Welcome to Transeurotrek.com - Kit Matters
Germany Munsterland to Brandenburg
France Aveyron to Haute Provence
KIT....AND FITNESS
We have learned a lot about what kit works and what does not, most important is how to minimise the weight we carry and to ensure we are fit enough to enjoy the trek. Walking every day for different periods of time and in all seasons means we walk in all weathers. Sometimes it is warm, cold, wet and dry all within one stage. Our kit needs to keep us comfortable in all weathers.
Boots are the absolute top of the list for importance. They protect the whole body as they dictate how the body moves through each pace. They impact on every muscle. We must be both comfortable and relaxed without worries over aches and pains which simply makes the it all not worth the effort. To meet this challenge boots must be comfortable. First they must be waterproof - rain comes at all times of the year and often we must cross streams and walk through wet grass which when long will search out any weaknesses in the waterproofing. European Long Distance paths follow a lot of lanes and tracks with hard surfaces and in summer the ground can dry into a very hard surface. In mountains trails often follow rocky terrain. Good cushioning on the soles is essential. Thick soles with added insole cushioning and good quality socks will provide this. Remember to renew the insoles regularly.
Personally I find stiff boots are better than softer ones. Even though in the shop the soft ones feel great they allow too much movement inside the boot and increases the possibility of rubbing and blisters. Stiffer ones do not flex so much and as long as your is comfortable there will be no problem. Size of boots is a key element of comfort. They need to be big enough to accommodate an adequate cushion insole and both thin and thick socks. Feet swell when they get hot and there must be room in the boot for this expansion. In summer thinner socks will help give extra room. In winter thicker socks will give extra warmth and will fill out the boots. Buy boots at least 1 1/2 sizes larger than your street shoes. They will be more comfortable slightly too big and slightly too small. You can fill out a bigger boot but a small one is impossible to remedy will lead inevitaably to blisters and misery. And blisters are indeed misery. High-sided boots are better than low-sided. They give more support to the foot, ankle, leg, knees and hips and therefore the whole body. They can also make all the difference to crossing a stream with dry feet instead of wet ones from which there is no recovery for the whole day. Wet feet causes rubs and blisters not to mention feeling extremely cold in winter.
It is possible to have one pair of boots which meet these requirements in both winter and summer as a good pair will be warm in winter and cool in summer. Boots which allow evaporation are best - goretex or similar is recommended - otherwise they can become hot and damp especially in warm weather. Boots must give good grip - the best soles for this are 'vibram' which for some reason have a better grip than other soles.
Socks are next in importance. They should be comfortable. They need not be thick as long as they give good cushioning for the sole of the foot. They are a key part of protecting the body against hard surfaces. They should also give a nice feel around the sides of the foot so that your feels good and moves with the boot easily. It is a matter of personal preference whether they are thick or thin though aspects of this I mention in the paragraph on boots. Some people like socks which are made in to layers so that the outerlayer absorbs movement against the boot and lessens the possibility of blisters. Some people like to wear two pairs for similar reasons. Most people wear just one pairand whether one wears one or two pairs. They need to be renewed regularly as their insulation reduces with wear. There are several excellent makes of sock.
Our clothes are light and can be washed and dried overnight. This is important as trekking is enjoyed more if one does not carry too much. Artificial materials are better than cotton and wool as they dry faster. Cotton gets damp and then feels cold when one cools down. Clothes need to be comfortable in all weathers at high and low altitudes and in town and country. We find that wearing layers of light clothes enable us to respond to changing weather and is much lighter to carry than thick clothes. In winter we simply wear more layers and include warm, thin base layers and a wind-breaking top layer such as a waterproof. A hat to protect the face against the sun as well as keeping off rain and snow is recommended. Walking for long days necessitates protection from the sun.
A 35 litre rucksac is quite big enough. Remember that the sac weighs too. So ensure it is light as well as strong and comfortable. There are a few which are waterproof except in persistent heavy rain. Most pacs require a waterproof cover to be stretched over it in rain. No pack, even with a cover, resists lengthy heavy rain and so pack everything in plastic bags - separate bags for each category of clothing so one can find things easily. This will guarantee dry clothes for the evening.
Gloves - it's hard to get the right combination of weight and warmth and water resistance. I wear a light fleece pair for summer and have snow standard mittens for winter. Mittens are best but light ones are difficult to find.
As well as good kit one must have is an adequate level of personal fitness. The length of the day is determined by how far one must go to reach accommodation. This means somewhere between 20 and 30 Km and and up to 9 hours each day - in all weathers and terrains. We do not walk quickly but we do so without long pauses for between 6 and 9 hours per day. Starting early is key as progress is easier and most enjoyable when we are fresh in the morning than late in the afternoon and one must allow for possible deterioration in the weather or losing the way or finding it blocked or not there at all due to a misleading or old map. Sometimes we find that we have been moving too slowly and we must be capable of speeding up toward the end of the day to reach our destination.
This is not the fitness level of an olympic athlete but simply means being able to walk at a moderate pace throughout the day and getting up each day and doing it again. The best training for this is walking - getting used to walking on different terrains for an extended period.
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