Showing posts with label My Tramping Gear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Tramping Gear. Show all posts

Tuesday 31 March 2015

My tramping gear: ACR Res Q Link 365 Personal Locator Beacon

My Personal Locator Beacon

I usually carry a Personal Locator Beacon or PLB with me when I'm out tramping. Up to now I have been hiring one for each trip but I have finally managed to save enough shekels to buy my own.

My ACR 365 Locator Beacon

I brought myself a ACR ResQLink PLB so that I will always have one with me when I'm out tramping. In basic terms, PLB use a satellite network to send a distress message to your local Police force who then coordinate any Search and Rescue operations.

ACR ResQLink 365 PLB


 These are the same used by the Southland PLB Charity and are one of the brands recommended by New Zealand Search and Rescue (SAR). The cost was $550 from the Hunting and Fishing store here in Christchurch, this was $50 cheaper than any other domestic supplier.
That's one of the reasons everyone doesn't own one, they are bloody expensive!


Instructions for use on the back of the ResQLink PLB


I think most people recognize the usefulness of carrying a PLB, especially if like me you do a lot of solo tramping. Although it is not a "get out of jail free card" it does give you a small measure of added safety in the outdoors.


Update: September 2021


I replaced this beacon with a later model in September 2021 as the battery in my old unit has expired. My new beacon is another ACR ResQLink this time a model 425 with a digital screen. 


My new model 425 ACR ResQLink beacon...


Hopefully I never have to use it as I never had to set off my old beacon in the six years I had it. 

Thursday 8 January 2015

Hiking Shoes vs. Hiking Boots: My personal thoughts on this discussion.

Sandals, shoes or boots: what to wear tramping? 


Hiking/tramping footwear comes in a plethora of shapes and sizes. Hiking shoes, hiking sandals, cross trainers, mountain running shoes, different brands and different versions – the options are mind numbing to contemplate!

A day hike to the Bealey Glacier in my Lowa boots....

What are the differences? When are boots better than shoes and vice versa? Is it worth the price difference to buy boots? We’ll start with some basic features of each and then elaborate on which conditions demand which type of “boot”.

Hiking Sandal

It may come as a bit of a surprise, but hiking sandals can be a great option for a casual hiker. Sandals are light, which means you aren’t going to expend as much energy moving your feet over the course of the trip. They are perfect for water crossings or as camp shoes. Many people prefer a sandal with some kind of toe guard to help protected against rocks and roots.

Keen Newport H2 sandal


Hiking sandals are best used for short well maintained trails or as a lite back up when their primary boots are temporarily out of commission. An example would be the Abel Tasman Coastal Track during summer. Nice, well graded tracks, a lot of tidal crossings, warm weather conditions.

For perspective, some chap walked the whole 3000 km Te Araroa Trail in sandals a couple of years ago, so just walking the Abel Tasman would be luxury...ay, sheer luuuxxxurriiieeeee!

Naresh Kumar walked the whole 300 kilometer Te Araroa Trail in sandals


Look for sandals with similar features to most good hiking shoes: tough stitching, quality materials, tough soles (Vibram if you have a choice), and good arch supports. Keen are one of the major brands for sandals, I own a pair of their Newport H2 sandals and they are rugged and comfortable to wear.

Trail Shoes or Hiking Shoes

Trail shoes are all the rage in long trail communities due to their compromise between comfort and functionality. They are sturdier than your average running shoe because of their thicker soles and leather reinforced fabrics while at the same time are lighter and more comfortable than standard tramping boots.
La Sportiva Lead trail shoes


Because of their versatility, trails shoe styles have started to become part of a more mainstream fashion. Be sure to double check standard quality measures such as stitching, arch support, waterproofing, and lace design so as to avoid buying shoes that look like trail shoes but don’t function the same way.

Good brands include: Salomen/Innov8/La Sportiva/Salewa/Merrell/Asolo

Trail Running Shoes


Trail running has exploded in popularity in recent years. Shoes designed specifically for trail running are similar to standard trail shoes with a few subtle differences.




Asics Sonoma,  lite mountain trail shoes



 Most trail running shoes have a bit more padding, tough soles, and slightly more ankle support. These shoes can be quite expensive, so if you aren’t planning on running up the mountain, you can probably go with a standard trail shoe.


Good brands include: Innov8/Salomon/Asics/La Sportiva/Hoka

Mid-weight Tramping boot

Many people would just call this “a hiking boot”. A mid weight boot is what most people think of when they think of tramping footwear. They will have extra ankle support, stiff foot support, and a reinforced leather or synthetic outer layer.

Synthetic Salewa Mountain Trainer Mid


They are versatile and rarely feel like overkill on a trail of moderate difficulty. Sure, they will be a bit heavier, but unless you are using them on a multi-day, long term trek, you probably won’t even notice. Don’t forget to look for the signs of quality: a toe rand, good quality soles (Vibram is best), quality inner soles and a Gore-Tex inner lining if that is your thing.

Leather Vasque St Elias GTX boots

Remember to give yourself time to break in all new boots. While modern boots take significantly less time to break in than old style all leather ones, you should still dedicate at least three to four days to breaking in your new boots. I wear mine to work for a couple of weeks, this usually does the trick.

My daughter in some Lowa mid weight boots


Good brands include: Salewa/Vasque/Asolo/Lowa/La Sportiva

Heavy Boot

Unless you plan on spending a significant amount of time out in the bush where there are no fixed trails, it is hard to justify a heavy boot. The heavy boot is therefore much favoured by mountaineers, hunters and bush bashers.

If you do fall into the category of hard arsed bush pig, then you know that a heavy boot can be your best friend.

Lowa Tibet GTX


A good heavy boot should feel like a cross between mountaineering boots and a hiking boot. They should provide extra grip with knobby soles and be crampon compatible. The ankle support should not only protect your ankle from twisting but also protect your lower calve area. Expect to see above the ankle lacing and a full rubber rand to protect against rock cuts.

Me wearing some Lowa Tibet boots on the Travers-Sabine Circuit in 2017


Of course, for all of this protection you pay a price. Heavy boots are, well, heavy! In fact they can be god-damn soul destroying heavy if you are walking a long way. They are also expensive, most are European made and you will not see much change from $600-$700 dollars.

Meindal Bhutan MFS boots


 Don’t expect them to be super comfortable either. These kinds of boots are designed for hard work and will be overkill for anything else! Think combat boots: you are the soldier and nature is the enemy...vanquish it with your colossal boots!

My heavy weight Lowa Tibets..note size 14 feet!!!!


Some well known manufacturers include: Haix/Lowa/Meindl/Carrimor/La Sportiva

When do I need hiking boots?

When trails are particularly rocky, covered in roots, or are made uneven by other objects in the trail.
When the trail is wet/very muddy.
When there the possibility of rolling your ankle is high.
When trails are exceptionally steep.
When hiking in the snow.

e.g: walking up the Joe River to the Olivine Wilderness area, crossing Waiau Pass, hunting in Fiordland

Boots are useful in muddy conditions.....
...boots are also suited to those rocky alpine areas like Mt Travers...Waiau Pass etc.

When will hiking shoes be OK?


Well maintained even trails
Day hikes
Trail running
Camp sites

e.g: Most of the Great Walks, The Queen Charlotte Track, most of the Te Araroa Trail, Te Ara Pataka

The Queen Charlotte Track can be walked in trail runners....


When will sandals do the business?

Well maintained trails, in warm weather.
Short beach walks.
River journeys
Camp sites

e.g: The Abel Tasman Coastal Walk, the Wanganui River Journey

The Able Tasman Coastal Walk is sandal friendly....in summer...


What about Jon's footwear? 

What you may ask does Jon wear on his feet: good question!

Jon Tramping: boots and gaiters on the Lewis Pass Tops, these are La Sportiva Valojets


I have used all these types of footwear at one time or another, starting with full leather ex army combat boots and going right down to trail sandals. I seem to be going lighter as I get older, lunking about in those kilo a boot combats just don't appeal like it once did!

Currently I am wearing sandals, trail shoes and mid weight boots.

La Sportiva boots on the QCT in 2016


I use Keen Newport H2's as my hiking sandals, wear Asic Sonoma's for walking and some day walks and have Lowa Ranger III as my leather mid weight boot. I also have a pair of Lowa Tibet calve high boots for serious tramping in alpine and rocky river bashing areas.


Wearing my Lowa Ranger boots on MacKinnon Pass, Fiordland in 2018

My foot in a Lowa Tibet boot up the Waimakiriri River Valley in 2018

Sunday 16 February 2014

My Tramping Gear: Vaude Brenta 50 pack

Brenta 50: my short overnight and day trip pack

 I splashed out just before Christmas and brought myself a new light  pack to wear on day trips or for lightweight overnight jaunts. I had tossed up a variety of various sizes, brands and types and was really undecided about which one to buy. There are a lot of packs available
in the 35-60l range and prices range from less than $100 right up to $500.
Then I saw this pack on an end of line sale at one of the local outdoors stores.


Vaude Brent 50 litre pack 

This is a Vaude Brenta 50 pack. I am a fan of Vaude gear, they are a German outdoor company with a wide range of packs, tents and outdoor clothing. The thing that especially attracted me was the great price of $120 (down from the usual $190).
Vaude Brenta 50l pack


The Brenta inside Lagoon Saddle Shelter, 2014

I would never buy gear solely based on price, but this pack was already in my top 5 list anyway. I call that fate, or a message from the God's if you like.
Harness system on a Vaude Brenta 50l



Using the Brenta on the way to Hope Halfway Hut, 2017


The Brenta's vital statistics...

The pack is a light (1200 gms) double compartment bag made of medium grade rip-stop nylon. It has a volume of 50 litres. It has a removable top lid, hydration port and expandable side pockets. The colour is the light blue above. The waist strap is more light weight than a full on tramping pack, but more than adequate for lighter loads.

Detail of the Brenta's hip belt, on the Harpers Pass Track, 2016


I was surprised by how roomy it is, it almost holds as much as my 75l pack. I would probably keep the load below 6-8kgs so as not to overly strain it.


Jon and the Vaude Brenta 50 up the Otira Valley in 2016



Ive used the pack for both day hikes and overnight tramps and have always found fit for the job, it is still comfortable even with 10 kg's of gear stored in it.


Jon and the Brenta 50 at Rod Donald Hut in 2016
NB: I used the Brenta successfully on a three day trip on the Te Ara Pataka Walkway in 2016. I was using this as my over night pack as it can easily accommodate all the gear I needed to carry for a 1-2 day trip. Another overnight trip was to Nina Hut in April 2017. 

This role has now been taken over by my Osprey Atmos 50.

The Brenta at the Nina River foot bridge, 2017

 I'm hoping to do some tramping with my daughters in the future and in fact Georgia used the Brenta 50 when we spent 5 days working as the Packhorse Hut warden in March 2018. The pack fits her well so she will be using it when we go out on trips from now on.


My daughter Georgia wearing the Brenta en-route to Packhorse Hut, 2018

I was really impressed with how effective my Vaude packs have been so when I was looking for a dedicated day tramp bag I immediately went with Vaude. I have replaced the Brenta 50 as my day pack with its smaller cousin the Vaude Brenta 40. This is a better size for day trips and has saved me another 200 gms on the weight I carry.



My new day pack the Vaude Brenta 40