Waterproof and Windproof Pants

If you are doing any trekking or serious hiking, you need something waterproof for your legs--especially if you're backpacking during the rainy season (roughly from March until June or August through September in EA). If you plan on getting a , then you can probably do without the waterproof pants. Then, however, you will need windproof pants so that the wind doesn't slice into your warmth.

Whatever you decide, make sure that the pant legs zip up from the bottom reasonably far in order to accomodate your boots. A sunny day in a mountain can turn into a rainy one pretty quickly, so you'll want to be able to pull them on without doing an improvised rain dance and potentially worsening your situation.

 

Pile Trousers for East African Mountains

Pile pants are nice for added warmth while hiking and sleeping; they will only be necessary on the highest peaks in East Africa: Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon--basically above 14,000 feet.

Recommended are Polartec® 200 Pants or 300 pants; side zippers are good for pulling up on the go.

 

Hiking Pants/Shorts for Africa

In terms of pants and shorts, you should try to consolidate as much as possible. While it's nice to have a good pair of nylon hiking pants, in truth you will probably only need nylon shorts whilst hiking, as it can get quite toasty (you can use wind pants and waterproof pants as needed). With your gaiters coming up to your knees, you ought to be well-covered.

A nice compromise are pants that convert into shorts. With these convertible pants, you can use the pants as another layer when it gets cold, and possibly dispense with pile pants (when hiking at significant altitude) if your long underwear is good enough.

Whatever you choose, make sure they're nylon (cotton is too hot and retains too much water) and relatively waterproof. It's also best to choose clothing that's light-colored as darker colors attract bugs such as mosquitoes, tsetse flies and other Jurassic-sized insects.

 

Boot Grease/Waterproofing

You'll need to waterproof those boots of yours. And because they're leather (as recommended), you'll need a specific agent.

I've always been happy with Nikwax, which I recommend.

 

Socks

Comfortable socks that wick moisture away from your feet will be quite necessary for hiking. The right socks prevent blisters and the other scourges of trekking.

The basic formula for backpacking involves two pairs of socks used in conjunction: a thin, 'wicking' pair and a thick wool pair. Together, they offer superior protection from waterlogged feet and blisters.

How many pairs and types of socks you bring is dependent upon what you plan to do. For those who are doing anywhere from intermediate to serious hiking, I would recommend two pair of wicking socks (keep one pair dry), one to two pair of medium-thickness hiking socks, and two pairs heavy duty trekking socks. This offers the most flexibility in possible combinations and is most responsive to your evolving foot care needs.

You could, for instance, wear a medium thickness sock when in town, a wicking sock and heavy trekking sock when in the foothills, and a combination of wicking sock, medium hiking sock and heavy trekking sock when your feet are acting up on the most difficult alpine ascents.

The wicking sock should be made of a material that wicks moisture off your foot such as Coolmax. Fox River makes a nice wick dry liner sock.

In terms of the medium and heavy duty socks, you'll want a product with at least 75% wool. Personally, I owe my feet's durability to the Smartwool brand. Smartwool is a synthetic/wool blend that offers the best socks on the market. Their Medium Cushion Hiking Socks are an excellent hiking sock, while their Heavy Cushion Trekking sock should be available and your local backpacking store.

 

Camp Shoes

Any tatty old pair of sneakers will do the job. They should be reasonably sturdy and comfortable. Running shoes are also appropriate.

 

Gaiters in Africa

Although gaiters will make you look like a futuristic space fiend, I can't imagine doing even the most casual hiking in East Africa without them.

For one, they'll keep Africa's prodigious amounts of dust and debris out of your boots, thus saving your feet from further abuse. They'll also keep water out of them when you're crossing a stream or trundling through a downpour; if you're curious about trenchfoot, don't bring gaiters. And last but not least, they add another protective layer against a snakebite. Considering that East Africa has the world's deadliest snakes, from the black mamba (called the three-step snake--if it bites you, three steps and you're dead) to the puff adder, it's a good precaution to have gaiters when carousing through the low-visibility-below-the-knee bush.

I have always been more than content with Outdoor Research's brand of gaiters. I would recommend getting the model that 'buckles' under your boot instead of the newfangled ones that do the job with an elastic cord. The cord seems very suspect and sacrifices durability in the name of convenience. And it's not as if the buckle is 19th century German metaphysics. So, get the Outdoor Research Verglas Gaiter.

Keep in mind that gaiter sizes recommended according to men's shoe size. Use this key for fitting: Small (4-7), Medium (6-9), Large (8-11) and Extra Large (10-13).

 

Hiking Boots for Africa

Perhaps no other decision will be as important as your choice of hiking boots.

First of all, you'll be encountering varied terrain, whether in the mountains or the streets of East African cities. Secondly, you have the potential to change biospheres rapidly: you can go from desert to alpine moorland in three days. Finally, your mode of transport will be your feet, a part of your anatomy that you'll find the new subject of anxiety and worship.

The wrong pair of boots can aid the onset everything from Achilles tendonitus to a rash of crippling blisters. In the field, these injuries are potentially devastating. On the streets, they will make you more vulnerable. So, it goes without saying that a good pair of well-chosen boots is vital to backpacking in East Africa.

Medium-weight, light mountaineering boots offer the best compromise between the models available. The body of the boot should be full grain leather with a rubber (usually Vibram) sole. These types of boots are better for East Africa than the heavy mountaineering variety which take longer to break in and offer less flexibility.

Make sure the boot is designed for extended backpacking with heavy packs. Once broken in, it will make for a good, all-purpose boot for the hostel to hostel minded backpacker.

Boots are one of those things that you ought to try on and walk around in before buying. For this reason, I recommend visiting your local backpacking/outdoors store. Make sure the boot is secure (doesn't budge) but has enough room for your feet to breathe. You should put on two pairs of heavy trekking socks before trying on the boot, as this will account for the swelling of feet that usually occurs while backpacking.

A good test of boot size is to make sure the boot fits snugly and comfortably and then kick a wall as hard as your can with the toe of the boot. If your toe doesn't slide to the front of the boot, then it's probably a good fit. Obviously, you will need to create some kind of diversion for the salesperson when attempting this.

You should expect to pay $200-$250 for a good pair of hiking boots. Recommended brands are:

Asolo Men's TPS 520 GV

Asolo Women's TPS 520 GV

Men's Merrell Wilderness

Women's Merrell Wilderness

Garmont Men's Dakota Plus Nubuk

Dakota Nubuck - Women's by Garmont

 

Master Gear List

Caveat: This is the comprehensive, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list that probably applies to a very small percentage of people. It is for those who plan on doing enough trekking and mountaineering in East Africa to make the purchase (rather than rental of) such equipment an intelligent choice. It presumes that your maximum time period in the alpine wilderness will be 10 days.

An asterisk (*) indicates that the item is optional, though recommended (see individual gear items for discussion).


Footwear

• Leather Hiking Boots
• Gaiters
  
• Camp Shoes
• Thin Socks (2 pair)
• Thick Socks (3-5 pair)
• Boot Grease

Lower Body Clothing

• Long Underwear Bottoms
• Wind Pants (*)
  
• Waterproof Pants
  
• Pile Trousers (*)
  
• Hiking Pants
• Underwear (3-5 pair)
  

Upper Body Clothing

• Long Underwear Top
  
• 2nd Warm Layer
  
• 3rd Warm Layer
• Vest (*)
• Windproof Jacket (*)
• Waterproof Jacket
  
• Gloves
• Glove Shells
• Pile Cap
• Sun Hat

Camping Gear

• Tent
  
• Footprint for Tent (*)
  
• Sleeping Bag (w/stuff sack)
  
• Sleeping Bag Liner
• Mattress (w/repair kit if inflatable)
  
• Chair Converter for Mattress (*)
  
• Stove (w/cleaning kit)
• Fuel Bottles
• Cookware
• Thermos, Bowl & Spoon
• Lighter
• Headlamp
  

Backpack

• 4500-5500 cubic inch capacity backpack
• Detachable Daypack (*)
  
• Rain Cover (*)
  
• Hydration System (*)

Miscellany

• Watch
• Leatherman, or at least a collapsible knife
• Sunglasses (w/case)
• Chapstick
  
• Sunscreen
• Towel
• Shorts
• Mosquito Net (*) and Repellent
• Compass
• Water Bottles (2)
• Water Container (for camp kitchen & storage)
• Water Filter or Purification Tablets
  
• Bungie Cord
• Toiletries