I'm the new bloke in here

Hello, to all you people in here

May as well get straight down to the nitty gritty

I am going on a trek at the end iof this month to Kenya, then next year, I'm doing a trek to Oz, overland

So, I need a bit of advice, okay, I used to be a soldier, that dont meean I know it all

Anyone done anything like this before ?

I'll be carrying a 120 liter military Bergen, containing.....

Sleeping bag, self inflating mattress, hexi burner, knife, fire starter, KFS, plate, mug, washing/shaving kit, swiss army knife, compass, rain coat, sandles, crocks, 2 bottles of DEET, paracord, water bottle, small medical kit, 4 prs shorts, 6 tee shirts, 2 prs long trousers, underwear, a couple of rat packs, ipod, charger, cameras, memory cards, a couple of books, I'll be wearing my boots and a fleece, I dont think its worth taking a phone or laptop

This weighs in about 45-50 pounds (the bulk of it is the sleeping bag)

I dont have a tent, though, so anyone got a recommendation ?

I need something that is light, not a pop up, that will stand up to the rigours of the trip and cheapish (the above is pretty much what I will be taking on both trips)

Any advice on what I need in the way of a medical kit ? (mine is really basic) 

I know the only training is to actually get out there and clock up the K's, but anyone got any other advice ? I have been walking on the flat, not many hills in London

Okay, both trips arent just be putting one foot in front of the other, a lot of the travelling will be done in a truck, the Kenya trip is for a month, the UK to Oz is going to be for about 28 weeks

I'm using the Kenya trip to see how my fitness holds up and find out what I need, what I can leave behind, what I should have taken, had shed loads of injections so far (yellow fever, tetanus, diptheria, meningitus, small pox,  and a few I cant remember)

I'd welcome any tips, advice, and recommendations from anyone here

Boots ? Tents ? Clothing ? WW gear ? Training ? Anything I should take, leave behind, must have's

I can give a breakdown of the places I'll be doing/visiting on the Oz trip if anyone is interested

Thanks in advance

All I can say is you are a braver man than me carrying 40-50 pounds !

With the 'right' gear you should be able to get this down to a more realistc 18-22 pounds.

For a tent, I'd recommend a Hilleberg Akto - look around here, ebay, etc for a 2nd hand bargain. 

 its a lot lighter than what I used to carry as a soldier (and I aint lugging a weapon either, and no body armour or bash hat )

Any idea how much I should be looking at ? 

Womble, you needn't aim for a specific weight.

Take and use what what works for you. Yes, you could drastically lighten your pack but you'd lighten your wallet at the same time.

When you've spent a little time amongst non military hikers/campers you'll notice things that look good to you, ask to borrow them/look at them and see if it is something that might work for you.

Little by little you'll get sucked into the gear junkie void - it's a bit like shiny kit syndrome except you have to pay for the stuff now!

There's loads of views on here.

What sort of money are you thinking of spending on a tent? What use will you put it to? All year round?

No hills nearby, any stairs you can go up and down?

First Aid Kit, I carry compeed blister plasters, a few inches of conventional plaster that can be cut to size or used whole, a small tube of savlon and some paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Why 4 pairs of shorts and 6 Ts? Take some washing powder instead, lighter and less bulky.

You appear to have 2 knives in your list, take one.

Hi Nick

    I dont want to get into the 'it's shiney and new' thing, dunno what it is or does, but I want one (I had all that in the Army)

2 knives, yep, one is a buck belt knife, the other a swiss army tool kit (pliers, scissors, saw blade and such)

Hills  I been using the block of flats, 16 floors

Shorts and Tees, didnt know when I would get a chance to do a bit of washing

Not really sure about the tent, but something that would take abuse, and last the trip and be light enough not to increase the weight too much

The medical kit just consists of imodium, plasters, hydrator drinks, pins, plaster, ibuprofen, just a shade bigger than an ipod touch/phone

Hi  Bedouin

Interesting ? why not ? 

You never wondered whats over the next hill ?

2 bottles of DEET

 They are 100 ml bottles, going through Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, malaria is a big problem, so if the buggers dont get near me, I dont have to find out if the anti malarial tables are any good

I'll be taking them on the Oz trip as well (I dont know if I will be able to buy them on the way)

Wotcher, Womble.

Bedderz is probably just wondering if you've never heard of Business Class

Womble

are these treks organised (with a company) or are you doing all yourself?

Bedouin

         I been to Oman, Belize, NI, Sierrra Leone, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, but never had the time to look at the sights

Did a lot of my training in Wales (Brecon), Devon, (Dartmoor)

Jumped from perfectly good aeroplanes

I spent 8 weeks wandering around there (Egypt) this year

I spent a fair bit of time in the US, but that was training

What is a 'space cowboy ?

Mrs Nesbit, Never had business class on a C130  or DC 3

Bedouin 

Mick, don't get me started on those sort of companies!

 Anything wrong with these companies ?

You ever used them ?

Bedouin wrote (see)

.... I've stood on Volcano's in Guatemala, wandered on the great Steppes of Outer Mongolia, Climbed in the Himalayas, walked on the Great Wall of China, trekked in the Darien Gap

Sorry, totally OT, but Bedouin's quote reminded me of Roy Batty in Bladerunner

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die. "

Btw, I agree with the suggestion to take fewer clothes and wash them when you can. I recently did two weeks in Nepal, including time both in and out of civilisation, and got by easily with 2 pairs of trousers (one convertible), two shirts and a t-shirt. I wouldn't have taken any more even if the trip were several times longer. If you're in civilisation then there's scope to wash stuff. If you're not then you just keep on wearing the dirty stuff because anything clean you put on will be dirty in a couple of hours anyway...

Bedouin 

I would have thought explaining why you wouldnt use them would be good

Try me, I'll try and understand the answer (I wont know until you post it, just use small words and I'll try really hard  )

My trip seemed a good way of seeing places I havent seen before, unless of course you know a better way ?

I havent had the time to do anything like this, before, now I have all the time in the world, seemed a good time to do it

(things like work, bringing up a family, earning a living, paying off a mortagage just got in the way of things, as they do)