Rucksacks. This is a minefield and you will have to consider carefully what you want the rucksack for.

 

For day use about 25 or perhaps 35 litre capacity should be more than sufficient whereas if you are thinking about a weeks trek across the Andes then you will want something much larger (not covered here).

 

Try lots on and think about the fit together with the width and comfort of the shoulder straps. Does the bottom of the rucksack sit well into the small of your back? On most good quality rucksacks you can adjust the straps’ support at the rear of the rucksack so that the whole thing sits comfortably. Is there a chest strap to prevent the shoulder straps sliding off your shoulders. Are all the straps easy to adjust and to get at?

 

Some have a mesh support to hold the rucksack off the body thereby reducing sweat build-up and others have a pad built in to prevent items sticking into your back.

 

Does the waist belt have pockets for a compass, your camera or keys? Does the top have a cord closure and a well fitting “lid” with pockets?

 

Is there a hydration system built in to allow you to drink water on the move or alternatively are there facilities for installing a drink bladder and a drinking hose.

 

Does the rucksack have a waterproof cover and places to carry a couple of trekking poles or an ice axe?

 

Wearing a rucksack. I have found that there are two ways to wear a rucksack and, again, it is down to personal preference. Both are comfortable and both can be used to vary the load throughout the day.

 

The first method is to adjust the shoulder straps initially by “shrugging” the rucksack up and tightening the straps at the same time. Aim for a comfortable fit with the base of the rucksack in the small of your back. Not too high nor too low.

 

Then fasten the waist belt comfortably but fairly slackly so that it stops the rucksack from moving about especially when you bend or climb stiles. I like to wrap the loose ends of the belt around itself so that they don’t flap about.

 

The second method is to support the rucksack on your hips.

 

Adjust the shoulder straps as in the first example and then tighten up the waist belt so that it sits firmly on the top of the pelvis at the hips but without being too tight or preventing you breathing!

 

Then slacken off the shoulder straps slightly so that the weight is on the hips and the shoulder straps are stopping the rucksack moving around.

 

 

Loading the rucksack. This needs a bit of thought and practice!

 

Make sure that anything heavy is carried close to your body and that anything that you might need quickly, such as waterproofs, gloves and hats, or a drink, are close to the top.

 

Have a plastic bag inside the rucksack and keep anything that might get wet in it. A builders rubble sac is ideal, they can be bought cheaply at £1 shops. Just roll the top over whilst you are walking.

 

Try not to carry a coat or other clothing just folded up and put under the top flap of the rucksack, many people have lost them when they have slid out unnoticed or got caught on a fence or gate.

 

Rucksacks get heavy! Don’t carry anything that you don’t want. Remove those winter warmers in the spring once they become redundant.

 

Wrap your camera or phone in a plastic bag to prevent them getting wet.

 

 

Food & drink. This is also up to you. Just take whatever you fancy. Accidents can happen whilst we are rambling but we are unlikely to find ourselves in a survival situation.

 

A hot drink is great in the winter but most people also like them in the summer. Tea or coffee, whatever you like. I find a 1 litre flask is ideal and I will have some left over at the end of a walk.

 

Water is essential and I usually carry 2 – 2½  litres in hot weather and about 1 litre in the winter. Some say that we should drink as much in the winter as in the summer but I find this not to be so. Drink small amounts regularly; too much at once will make you feel bloated and if you then have a steep climb you will find it all the harder.

 

Carry more drinks than you think you will need especially, in hot weather, and top up water containers whenever you have the opportunity.

 

Some like fruit drinks too but alcohol should be resisted.

 

Be wary though, 1 litre of water weighs 1 kilogram or 2 lb. 3 oz. It soon adds up.

 

Food, again what you fancy, but make sure that your sandwiches don’t fall apart, it’s very disappointing when you are hungry and wet, and your hands are freezing, and you are trying to reassemble this “kit” called food! Put everything in plastic boxes and pack them with chocolate bars and kitchen tissues so they don’t move about.

 

Nuts, chocolate and raisins are good for energy as are bananas.

 

 

Compass. Buy yourself a good compass and get to know how to use it.

 

A decent compass will have -

 

 A compass (obviously) with a rotating ring showing the points of the compass, this is used to set your heading.

 Various scales around the four sides that coincide with the different scale maps so that you can measure distance.

 A magnifying glass built in.

 An indication of your direction of travel.

 A cord for hanging the compass around your neck.

 

 

Get to know how to use it. On our walks others will be very pleased to explain the methods of navigation using a compass. Otherwise enrol on a navigation course or have a look at the internet.

 

 

Maps. Ordinance Survey maps are the “norm” in the UK although others are available.

 

A map is simply a two dimensional representation of the three dimensional ground that we travel around on. By using the various pieces of information on a map we can plot a route or find out what is around us. As you get used to looking at maps then all the information becomes much more simple to understand and understanding the topography becomes second nature.

 

When you buy maps for walking then aim for the 1:25000 scale Explorer maps, they show sufficient detail mostly down to field boundary level and the various rights of way are also generally clear. 1:50000 are too small in detail.

 

New maps now have all the CROW Act (right to roam) land marked

 

Look after your maps, damp is their enemy. Wrap them in a plastic bag on the hill and open them up to dry when you get home.

 

If you need to use your map to navigate then buy a waterproof map holder (see next).

 

Map holder. Waterproof map holders are essential in poor weather.

 

They should allow you to read your map through the transparent front and should be large enough so that the map has as few folds as possible.

 

They are usually sealed by folding over the top which is then held closed with Velcro.

 

A cord allows you to hang the holder around your neck and it is then either tucked beneath your rucksack belt to stop it flapping about or it will have some sort of waist strap.

 

Some holders incorporate pockets for a compass, paper and pencils but bear in mind that these may allow water to collect.