Hello,
Anyone interested in discussing or asking for advice for trekking camping even mountaineering and expedition gears . Will be happy to share best of my knowledge here to help you buy a good stuffs.
I have used cheap ones, mediocre ones and Kidney bech ones ( expensive) too in all categories from Clothes, Jackets, Tents, Trekking poles , Shoes etc.
got a message from fellow member for advice so thought why not discuss with all interested people.
Happy Adventure!
Great thought and good initiative!
I am planning the easiest one in next summers!
Will be watching this thread closely.
But in the meantime, where I struggle is even the basic trekking shoes are heavy and my foot pains like anything!
Any suggestion for this?
Start with Khanpari Tibba Trek ( Manali Wildlife Sanctuary) or Bhirgu Lake Trek.
They are not so tough at same time very beautiful views.
We Conduct them often So feel free to ask or if need a guide too.
Anyways coming to the shoes.
Trekking shoes needs to be worn for atleast 50-70 km before your trek starts to break in and get use to them. so maybe before going for trek…train on them do some stairs if one does not have elevated grounds near their home or just plain walks around parks can also help.
Always buy one size larger or half size ( depending on brands) to be able to wear a thick socks also incase it gets cold.
Next a good trekking shoes should also have ankle support so that makes them bit heavy . However, one can start with something like Salomon XA Pro 3d V8
they are light and I have used them even upto 15000 ft/4500mt. approx.
absolutely amazing pair of trekking shoes.
But to be honest those shoes should be used only when weather is favourable and terrains are not too difficult .
for good ankle support boots.
I’d go for La Sportiva Trango GTX. been using them for years when I feel there will be bit of snow patches also needed to cross. They are also pretty light in comparison to other similar ankle support boots.
These have been my companion for 5 treks so far in the past 3 years. They are out of stock everywhere now.
I have different pairs for different seasons and climbs.
I use mostly
Salomon XA 3D V8 for hikes/treks multi day treks in favourable conditions.
For little tough conditions ( snow and bit steeper.
I go for my La Sportiva Trango GTX.( Which had to be glued heavily after many years but still strong)
For more tougher condition and when Crampons are also needed badly..
Scarpa Mountaineering Zodiac GtX.
And then from there is 6000m/7000m boots from La Sportiva.
And 8000m boots from Lowa( which is a dream in waiting )
I also modify my inner soles with extra layers and heat reflecting inner soles
Excellent thought of starting this thread. I wanted to start it before I asked you but had no experience in treking so I didn’t.
49th Anniversary Sale going on Decathlon.
I like Decathlon stuff…they are okay for the price .
About a week ago.
I was having a discussion with a member on Private message about sleeping bag .
So I thought I should try to explain why people should not trust ratings completely for Sleeping Bag ratings.
First thing to understand is the ratings.
Sleeping Bags have 3 temperature ratings usually.
Comfort - Comfort temperature ratings are usually should be most important. As this is the rating that most cold sleeper( people who feel more colder like woman) should be comfortable for usually 6-8 hours of sleep.
Limit - It is a temparture rating that most men( who are usually warmer) should be comfortable in. This is mostly few degrees lower than comfort level but it can still be considered.
Extreme- Now this temperature is where you need to take in lot of factors and most dangerously misunderstood. It can cause freezing and hypothermia.
Most people see -30C extreme level rating and buy it… firstly this will only give you few hours of survival in such low temperature with many factors accounted for like your body heat producing and if you well eaten to produce that heat plus how well you are covered.
and on cheap sleeping bags this ratings should never be even considered.
A high and expensive sleeping bags like PHD, Mountain Hardwear,The North Face, Western mountaineering etc…these companies have very high reputation and that is why you can still consider their ratings as still very close to real feeling.
and Even then they mention some of the factors I mentioned. They sell their sleeping bags for $800-$1400 …so you can imagine how stritcly they follow testing and rating rules.
Rest most companies follow such basic guidelines to rate their sleeping bag.
so Please dont just see a Rs 2000 , -10C sleeping bag and this you will be fine at -10C with it.. You are only risking your life just to save some money.
weather in mountains are usually very unpredictable specially due to high winds and ground tempature .
So be safe on all your adventures and buy a good rating gear from good brand if doing some serious trekking.
Beside all above things…there is lot more like Humidity , wind , goose down or duck down, synthetic insulation …so do your research well .
