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I'm about to post some pics up. Would like your help in trying to cut down our gear if it's possible or if this is pretty much what everyone usually takes (we got everything on our gear list).
Also – things like toothbrushes etc have not yet been taken out of their packets, so there is an awful lot of excess packaging at the moment. Clothing already packed in dry sacks. And water is not included as yet. I'm guessing once we're past customs, we can ditch a lot of the medical packaging. But still, any hints, tips etc would be great.
First up, foot care – which is sitting on felt from the orthopedics for sore spots. This will be cut up into strips & put into a zip-loc bag: Blister packs, spray plaster, Vaseline, small tube of intensive care cream (more 1st aid supply than 'foot care'), Tinea powder, anti-fungal cream.
[attachment=8535:Foot_careproducts.jpg]
Next, basic 1st aid stuff (spray plaster as regular bandaids won't stick re;
humidity): Eye drops for dry eye (me), spray plaster, cotton buds, small & medium crepe bandages (for sprains etc), salt (leeches), Medi-pack instant ice pack (like a glow-stick – snap and it works) Just don't know how to keep it from setting off without the packaging. Put in-between clothes maybe?[attachment=8536:Basicfir…hesprayb.jpg]
Basic hydration stuff & medications – Headache tablets (Panadeine), Purification tablets, antihistamines, Voltaren tablets, glucose jelly-beans, Gastrolyte/Hydrolyte, Salt-replacement tablets. We decided to nick off with the Tang as it was extra packaging… How to condense the Staminade (green container to the left) into zip-loc bags? Maybe once we are past customs we can do this?
[attachment=8537:Basictab…ionstuff.jpg]
Foot_careproducts.jpg
Basicfirstaidsupplies_notethesprayb.jpg
Basictabletshydrationstuff.jpgPersonals (excluding toilet wipes): Soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and an i-Poo (small shovel for digging holes for #2's
):[attachment=8538:Personals.jpg]
Unsorted day-pack stuff (excluding water, my asthma puffers & munchies) – Toilet wipes, Bushmans repellant/sunscreen, antibacterial hand wash & hand wipes, pen, journal, sudoku book, deck of playing cards, day medication (including headache tablets), i-Pod (music), sunglasses, camera (which I was using at the time) and headtorch:
[attachment=8539:Unsorted…ackstuff.jpg]
Next: An overview of all our gear (clothes already packed) – do we really need all this?!
[attachment=8540:OMGDower…dallthis.jpg]
Personals.jpg
Unsortedday_packstuff.jpg
OMGDowereallyneedallthis.jpgWhat it all looked like at first:
Where to start?!
[attachment=8541:Wheretos…gearalon.jpg]
Some organisation taking place:
[attachment=8543:Someorga…ingplace.jpg]
Hubby sorting everything into relevant piles:
[attachment=8544:Sortinge…antpiles.jpg]
Sorting packs, sleeping bags, self-inflating mattresses etc:
[attachment=8542:Sortingp…f_inflat.jpg]
Wheretostart_over600worthofgearalon.jpg
Sortingpackssleepingbagsself_inflat.jpg
Someorganisationtakingplace.jpg
Sortingeverythingintorelevantpiles.jpgHubby's pack – almost packed. The tent is in his pack, along with Duct tape, spare boot laces, zip-ties etc:
[attachment=8546:Hubbyspa…utpacked.jpg]
My pack – almost packed. I have the Gastro-kit (Traveldocs) in my pack:
[attachment=8547:Mypack_a…gastro_k.jpg]
So all in all (water was finally added in the end), with what we have packed so far – mostly in dry-sacks and zip-loc bags, we have managed to get everything in. Still, any space is good space, so would like to try to cut it down if we can.
Sorry the posts are so long. If you have any ideas/comments, maybe you could reply after each post that is relevant to what you want to say – so for example, if we can cut some of our foot-care down, maybe replying after that instead of at the end of the whole thread might make it a bit easier.
Maybe I'm just a bit paranoid that we're taking too much stuff.
Here's what I usually take for a 10 day camping trip: 2 pairs shorts. 1 pair jeans. 3 pairs socks. Tent. Sleeping bag. Toiletries. Water. Food & utensils. Sunscreen. 1st aid kit. Camera. That's it. Fits in 4 re-useable (enviro) shopping bags or 3 children's school backpacks!
So in comparison, what we're taking to Kokoda seems like an awful lot!
fluppy
Hubbyspack_justaboutpacked.jpg
Mypack_almostpackedIhavethegastro_k.jpgWe didnt use 1/2 the med gear that we took except for the foot care stuff. But then you never know.
Are you carrying your own gear or using a porter each ?
I wouldnt worry to much about customs in PNG,no trekkers on our flight had their gear searched, and if they were the customs guys know what you need for your trek so there hardly likely to take anything off you. Knowing this we didnt bother with any of the packaging for our med gear eg tablets, lotions and potions. We left it at home in the garbage.Wow
You're at the opposite end of the spectrum to my trekking partner and I – we travel light. Meaning we'll be doing Kokoda with a grand total of around 12kg of gear each including water!
With that said though, there is no 'wrong' way of doing things, we just like to rough it. No sleeping mats or deodorant and very minimal spares of anything. We have mostly pro-gear in order to minimise gear failure so extra bootlaces etc are a waste in our eyes. You guys should have no troubles if anything is sprung on you though, and everything you're packing looks perfectly sensible and practical. I guess you're both taking porters seeing as you have day packs factored in above?
But if it was me, I'd leave the iPod, Sudoko book and playing cards at home (or at the hotel if you want to use them on the plane) as they are 'unnecessary' extra weight and I dare say you won't have time to use them on the track.
Peter – I'm not too worried about PNG customs – it's more getting through Brisbane airport that I'm concerned about…
MTV – Wow! Only 12kg including water What are you guys taking? 2 sets of clothes, anti-malarial tablets and that's it?
Please PM me a list of what you're taking so we can see if we can cut down on stuff.
fluppy
Hi Fluppy
All I can is Wow! are you carrying your own pack?
How heavy are your packs excluding water?
If using a porter are you also carrying daypacks?Do try and keep your Backpack down to minimum 12kgs including tent and daypack down to 7kgs including max 4litres water if less water less weight.
Having a quick look you would have appeared to have over done it a little honestly think you could reduce what you are carrying and feel if you do not you will come home asking yourself why did I carry this or that I really did not need it.
I did not see any sandals/crocks/sneakers/ etc to wear in camp when you take your boots off etc.
It is not advisable to be in bare feet wear something on your feet all the time.Please try and keep your porters pack down near 12kgs and your daypack down to 3-4kgs max plus water.
What ever have a really great trek
BrianBrian – our sandles are clipped onto our the back of our packs. We are hiring porters. One each.
Amazingly when we initially weighed our packs 1st time around with this gear it was about 13kg without water (this included our tent as we got a good one for more hiking – not just a once off). That weighs 2.2kg in total (so obviously we will be taking extra pegs, ropes etc out).
In your opinion, what do you think we could do without (keeping in mind I am autistic and so hence the sudoku book, playing cards).
If it fits in Fluppy, and you've got a porter, who cares if you take more than others? You do need to leave some space for them for their gear though don't forget. If you have too much to fit in – prioritise according to your own needs and cull. If you can't do without the book/cards, do you really need the ipod/ ice-pack/salt. (I didnt encounter any leeches and would have thought a dose of the bushmans would drop them). Do you need a big tin of vaseline and other creams or can you use film cases to take portions? Can you take a smaller tube of toothpaste? It all depends on how desperate you are for space.
Confession time – I snuck in one of those tiny 3 leg stools strapped to the outside of my pack as an indulgence and didn't regret that!!!
Fluppy
Looks pretty good so far. I freaked out when I saw how much gear I had as well. I always err on the side of caution and pack too much – so packing for the trek for me was extremely difficult. I always add in "just in case" items when packing for normal holidays. Unfortunately you do not have this luxury for kokoda.
Remember that you need some room in your pack for your porters gear. I carried my own pack so every gram counted and was felt twice as heavy on the track. You will be carrying your day pack with your water and snacks and some 1st aid stuff so that will take some gear out of your main pack. I noticed several things that I will add my suggestions.
Gaiters – I saw no mention of them or pics – you will need them even if you only get small ones. A guy on our trek did not wear them and got mud in his boots going through the swamp. He ended up getting trench foot (like the diggers got) and has red pussy feet by the end of the trek – he was lucky to finish.
I-poo – shovel not needed – plenty of drop toilets along the way.
Bandaid spray – I took exactly the same spray – used it when I scrapped my knee – very useful.
Salt – for leeches – not needed didn't see any.
Icepack – probably not needed
Wouldn't bother with the previous mentioned 3-legged stool – impractical and not needed.
As for your soduku/ipod and cards – whatever helps you relax at the end of the day and doesn't weigh too much – take it.
FTR I won't argue at all that the stool was 'needed', but I was told about it by a previous trekker as a tip and feel somewhat compelled to defend the stool's honour as 'practical'.
Personally – I hate sitting on the ground and find it very uncomfortable, maybe I'm not flexible enough, (not to mention the wet, mud, etc). On a couple of nights where we didn't have a hut, or the hut was just a flat floor, I was happy as larry perched on my little stool having a coffee where I could keep my dry clothes dry when there was no dry log/rock available. Also much preferred my dinner/brekkie on my knee to eating on the ground. The boys had a bit of a chuckle at me early on but did I detect a glint of the green eyed monster by the end?!!
But it pains me to say it … if you are struggling for space it probably should be one of the first sacrifices….
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