Group Equipment

Emergency and communication equipment can consist of:

• Survival kit

• FA kit

• Fire lighting kit

• Cell phone

• Radio/Mountain radio

• Personal locator beacon

1. While the best case scenario would be to have each of these items as personal items, cost and pack space can become an issue when overnight tramping in groups.

2. Each individual should always carry their own personal survival and first aid kits however having a larger group kit for both ensures that as a group, you will all have access to a larger supply then you may be able to carry individually. One main fire lighting kit should suffice for the group.

3. Due to costs, it can be difficult to have multiple mountain radios and locator beacons. Ensuring that you have at least one of these with your group is vital for you and your groups safety. Cell phones and radios are more easily accessible to most however struggle for reception when out in the bush.

When at a campsite, there are two main types of equipment that is shared by the group. These are shelter and cooking equipment.

1. Shelters like tents are comprised of four main parts: the fly, shell, poles and pegs. While many tents are multi person tents, this enable the group to be able to evenly distribute the different parts between each person sleeping in that tent. These should be distributed by equal size and weight between each person eg fly & poles, shell & pegs for two people or fly, shell, pole & pegs for three. The shelter would most likely be the largest piece of equipment so should not be carried by one person.

2. Cooking equipment can be shared between groups. This reduces the overall number of personal items each individual has to bring and carry. Equipment like stoves or gas cookers, cooking pots and cleaning items can all be shared between the group. Eating utensils, cups and plates/bowls should always belong to the individual.

3. Other items can consist of lamps, playing cards, travel games, speakers etc can all be shared between the group. Be careful as some of these extra items may not be essential and could add extra weight for your group to carry!

It's essential when going out into the bush as a group to plan what equipment that you all will be using. Part of this planning will include laying out all the group equipment you have and distributing it to each person. There are careful things to consider while planning who will carry what:

1. Size: Everyone has to carry their own personal gear with them. If one person has to carry items that fills half of their pack, no matter how light, they may not have enough room to carry their own equipment. Everyone should carry an equal or similar sized amount of equipment.

2. Weight: Some items may be heavier than others. Even if everyone carries the same sized amount of equipment, no one wants to be left with the heaviest items. While distributing heavy items, it is important to consider the physical strength of each individual in your group. Some people may be able to carry heavier packs than others so be mindful to carry your fair share of the groups equipment.

3. Changing amounts: Over the duration of your group's tramp, certain items such as food will gradually decrease over the duration of the tramp. These items cannot all be left with one person. These items must be spread evenly between the group. It's easiest for each individual to carry their own share of these items.