism Trousers
348
In stuff sac (16gr)
Spare socks
160
X sock extreme (60g) + smartwool 100g
Spare shirt
250
Paramo Katmai
PhD Minimus Jacket + Hood
478
In stuff sac
Lowe Alpine Waterproof Hat
81
Fleece beenie
68
Buff
38
Berghaus Jacket
Paclite
530
Berghaus Overtrousers
Paclite
250
ME Gloves
65
Seal  Skinz gloves
118
Total base weight
11676
Clothes etc (Worn)
Wicking pants
HH
88
Trousers
Montane
357
Merino Shirt
Rohan
286
Paramo Fleece
325
Micro fleece


Boots / trail shoes
856
La Sportiva Raptors
Socks
112
Gaiters
68
Shorties In stuff sac
Windshirt
350
Paramo Fuera Smock
Pacer poles (alloy)
650
Weight non pack worn items
3092
Food and Drink
Dehydrated food
900
Three main meals + 3 deserts
Total other food (3 days)
Tea bags
Drink choc
1 sachet per day
Condensed milk
Tube of Carnation - luxury item!
Instant porridge
Cereal bars
Trail mix
Chocolate
1600
Hip Flask
288
88g empty. Assume 200ml contents
Water
1000
Total weight food / water
3788
Total pack base weight
11676
Total food and water
3788
Total worn and non-pack
3092
Total pack weight
15464
Total weight
18711

7 comments:

  1. Comprehensive list
    :-)

    I used to take all sorts of spare clothes but now I would dump the spare base layer, spare shirt & spare trousers. That would save you 883 grams straight off.

    When you are in civilisation you can wash the one base layer and just wear your fleece and down jacket until it dries. Trousers can be washed at a B&B and dried over night too.

    I would keep your long johns though as your sleeping bag looks quite light - not sure what fill that is or whether it's light because it hasn't a zip? I don't know that bag

    I would also dump the Sealskinz gloves - I think they are worse than useless on a long wet trip. Fleece gloves or sticky thinnies backed up with a simple shell glove would save you weight and perform better?

    So - that's a kilo saved with no compromise on safety or comfort.
    :-)

    You also seem to have a complete canteen of cutlery, if I'm reading that right? I take one titanium spoon.

    But even at the weight you are starting with now, you'll still have a great crossing.

    Oh - One last thing - You'll hardly ever have to carry water - another kilo gone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alan. Even as I posted I knew there was too much in the way of spare clothing. The spare trousers were primarily to supplement the sleeping bag if cold - they have a thin filling of primaloft and I tend to get cold at night (what a softie). The bag is not bad though -800+ fill powerdown. But I certainly shouldn't need those and the long johns. Spare shirt will also go, as will the water until after Braemar. And the towel may also go for the first half of the walk and possibly be in a resupply parcel - shouldn't need it until second week when on real camp sites.

      My biggest surprise about your reply is you weren't the first to mention the hip flask. Adrian beat you to it....

      Delete
  2. Your hip flask is woefully small....:-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, Adrian, I am very naive and new to the Challenge and also to the notion of carrying any booze on a backpack. I thought that the tradition of the Challenge was that experienced challengers carried extra alcohol to support the new boys and girls. If it isn't a tradition it should become one - only for 2013, of course.

      Delete
  3. Ooo, I love a good list!
    This one makes me feel quite good about my 9654 base weight plus 1845 three days food (only carry that at the beginning, subsequently 1310 2 days food) but I'm not ready to post my list yet, I have to have my practice pack first. Soon though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Louise - you love a good list? We will get on! You are adressing a man who has a list of every book he has read since September 1975, every walk in the hills he has been on since 1989, + partial lists of walks from 1975 to 1989. I can also tell you what the weather was like on every day of every holiday since. And as for lining up the mugs in the kitchen cupboard so all the handles point north....

      The sole intention of publishing my list was to make everyone else feel smug and lightweight. Actually, I am planning to turn up in Mallaig for my Challenge with just an old Tesco carrier bag, a piece of polycro to sleep under and to act as a poncho, a copy of the Daily Mirror for insulation, a box of Swan Vesta to cook on, and a Band Aid and 2 paracetamol in case of emergency.

      Can't wait for your list.

      Delete
  4. Oh you are so going to fit in :-)

    ReplyDelete