Equipment List Southwest Instructor Course

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1 Southwest Instructor Course Welcome to NOLS Southwest! We look forward to having you with us. We have designed this list to help you decide what equipment you will need for your course. Please take the time to read the following information carefully before making any equipment choices. Selection and This list details the gear you will need for both the backpacking and climbing sections. On the Southwest Instructor Course you will be introduced to the typical NOLS backpacking gear system on the first ration of your hiking section. For the second ration, you will be swapping out group gear, rations and some personal gear and be introduced to both the NOLS Lightweight Backpacking gear systems and curriculum. In the recent years we have been stressing lighter-weight gear options for all of our backcountry courses, NOLS Lightweight courses or not. You will notice that we have listed examples and recommended weights for many items on this equipment list. These specific brands are not required, they are just examples to help you best select between options of gear you already may own or if you are choosing to buy anything before arriving in Tucson. If you are going to purchase items before your course, think carefully about weight and durability! Scales will also be available for use during the issue process at NOLS Southwest. By weighing each piece of equipment you might bring, you will be able to make better choices in your gear selection and lighten your pack for both backpacking ration periods! As a current or aspiring outdoor professional, you likely already own most of what is on this list and already have your own personal packing system for traveling in the backcountry. Please bring any gear on this list that you already own. If you are having trouble deciding between two different options you already own, bring them both. Your instructors will talk through every item of gear you bring to determine if it is suitable. If an item is not approved, you can leave it with your luggage in our storage lockers. You may be asked by your instructors to rent or purchase items from our gear store if something that you brought from home is not sufficient for your course s specific route and the recent weather conditions. If you are thinking about purchasing certain items for this course, the NOLS Southwest gear store can fully outfit you with most everything listed, with the exception of hiking footwear. We offer substantial discounts for purchasing used equipment and the rental fee for gear used on your course will be applied toward the purchase price. Fees To cover the cost of your equipment purchases and rentals from us, you have been charged an equipment deposit in addition to the course tuition. (See your account statement for the amount.) The equipment deposit equals the cost of what the average student spends on gear purchases and rental items for this particular course. Additional charges will be incurred for any equipment that is lost or damaged. You will be billed for any charges that exceed your equipment deposit or refunded any balance approximately 2-4 weeks after the end of your course. The following list describes the equipment necessary for your course and as well as the availability of that equipment in the NOLS Southwest gear store. Please pay careful attention to the few items we do not provide, and/or those that are for purchase only with no option to rent. Please note that the rental prices listed are per course. s are subject to change without notice. The availability of each item is indicated as follows: The item is available from NOLS, but for PURCHASE ONLY. The item is available at NOLS, but for RENTAL ONLY. ** prices are per course. The item is NOT AVAILABLE from NOLS; must bring from home. ** items have the opportunity to be purchased at the end of your course if you are interested. The rental price is then applied towards the purchase price. If you have any questions, especially with regard to lightweight gear, please feel free to call us at NOLS Southwest (520) We love hearing from future students before courses start!

2 Upper Body Layers NOLS uses a layering system where different combinations of clothing are worn to achieve optimum body temperature control. The upper body garments listed here are either synthetic garments which retain their insulating properties even when wet, or nylon or Gore-Tex layers which help prevent heat loss by repelling wind, rain, and snow. You will need three insulating layers plus a wind layer and a rain layer. All must fit comfortably over each other so they can all be worn at the same time, if necessary. Item Mid-Weight Top Expedition Weight Top Synthetic or down puffy Jacket $30 (synthetic) $40 - $50 $80 - $50 $25 -$95 (down) Wind Jacket $20 $60 - $25 Hiking Shirt/T- Shirts $20 - $ One mid-weight underwear top made of wool, polypropylene or Capilene. [Example: Patagonia Capliene 2 Lightweight Crew, 5.6oz] Polyester fleece pullover/expedition weight top or a wool sweater. DO NOT bring an expensive "favorite" sweater; this item will receive extensive wear. [Example: Patagonia R Hoody, 2.8 oz] You will be excited to have a down 600 or 800-fill or synthetic puffy jacket. Something less than 20 oz. and with a hood is ideal for the lightweight section. MontBell, GoLite, Patagonia and Mountain Hardwear all make great lightweight options. We carry and recommend the Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka,.3oz. [Other example: Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody, 9.3oz] If you only own a synthetic puffy jacket, bring that, as it will work great as well. A lightweight, breathable, nylon wind shell either pullover or full zip style. Hooded wind jackets are strongly recommended. Does not need to be waterproof, but should be about 5oz or less. [Examples: Patagonia Houdini Jacket, 3.7oz or the Marmot Trail Wind Hoody, 5oz] synthetic shirt for backpacking, and -2 cotton shirts for the climbing section. We highly recommend Polyester/Capilene for hiking because it dries much more quickly than cotton and can be incorporated into a layering system. Consider a men s polyester button down dress shirt for a hiking shirt, inexpensive at a thrift store and provides great sun protection! [Example: Patagonia Capilene Silkweight T-Shirt, 3.4oz] 2

3 Item Rain Jacket $00 - $200 Upper Body Layers (Continued) a lightweight (less than 6oz), waterproof, breathable rain jacket. Both coated nylon and breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex are acceptable. [Other Examples: Marmot Precip Jacket, 3oz, or the Go-Lite Malpais Trinity Litshell Jacket, 7oz] Sport Bras $40 We stock Patagonia synthetic sports bras. Our advice? The Gila can get very cold in April, and most courses encounter rain and snow. the down and synthetic jackets and other layers you think might work. We'll advise you on the best combination for the current weather conditions. Lower Body Layers Depending on how cold of a person you are, you will need or 2 lower body insulating layers, plus a wind layer. All must fit comfortably over each other so that they can be worn at the same time. Mid-Weight bottoms Synthetic or Down Puffy Pants Hiking Pants (Wind Pants/Rain Pants) Shorts $30 $35 - $65 pair $40 pair $65 - $00 pair $36 - $50 pair This insulating layer should be made of polypropylene, wool or Capilene. Cotton and cotton blends are not acceptable. These could be optional if you are bringing puffy pants and consider yourself a warm person. [Examples: Patagonia Capilene 2 Lightweight Bottoms, 5.7oz or Ibex Woolies Bottoms, 5.6oz] You can substitute bringing a pair of polypro midweight bottoms and just bring a pair of lightweight synthetic or down puffy pants instead. ing these pants may also allow you to bring a lighter rated sleeping bag (i.e. 30 degree instead of 20 degree), as you can sleep in your pants for increased warmth. If you sleep cold, you will likely want to bring both. [Example: Montbell s Thermawrap TEC pants, 3.9oz] A pair of quick-drying lightweight pants is key for a hiking course in the desert southwest. If you prefer, you can forget the shorts and just bring the pants to save weight. [Example: Patagonia Simple Guide Pant, 2.3oz or Mountain Hardware Mesa Pant, 3.2oz] NOLS has a custom design wind pant that includes zippered legs and reinforced patches at points of wear, if you don t already own a pair. Loose fitting and quick drying nylon athletic or river shorts work well for your backpacking section. As noted above, you can also go without shorts and just hike in pants for the duration of the course if you wish. Cotton shorts will only be acceptable for your climbing section. [Example: Patagonia Baggies, 8. oz] 3

4 Lower Body Layers (Continued) Underwear $8 - $ pair Silk, synthetic, or none. We recommend that men go without underwear, and just use nylon shorts with liners. Women should go with what s comfortable. Our advice? the synthetic and down pants you think might work. We'll advise you on the best combination for your course. Sun Hat, Baseball Cap or Visor Wool/Fleece Hat Head, Neck & Hand Layers $20 - $30 $4 - $35 a baseball hat, sun hat or visor to protect face and ears from the sun. We stock NOLS Southwest baseball caps and visors. A warm hat made of wool or fleece or a Buff. If you are bringing a fleece layer with a hood, this could also suffice. Lightweight Gloves $9 - $20 pair Wool or fleece is acceptable. [Example: Outdoor Research PL glove liners,.4 oz] Packs & Bags We carry the Osprey Escalante, NOLS Deuter and Golite Jam backpacks. Various internal frame backpacks are available to rent from NOLS. Backpack / Lightweight Backpack Full Size Backpack $60 Lightweight Backpack $25 New: $350 - $400 Used: $200 - $300 The pack for the first ration of your hiking section should have a volume of around cubic inches. Recommended packs: Osprey Aether Series, NOLS Deuter pack (4 lbs.), or other packs of similar quality and capacity. The backpack itself should weigh no more than 4-5 lbs. For the second, lightweight ration of your hiking section, the pack should weigh less than 2 lbs and be roughly 3,000 cubic inches (50L). You can rent a GoLite Jam pack from NOLS Southwest for the lightweight portion of your backpacking section. 4

5 Climbing Day Pack $6 $70 Packs & Bags (Continued) A crag pack, used for the climbing section. Needs to be durable and big enough to carry both daily personal items (i.e. water, food, layers) and group climbing gear minimum of 2750 cubic inches. A school book-bag pack is unacceptable. [Example: Black Diamond 50 Caliber Pack] Small Stuff Sacks Big Duffel Bag $4 $5-$ $0 $30 - $40 Small nylon or mesh sacks with drawstrings for organizing items in your pack. Optional. A large-sized zippered nylon bag ( cu. inches) is helpful for packing/storing all your gear on the basecamp climbing section. Down or Synthetic Sleeping Bag Compression Sleeping Bag Stuff Sack Plastic Trash Bags $60 Available new and used for $00 - $270 $2 $20 - $55 Sleeping Pad $2 $.75 - $.00-2 $8-$2 (ensolite) $45 - $60 (Therm-A- Rest ) Ground Cloth $8 $2 - $30 Sleeping Gear You will need a lightweight (close to 2 lbs.), preferably down, sleeping bag that has a breathable water repellant shell. A synthetic bag will work fine as well, although it will increase your pack weight. out sleeping bags from MontBell, Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends, GoLite, Mountain Hardwear or Big Agnes. We carry a limited supply of down sleeping bags for sale. NOLS Southwest does not rent down sleeping bags, but we do rent Mountain Hardwear 0-5 synthetic Lamina bags. Depending on how cold of a sleeper you are, a bag with a 0-35 F temperature rating is recommended for this time of year in the desert mountain ranges. Optional. If you want/need to compress down your sleeping bag to save room, you should think about bringing a sil-nylon sleeping bag compression stuff sack. out the Granite Gear Air Compressor line. If it is small enough, you may just pack their sleeping bag into the bottom of their pack with no compression sack needed. -2 heavy-duty trash compactor bags (33 gallon) to help waterproof your sleeping bag stuff sack and/or backpack. We sell them in singles, so you don t need to buy a huge box! a lightweight (less than lb.) inflatable (or closed cell foam) sleeping pad that extends from your head to your thighs. We recommend, the Montbell UL Pad 90,. oz, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, 2oz or Thermarest Z-lite. MontBell also makes an excellent inflatable pillow, which weighs only 2.3oz. NOLS does not rent self-inflating pads, only ensolite foam pads. Optional. A lightweight nylon sheet to go between your sleeping pad and the ground. 5

6 Helmet No Charge Rock Shoes $20 Climbing - New & used $40-30 pair Harness $6 N/A Cotton Climbing Pants Climbing Shorts Chalk Bag $50 - $80 $35 - $60-2 pairs $20 - $25 You may bring your own UIAA approved helmet or you can use one from NOLS for free. Shoes should be tight fitting ( toes just hit the end ), but loose enough that they can be worn for up to five hours at a time on a multi-pitch climb. [Example: La Sportiva Mythos] We have harnesses for rent, but if you own one, bring it along. We will check it for wear at the beginning of your course. Optional. Comfortable cotton or nylon pants for leg protection, while climbing. Cotton or synthetic shorts are appropriate for your climbing section. Longer shorts are best to wear with a harness. [Example: Prana Mojo shorts] Optional. Chalk bags hold chalk that is used to dry hands while climbing. Optional. Gymnastic chalk enclosed in a tight Chalk Ball $8 mesh sock. Used to dry hands while climbing. Our advice? If you own a harness, helmet, chalk bag and pair of shoes, bring them along. If your instructors approve, you can use them. We will use the school's climbing protection, belay devices, slings, carabiners and ropes. Miscellaneous Items Titanium or plastic Bowl/Mug Spoon Water Bottles/Containers Lip Balm $5 - $5 $2 - $2 $8 - $40 2 $2 - $4 A super lightweight titanium mug/bowl is excellent for eating and drinking. A simple and light ziploc or Tupperware type container will suffice for a bowl as well. [Example: MSR Titan.4L,.9oz]. Lexan and/or Titanium spoons are light, durable and popular. You will need at least 2 Liters of capacity for your trip. Lightweight collapsible containers with or without hoses work great. out different styles from Platypus or MSR. One Liter widemouth plastic Gatorade bottles also work well. A 6 oz. Nalgene bottle with a lid works well doubling as a small water bottle and coffee mug. Stick, cream, or tube type moisturizing balm with sun protection factor SPF 5 or greater Sunscreen Bandanas Sunglass Retainers $4 - $9 An 8- to 0-ounce tube with sun protection factor SPF 5 or greater. $3 or 2 A couple of these are always handy. $6 Optional. Chums or Croakies for keeping track of your glasses or sunglasses. 6

7 Sunglasses Headlamp Batteries Disposable Lighters Toilet Articles Watch Notepad and Pencil/Pen Town Clothes Towel No Charge Miscellaneous Items (Continued) $40 - $75 pair $20 - $50 Lenses should block 00% ultraviolet light. We carry various brands and styles. a lightweight LED headlamp and some spare batteries. We carry Black Diamond Spots and Gizmo headlamps. $.85 each set We have AA and AAA batteries for sale. $.50 Used for lighting your camp stove. $2 - $5 of each Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, skin lotion, tampons, etc. Travel or trial sizes are enough. We carry soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and shampoo. $35 - $60 A watch with an alarm is a necessary item. $4 - $0 /$.50 2 sets - A small, lightweight pad is necessary for taking notes. two sets of comfortable clothing that you can travel in jeans, shorts, t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc. You can also bring extra some comfortable cotton clothing to bring on your basecamp climbing section to wear in the evenings. Avoid bringing excess clothing, as storage space is limited. We will provide you a towel for showering with after your course and in between sections. Our advice? Keep the toiletries, pocketknife and camera gear to small sizes. We work to keep our pack weight as low as possible. Saving every ounce is essential! Optional Items Coffee Liner Socks $4 (3pk) Your preference! $8-2 pairs Regular grounds or we ve found that the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew packets from the supermarket are the hot ticket for lightweight camping. We sell both options at NOLS Southwest. Lightweight wool, polypropylene or Capilene "wick dry" socks for hiking boot liner socks. Pocket Knife Vitamins / Protein Powder $2 - $ One small, lightweight knife is sufficient; a simple Swiss Army knife is best. Not necessary, but a small quantity of multivitamins or protein powder is popular among staff and students, for a course of this length. 7

8 Optional Items (Continued) Insoles Water Treatment Book Camera Backpacker s Camp Chair Prescription Glasses And Contact Lenses Trekking Poles Thermos pair $6 - $38 or 2 $30 - $52 $65 - $80/pair -2 pair or 2 (poles) $25 - $48 To assure your comfort in hiking boots an after market insole (these are insoles available for purchase separate from footwear) can provide arch support, stabilize your foot and heel, add cushion and help volume adjustment. [Examples: Spenco Polysorb, Superfeet, Montrail Stabilizing Insoles] NOLS supplies Aqua Mira for backcountry water purification. Aqua Mira is a chlorine dioxide based treatment that is iodine and chlorine free. However, if you have sensitivity to this treatment you may need to bring your own water filter such as the PUR Scout or Hiker, or the Sweetwater Guardian. A paperback reading book for your climbing section. Lightweight, point and shoot digital compact cameras are sufficient with a lightweight protective case. Avoid heavy lenses and elaborate set-ups on the backpacking sections. NOTE: We do not allow personal cell phones in the field, so please do not plan on using your smartphone camera in the backcountry. Crazy Creek or one with Therm-A-Rest fitting for the backpacking section. These may mean carrying a little extra weight, but you can decide if it s worth it. On the base camp climbing section a foldable camp chair is a nice place to relax in the evening. a spare pair of glasses or lenses. Contact lens wearers should also bring a pair of glasses as backup. Again, prescription sunglasses are a nice item to have in reserve. If you like to use a trekking pole while you hike. It should be a sturdy 2-3 section pole that packs easily. Great for keeping morning drinks warm during your basecamp climbing section. Footwear Hiking Boots pair Sturdy light or medium weight backpacking boots with good ankle support and proper fit are critical for hiking on uneven terrain with our heavier expedition packs. These would be for the first ration period of your backpacking section. See recommended boots at the end of this document. 8

9 Lightweight Hiking Shoes / Camp Shoes Approach Shoes Socks Gaiters Footwear (Continued) pair Optional $8 - $2 2-3 pair $35 - $50 pair You ll need a lightweight hiking shoe/sneaker that has adequate stability, breathability, and foot protection for the second ration of your backpacking section. Avoid shoes with large quantities of leather, as this adds weight and drying time. Gore-Tex liners also increase drying time (if shoes get wet) and decrease breathability of shoes. These can also double as your camp shoes. See recommended shoes at the end of this document. Optional. If you already own a pair of approach shoes with sticky rubber, you may want them for your climbing section. [Example: 5.0 Guide Tennies] 2-3 pair of crew length socks. These should be heavy wool or heavy wool/synthetic blend. Cotton/wool blend socks are not appropriate. Additionally, a few pairs of shorter ¼ length socks are nice for the climbing and lightweight backpacking sections. Full-length gaiters like the Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters keep dirt and other debris from entering the boot and protect your legs from the harsh desert flora. Mini-gaiters like the Montbell Semi Long Spats are great with running shoes for the lightweight backpacking ration. If you have any questions about boots or lightweight hiking shoes, please feel free to call NOLS Southwest! Recommended Boots Please note that NOLS Southwest does not rent or sell hiking boots or trail shoes. Light or medium-weight, off-trail backpacking boots work best. This type of boot is constructed with a full grain leather upper and typically has a Vibram rubber sole. Some models utilize an injection molded, composite rubber sole with a randed welt to bond the leather upper to the sole. Both types of sole are acceptable. These boots are designed for extended backpacking, provide good support for offtrail hiking with pound packs, and usually require less break-in time than mountaineering boots. The following list is not exhaustive and is to be used for suggestions only. The boots listed here should help define what types are acceptable for your course. It is fine to substitute a similar boot for one listed here provided the boot that you bring is a good quality leather model designed for extended backpacking expeditions with heavier packs. EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTABLE BOOTS* Examples Of Acceptable Boots* Asolo: TPS 520 GV, TPS 535 Lowa: Tibet GTX, Baffin Pro La Sportiva: Thunder II GTX, Garnet GTX Scarpa: Zanskar GTX, Hunza GTX, SL M3 Vasque: Wasatch GTX, Summit GTX, Sundowner GTX 9

10 Lightweight Hiking Shoes You ll need a lightweight hiking shoe/sneaker that has adequate stability, breathability, and foot protection. This pair of hiking shoes will be used for the second ration of your backpacking section. Avoid shoes with large quantities of leather, as this adds weight and drying time. Gore-Tex liners also increase drying times if shoes get wet, and decrease breathability (increase heat retention) of shoes. The fit should be slightly roomy, one half size larger than your normal shoe size to accommodate swelling from altitude and exercise. This will also help to avoid blisters and sore feet. Before arriving for your course, take some time to do a few day hikes to make sure your shoes fit comfortably. The following brands and models are appropriate for the course. They are in no particular order: Examples Of Acceptable Hiking Shoes Montrail: AT Plus, Mountain Masochist II La Sportiva: Raptor, C-lite, Wildcat Salomon: XA Pro, XA Comp, XT Wings 2, XT Hornet Vasque: Mindbender, Velocity 2.0 *Please note that boot and shoe manufacturers often rename their product line. Visit the manufacturer's website or contact us if you have questions. Resources An excellent resource for unique ultra light gear is the website In addition, and wwwgossamergear.com are other great lightweight gear resources. Group All items listed below are provided by NOLS and shared among all expedition members. Group equipment is included as part of the course tuition; however, students will be charged for any lost or damaged group equipment. Tents & Shelters Maps & Compasses GPS Units Camp Stoves Reference Books Binoculars Fuel and Fuel Bottles First Aid Kits Repair Kits Trowels or Shovels Cooking Gear Water Purification Helmets Climbing ropes and protection Bear Spray 0