2014-Equipment and Clothing

Please do not buy any equipment or clothing until we have our meeting on 4 July. However, if someone wants to buy you a Christmas present, then we have some recommendations:

All these items are available from GoOutdoors*, Portrack Lane, Stockton, although if you can find them cheaper elsewhere, then please let us know so that we can pass details on to everyone else.

Sleeping mat: Either a foam roll (often referred to as a ‘Karrimat’), or a self-inflating sleeping mattress (180x51x2.5 cm.) – more comfortable than Karrimats, although more heavy.  However, they are not essential, and Karrimats are more than adequate.

Lifeventure Soft Fibre Trek Travel Towel. Large size or Extra large. (These are highly recommended – they are extremely light, and they dry out very quickly.  You may find them cheaper on Amazon).

Aluminium drinks bottle – 1 litre. You will be able to buy other types of drinks bottles cheaper than this, but these particular bottles are much better at keeping drinks cool, and they are much more robust than plastic bottles.

Petzl Tikkina 2 head torch. These are good value for money, and a head torch will keep your hands free for camping and cooking activities.  There are cheaper ones at £2.99 and £5.00 and wind-up ones for £4.99 but the Petzl ones have a much better beam and battery life.

3 season sleeping bag. A 3 season sleeping bag is essential.

A large, soft holdall (suitcases and rigid bags are not allowed on the safari truck). A 90 litre holdall is what most people take, but the absolute maximum size is 120 litres. Cheap holdalls are quite adequate, although if you want one that will last a lot longer than this trip, then the Hi Gear Lugga Cargo 90 Travel Pack is ideal.

*To take advantage of their discount prices, you need to buy one of their discount cards, (£5.00), or use someone else’s.