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EQUIPMENT
Mountain hardware with comments :
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PLASTIC BOOTS
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Boots have always been for me the hardest gear to find. When buying boots here are some tips:
- Your boots should be big enough to allow your toes to move freely without touching the boot.
- A bit too big is better than a bit too small. (After walking one hour, your feet will warm up and expand a bit.)
- After purchase try again your shoes at home, go up and down the stairs. It should still be possible to exchange them if you feel an incomfort.
Millet Everest
Among the wamest boot available on the market. Might be too cumbersome for technical climbs.
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| DOWN JACKET / PANTS |
North Face, Himalayan
Excellent jacket used for the Aconcagua, Cho Oyu and Everest.
Rab, expedition jacket :
Used for the Denali & Cho Oyu, extremely warm down jacket. Should only be used in the coldest conditions. Bulky & heavy!
Rab, expediton salopette :
Used for the Denali, Cho Oyu & Everest excellent down salopette.
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| SLEEPING BAGS |
- Your sleeping bag should be long enough in order to place your clothes at the bottom.
- Down is lighter and has a higher insulation potential than synthethic fabrics but it does not perform well in humid areas.
- Synthetic fabrics are used in humid environement
- If possible never wash your sleeping bag. Down will stick together and some zones of your sleeping bag will be without insulation. If necessary: only wash the surface of your bag, water should not reach the down...
- At home, keep your sleeping bag in a dry environement outside its compression bag.
Wilsa sport, KL900, -12° confort
Used for the Kilimanjaro : warm enough.
Marmot, CWM EQ, -40°(confort)
Very warm but quite heavy and bulky
Warning : the plasic button holding the protection around your neck breaks easily.
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| CAMERA |
Panasonic DMC LX2
Great colors, 16:9, 10 Mp: Long battery life, takes excellent movie that can be projected on large screen 1,5meter. RECOMMENDED ! |
| GLOVES / MITTENS |
- Multi layering system is also recommended for your hands: 1st: thin undergloves, 2nd: windrpoof golves 3rd: mittens.
Black Diamons, guide gloves
Warmest gloves of this brand. Used for the ascent of the Denali in may. Recommended.
Rab, exped down mitts
Used for Denali, Cho Oyu & Everest : Extremely warm. The bulkiest you may find which is sometimes cumbersome.
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OTHER COMMENTS ON OTHER CLIMBING GEAR
| MP3 |
MP3 players with hard disk won't function in high altitude due to the low atmospheric pressure. Your player won't function above 5.000m. Get an MP3 with flash memory (now up to 64 gigs) |
| Down booties : |
These are extremely usefull during the rest days in order to dry the liners of your plastic boots.
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| Useful things to bring : |
- Thermarest repair kit,
- Gore Tex repair kit,
- Duct tape, and strong glue
- Pen freeze with cold, bring a pencil if you want to write a diary,
- A pair of shoe laces,
- Thin rope to ttach secure your camera to your pack, or to put on zippers for easier openings
- Lithium batteries (cold resistant to -40°)
- Second pair of sunglasses, nose protection.
- DVD player, books, cards...
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| Solar pannel, Sat phone, Satellite ... |
For safe purchase on the web with professional advice, visit : http://www.humanedgetech.com
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Other advices :
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- Bear in mind that your equipent is what protects you from frosbites or death.
- Try all your gear before leaving for your expedition. Never use something for the first time on the
mountain.
- Make sure your crampons fit your boots with your overboots on. (Some forget to try, on the
mountain it is too late)
- When trying all your layers at once, make sure that you still feel confortable.
- Visit as many web site as you can in order to get advices on gear.
- Put your name on your gear (shoes, ice axe, pads,...). Unfortunately many things get stolen in camps and huts.
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List of shops in Austria, Belgium, France and the Netherlands:
| Bergfuchs |
Austria |
Kaiserstraße, 15
1070, Wien
+43(0)1.523.96.98
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www.bergfuchs.at |
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NORTHLAND Professsional
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Austria |
Auerspergstraße, 3
1080 Wien
+43 (0)810.966.077.606
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www.northland-pro.com |
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Berg Sport Schwanda
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Austria |
Bäckerstraße 7
1010 Wien
+43 (0)1.512.53.20
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www.schwanda.at |
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| LECOMTE |
Belgium |
27, rue de Vergnies
1050 Bruxelles
Tel : 02/640.58.20
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http://www.lecomteflagey.be
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STAR POLE
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Belgium |
1501, Chaussée de Wavre
1160 Bruxelles
Tél : 02 675 49 60
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http://starpole.com/
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SEONNEE
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Belgium |
56, chaussée de la Croix
1340 Ottignies-LLN
Tel : 010/41.25.74
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http://www.seeonee.be
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| KAMPEERDER |
Belgium |
109, Frankrijklei
Antwerpen
Tel : 03 / 226 18 73
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www.kampeerder.be
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| BASE CAMP |
Belgium |
42, Bevelsesteenweg
2560 Nijlen
Tel: 03/481 76 76
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http://www.basecamp.be
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| KARIBOE |
Belgium |
111, Naamsesteenweg
3001 Leuven
Tel : 016 23 07 72 -
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http://www.kariboe.be
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| ALPI SPORT |
Belgium |
170 rue de Fragnée
4000 Liège
Tel: 04 252 05 55
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http://www.alpisport.be/
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| AVVENTIRA |
Belgium
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Gent, Bruxelles, Brugge
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http://www.avventura.be
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| TRAXS |
Belgium |
192, Kempische steenzeg
3500 Hasselt
Tel: 011/23 44 88
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http://www.traxs.be
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| TREKKING |
Belgium |
255, Oude Gentbaan
2300 Aalst
Tel: +32 (0)53 705 222
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http://www.trekking-buitensport.be
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AU VIEUX CAMPEUR
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France |
Rue des écoles
Paris
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http://www.au-vieux-campeur.fr
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BEVER
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The Netherlands |
Waldorpstraat 15 G
2521 Den Haag
+31/70-38.83.700
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http://www.bever.nl/
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| DEMMENIE SPORT |
The Netherlands |
Amsterdam
Eindhoven
Rotterdam |
http://www.demmeniesport.com
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