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TOTAL LOAD OUT 2024 - (DAY HIKING GEAR LIST)


I’m not really known for my posts featuring pictures of ME hiking up mountains, jumping rivers with huge rucksacks on my back or sitting by camp fires making tasty breakfasts, that’s not what YOMP NOTES is about, Nop! YOMP NOTES is about prepping for your adventures rather than banging on about mine.

OK, HIKING DOWN A MOUNTAIN.

But that does lead to haters tossing the “All the gear now idea” accusation grenade! But luckily plenty of you wonderful people do get it and I think being inspired by a gear load-out pic recently posted, have asked for details about my hiking gear list.

What, Why and When I use it.

So girding my loins and takin a deep breath, your wish is my command, here goes.

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STARTING WITH A DISCLAIMER.
I don’t use all this gear all of the time. Some gear is for spring/summer, other gear is for autumn/winter, some gear over laps all seasons.but one thing you can be sure of… it’ll all get used sooner or later and you can bet your bottom dollar if you don’t bring it, that’ll be sooner : )

RUCKS, BAGS & ORGANISATION.

VANQUEST MARKHOR-45 USNAF CHIC (sheek)

Currently I use 3 different rucksacks depending on what I want to get out of the hike. Most of the time I like long days hikes 20ish miles, during late autum and winter.
For this I use the VANQUEST MARKOR-45L it has plenty of room for the required gear, food and water but also jackets and layers if the day warms up and layers come off.

GORUCK GR1 26L inc HIP-BELT MOD

Next option is the GORUCK GR1 26L This is only 26 litres in comparison to the MARKHOR-45 so that means I have to be more disciplined with the gear I carry and wear but I find it works really well for winter hikes where I’m not over heating and swapping out layers all the time but it’s still has the litres to carry everything I need for a 20 plus mile winter day hike.

GORUCK BULLET 10L SOLID HOT WEATHER OPTION.

My summer option is the GORUCK Bullet 10L For me a summer hike is all about the water and this rucksack works great for that, I’ll carry a 3 litre reservoir inside the rucksack with some room left over for food and auxiliary layers. Other gear I’ll carry in a VANQUEST FTIM 6x9 admin pouch, (or similar) MOLLEd to the exterior.

GEAR ORGANISATION.
This takes the shape of individual pouch, bags and organisers separated into different types.

BREW KIT.

So I use a VANQUEST EDCM-HUGE for my brew kit and cook wear.

POWER 'N' CABLES.

I use this small neat little organiser for power, charging and my cable Kit.

IFAK OPTIONS

I have two of these excellent pouches. One in black which does match my other pouches and I use with a Red Cross identifier. And another in red, more obviously an IFAK kit. These pouches are tough enough to MOLLE to the out of a rucksack or wear on a belt, with that excellent tear to open feature.

ADMIN POUCH.

Last-but-by-no-means-least I use a VANQUEST FTIM 6x9 pouch as an admin pouch that can be MOLLE’d to the exterior of the rucksack.

KEEP IT DRY, KEEP IT ORGANISED.

I use 5Ldry bags to organise wet weather gear and layers. They’re just the right size for a jacket, pants or a mid layer fleece, roiled up tightly. Bags have I.Ds so I know which is jacket, which is pants for instance.

CRUSH AND WATERPROOF PROTECTION.

For water proof and impact protection for delicate technology such as cameras, lenses and electronics I use a PELICAN MICRO CASE 1040.

GREYMAN TACTICAL (RMP) "On grid good".


GREYMAN TACTICAL (RMP) LOADED UP.

These pouch’s, bags and boxes are then usually attached to the rucksacks internal MOLLE field or to a GREYMAN TACTICAL MOLLE Panel to stop everything falling to the bottom of my rucksack.
The last is a good option as it can be lifted out of the rucksack making gear easier to find. I quite often use even if the rucksack has its own MOLLE field.

OK LETS GET INTO THE GEAR.

LOCK IT UP AND LEAVE IT.

BURTON Ruck Lock -
Not a ruck lock really, this is a repurposed Burton Snowboard Lock but it works great for locking up gear when I’ve got to leave unattended.


GARMIN Fenix Smart Watch -
I use this as hands free access to my iPhone which I can then keep safe in my rucksack. I get email and app alerts, I use as a navigation assist and also for the usual GARMIN hike, pace, steps and distance stats.

BLADE OPTIONS.

LEATHERMAN Wingman Multitool -
I carry the Wingman less than I used to, preferring to keep for my EDC. I don’t find screw drivers and files super useful out on the trial but those pliers are very handy for fixing rucksack straps and buckles especially if I’ve got cold or wet hands.

VICTORINOX TrailMaster Knife -
This is an alternative to the GERBER LST, and the LEATHERMAN Wingman I don’t ushally carry both but this knife is more robust the LST but has less tools than the Wingman but does cover most of the obvious bases out on the trail.

It’s a great knife and was a gift from a client : )

GERBER Ultralight LST Knife -
This is a small and very light weight back-up to my main blade. It has a lock blade and although quite small works well as a back-up.

BIG HEAVY CHOPPER.

MORAKNIV GARBERG w Multi-Mount -
The Garberg is a simple and beautiful blade. Being thick and chunky it can handle any heavy work I can throw at it. From digging fire pits and latrines to chopping, splitting, shaving kindling and making camp gadgets. I always carry this most excellent knife all-year-round. I use mine with Morakniv Multi Mount so I can pretty much strap it where ever I need it.

LIGHT 'N' LIGHT.

LIGHT HEADED.

PETZL Actik Core Head Torch -
Especially during the winter months my hikes can start and end in darkness so most times the Actik Core Head Tourch comes into its own during those early starts and late stops unloading and stowing gear to drive home. It’s also helped a couple of times in the past where a hike had taken much longer than I thought and I had to navigate quite difficult terrain in woodland in near total darkness, Actik Core Head Torch to the rescue.


FENIX RC05 Flash Lite -
The Fenix RC05 is a back up to the head torch but I predominantly use for my EDC these days. But be for the age of Actik this was my primary and would clip it to a cap or shoulder strap for hands free illumination. It’s getting quite old now but I haven’t had to change out the battery yet, it still holds a good charge. It’s not on the list for an upgrade any time soon.


RAVPOWER Xtreme Series Power Pack -
Part of my hike ritual is to put all electronics on charge the day before but sometimes this gets forgotten so for me a back-up power charge is important and with consideration to mishaps and emergencies where day hike might turn into an over nighter at the twist of an ankle. If this has never happens to you, you might think this stupid, until it happens to you.

FIRE / BREW KIT.

BREW KIT CONTENT.

MSR Pocket Rocket Stove -
For me a favourite reason for hiking is sitting down somewhere with a great view and having a brew. This takes about 20 minutes so it’s a good imposed rest time. Lunch tim is for something a bit more solid. At the moment beans and sausages are a favourite and while I’m eating that I’ll make another brew : )

MSR Fuel Canister -
Can’t have a brew if you ain’t got no gas. I ushall take 2 small canisters, when one runs out I replace it, alway think of that unplanned overnight stay.

MSR Canister Stand -
Boiling water in a pan, on top of a stove, screwed into a gas canister on an uneven surface, recipe for disaster, you got’a take a stand!

EXOTAC Fire Sleeve -
Disposable gas lighters are readily available and have been a goto for me for years but if you drop one in water it won’t work so using it with the Exotic Fire Sleeve keeps it dry. A nice little back-up. On a personal note, I’m not happy with this lighter being a use it, throw it item, I’m currently looking into a more sustainable upgrade.

LIGHT MY FIRE FireSteel 2.0 -
This is my primary way of lighting the stove. A little awkward at first but when you get the hang of it, it’s OK. This is a really nice unit, it’s a good size for big hands in gloves. I’ve been using one for years but it would be nice if the flint was replaceable once it wears out.

KEITH Spork -
As tough as I am, I draw the line at eating with hands and stirring a brew with my fingers. Half spoon, half fork the spork covers all these bases out on the trail and it’s titanium so what’s not to like.

HYDRASION.

CAMELBAK ANTIDOTE 3L HYDRASION.

CAMELBAK Antidote 3L Reservoir -
At any time of year personal hydration is very important so keeping this operation as simple as sipping regularly from a tube conveniently mounting on a shoulder strap is the way to go. I like the Camlebak Antidote because it has an interior baffle to stop it bulging and has a short, wider profile, which for me works well in the GORUCK GR1.


NALGENE 32oz Water Bottle (plastic) -
For short hikes I may just carry the Nalgene water bottle. For longer hikes I’ll carry this as well as the Reservoir. Using it as extra water capacity, also for refilling the Reservoir. I’ve also used the Nalgene for water proof and impact resistant storage before, it good to options.

TATONKA Steel Mug - 
This is stainless steel, as tough as a old boot and fits on the bottom of a Nalgene bottle perfectly, I love it when brands play nice together so these two usually come together and the mug is alway included in my gear list especially if I want to be make hot food and drinks.


NALGENE 32oz Water Bottle (stainless steel) -
I included the Nalgene Stainless Steel variant in my gear list so I could boil and purify water. Being stainless steel I can use it on the stove or an open fire. In reality this was more trouble than it was worth on anything other than a longer, multi day hike, that and the extra weight means it usually gets left at home.


SOURCE ConverTube -
In the early days, I punctured or split more CambleBaks than I’d like so I thought this was a really good idea in that it meant I could use a Nalgene bottle instead of a bladder. The befits being much tougher to break, easier to clean and maintain. Hydration reservoirs are much tougher these days but I still like to use this system if I think the trail requires it.

OPTICS.


VORTEX Solo 10x25 Monocular -
Am I a keen naturalist? I don’t think I can say that but I do have a passing interest in the world around me especially if it looks rare or interesting. When on my coastal hikes, I’m always on the lookout for Dolphins, to this day I’ve never seen one. The Vortex Solo gives me more mags than my own eyes and it’s a small, pretty light unit that’s no trouble bring with me. And you never know, this hike could be Dolphin lucky.

CAMERA OPTICS.

HITCASE Pro iPhone Case -
The HITCASE Pro is an aluminium, crash proof, water proof iPhone case that can fit TrueLUX camera lenses. This rough and ready case also has a really nice locking slide mount for tripods and sticks and when I say waterproof I mean it, I’d be able to take super dynamic, wide angle, under water pics and video of those dang illusive Dolphins.

HITCASE Pro TrueLUX Lens kit -
To be honest I don’t use very often but the kit’s small and lightweight so what the hell. Lenses included are Wide, Super Wide and Macro types.

HITCASE Pro Monopod ShootR -
Unlike other selfie sticks this one’s well designed tough and is waterproof. It’s length adjustment is easy and when out I quite often fit it to my iPhone and leave it, using as a steadying handle. Again once compresses its small and light weight.

FOUL / WET WEATHER GEAR.

At the moment I’m based in the U.K. and as such the weather can be awful at any time of year. Wet stormy and cold even in the summer so foul weather gear is always included.
Waterproof and windproof, apart from the obvious, I often use the Odin9 Worlds as an extra warm layer first thing in the morning and later in the afternoons, especially in winter months.

MARMOT Gore-Tex Rainpaints -
These are teamed up with the Oden 9 worlds jacket when it’s really wet and windy but I usually wear them unless I really have too. They are lose and baggy and fit over my usual hike gear well, however they would be easier to get-on-and-off if they had full length zippers, unpgrade for the future perhaps.

BECAUSE I CAN GET A SPLINTER OFF THIN AIR.

MACHANIX Original Gloves -
I’ve included the Machanix Gloves in my Foul/Weather gear list but I actually wear them all the time to protect me from thorns, splinters and barbed wire fences.
This a clean simple beanie that covers my head and ears. I’ll wear this all day in winter months but given it’s no frills design I can easy fold-up and jam in a thigh pocket if things get too hot.

EXPED RAIN COVER FITTED ON A VANQUEST MARKHOR-45.


RAIN COVER PACKED UP.

EXPED RainCover (large) 
When it rains it’s not just me that gets wet, if gear is not looked after It’s gonna get wet too. So I’ve included the Exped Rain Cover in my foul weather gear list because after pulling on my jacket and pants I fit the rain cover to keep rucksack and the gear inside dry. This rain cover fits my fully pack VANQUEST Markhor-45 really well. I use the same cover for my GORUCK GR126L, the fit is lose but it still works fine.

RIVER CROSSING.
In resent history I’ve only had to do a river crossing once, basically because the terrible weather had flooded part of my hiking route and it was either that or a long walk round, at the end of the day and I was losing light. But it was that experience that inspired me to put together this little kit -
This dry bag big enough to get my entire rucksack in and that’s the VANQUEST Markhor-45 we’re talking about. I can pack it up, along with clothes watertight and carefully make my way across the river. I even have a paracord leash to stop it getting sweped away.

POCKET SIZED FULL BODY TOWEL.

LIFEVENTURE Compact Field Towel -
So I’ve crossed the river, I’m cold and wet and I need to dry off quick. This is a full sized towel that really works in getting me dry and it packs down to packet the size of a Tabasco tin? That’s just voodoo to me, Amazing.

SWING & SURVIVAL.
This is just a couple bits ‘n’ pieces that can help in an emergency and/or make life a little easier out on the trail.

550 PARACORD, WHAT ELSE.

550 Para Cord -
For lashing, strapping and fixing.
A new addition primarily used for hanging gear from trees.
Injured, en we forced over night stay or both, you’ll need to keep warm and dry.
Again, injury or over night stay you’re going to want the rescue service to find you and when batteries flatten and technology fails, as long as you got buff, a whistle will get it done.
For fixing everything, to everything.

ARMOUR PLATING FOR YOUR RUCKSACK.

YOMP NOTES Moral Patch -
When you know you know : )

ADMIN.
I use this for leaving route maps and ETA information should I get injured etc. Emergency Services will know I’m late and my route, this should help them find me. I also use for trail notes, mostly about gear, what works doesn’t, what I should bring and what I should leave behind next time. It also includes personal and next-of-kin information.

SHARPIE Marker Fine and ultra fine point -
I use the ultra fine point for the notes above, the fine point, which is a bit chunkier then the above I’ve used for trail marking before, ID for gear also in a medical emergency, better for making notes on skin! (Don’t wanna go there).

IN CONCLUSION.
So that’s it my hiking gear list as of 2024. Why I carry and how I use. This post has taken a long time to produce so I hope you find it useful. Let me know what you think, or ask a question in the comments. Thank you for your time.

If you’ve found this post useful.
It will help to keep the lights on and the computer spinning.
Thank you for your support : )

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Comments

  1. Anonymous15 August 2024 at 12:07

    Nice list. Interesting notes about the monocular. I might have to pick one up!

    I hope you are't carrying that fixed blade knife in the UK!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15 August 2024 at 14:17

      Hi Anon - Thanks for your comments. Re. fixed blade? not so much these days. Re. Vortex monocular, I've never regretted buying mine.

      Delete

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