the daily contents of a rucksack

[Lemars]

Morning Everyone

Gone are the days when a walk, to me, meant taking a bottle of water and a pair of sunglasses. Yesterday, after a few days of longish, but slow rambles, I walked around a bleak nature reserve at the estuary near where I live.

It was very cold and very windy and I was layered-up with gloves etc - and carrying my usual bits of `kit'. I also decided to take my spotter with me - which meant carrying that and the tripod, plus a shooting-stick to perch on.

Apart from a distant buzzard and a coypu - I saw nothing.
Not one thing did I see.

It made me wonder how much easier it would have been to trundle along without all the items I had hanging off me.

Then I thought about all the other things I was carrying and I decided to list them. Obviously, some things are left behind on some days.

I wondered if anyone ever carried something other than the usual items. How much time do we all spend ferreting in pockets/bags for items we've stowed there - only to find it's the one thing we forgot to pack.

And where do you carry them? Pockets, bumbag, rucksack - or all the above

Here's my starter list:

phone
ipod
binoculars
cameras (x2)

tissues, lip salve, money, pen and paper

dog leads
car-keys
straps and ties
compass

map and cover
spare plastic bags

occasional or weather dependent items:

spotter
tripod
shooting stick
camouflage
camera-trap (recent acquisition)
bait

cap, waterproof

That's all I can think of for now - it certainly feels like a lot more sometimes.

Does anyone carry other kit - and how do you carry it ?

C

[earthdragon64]

You might find the following thread interesting.

Revealing Rucksack - a bit of fun!

The one thing I forgot in my reply on that thread was a compass, even though I use a GPS, I carry the compass as back up.

Regards, Audrey.

[Lemars]

Oh bother, Audrey. I did a search before posting, but must have used the wrong wording (rucksack, for a start................)

Thank you for the link-back - I'll go and read through that now.

I wondered why no-one had posted the query before (should have known).

C

[Jim Ford]

I always carry an emergency survival bag. It's not just for myself - I might come across someone that needs one.

Jim

[Billabong Karen]

It depends where I'm walking. If just around the woods near the house, then I just take a phone and the house keys. If however I'm doing a serious hike, then the list seems to be endless, and weighs me down tremendously!

I recently bought some new poles, because the ones I had before were a bit heavy. They were fine (and very inexpensive), but after I tried these new Craghopper ones I was sold... and havent regretted the impulse purchase at all so far.

[artdemole]

All The usuals with a first aid box and germolene.And a Shee pee for the ladies.Along with spare tissue/kitchen roll.

[PMG]

Most of the above plus a selection of camera equipment depending on whether its a 'birding' 'flower' 'fungi' day out .... I would like to go armed to cover all those things but its impossible without a small donkey (and the small donkey called 'Ian' says 'don;t you think I;ve got enough to carry with my own gear'? ....)

I also have toothpics (nothing more annoying than that bit of sandwich caught inbetween teeth!) and a small hand torch plus a head torch and spare batteries. Also pain killers, tubigrips (dodgy ankle can let me down anytime) large strong black plastic bag (for lying on) camo poncho (covers me and more importantly camera pack if it rains) and any number of other little odds and ends that I may pick up and stick in pocket as I leave the house .... If I was to go out for a walk with nothing but a pair of binocs round my neck I would feel completely lost and stark naked .... and it might just be wonderful!!!

Pauline