YOUR CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS ARE ALL YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BRING

Transcription

1 Clothing List YOUR CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS ARE ALL YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BRING. The clothing list below has been developed from years of experience on the trail and with current feedback from participants. It has been designed for your safety and comfort. Having the proper clothing is important. It need not be stylish, but it must be durable and warm. Please bring everything listed on the clothing list. Due to unpredictable weather, you may not end up wearing everything on this list. If it gets cold and wet, you will be glad that you have the listed items. If you have any questions regarding substitutions, please call us. If you are wondering where to purchase these items, check your local Yellow Pages (under camping, sporting goods, outfitters, army/navy surplus retailers), or consider purchasing good quality items from used clothing or consignment retailers in your area. Outward Bound provides all the technical equipment and specialized gear particular to your course. If you have your own gear you are welcome to bring it and your instructors will help you to decide whether it is appropriate for your course. If you choose not to carry it with you however, we do not have storage space available, since this is a mobile start. Before you go, pack belongings in a duffle bag or frameless backpack. This does not go on trail with you; it s only for getting your belongings to and from the course. At the course start you will transfer your on trail belongings into a pack provided by Outward Bound. Please do not bring any valuables (e.g. large amounts of cash, expensive jewellery, watches). Electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops, ipods, MP3 players, hand-held games or pagers will not be allowed on course. ITEMS TO BRING Prescription Medicine Please bring two full sets of any prescription medication you are currently taking. Prescription medication must arrive in the original containers and include the dosage and scheduling information. When you arrive, please inform your instructors of your prescription medication, and give them both sets of the medication. Instructors will dispense prescription medication to the students. (Epi-pens and asthma inhalers are kept by the students, with the instructors having the second set of these items.) Make sure you record dosage information on your medical form. Contact Lenses and Glasses - Contact lenses that require no special care may be worn on the course. If you wear contact lenses, bring plenty of solution for cleaning them and an extra pair or a pair of glasses. If you wear glasses, attach a retaining strap, and if you have them, bring an extra pair of glasses in a hard case. Camera - You ll be traveling through some spectacular scenery, so bring a camera along, in a protective case. Inexpensive, disposable, waterproof cameras are a good idea. Money - You may want to bring some money (cash or credit card) to cover the following possible expenses: preand post-course meals or accommodation, airport improvement fees (if necessary), or emergency funds to cover any unanticipated travel costs. VALUABLES and STORAGE At the course start you will transfer your on trail belongings into a pack provided by Outward Bound. Please do not bring any valuables (e.g. large amounts of cash, expensive jewellery, watches). Electronic devices such as laptops, ipods, MP3 players, will not be allowed on course. We do not have storage space available. Outward Bound Canada is not responsible for any loss or damage to personal property that may be incurred while you are on course. 1 of 5

2 Outward Bound Canada CLOTHING LIST: * Please ensure that all of your belongings are labelled with your name * Please do not bring cotton clothing as it loses its insulating value when it gets wet. Light trail hikers or hiking boots 1 pair or Old running shoes that will get wet! -1 pair Light running shoes 1 pair socks 3 pair Warm sweater 1 Long underwear 1 top & 1 bottoms Rain pants 1 pair Rain jacket with hood T-shirt 2-3 Shorts/ swim suit 1 pair Quick-dry pants 1 pair Underwear 3 pair Sports Bras 2 Sun hat or baseball cap 1 Toiletries Feminine supplies Sun screen & lip balm Insect repellent flash light & extra batteries Optional Items: Towel 1 Bug Shirt Water shoes Camera & film Warm hat 1 Mitts 1 pair Warm shirt 1 Liner socks 2 pair Sunglasses & retainer strap Bandana 1 They should have good ankle support for hiking programs These will be called your wet shoes and will be used for Canoeing programs For wearing around the campsite at the end of the day (you ll do everything in your power to keep these dry!) Heavy wool or synthetic socks Thick fleece or wool Polyester, synthetic, or wool They must be waterproof, coated nylon Cotton is O.K. Synthetic material is preferred Nylon or other quick drying material Nylon or synthetic shell. Cotton is O.K. For women Cotton is O.K. It must have a brim for sun protection Toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, hand cream For women 30 SPF rating preferred. Small tube No aerosol, please Headlamps are great Small, chamois style, quick drying. NO COTTON! Outward Bound provides a bug hat. Students must wear footwear while swimming. Disposable camera recommended. Wool or fleece Fleece or wool mitts. NOT gloves Medium weight, long-sleeved fleece or wool Thin, synthetic socks to wear underneath wool socks Cotton is O.K. Note: Outward Bound has limited items available for students to borrow should they forget or are unable to find something. Please do not come expecting to borrow a lot of items as we won t be able to accommodate every request. Please DO NOT bring the following items: Electronics (cell phones, ipods, MP3 players etc.) Food Valuables (jewellery, money etc.) 2 of 5

3 NOTE re: Thermarest : If you do not own a Thermarest, but think that you may go camping or on another expedition in the future, this is a good investment. A full length light weight version is the most versatile. YOUR CLOTHING LAYERING SYSTEM Base Layer Keeps you dry and warm. Ideally wicks away and does not trap perspiration next to your skin. Insulating Layer (or layers) Provides insulation. They need to retain your body heat and yet not restrict movement. Shell Layer Offers protection from precipitation (rain and snow), and wind. FABRICS Synthetic or wool fabrics are best for most base layer and insulating layer clothing. Synthetics Polyester, polar fleece, nylon, and polypropylene are examples of synthetic fabrics and are ideal for long underwear and insulative layers. Brand names include Capilene, Thermax, Polartec, Malden Mills, WhisprDry, Lycra, Tactel, Thermal Pro, and Power Dry, among others. They are soft, comfortable and durable, yet they do not absorb water. Perspiration is wicked away from your skin to keep you warm and dry and these fabrics retain much of their warmth when wet. Synthetics are good for long underwear, long-sleeve tops, warm sweaters and jackets, gloves, warm pants, socks, and toques. Wool Wool blends containing at least 75% wool with no cotton. Brand name wool products include Smartwool, Acti-Wool, and merino wool. Kroy wool is soft lamb s wool that doesn t irritate sensitive skin. Wool is good for sweaters, pants, socks and hats. Coated nylon or waterproof-breathables are best for shell layers. Waterproof-breathables Laminated fabrics with pores small enough to block rain/snow, yet large enough to allow perspiration to escape. Common brand names you will find are Gore-tex and Entrant. These are ideal for rain jacket, and even rain-pants but are expensive. Note: A good waterproof-breathable jacket and/or pants can double as a wind layer. Coated nylon rain jacket and pants are less expensive than waterproof-breathables. Coated nylon Rain slicker type fabric that is relatively inexpensive, very durable, and waterproof but does not breath and is bulky and heavy. Seams should be factory sealed. Great for rain-pants and OK for rain jacket. Quick-dry nylon Shorts and wind/hiking pants should be made from a quick-drying nylon or nylon-polyester blend fabric that offers protection from wind, bugs, underbrush, and light rain. WHY NO COTTON/DOWN Cotton and down are useless as insulators when wet. Cotton is heavy compared to synthetics, especially when wet, and does not pack as well. Denim (especially blue jeans) is not appropriate. Do not bring them on your course (other than for wearing home). Cotton sweatpants are not a substitute for synthetic or wool pants. Cotton T-shirts are OK. Footwear Your backpacking boots are the most important items you will bring to your course. Foot problems caused by inappropriate, ill-fitting or inadequately waterproofed boots will have a very serious effect on your enjoyment of the course. Some participants have had their Outward Bound experience unnecessarily spoiled by the agony of blisters or the lack of proper footwear. In some cases, participants have been unable to complete the course. Please choose your boots carefully and ensure they are broken-in and waterproofed before the course begins. Those who arrive with inadequate boots may not be able to participate. BOOT CRITERIA Most suitable for all courses is a general-purpose, medium-weight backpacking boot. A good-quality backpacking boot, correctly fitted, will be 3 of 5

4 adequate for hiking. You do not need to buy heavy, fully rigid mountaineering boots, as these are too stiff and difficult to walk in. Uppers Waterproof leather uppers. When carrying a heavy load, the upper is what will protect you from ankle injury on uneven terrain and loose rock/scree. The upper provides ankle support and also keeps out water and helps insulate the boot in cold weather. Full-grain leather is best for durability, support, and breathability. As you break in your boots, the full-grain leather upper will conform to the shape of your foot. Examples of full-grain leather: Smooth-out - the smooth side of the full-grain leather faces out. Rough-out - the rough side of the full-grain leather faces out. Nubuck looks like suede but is actually full-grain leather with a brushed finish. Do not buy boots with the following uppers: Suede is a form of split leather and is much less durable than full-grain leather. It is difficult to waterproof and does not hold its shape. Do not buy boots with suede uppers. Synthetic Nubuck is constructed with synthetic fibres bonded together with a suede-like texture. This upper tends to be less durable, less breathable, and less waterproof than leather but may be ok for a short course. Fabric is not as durable as leather, and is difficult to waterproof unless it is used in conjunction with a waterproof breathable membrane like Gore-Tex. It is best to avoid boots with fabric uppers, as they are not stiff or supportive enough for a backpacking course. Plastic mountaineering boots are fully rigid and inappropriate for summer backpacking courses. Shank - is a solid platform built into the sole of the boot that stiffens the boot and makes it much less tiring to walk over rough terrain. What you want: Semi-flexible soles. Usually a full-length nylon shank. You should be able to bend the toe of the boot up a bit under a reasonable amount of pressure but not more than 45º. Occasionally boots might be constructed with a 1/2 or 3/4 steel shank but this is increasingly rare as plastics are much more common. If you do find boots with ½ and/or ¾ steel shanks, these are acceptable. What you don t want but will see: Fully-rigid soles. Might be a heavy-duty full nylon/plastic shank or a full-length steel shank. These soles do not bend and are very tiring to walk in. They are for ice-climbing or high-altitude mountaineering. Do not buy boots with a fully-rigid sole. Stitching - Minimal stitching, as stitching will leak. Also, try to avoid boots with a seam up the inside of the heel as this may cause pressure points and blisters. Outsoles Where the bottom of the boot meets the trail. An aggressive Vibram style rubber lug out sole is best (Skywalker and Raichle make similar outsoles). A word about Gore-Tex Boots that have a Gore-Tex liner may be more waterproof than those without but not so much so that we recommend them above regular full-grain leather backpacking boots. Boots that have Gore-Tex fabric on the outside of the boot (a split leather/fabric boot) are not acceptable. Gore-Tex liners are not a substitute for waterproofing your boots. 4 of 5

5 BOOT OPTIONS Buying medium-weight full grain leather backpacking boots: If you do not already own a good pair of boots, this is an excellent chance to get some. If looked after, they will last you for years. These boots will cost between $200~$300 depending upon the model and the store you purchase them from. You might look for a used pair online, on a board at a local outdoor shop, or at a used sporting-goods store. Rental: Renting boots is an option if you see your course as a once-in-a-lifetime event, or if you do not wish to purchase boots now. Outward Bound does not rent leather boots to students. There are sports rental and outdoor shops, or local colleges/universities that may rent boots. Take the same care in fitting rental boots as you would a purchase: a well fitting boot is more important than a broken-in one. Make sure that they are quality boots and that you waterproof them thoroughly before your course. BOOT SHOPPING With the advent of new materials and lightweight boots, boot shopping can be confusing, even for the most experienced hiker. Take this information with you when you go shopping, and take extra care in your purchase. The salespeople should have a good understanding of the fitting process. Remember... Don t purchase fabric, suede or split leather boots. While very popular for day hikes, these lightweight boots will not provide you with the support or safety necessary for travel across rugged terrain with a heavy pack. Boots must be full-grain leather (smooth-out, rough-out or nubuck are all full-grain leather). Don t purchase military boots, hunting-type boots, boots that extend mid-calf or lightweight boots with suede or fabric uppers. If you are unsure about a boot, call us before you make the purchase. Fitting your boots A proper fit is essential, and you are unlikely to be able to judge the fit in minutes in a shop. Buy your boots with the understanding that if you wear them indoors for several hours and they don t feel right, you will be able to return them. Most boots are sized to fit both men and women but are built on a man s last (foot shape). Women s feet generally have a higher arch and instep, lower anklebones and a narrower heel and forefoot. Some boots are built to accommodate these differences. Please ask in the store where you are shopping if the boot is built to accommodate women s feet. The following guidelines will help you find the best-fit possible: Wear one thin (liner) and thick pair of socks to ensure proper fit. Try experimenting with the thickness of the wool or synthetic sock to determine which will work best for you. Wear socks of the same combination of weight and thickness that you will wear on your Outward Bound course. With the boots unlaced and your toes touching the front of the boot, the boot should be large enough to place your forefinger between your heel and the heel of the boot. With the boot laced, your heel must be firmly lodged in the heel cup, with no more than 3mm (1/8 ) of lift when you walk. Your toes and the ball of your foot should not feel cramped. When on a steep decline, or when tapping the toe of the laced up boot against the floor, your toe should not hit the end of the boot. BREAKING IN YOUR BOOTS Break in your boots before the course. We can never say this enough. Wear them around town, to school and at home as much as possible (several weeks for a total distance of at least 50 km). Do this gradually; if you experience hot spots or the beginning of a blister, change shoes, and resume when the risk of blistering is gone. This simple activity cannot be overemphasized and will be one of the easiest and most important steps in preparing for a successful and comfortable wilderness experience. WATERPROOFING Since no leather is naturally waterproof, treat your boots, new or used, with a product like SnoSeal, or Biwell. Others are available. Waterproofing your boots prior to your course is essential. For best results, 5-6 coats on new boots are necessary. Waterproofing is most easily applied if you warm the leather first by using a hair dryer, or by placing the boots in a warm oven for only a moment or two (be very careful!), set on lowest heat. A FINAL WORD If you take the time and care to acquire and prepare your boots for your expedition, you will have minimized the chance of any discomfort due to wet feet, blisters or hot spots, while you are hiking. After your Outward Bound course, you will have an excellent pair of boots that can live with you on your many years to come. 5 of 5