Gear Guide

This page gives you a brief overview what gear is really necessary to take along. More details will appear later on our blog.

Please note, that there is no “best” gear, usually there is more than one way to achieve desired comfort – that is why we sometimes offer several points of view (while we try to do our best to avoid confusion :)

This text is split into sections as following:

Footwear

Boots

If we had to name three crucial pieces of gear, it would be a) boots, b)boots, c)boots. Two weeks in snow is a hard duty for any boots so do not rely on space technologies like Goretex (or any other -tex) and start to prepare your shoes today.

For entire course, two pairs of boots are strongly recommended – one pair for expedition (e.g. trekking boots) and second pair for camping (e.g. work shoes). Use only the boots you are used to and you feel comfortable with – it is a big risk to use boots you purchased a day before departure. The boots should be large enough to fit on your feet with several pairs of socks. Between your thumb and your boot should be two centimetres space, the boots must be larger than your normal shoes. It is necessary to have boots well treated and prepared, especially against moisture and water.

As for trekking, all-leather trekking boots with thick sole which don't get easily wet are optimal – thin sole may not isolate enough from cold snow and ground. Types of boots like Climbers' “skelets” are also useful, but tend to be heavy and a bit uncomfortable.

As the workboots, you can have anything suitable for standing in snow, working in snow, woodcutting in snow, carrying wood/water/anything_heavy_maybe_a_snow in snow etc.

Example of trekking boots and of comfortable camp boots with removable lining.

Gaiters have to be made of strong and waterproof cloth with opening zipper in front, steel string underfoot straps and little hook. They prevent the snow to get into boots from the top – an abolute necessity in deep snow. The straps and the hooks keep the gaiters stable. Their lack causes the gaiters to slide from the boots. Front zipper is a little better than rear one. Conditions meets for example this gaiter.

You'll probably find yourself to have more socks on than you ever had – there are moments when it’s suitable to wear three or four pairs. It is important to have them dry rather then clean. The isolation of well waxed boots and gaiters will probably cause them to get wet, but there are several ways to get slightly wet socks dry overnight.

We will use snowshoes as a basic type of transport. We will provide them (very similar to TSL Rando 225, you won't need any special boots), but if you have your own and well proven ones, feel free to take them along.

Last item in this group are trekking poles. They significantly help to improve the stability while walking with snowshoes and heavy backpack. Both ski poles and telescopic trekking poles are usable, but the latter are usable a bit more – better transportability, possibility of lenght adjustment for uphill/downhill walking etc. If applicable, larger disc (basket) is preferred.

Coming soon (watch our blog):

Cookware

Stove (Cooker) You will share one cooker with other person (we will send you the contact later). We will try to provide the cookers for you, so if you fly, you won’t have problems with transporting them. But if you have your well-working proven cooker, take it with you.

Spoon: You'll definitely need one, a spare never hurts.

Vacuum Flask: A vacuum isolated bottle that keeps hot tea hot is a crucial piece of equipment necessary to preserve sustainable amount of water intake; volume of 1-1,5 l is optimal.

Pots - You will need one metal pot with cover with volume of cca 1 – 1 1/2 litre. During expedition you will need just one per pair.

Cup - A plastic or metal cup will be handy, mainly for the camping part of the course.

Coming soon:

Sleepware

The best sleeping bag is the one where you don’t feel cold inside.

The suitable sleeping bag for our expedition should have

Mattresses: It is not about the temperature around – what you are sleeping on matters. Two foam mats thick together at least 1,5 or 2 centimetres are recommended rather than self-inflating mat only.

Tent:

Shovel:

Coming soon:

Backpack

Outfit

Examples of layers:

Coming soon:

Others

Other usefull thinks:

You won't need

Equipment you don't need in czech mountains or during Wintertouch: