My Tramping Gear: A look at my tramping clothing system

I thought I would chuck together a quick post about the clothing I wear when I am tramping, so to that end I give you...

 The "Jon Moake Outdoor Clothing System" or JMOCS

Summer tramping at its best, t-shirt and shorts weather

I wont go deeply into comparisons of natural vs synthetic material, discuss layering theory or spend a lot of time comparing brands etc. There are multiple websites which explain all of this. What I am discussing here is the particular gear I use when tramping, commonly called a "clothing system". 

What is a clothing system? 

It is a system because all of the items worn or carried can be interchanged to suit the particular climatic conditions you find yourself in. You add or remove layers to maintain your body temperature at a comfortable level. What is required is a compromise between:

•  material choice
• fit
• weight
• ruggedness 
• cost. 

We are looking for the maximum coverage of all the potential conditions we might face while carrying the least amount of weight. This set of gear does that for me. 

All my tramping clothing laid out

To be frank I find the term "system" slightly irritating as well as pretentious. Calling your tramping clothes a system denotes some sort of forethought, and most people (me included...) just settle on gear that works through trial and error. Still, it is the easiest way to categorise what this is, so here in all its splendour is the "Jon Moake Outdoor Clothing System" or JMOCS... (TM), patent pending, don't tell the dog, rada-rada, etc, etc...

Base Layers 

Base-layers draw perspiration away from your body in a wicking action, it then transpires into the atmosphere (or at least that is the theory...). Therefore, the material your layers are made from needs to have these wicking abilities. There are many materials both synthetic and natural which do this, you should do a bit of research before selecting yours.

Tramping gear for  warm weather tops/shorts

All synthetic materials base layers

My base layers are all synthetic, it is much easier to clean and dries a lot faster than wool or one of the other natural materials.  I wear nylon shorts and boxers and my top is made of a technical material called Powder Dry these all have wicking abilities.The top and shorts are cheap Warehouse (like Walmart to those in the US...) items, the boxers are from Russell Athletic.

I needed that sun hat, 30 Celcius... Kowai River Valley in December!!!

I carry two sets of clothes: one for tramping in and the other for wearing at night, that way I don't have to sleep in wet clothes.

 Thermal base layers

If it is cold then you need to wear warmer base-layers to insulate you from heat loss. These can be either synthetic or a natural fibre depending on your preference. Knit is better than woven material when it comes to heat retention.

Merino/synthetic thermal gear

In my case I use a knit merino wool top (Thermerino/Stony Creek) and merino leggings/long-johns (ColdPruf), with a generic fleece hat and polypropylene gloves. Wool had all but disappeared from tramping apparel but the advent of merino clothing has lead to a resurgence of this ancient fibre. It is soft, light, warm, doesn't stink when wet and is now made in many colours and styles.

My thermal gear for tramping laid out: hat, gloves, wool top and leggings

Wearing a merino top up a snowy Hawdon Valley in 2016

Middle or insulation layer 

You need something to keep you warm- most people will start to feel the cold within 10 minutes once stationary. There are different schools of thought about what these warm layer should be: fleece or down, thick/thin weight, single/multiple layers.

What works best for me is a fleece top, in the 200 weight range. I have been using Hunting and Fishing fleece for over 10 years now and have never had a problem with them. They are light weight, rugged, cheap and come in several colours, my current one is blue.

Wearing my fleece on top of a windy spur Banks Peninsula

If it is very cold I will pair these with my long-johns, wet weather pants or wrap my sleeping bag around me in camp/hut.

 The outer shell layer

New Zealand is a temperate country which means it can get windy, cold and really WET at any time of the day/year. For that reason I usually carry a head to foot shell set so that I can continue to tramp in foul weather. Your shell is your first line of defence against wind, cold and rain.

If I am on a day tramp and it is hot and sunny I will often leave the over-trousers behind, otherwise I carry all three items on all my tramping trips. 

Tramping shell gear: jacket, over trousers and over mitts

  My jacket is a Macpac Copland, the over trousers are from Stony Creek and the gortex over mitts are Outdoor Research. My jacket is due to be replaced with something lighter but as always quality gear means big dollars required....

Wet weather gear aka "the Outer Shell"

Windy conditions on the Lewis Pass Tops, 2015

Wearing a 'baller cap' will stop the hood of your jacket falling over your eyes...

In the rain but still walking, Summit Walkway 2016

  Footwear

 I wear boots: at the moment mine are La Sportiva Valojets, but I also wear mountain running shoes on day walks. Personally I like boots but there is a growing movement towards lighter footwear, which decreases the overall amount of weight you are carrying.

I imagine as I grow older this shift will become more appealing to me.

Tramping boots and socks

Medium weight and lightweight socks for tramping

Boots and gaiters on the Lewis Pass tops

I use both light and medium weight socks. I am currently using Lorpen socks, the T3 Lite Hiker is a light hot weather sock while the Merino Lite Hiker is a warmer medium weight sock.  Both work well with my current boots and are made from a blend of synthetic materials and merino wool.
 

Some advice....buy good quality socks your feet will thank you!

Here is a link to an article by Andrew Skurka (a well known American outdoor personality) about this kind of layering which he calls the Core 13. This is aimed at the US but the basic tenents are applicable right around the world. 

 Some examples of how the system would be used

  By mixing and matching these few garments we can keep our bodies running in tip top shape. 

The entire Jon Moake outdoor clothing system laid out

Warm and Dry: In warm, dry conditions all you need is a top (long or short sleeved) and a pair of shorts, make sure your underwear will wick sweat away from the body. Short thin socks make more sense than heavier ones in these kind of conditions. Don't roast your toes in merino wool when it is 30 degrees outside...that is madness.

Warm, dry weather layers

The quintessential Kiwi tramper: A short sleeve t-shirt and shorts over a pair of long-johns, an awesome look since the 1940's. The long-johns protect your legs from the cold but more importantly from the sand flies and bush lawyer.

Nothing quite like the slap of a thorny bush lawyer vine across bare skin....invigorating!

Thermal leggings added for total body coverage

Cool but Dry: If it is cool-cold but not raining a a merino top paired with your long-johns will normally see you right. If you have your longs on then the boxers are optional, long-johns are basically thermal underwear anyway.

Cold, dry weather layering system

 Cold but dry:  In very cold but dry conditions maintaining warmth is your number one priority so I add my fleece top to my tramping attire. This is put on and taken off as required, you want to stay as dry as possible without getting hot and sweaty.
Wet, cold body draws away heat and can lead to hypothermia so minimising perspiration is important.

Very cold, dry weather layering system..part of the JMOC's system

Cold and wet: For cold, wet conditions I wear warm merino base layers for warmth and a shell jacket plus over- trousers to keep me dry. A warm fleece hat for the head polypropylene gloves and over mitts would complete the look.

Clothing layering for cold wet conditions

Wearing a merino top and my jacket on a cold day, Milford Track 2018

 The actual Jon Moake outdoor clothing system or A-JMOCS

 Disregarding all that I have stated before, the photo below shows the actual clothing I most often wear when I am tramping. 

Clothing worn 90% of the time: shorts, tee shirt and boots...

My summer tramping attire atop Mt Richardson...

...and on top of Mt Herbert, summer of 2014

On the Queen Charlotte Track in 2016...

I mostly tramp in fine, dry weather so you will usually find me wearing a tee shirt, shorts and boots. In reality this is what I wear  90% of the time so it is my real system. All the other stuff is just there in case it rains (common) or it gets cold (not infrequent).

Still wearing my shorts even on a cold, windy day on MacKinnon Pass, Milford Track

Otherwise it is simply ballast in my pack.

Using a home dehydrator for tramping food...

Home dehydrating your tramping meals...

I haven't posted for awhile as I have not been for any tramping trips over the last couple of weeks. The weather combined with study, the kids school camps and work have curtailed my tramping considerably. 

Jon out walking for fitness in mid May

I am still walking to maintain my fitness, on a Saturday, as weather permits.  I usually walk along the beach from Waimariri to Spencer Park (2-3 hours) as well as trips along the Port Hills. 

Longer term, I am planning an overnight trip to Nina Hut towards the end of the month as well as a few day trips over the next couple of weeks to Mt Grey, Lewis Pass and sections of the Christchurch 360 Trail. I have also arranged to walk the Abel Tasman Coastal Track the last week of August, something I am really looking forward to (NB: I had to cancel this trip due to unforeseen circumstances but it is just as well as there was some bad weather that week anyway...).

Anyway enough of that, here are a couple of tramping meal recipes I have made before and enjoyed....

Dehydrator heaven

My tramping food style is to eat from the bag or prepare simple home-made tramping meals. While there are a lot of commercially made ingredients available there are some significant omissions notably vegetables other than peas, carrots and corn and meat other than beef mince.

  I got a food dehydrator for Christmas last year and have started furiously dehydrating meat and vegetables to use in my tramping meals.

Sunbeam home food dehydrator

  Mine is a  Sunbeam DT5600 model which cost  $200 NZD, it sounds like a lot but some models retail for over $500.

So Jon, what can I dehydrate?

The world is your oyster really, you can literally dehydrate just about everything.

Things that dehydrate well are; any kind of fruit, onions, celery, mushrooms (all available commercially), capsicum, courgettes, pumpkin, beans, corn and cabbage. I was surprised how well cabbage and sauerkraut dehydrate. I have a nice recipe for sauerkraut and sausages.....mmmmmmm!

Dehydrated Sauerkraut - delicious!

This is 500gms of Sauerkraut after dehydration

Meat does not dehydrate easily, it takes a long time and has a limited shelf life outside of the freezer. Better to use freeze dried or commercially produced versions if you can. Eggplant, it is tough and leathery with an off putting colour when dried. Parsnip...not good! Tofu....just don't do it...styrofoam is the closest thing I can think of...yeeruucckkk!

Do try this at home...

I am an inveterate collector of trail cooking books and recipes. I currently have 11 books on backpacking food as well as numerous recipe files from a variety of web pages, books etc.

The Backpacking Chef website...an awesome source of meal ideas!

Both of the following recipes are from the BackpackingChef website, adapted for my personal preferences.

Backpacking Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a traditional French dish of stewed vegetables including eggplant, onions, peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes—seasoned with garlic and herbs. Zucchini and capsicum dehydrate and rehydrate well,  my version dispenses with the eggplant.

Easy cook ratatouille anyone?

I like this with some tuna as the fish and vegetables have very complimentary flavours.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

 

·         1 cup dried zucchini

·         2 Tbsp. dried onions

·         3 Tbsp. assorted dried capsicum

·         3 Tbsp. sun dried tomato’s

·         1 garlic clove, smashed, finely diced

·         1 Tbsp. tomato concentrate or 1 pkt tomato Cup o’ Soup

·         Pinch fennel seeds

·         Pinch mixed herbs or dried thyme

·         Salt and pepper to taste

·         1 tsp. olive oil

At Home:

Pack all dried vegetables, herbs and soup in a sandwich sized zip-lock bag.

In a separate snack size bag add the sun dried tomato, tomato concentrate if using and peeled/diced garlic clove.

On the Trail:

Combine dried vegetable mix with 1½ cups water in your pot and rehydrate for five to ten minutes. For larger servings, just add equal parts of dry Ratatouille ingredients and water. Add extra water as required. 

Light stove, add olive oil, tomato paste (if using) and garlic to vegetables and heat until nice and warm. It is not necessary to maintain a boil. 

Transfer pot to an insulating cosy for another ten minutes where your meal will continue to rehydrate. 

To enjoy this meal with rice or macaroni, combine ½ cup Ratatouille dry mix, ½ cup instant or dried rice or macaroni, and one cup water. If using macaroni, add a quarter cup more water. Bring to a boil for one minute. Turn off stove and wait ten minutes with lid on pot. 

Unstuffed Peppers

This recipe is awesome, I've made it a couple of times now and it is totally delicious, a great combination of rice, beef and vegetables. Try it- you will like it!

Delicious un-stuffed peppers!

Ingredients:

·         ½ Cup dried or instant rice

·         ¼ Cup ground beef, dried

·         ¼ Cup bell peppers, dried

·         1 Tbsp. dried onions

·         2 Tbsp. sundried tomato, diced

·         1 pkt. Tomato Cup o’ Soup

·         2 Tbsp. parmesan cheese

·         1¼ cups water

At Home:

Pack Parmesan cheese, sundried tomato and tomato soup separately in small plastic bags. Enclose in a larger plastic bag with rice, ground beef, onions and peppers. 

On the Trail:

Combine all ingredients except Parmesan cheese in pot with water and soak for five minutes.

Light stove, bring to a boil, and continue cooking with the lid on for one minute.

Remove pot from stove place in cosy and wait ten minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese before serving.

Curried mince with cabbage and rice



Curried mince with cabbage and rice

This recipe is my interpretation of a Countdown supermarket recipe in their feed four for $15 recipe range. This uses commercially available and home dried ingredients to make a really delicious tramping meal. Cabbage is one of the main ingredients and dehydrates surprisingly well. 

Use Ramen noodles instead of rice and add some soya sauce and you have made Mince Chow Mein aka Chop Suey!

Servings: 1

·         ½ Cup Instant or Dried Rice or 1 pkt. Ramen, crushed, without flavour packet

·         ¼ Cup F/D mince or dried mince

·         ¼ Cup dried cabbage or sauerkraut

·         1pkt. chicken noodle Cup o’ Soup

·         2 Tbsp. dried peas

·         1 Tbsp. dried onion

·         1 tsp. Curry Powder

·         1 Tbsp. soya sauce (for Chow Mein)

·         Salt and pepper to taste

·         1¼ Cups water

At Home:

Place all dry items in sandwich size zip-lock bag. For freezer bag variant place dried vegetables in snack sized bag, add to main bag with other dry ingredients. 

On the Trail:

Cook variant: Boil 1¼ Cups water. Combine all ingredients with water in pot and cook for 3 minutes. Insulate pot and wait ten minutes. 

Freezer bag variant: Rehydrate dried vegetables for 5 minutes in separate bag. Add hot water to main bag, drain vegetables and add to rice mixture. Place in cosy, wait 10 minutes and enjoy.

 

So there you have just three of my ever expanding repertoire of tramping meals, if any take your fancy I would encourage you to give them a go. I thoroughly recommend you go and buy a dehydrator, it is an extremely useful piece of kit for the outdoor enthusiast.