Clothing and Backpacking

1. Clothing and Backpacking By Gabriel Troullier

2. Introduction • Backpacking and being out in the wild can be very enjoyable and very dangerous depending on how you prepare and plan your trip. • One of the major things that can cause someone to loose their life or have a comfortable trip is the clothing that they bring. • Rain, Wind, Snow, and Heat can be harmful elements if you are not properly clothed.

3. Things You Will Learn • The Purpose of various items • Different Types of Clothing • Clothing Strategies • Footwear • Risks of Not being properly Clothed and how to avoid them

4. Purpose • Keeping you well insulated throughout your trip. • Keeping you protected from the outdoor elements. • Keeping you comfortable to enjoy the great outdoors. • Preventing outdoor injuries

5. Different Clothing • Base layers – Long underwear, Thermals, Tops and Bottoms • Insulation layers – Sweaters wool & synthetic • Outer layers – Element protection, breathable/water resistant, semi breathable/waterproof, non breathable/waterproof. Tops and Bottoms • Wool – lightweight, fast drying, warm • Synthetic fleeces– lighter than wool, faster drying than wool, warm • Cotton – used in warm environments to repel heat

6. Waterproof Fast Drying Breathable Insulation Durability Lightweight Freedom of Movement Clothing Strategy: Comfort Characteristics

7. Staying Dry Managing Moisture Providing Warmth Providing Comfort Long or Short Clothing Strategy: Base Layer Purpose

8. Clothing Strategy: Base Layer • Synthetic Material • Light Weight • Polyester • Polypropylene • Fast Drying • Avoid Cotton – if wishing to stay warm

9. Warmth Retaining Heat Wick Moisture Synthetic Fleeces Wool Clothing Strategy: Thermal Layer Purpose

10. Clothing Strategy: Outer Layer Purpose • Made to protect against Rain, Wind, Snow • Varies on what your doing • Either more breathable and less waterproof or less breathable and more waterproof • Three different types

11. Clothing Strategy: Outer Layer Waterproof non breathable • Wet environments. Rain, Snow • Cant breath so activities must be minimal • Typically a durable polyurethane coated nylon

12. Clothing Strategy: Outer Layer Breathable Water Resistant • Keeps you cool during high activity • Not for heavy rain • Made of tightly woven polyester or activent

13. Clothing Strategy: Outer Layer Waterproof Little Breathability • The best for heavy precipitation and high activity • Must sacrifice a little breathability

14. Footwear • Always Break in shoes before trip • Three different styles • - Above ankle – Heavy loads, rough terrain • - Ankle – Moderate loads • - Below ankle – Light loads, comfortable • Many materials both natural & synthetic

15. Footwear • Above Ankle At Ankle Below Ankle

16. Footwear: Socks • Quick drying • Water repellant • Warm • Soft • Always have extra dry socks • Wool or Synthetic

17. Other • Beanie • Hat • Gloves

18. Dangers • Hypothermia • Frostbite • Foot Immersion

19. Hypothermia • Occurs bellow 95 degrees of body temp • Most deaths occur 30 – 50 degrees • Violent shivering • Loss of coordination • Loss of muscle strength

20. Hypothermia Avoiding • Stay Dry • Wear proper clothing • Stay hydrated • Eat lots of little meals instead of few big ones • Set a good pace

21. Hypothermia • Do not cuddle or apply hot packs • Consume fluids and food • Evacuation • Use two sleeping bags zipped together with two people breathing inside so victim can breath the warmer air

22. Frostbite • Freezing of the tissue • Outside temp below 32 degrees • Skin temp must be 22 – 24 degrees

23. Frostbite Avoiding • Protect hands and face from wind and cold (gloves, ski mask) • Keep dry • Thick wool or fleece socks

24. Frostbite • Thaw immediately • If on hands put them into your coat against your body • If on feet warm them against another person • Run under hot water until finger tips or toes turn pink or red

25. Immersion Foot (Trench Foot) • Prolonged exposure of feet to damp & cold conditions • Mostly occurs between 68 & 32 degrees • 1st stage – cold, swollen, waxy, with blue and reddish splotches • 2nd stage – hot, swollen, red, blisters. Infection & gangrene are common problems

26. Immersion Foot (Trench Foot) • Pain can last lifelong and tissue injury can be developed easily.

27. Immersion Foot (Trench Foot) Avoiding • Avoid non breathing footwear • Dry feet • Change socks when wet or sweaty • Massage feet & elevate periodically • Wear dry socks to bed or none at all

28. Immersion Foot (Trench Foot) • Consume 650 mg of aspirin every 6 hours • Consume 1 ½ ounces of hard liquor every hour & 2 every 2 hours during sleeping time • Evacuation

29. Conclusion • Keeps you comfortable • Protects you • Allows you to travel in conditions normal clothing wouldn’t allow • Helps prevents dangerous injuries

30. The End

31. Work Cited • Forgey, William. Basic Essentials Wilderness First Aid. 3rd ed. Helena: Falcon, 2007. 58-60. • Schneider, Russ, and Bill Schneider. Backpacking Tips : Trail Tested Wisdom from Falconguide Authors. 2nd ed. Helena: Falcon, 2005. 15-18. • Tulin, Philip. "How to choose backpacking clothing." Outdoor Eyes. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://www.outdooreyes.com/choosecampingclothes.php3>. • Falk, Erik, comp. "Backpacking clothing for any type of weather." Wilderness backpacking. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://www.wilderness-backpacking.com/backpacking-clothing.html>. • "How to prevent hypothermia." EHow. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://www.ehow.com/how_6314_prevent-hypothermia.html>. • "Immersion Foot." Wikipedia. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/immersion_foot>.