Equipment help

Padjo1981

I am trying to organise a sponsored walk around ireland. Hope to do it in January. I am just looking for advice on equipment. I plan on camping if I can, so I can bring my dog.

keenan110

The most important thing would be a good pair of walking boots, you'd probably be best getting ones with Gore-Tex to keep your feet dry.
A light weight tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag will make it much more comfortable walking each day, but the lighter they are the more expensive they are!

NathanKingerlee

Sounds great! Will you be on roads or hills?

Padjo1981

I have not got as far as planning that yet. Would like to stick as close to the coast as I can. Need to take a proper look at the maps and see what I can do.

NathanKingerlee

Well apart from what Keenan mentioned, I'd bring very good waterproofs, waterproof back-pack liner, small stove running off petrol or meths, head torch, plasters, walking pole, book for those long dark evenings and with the boots, if you're on the road, a very lightweight pair - so you're not crippled.

del88

Sounds like a great trip...
Your tent will be the heaviest single item you'll need.
When it comes to the weight of your tent the price you pay will generally get more expensive the lighter you go.
I have one these myself...vango tempest 200
not to expensive,i think around 140 euro and light enough 2.6kg.

Then there's a sleeping bag.
Average temperature in january would be around 2(°C) so a 3 season sleeping bag should be ok...
I use one of these..Deuter Travel Lite 300

Next essential for me is a sleeping mat...a self inflating type are best.
something like a vango ultra light 3/4 self-inflating trek mat would be good.

I would agree with NathanKingerlee and keenan for the rest......i would also do plenty of practicing before hand to get a feel for what you'll need and familiarize yourself with your set up..
Best of luck....planning to do the wicklow way in august myself

Padjo1981

Thanks for the advice guys. lots of stuff to get organised but looking forward to it

Cookie_Monster

Can I just say Jan is not really an idea time for such a long walk. Little day light for a start, your either going to be cut short walking each day or walking in the dark. The cold and wet will get very tedious to deal with also.

Around Ireland you will be doing a fair bit or track and road walking I imagine, frozen roads are no fun at all to walk on and will slow you down a lot.

Nothing wrong with hiking in Jan as such, can be nice and crisp and fresh but for a long walk such as this, I imagine 2-3 weeks +, it would be more hassle than doing it later in the year I would think.

As for equipment, pretty much as above. Get yourself at least one platypus/camelback for water, so much easier than bottles. Hiking like that you should be drinking 2-3L a day minimum even in weather like that.