Outdoors & BBQ Equipment

Day hikes on well-maintained tracks: a quality trail runner or low-cut hiker (Salomon X Ultra, Merrell Moab) is plenty. Multi-day hikes with a heavy pack: mid-cut leather hikers with ankle support (Scarpa, Lowa, Salomon Quest) protect against rolled ankles. Wet country (Tasmania, NZ, alpine): waterproof Gore-Tex membranes are worth the cost. Always buy boots half a size larger than your shoe size — feet swell on long days. Break them in over 50km of walking before any major hike. Bad boots ruin trips.

Match capacity to trip length: day hikes 20-30L, overnight 40-50L, 3-7 day hikes 55-75L, multi-week expeditions 75L+. The most important factor is fit — measure your torso length and try packs on with weight in them. Brands like Osprey, Deuter, Aarn, and Macpac have refined harness systems. Always carry weight on your hips, not your shoulders — a properly adjusted hip belt should bear 70-80% of the load. Cheap packs cause shoulder pain and trip failures.

Layering = three garments working together so you can adjust to temperature changes. Base layer (next to skin): merino wool or synthetic — moves sweat off the skin. NEVER cotton in cool weather. Mid layer (insulation): fleece, down jacket, or synthetic puffy — traps body heat. Outer layer (shell): waterproof and windproof jacket — blocks weather. Add or remove layers as you warm up or stop. Keep your insulating layer dry — that's the one that keeps you alive in cold weather.

Yes for any hike where you're drinking from creeks, dams, or tanks. Squeeze filters (Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree) are lightweight, fast, and remove bacteria and protozoa — the standard choice for most hikers. Pump filters are slower but handle silty water better. UV pens (SteriPen) work in clear water. Chemical tablets (Aquatabs) are the lightweight backup. Don't trust visually clear water — Cryptosporidium and Giardia are present in many Australian water sources. Filtering is non-negotiable on multi-day hikes.

Canister stoves (MSR PocketRocket, Soto WindMaster, Jetboil) are the standard for most hiking — they thread onto a gas canister, light instantly, and weigh under 200g. The Jetboil systems are ideal for boil-only cooking (noodles, dehydrated meals). Liquid fuel stoves (MSR WhisperLite) are heavier but work in cold conditions where canister gas struggles. Alcohol stoves (Trangia) are simple, fuel-cheap, and silent but slow. For Australian conditions (mostly mild), a quality canister stove is the winning choice.

Wear gaiters and long pants in long grass and bush. Watch where you step — most snake bites happen when standing on or near a hidden snake. Stomp loudly on tracks — snakes feel vibrations and move away. Carry compression bandages (2x heavy crepe, 10cm wide minimum) and know how to apply them. If bitten: remain still, apply compression bandage from bite site upward and downward, splint the limb, call 000 or activate PLB. Do not wash the bite, cut, or attempt to suck venom — these all hurt the patient.

DEET (20-40%) is the most effective and longest-lasting against mosquitoes and most flies. Picaridin (20%) is nearly as effective and less harsh on plastics and skin — Bushman is a popular Australian brand. Permethrin clothing treatment (Insect Shield) is the underrated weapon — treat your clothes once and they repel insects for 6+ weeks of wash. For ticks and leeches, permethrin clothing plus DEET on exposed skin is the gold standard. Always check for ticks after walks in any tick country (NSW north coast, QLD).

Topographic map and compass are the foundational tools. Learn to: orient the map to north, identify your position from terrain features, take and follow a compass bearing, and convert grid bearings to magnetic bearings (Australia has ~10° of magnetic declination). Always carry a paper map as backup to GPS — batteries die, screens crack, and electronic devices fail when you need them most. Practice with a compass on day hikes before relying on it in the bush. A navigation course (Bushwalking Australia, Outdoor Education Group) is well worth a weekend.

Sleeping bags have a fully enclosed shape with hood and zip — warmest option for cold weather, more weight and bulk. Quilts open at the back (no insulation underneath, since compressed insulation under you adds no warmth) — significantly lighter and more packable, but require a good sleeping pad with high R-value. For 3-season Australian conditions, a quilt and a quality pad is the lightweight choice. For winter alpine or sub-zero conditions, a sleeping bag with a hood is safer.

Start small — pick a well-marked, well-supported trail (Overland Track, Larapinta, Routeburn, Wilsons Prom) with established camps. Plan distance conservatively — 12-15km/day with a heavy pack is plenty for a beginner. Check the weather 24 hours before and adjust if needed. Pack the 10 essentials: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repair tools, nutrition, hydration, shelter. Tell someone your route and check-in times. Carry a PLB. Start hiking before sunrise to avoid afternoon heat.

Modern ultralight tents (Big Agnes Copper Spur, MSR Hubba Hubba, Zpacks Duplex) come in at 1-1.5kg for a one-person and 1.3-2kg for a two-person. Trekking pole tents (Zpacks, Six Moon Designs) save weight by using your hiking poles as tent poles — saving 300-500g. Single-wall tents are lightest but condense in cold weather. Double-wall tents handle Australian conditions better and are worth the extra 200-400g. Don't go below ~1kg for a 1P tent — durability becomes a real issue.

Possums and rats are the main raiders in Australian camps. Hang food bags from a tree branch (4m high, 2m from trunk) overnight. Use hard-sided rodent-proof containers (Loksak Opsak with a hard shell, or food-safe Lock & Lock). Never leave food in tents — once an animal associates your tent with food, you'll never sleep again. Dingoes (Cape York, Fraser Island, K'gari) require very strict food management — fines apply for feeding or careless storage. Pack out all food waste, including peels and crumbs.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a 406MHz satellite emergency signal device — activate in a life-threatening emergency and search and rescue is dispatched to your GPS coordinates within minutes. Cost: $300-500 (no subscription required). Battery life: 7+ years. Weight: ~150g. Brands: ACR ResQLink, Kannad, GME. Yes, you need one for any remote bushwalking, kayaking, or 4WDing beyond mobile coverage. Register your PLB with AMSA (free) — they need your name and emergency contacts to activate rescue.

Carbon fibre poles (Black Diamond, Leki) are lightest and shock-absorbing — ideal for serious hikers. Aluminium poles are heavier but more durable and bend rather than snap on impact. Z-fold poles (collapse to 35-40cm) pack inside a daypack; twist or flick-lock poles are more adjustable. Length: when standing on flat ground, your forearm should be at 90° when gripping the pole. Shorter for uphill, longer for downhill. Poles reduce knee impact by ~25% on descents and provide stability on river crossings.

STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. Don't wander randomly — staying put makes search easier and conserves energy. Find shelter (out of sun and wind), signal for help (whistle 3 blasts, mirror flash, smoke fire), conserve water, and activate your PLB if injured or in danger. If you must walk: follow water downstream (it usually leads to civilisation), but mark your route. Trust your map and compass over your gut feel — disoriented people consistently believe they're going the right way when they're not.

Rule of thumb: 500ml per hour of hiking in mild weather; 1L per hour in heat. Day hike (4-6 hours): 2-3L. Multi-day hike: filter from creeks/dams/tanks rather than carry — water is heavy (1kg/L). Hot weather (35°C+): 4-6L per day plus electrolytes. Cold weather: still 2-3L — dehydration is a major cause of hypothermia. Always check water sources on your trip — dry creeks are common in Australia. Carry a filter and emergency water purification tablets as backup.

Australia has the highest UV index in the world — sunburn happens fast. SPF 50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours and after sweating. UPF50 long-sleeve sun shirt (Patagonia, North Face, Macpac) is more effective than sunscreen alone. Wide-brim hat with neck flap; polarised sunglasses reduce glare. Lip balm with SPF — lips burn easily. Cover up first, sunscreen second — clothing is more reliable than chemical protection on long days.

Walk upstream from the rapid you want to avoid. Look for the widest section — wider = shallower and slower. Use trekking poles for stability and depth-checking. Cross at an angle (45° downstream) with feet shoulder-width apart, sliding rather than lifting. Unbuckle pack hip and chest straps so you can ditch the pack if swept off your feet. If a group, link arms or use a rope. Never cross water above thigh-deep in fast flow — wait for it to drop or find another route.

Boil-only meals are the ultralight approach — dehydrated freeze-dried meals (Backcountry Cuisine, Outdoor Gourmet Co, Mountain House) require only boiling water added to the bag. Lightest, easiest, no cleanup. One-pot meals (couscous + sachet sauce + dried veg) are cheaper and customisable. Cold soaking (no stove) saves weight but limits menu choices. For longer trips, mix in a "luxury meal" every 3-4 days for morale. Always pack out all food waste — leave no trace.

NEVER cotton — it absorbs water, dries slowly, and provides zero insulation when wet. Cotton hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans are the leading cause of hypothermia in Australian bushwalkers. Avoid heavy denim for the same reason. Avoid 100% nylon outerwear without breathability — you'll soak in your own sweat. Choose merino wool, polyester blends, and quality technical fabrics (Macpac, Patagonia, Icebreaker). Quality clothing is more important than quality boots if you have to choose.