Work pants:
Work pants should be durable canvas or denim that will hold up to tough jobs. Consider brands such as Dickies, Arborwear, Ben Davis or Carhartts. Women's pants can be especially challenging to find, but you can look into Red Ant Pants, Gamine Workwear, as well as women specific Carharts and Dickies. Work Boots:
Work boots/hiking boots do not need to be all-leather, but do need to have a sturdy toe. A steel toe is not required. Boots must cover your ankle. When shopping for boots, trying them on in person is highly recommended! Consider that you may be asked to hike many miles in these shoes, so comfort is key. Consider brands such as Vasque, Asolo or Scarpa, but any brand that fits the requirements and is comfortable will be fine. If you are purchasing new boots try to wear them as much as possible to break them in before your first day. Also consider bringing moleskin or athletic tape to help avoid blisters. |
Chainsaw Boots:
If you are on a saw crew the requirements for boots will be different. Saw boots MUST be all leather, lace up, and come 8” above the ankle. Brands such as Redwing, Danners, Georgia Boots, Whites and Timberland all make appropriate saw boots. Saw boots do not need to have a steel toe. Tents:
When purchasing a tent it is most important to consider what will keep you and your gear comfortable and dry. A tent with a full rain-fly and a ground cloth are highly recommended. Size wise, you should consider anything from a 1-3 person tent. There are many great brands of tents on the market these days. Kelty, REI, Sierra Designs, MSR, Mountain Hardware, and The North Face are just a few to consider. Avoid Colman brand or other tents purchased at Walmart, since they typically do not hold-up will or stay waterproof. Daypacks:
You will need a day pack. This is a smaller pack that will need to hold all of your water (at least 1 1/2 gallons), food, and rain gear for the day. Again, finding a pack that is comfortable is important. There are many great brands of day packs, a few good ones include: Kelty, Ospray, Gregory, REI, Deuter, etc. A pack with a waist strap is recommended, as it helps reduce strain on your shoulders. Backcountry packs:
Backcountry packs are NOT required for all crews, or for all projects. On front country projects a large duffle bag that can hold all of your gear will work. If you are looking to purchase a backcountry pack, you should consider one with a capacity of 70-90 liters. If you have the chance to try packs on in person, it is recommended to do so, so you can find the pack that fits you best, and is comfortable with weight in it. Internal frame packs are recommended. Osprey, Kelty and Gregory are a few good brands to look into, and all have good warranties. Socks:
Believe it or not, socks can do wonders when it comes to improving your comfort on the trail. Wool, wool blend, or synthetic socks with a cushion that come past your ankle are highly recommended. You will want at least 2-3 pairs to rotate through. Some people like to bring a pair of "sacred socks" which are only worn at the end of the day in your sleeping bag, and help to both keep your sleeping bag clean and your feet warm at night. Water Containers:
You should have enough water containers to hold at least 1 ½ gallons of water. Some people choose to re-use Arizona Tea jugs, Gatorade bottles, or other sturdy containers with a screw on lid. This is a fine option, just be aware that these containers can break, and if you are front country it may be worth bringing a spare. Nalgene containers are very durable, and highly recommended! If you chose to bring a camelback, or other sort of hydration pack, be aware of their tendency to puncture, and bring a patch kit, as well as an extra Nalgene or container for back-up. Raingear:
Raingear should be durable enough to work in, and compact enough to fit in your daypack. Ponchos or disposable rain jackets are NOT recommended, due to their tendency to rip and get in the way. Rain pants should be large enough to fit over your work pants. White Sierra has a line of reasonably priced rain pants and rain jackets, brands such as REI, The North Face, Marmot and Mountain Hardware also work. Sleeping Bags:
Either down or synthetic sleeping bags will work. Down bags have the advantage of being more lightweight and compact, but they will not keep you warm if they get wet, and they are more delicate than synthetic bags. Synthetic bags are bulky, but are significantly cheaper, and will still keep you warm if they have gotten wet. Bags should be rated to 13-30 degrees F if on a Tucson Crew. Rated 0 degrees F if on a Flagstaff or White Mountains crew. You should also have a compression sack to store your sleeping bag in. Some people also like to bring a sleeping bag liner, which can up your sleeping bag rating by a few degrees, and is also easier to wash than your entire sleeping bag. Sleeping Pad:
You should have an insulating foam or inflatable sleeping pad such as a Therm-a-Rest or Ridge Rest. Therm-a-Rest, or other inflatable pads have the advantage of being lightweight and compact, but the disadvantage or being easy to puncture. Be sure to bring a patch kit with you if you use an inflatable pad. DO NOT bring an air mattress! They are too easily damaged, and do not keep you warm. Some folks double-up on the sleeping pads, and will bring both a foam and an inflatable mattress to stack on top of one another. This can be especially cozy during colder months, since it will add an additional layer of insulation. Personal Cooking Stove: Not required for all crews, only needed for certain backcountry projects. A stove powered by butane or white gas is recommended. Alcohol powered stoves do not get as hot, and cook food slower. Consider brands such as REI or MSR. The MSR whisperlight is a good versatile white gas stove which you can repair easily, the MSR pocket rocket is a lightweight butane stove. The Jetboil is popular, but they limit the cookware that you can use, and in many cases are only capable of boiling water.
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