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Post by Joey on Apr 1, 2019 7:59:12 GMT 10
OK my fellow preppers, here's my situation....
With my business I'm about to release a crowd funding campaign to raise funds for my business to develop the ultimate large pack for soldiers. The money raised will go towards 2 new specialised machines to make certain features of this pack I've already got planned and some material design and development with regards to frames and padding etc.
The goal I have set myself is once the pack is complete, I will load it up and walk my fat arse between my town and the next town (86km) over 2-3days to give it the ultimate test. How many other pack designers or manufacturers test their packs out themselves to this degree? In doing so I will also be raising awareness for vet support groups of which I'll have a sign clipped to the pack listing a few of them. And I'll also get the local newspaper involved to do a puff piece on it.
My question to you guys and girls is... What should I look at making my menu to cover the walk that is light weight, hi energy, minimal if at all cooking required. And how much water do you reckon so I don't have to have a support car following me the whole way?
By the time that I get things in order, it'll be about early to mid spring time and the route is pretty much flat the whole way along the hwy. Its in central QLD so will be a little warmer then the rest of the country. I'll be traveling light with the rest of my gear..bivvy bag, small light sleeping bag, few socks and jocks and 1 set spare clothes. I'll prob also have a small folding tripod stool so I don't have to sit on the ground to rest.
Between now and then I'll look at starting to walk with a weighted pack to get my body used to it again so I'm not jumping in the cold deep end and risking injury.
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Post by WolfDen on Apr 1, 2019 8:58:44 GMT 10
Have a look at the terrain/path you'll be taking and see where you can fill up with water along the way so you don't have to carry much or have a support vehicle. The key will be able to fill up at several dozen points along the way.
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spatial
Senior Member
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Post by spatial on Apr 1, 2019 16:38:27 GMT 10
Good job getting a pack design, if it marries in with the battle bra/chest webbing I will buy both. I like big packs with +80l or the modern packs that have a tie down system that expands from. 60l to +80l. With chest webbing that will be plenty of space.
I find walking and carrying a load the body gets too tired to eat bulky meals, and 3days is not long. So for me dehydrated fruit & nut mix, biltong/beef jerky, breakfast cereal l mixed with powdered milk, tube of honey.
Walking QLD outback, one could easily loose.0.5l an hour, Minimum of 5l of water with refill every night and hydration over night and prior to starting to walk. I would take 10l but I sweat a lot.
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Post by Joey on Apr 1, 2019 21:20:56 GMT 10
Have a look at the terrain/path you'll be taking and see where you can fill up with water along the way so you don't have to carry much or have a support vehicle. The key will be able to fill up at several dozen points along the way. Zero fill points along the way, so might have to get a water top up each night from the missus. I do want to keep a good amount of weight in the pack as well so I can really test it for chaffing, rubbing etc
Good job getting a pack design, if it marries in with the battle bra/chest webbing I will buy both. I like big packs with +80l or the modern packs that have a tie down system that expands from. 60l to +80l. With chest webbing that will be plenty of space. I find walking and carrying a load the body gets too tired to eat bulky meals, and 3days is not long. So for me dehydrated fruit & nut mix, biltong/beef jerky, breakfast cereal l mixed with powdered milk, tube of honey. Walking QLD outback, one could easily loose.0.5l an hour, Minimum of 5l of water with refill every night and hydration over night and prior to starting to walk. I would take 10l but I sweat a lot. Yeah was possibly thinking maybe some of those freeze dried meals from anaconda, but if the missus is going to water top me each night, then she might as well bring the dinner out and all I've got to worry about is breakfast and lunch/snacks One of the major design factors with the pack is going to be the ability to wear it with webbing, either chest/bra or belt.
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Post by milspec on Apr 2, 2019 5:04:38 GMT 10
Good luck with the project Joey. You could also consider pre-positioning some water along the route, if it goes missing you do have your wife-resupply option as a contingency. Foil wrapped/canned cheese should have a decent amount of energy in it for snacking on. Those just add boiling water hiking meals are pretty easy to deal with if your wife isn't able to assist.
PS - do you do a multicam rain cover that'll protect a full 5.11 Rush 24?
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Post by Joey on Apr 2, 2019 19:15:23 GMT 10
Good luck with the project Joey. You could also consider pre-positioning some water along the route, if it goes missing you do have your wife-resupply option as a contingency. Foil wrapped/canned cheese should have a decent amount of energy in it for snacking on. Those just add boiling water hiking meals are pretty easy to deal with if your wife isn't able to assist. PS - do you do a multicam rain cover that'll protect a full 5.11 Rush 24? The weather up here will be too much for stashed water supplies.
I can but it'll be in 500Denier multicam, project will see me ordering some lighter weight multicam from the US to make part of the pack
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Post by spinifex on Apr 3, 2019 17:53:12 GMT 10
Not able to drop some 2l PET bottles in some of the culverts the week before? Mark the white posts so you know which ones? Wrap the lids in cling-film to keep them a bit clean?
On days when I do fieldwork in 35 degree conditions in full sun, soaking my clothes in sweat, I go through 6 litres a day from 7am to 5pm ... and don't urinate until I drink another couple of litres in the evening. My hats go white with salt after a week.
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Post by graynomad on Apr 3, 2019 22:36:22 GMT 10
I walk pretty much indefinitely on 750g of food per day, could do less but that includes a couple of treats. But that's all dehyd so it depends on finding water and heating the evening meal. For a short 2-3 day walk I reckon just scroggin, nut/strength bars, peanut butter, jelly beans etc would do. Add a 50:50 mix of Saline and Gatorade or other electrolyte replacer. But water will be the killer, still if you are going real light maybe you can carry say 15 litres which should do. And remember it will get lighter real quick. Add maybe 10kgs for the rest of your kit and it's doable without resupply I think. Actually, now that I think about it I did 5 days through Karijini (see pics) with no available water during the day but resupply available each night. I carried 3 litres each day and it was hot and rough going. So it you aren't using water for cooking and can carry 4-5 for each day you should be right. Hot. Steep and hot. Bush bashing. You will be walking a LOT more than we did per day, but it will be easier going, so maybe about the same energy wise.
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Post by Joey on Apr 4, 2019 9:02:29 GMT 10
Thanks guys, good info from experience. There are 2 options I can do for this walk.. 35km from town to my work Or 86km from town to the next town going same road passed my work I could prob do the shorter trip in 1 really long day and into the night Google maps reckons a 8hr walk, at 4.8km/hr but I would prob factor in 12hrs. the 86km walk Google has at 17hrs so 2 days maybe.
What would be the best footwear for this? Light weight running shoes or hiking boots?
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Post by spinifex on Apr 4, 2019 17:09:26 GMT 10
I reckon footwear will be highly dependent on your personal preference. Cliff Young won an ultra-marathon and he practiced in gumboots.
Main thing might be to choose something that you have put to a good amount of use into already so they are properly broken in.
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Post by graynomad on Apr 4, 2019 18:17:03 GMT 10
... Main thing might be to choose something that you have put to a good amount of use into already so they are properly broken in. Yep, not a time to try a new pair of boots. If this walk is imminent then you really have to go in what you have already worn in. Also wear TWO pairs of socks, thick over thin has always worked for me.
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Post by Joey on Apr 4, 2019 20:52:07 GMT 10
The walk won't be until spring this year so plenty of time to wear in a new pair of shoes for the walk. Something well worn in...my Mongrel work boots lol otherwise my standard sneakers if I had to do it next week. But as I mentioned I'm going to have to do some condition training walks between now and then to get used to walking with a weighted pack (and get my fat arse used to walking again after not walking distances for ages due to my failing back (1600mg of Panadol osteo a day makes the pain go away )
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Post by Peter on Apr 4, 2019 22:10:19 GMT 10
Mate, don't push it too far. I've seen too many people exacerbate even minor injuries to the point where they're severe.
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Post by spinifex on May 12, 2019 14:42:38 GMT 10
Hey Joey, any updates on your walk preparations?
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Post by Joey on May 12, 2019 19:02:10 GMT 10
Na nothing yet. As I mentioned it's months off yet. Got to launch my crowd funding campaign soon to develop the backpack that I'll be using for the walk first as well
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Morgo
Senior Member
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Post by Morgo on May 13, 2019 21:30:54 GMT 10
If it were me I'd pre plan the trip for lunch stops over the 3 days.
I'd scout the desired area's I want to stop at for lunch and a day or so before the walk I'd take a garbage bag with 3-5x 1.5-2Lt bottles of water (extra for cooking/cleaning) and some food, canned chunky meat stew etc and some chocolate/energy bars and bury the plastic bag of supplies somewhere at the lunch stop area's.
Burying the water/supplies keeps it all hidden plus being under ground its not going to be affected from the heat, bury in the shade for extra protection, the plastic bag will take up no space when you leave and the plastic bottles crush down as well.
Having a small cooking set and camp shovel to retrieve the supplies could just be part of the pack load out as well.
I'd opt for light weight shoes that are worn in if your walking on good terrain, no real need for boots. I wore my work mongrel boots on the last day hike I did as they are quite comfy but after 8 hours of constant walking up and down a mountain, I was feeling those steel caps every time I lifted my foot.
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Post by jonasparker on May 14, 2019 5:21:21 GMT 10
Good luck, mate... err... Ride 'em, Cowboy! I hope your business is successful beyond your wildest dreams!
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Post by Joey on May 14, 2019 16:37:04 GMT 10
Thanks guys, resupply won't be an issue as I'll make the missus drive out to me each night to bring me a hot meal or something and a water resupply. So its just be my breakfast and lunch/snacks that I'll have to worry about carrying on me. Will be interesting trip and I still better hurry up and start conditioning myself to walking again and with a loaded pack lol but working a now 100hr 8 day fortnight takes its toll a bit and my business seems to get enough small orders through the week to keep me busy most days on my off week
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