Equipment List

Steve Jones

In order to decide what equipment you are going to take on your expedition, you have to delicately balance what you need, with what you can transport and carry. Both weight and volume are important.

Consider carefully transport to the country your travelling to, as well as travel within the country. Are porters available? Are there going to be river crossings? Do you have to carry your own gear? Can you do multiple carries?

Choose an equipment officer. Make a list of gear. Spread out group expedition stuff between the team. Practise packing it. Weigh it. Don't duplicate things unnecessarily. Don't wait until a week before to pack or buy essential items.

For further equipment lists, check out the detailed pages in the Caves of Thunder report and an excellent list in Dave Gill’s Untamed River Expedition Report.

The equipment you will require for team, will be unique. Don't rely on this or any other equipment list to give you the whole story, they are meant as a guide, or memory jogger only.

Don't take too much, but don't be left short. Be prepared to lose a bag or two in transit or even the whole lot in customs! Think now about how that would effect you being able to meet your objectives. Have a plan to cope with such a crisis.

Good luck and have fun.

Steve Jones

General Equipment List

  • Camping Gear
  • Base Camp Tent
  • Table (For Eating And Drawing Up Surveys)
  • Chairs, Stools?
  • Personal Tents
  • Cooking Stoves
  • Fuel Bottles, Sigg Bottles, Gas Cylinders
  • Pots / Pans Etc. - buy in the field
  • Cooking Utensils - buy in the field
  • Dish, Plate, Mug - Possibly buy in the field
  • Knife, Fork, Spoon - Possibly buy in the field
  • Camp Sheets - 4m X 3m
  • Lighters (Bic)
  • Clothes Line
  • Washing Up Bowls - buy in the field
  • Brushes, Brillo Pads Etc. - buy in the field
  • Buckets - Buy In The Feld
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Lanterns (Gaz). Tilley Lamps
  • Batteries
  • Battery Chargers
  • Water Carrers - Plastic - buy in the field
  • Ortleib Water Carriers
  • Candles
  • Water Purifiers, Puri Tabs.
  • Polythene Bags
  • Silica Gel
  • Toilet Rolls, Toilet Seat
  • Tools: Axe, Machetes, Shovel, Saw, Etc.
  • Repair Kits (Neoprene, Fibreglass, Material)
  • GPS System

    • Caving Gear - Group

  • Caving Rope : 9mm, 10mm, 10.5mm, 11mm
  • Climbing Rope
  • Belay Devices
  • Rope Protectors
  • Rope Washers
  • Tackle Bags
  • Hauling Bags
  • Rocket Tubes
  • BDH Containers
  • Scaling Poles
  • Ladders
  • Bolts, Wedges, Driver Hammer, Blow Tube
  • Hangers, Ring Hangers Maillon Rapides
  • Karabiners
  • Drill, Batteries, Charger, Drill Bits
  • Rigging Gear: Tapes, Slings, Pegs, Nuts, Chocks, Friends, Wire Belays
  • Aid Climbing: Bolting Platform, Grapnel Iron, Etreirs, Adjustable Cows Tails
  • Spotting Torches
  • Boats
  • Buoyancy Aids, Floats
  • Floating Rope
  • Ear Protectors
  • Exposure Bags
  • Flourescein, Dye Tracers, Scientific Gear
  • Pulleys
  • Survey Sets: Compass, Clino, Water Proof Paper, Pencils, Tapes (30m and 50m), Graph Paper, Drawing Boards, Rulers, Calculators, Computers, Protractors
  • Radios, Spare Batteries
  • Porters Clothing
  • Lighting Spares - Petzl Stretcher Carbide, Containers, Pigs, Hammers

    • Underground Camps

    In addition to standard camping gear:
  • Hammocks
  • Carry Mats
  • Gortex Tents
  • Ground Sheets
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Cortex Bivi Bags
  • Underground Camp Clothing
  • Waterproof Bags
  • 'crap' Bags

    • Personal Gear

  • Waterproof Jacket
  • Waterproof Trousers
  • Gaiters
  • Boots
  • Training Shoes
  • Thermal Underwear
  • Socks
  • Underclothes
  • Shirts
  • Fleece Jumpers
  • Trousers
  • T. Shirts
  • Shorts
  • Hat, Gloves, Balaclava
  • Sleeping Bag, Bag Linner
  • Gortex Bivi Bag
  • Carry Mat, Thermarest
  • Sun Cream, Sun Glasses
  • Insect Repellent
  • Washing Kit
  • Mosquito Net
  • Large Ruck Sack
  • Day Sack
  • Water Bottle, Ortleib Bottle, 1 or 2 Lt.
  • Waterproof Storage Bags
  • Compass, Whistle, Lighter, Knife
  • Spare Passport Photos.
  • Passport, Copes Of Passport.
  • Driving Licence
  • E111 Form
  • Insurance Certificate
  • Note Book, Pencils, Pens
  • Personal medical kit
  • Camera, Film, Tripod
  • Altimeter
  • Thick novel
  • Presents For local kids
  • Postcards
  • Insect repellent
  • Vitamins

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