Happy new year!!!

среќна нова година 2013 !!!!!

Scout Outdoor, the new gear shop in Skopje!

  I have written a few times about outdoor equipment, and it is no secret that it isn't easy to get good quality gear in Macedonia, or even gear full stop!
  But things are changing for the better.

  Scout Outdoor shop opened in June this year.

General view of the shop.

Clothes section.

  I am not the only one who uses and buys gear here, so when a new shop opens, it's party times, dudes!
  They are located in the Targovski center, on the ground floor. Took me forever to find the shop, but that's maybe because I hadn't been everywhere in the shopping center. 
       And I didn't have my compass with me...
 Just joking LOL
Now, I can say I have been everywhere in the shopping center.

Shoes and some climbing gear /sleeping bags.

Various accessories, hammocks, compasses, etc.

  The shop is very appealing to the eye, very nice décor and well thought out, it makes you feel like coming in. And once you do, you won't be disappointed  they have a very good selection of gear, and in particular they have stuff that just was not available anywhere in Macedonia. 
  I must say that I tip my hat to the owners of the shop who had the foresight to import the gear that was missing here, anything from compasses to solar panels, hammocks and various small accessories to make everyone's life easier on the trail. Or at home for that matter.
  And the selection keeps expanding.

If you don't find it here, you won't find it nowhere!

   If you need clothes, climbing accessories  cooking gear, quality water bottles, and more, you have to check out Scout Outdoor shop.
  And they know what they are talking about. It isn't just about sales. Serious stuff here.
  Check out their Facebook page, it's very interesting.
  Or phone them on +389 2 323 1200
  Then, go to the shop. You may find what you've been looking for for so long, right here in good old Skopje!

Summer expedition gear

   A while back, I wrote about some of the gear I use in the winter. Now, I am not a geek, but I have been using outdoor gear for some time now and there has never been so much offer on the market!

  I mean, when I started out, a backpack was a simple piece of canvas and leather, you know.

  Look now, you have a million different designs, manufacturers, not to mention carrying systems and lightweight fabrics. Damn!

  But of course, if you listen to the manufacturers, they would have you buying a whole bunch of gear that you don't need. And there is of course gear that is good, not so good, and plain old garbage.


  In my last post, I rambled about how hot it was, and about all the water I had to carry with me. This led me to thinking about the gear for cold winter and hot summer use, two extremes.

  So I will a rundown on some of the gear I use, why I use it, the alternatives, and so on.


  CLOTHING
  The clothes you wear in the outdoors in the summer are different then winter ones in one key area; fabrics.
Now, you obviously wear less clothing at this time of the year, but what you wear can make a big difference, because you're not trying to stay warm, it's the opposite.
  Cotton clothing is not recommended for winter use because it absorbs water and stays wet, take a long time to dry, so in the winter, your cotton underwear is going to be cold and uncomfortable once you stop moving.
  But in the summer, it is precisely the same characteristics that make cotton desirable. You wear a cotton shirt, you will inevitably sweat in it, the cotton will absorb the humidity, and this humidity will help to cool you down. It's pretty simple.And cotton feels nice to skin.
  You can also wear the new synthetic fabrics shirts that wick away moisture from your skin and dry fast. They work well, although are less comfortable to the skin.
  The difference is in saturation; in very hot weather, you will (normally) sweat a lot, and there comes a point where the fabric is saturated. Now, with cotton, the only drawback is that when wet, it gets heavy; But with synthetics, it can irritate the skin on some people because once saturated, it can't absorb any more sweat and you end up with a synthetic shirt on top of a layer of sweat rubbing against your skin.
  Sometimes, it is better to wear long sleeves because of the sun or insects. So you have to choose properly.
  There may be a better solution to all this, but I haven't tried it yet. It consists of clothing made out of merino wool. They now make very thin clothing out of this material, and it has the advantage to be comfortable like cotton, but also wicks away moisture like synthetics and dries fast. Not to mention no smell. The synthetic stuff can get stinky after a while, and nothing you do can prevent that.
  But these wool garments are fairly expensive and not so easy to find, not to mention impossible over here.
  One fabric seems to have similar qualities,and that is Coolmax. I have some stuff made out of it, and I do like it very much. Works good in the winter also.
  For the rest, you can wear pants or shorts, that is up to you, it just depends where you're going. If it's a nice trail, no problem, but if it's in the bush, you need pants. You also have the problem of insects and sun.
  Underwear follows the same fabric principle as the rest. For socks, pure cotton is not desireable, a mix with some synthetic is better, so it can last longer and dry somewhat faster. Coolmax socks are great because they wick the moisture away, yet dry fast. Good when you're camping.
  Then you have your headwear, here anything goes, but in the hot sun, it is a good idea to have something covering your melon, dude. The lighter the better.
Otherwise, you better have some aspirin ready.

Boonie hat, designed for jungle use during the Vietnam war, and still in widespread use today.  I use this model often,even in colder weather, and it is practical when you're wearing a mosquito headnet.

Cheche, or tagelmust, worn by many in the desert and other hot  and arid environments. I wear the same one on some very hot days. Sometimes, people do look at me in sort of a strange way though

  When it gets cooler at night, some fleece clothing can be nice and lightweight, it's what I take with me on overnight trips in the wilderness.
  For rain, I suggest a poncho in the summer, because they are lightweight, keep the rain off and you don't sweat too much in them. There are a few different models available, just be aware that the models with sleeves are warmer.The fabric is usually a coated nylon or polyester and doesn't breathe at all.

Rain poncho from Zajo. Notice the shape, this model is particularly well designed. It can also be used as a tarp or a blanket.

  FOOTWEAR
  It is usually advisable to wear footwear with ankle support for hiking and trekking, particularly if it's on rough terrain, like we have in many places here. But it's hot and it seems that the ankle support is not a necessity after all. You have these trail runners running all around mountains in low cut footwear and it seems to be fine for them. This goes against the old logic of ankle support, so in the end, the best is to wear footwear that suits your needs and your preference. I personally still wear boots with ankle support, but lower and lighter ones.
  Also, Many outdoor shoes have Gore-Tex or other similar type of membrane in their construction, and this can be a problem in very hot weather, be warned. These membranes simply do not breathe enough, so you end up in very hot and wet shoes. Not a nice feeling. So be careful when buying summer footwear. But again, it depends where you are going and your preference.

Salomon Discovery GTX hiking boots, very nice quality and fit, however the Gore-tex membrane prohibits it's use on very hot days. Just way too warm. But for the rest of the year, they're great!

  I have been using desert boots with great success, they're designed for very hot climates so they breathe well, and offer me some ankle support and protection from thorns and bushes and other junk on the ground.

Magnum Amazon desert boot, which are great for very hot weather and all types of terrain. I wear these during the hot summer and they're much cooler than typical hiking or trekking boots.

  And at the end of the day, when  I arrive at my camp site, I usually just put on a pair of lightweight flip flops.Nice after a day in boots.They're also good for having a shower in the bush and crossing streams. I use to have sandals, which are great also, but too heavy and bulky to carry around. 

Rider flip flops from Brazil, very comfortable and durable, and you can dance the samba with them.

  ACCESORIES
  Sunglasses are usually a necessity. Buy the best you can afford, with the best UV protection. The rating goes from 1 to 4, aim for 3 if you can in very sunny conditions or in the mountains.The choice is large, so it's not a problem buying some descent ones.
  To keep cool, I wear a buff rolled down around my neck and saturated in cold water. As the water evaporates, it cools me down. You can use a bandanna or any other similar cloth item. I call this my portable air conditioning, it works great! I just put more water on it when it starts to get dry.
  Buffs are quite versatile, just check out the many ways you can wear them in the pic below.

The different ways to wear a buff. Very practical piece of gear. Good all year round.

Simond buff, this is the one I wear in the summer, after soaking it in water. Keeps me cooler.

  For some expeditions, I wear gaiters sometimes, due to the heavy vegetation. They save my pants from being damaged and keep junk out of my boots. They are in cotton, because if you wear the common nylon ones you end up with wet legs from the condensation that builds up inside them. There are some made out of breathable Gore-Tex type fabrics, but they are quite expensive and can be less durable in the bush.

My French military cotton gaiters, they work well in all weather conditions, however I only wear them in the summer if I have too.

  COLORS
  The usual saying goes that in the summer, always wear light colours, because dark colours absorb heat. 
  Now, this may be true, but it isn't the whole story. Case in point; the Touaregs, the people who live in the desert often have dark colours in the scorching heat. Goes against the light colour theory, right? so why do they do it?
  
  If the Touaregs (and other desert populations) wear dark colours, it is because of the way they dress.
  They wear loose-fitting dark clothing, and have been doing so for a very, very long time. 
I mean, if there were advantages to wearing white clothes, you'd certainly expect they'd have figured that out by now. Dudes weren't born yesterday...
  Dark colours radiate (lose) heat faster and absorb more light than lighter colours. Lighter colours reflect more light, therefore absorbing less heat.
  Here is the secret. Dark clothing absorbs sunlight and the heat radiating from your body, but if it is loose-fitting, and there is some wind, the wind convects the heat away faster than it is absorbed. White clothing reflects sunlight, but also reflects internal heat back towards your body, so the net effect under identical conditions is less cooling than if you wore dark colours. 
  This works in dry conditions, but not in humid conditions because the clothing will stick to your skin, thus preventing the convection process.
  It's about the air between the clothing and your skin (insulation) and the convection process caused by the difference in temperature, get it? 
  But you have to have lightweight, breathable  and loose clothing. Otherwise, it won't work.
  As for their  headwear, the cheche (otherwise known as  Tagelmust) is often dark also, but there is no room for convection. Well this works just by the colour absorbing the heat and the thickness of the cheche.
  Also, in the shade, dark colours will get you cooler than lighter colours.

A Touareg, chilling out in the desert. Notice the loose clothing and the cheche, which can be over 5 metres long.

   Now it's up to you to check this out. Works for me over here on very hot, dry summer days.

  One last thing, in theory dark colours attract mosquitoes, at least more so than lighter colours. 
But, I haven't had that problem here yet. They don't like me so much.
The mosquitoes I mean...

  BACKPACK
  You can use the same backpack all year round, that isn't a problem, however there does exist types of backpacks that have a very ingenious back ventilation system that prevents your back from getting too hot and wet. Basically, the system keeps a large section of the backpack off your back, so that air can circulate and cool you down.
 These exist only in sizes up to 45-50 litres. I have one made by Salomon that I use on day trips, and believe me, it's luxury. Feels much cooler and lighter.

The AirVent system of Salomon Revo backpacks, also found on other brands. It's  a bonus on hot days  because it keeps you cooler, and anything that keeps you cooler is good!

My Salomon Revo 35 backpack, which has an AirVent system on the back. I use it all summer long, and because it's so comfortable and well designed, most of the year.

  The size depends on your needs .I would suggest, for a day trip, a 25 to 35 litre size. Larger is not necessary.You can get your gear in it, plus food and all the water that you need to survive.

  
  COOKING-FOOD
  You basically use the same cooking gear, the lighter the better. You will probably eat less in the summer than in the winter, that's a good point, and you may eat more fresh vegetables, so you have to carry them in containers so they don't get squashed during transport.
  You can use a gas stove also without problems, something you can't really do in sub-zero temperatures. I still use my good old Trangia alcohol stove, because it works so well and it's a small unit to carry.
But often, I don't cook, I just eat vegetables and things like sardines and dried fruit.
Remember, in the heat, the lighter the better.

  WATER
  This is the one of the biggest problems in very hot weather. You need a lot and it's heavy to carry. But there is no way around it, you need to drink much more in hot conditions then in the winter.
  You have to determine the amount of water you need to carry, and also where you're going to find it, which in Macedonia isn't always obvious.
 For a day trip, in very hot weather I may take up to 6 litre of water, depending on how difficult the trekking will be, but never less than 4. I usually know where I can find water on my usual routes, but on new ones, it's Inch Allah pal!
  Now the difficulty is carrying this water. And in what.
  I have several different water containers, ranging from canteens to water bladders. I use a combination.
  Hydration bladders have become very popular these last few years. I can understand their appeal, but they do have their limits, namely that they can be punctured and can leak without warning, something you don't want in hot weather in the middle of nowhere. They are also difficult to clean and maintain properly, though some good improvements have been made. 
  I used to hate having to clean these older bladders when coming home from a long day in the outdoors, tired and all.
  I have been using, on occasion a 3 litre hydration bladder made by Pure Hydration in the UK. It was one I was using for work, and it was the first design on the market that opened up completely at the top so that you could clean it well and, very important, let it dry.

Pure Hydration 3 litre hydration bladder. 

   But it does have some shortcomings, namely that if you disconnect the hose from the bladder when full of water, well the water just goes everywhere.
  Also, it has no protection on the drink valve, so it can get dirty, something that they still haven't addressed yet.
  Recently, I obtained a new system in Paris, from Salomon. It was designed for trail runners and has a great cleaning system, you simply turn the bladder inside out! easy to clean and easy to dry! and it works great, at least so far. The hose disconnects without water pouring out, and there is an optional insulated hose with a valve cover, which I plan to get.  It is made by Hydrapak,  It has a capacity of 1.5 litres, which at first seemed insufficient, but in the long run has been actually better, because first of all, I don't risk losing 3 litres of water if the bladder accidently burst, secondly it fits better in most of my bags and thirdly this volume is sufficient for cooler weather.

Salomon Soft bladder, this one seems to work and is easy to maintain.

  I also use my French military canteens, but with a different pouch that makes all the difference. This pouch is designed with felt on the inside so that  in hot weather, you soak the pouch in water and then stick the canteen in it. This keeps the water cool, and when you're walking, the air helps the water to evaporate, which cools the water even more. In the winter, the felt insulates the canteen from the cold.
  This is a design from the 50's, but still valid today.
  It also has a stainless steel canteen cup that I use for drinking, boiling water for cooking and as a cup for eating. Can be used as a shovel also.
  In hot weather I use plastic canteens, they contain 1,3 litres of water, very little condensation and are bombproof..  

French military canteen, with canteen cup and pouch with felt on the inside, an old design that works very well.

  I also have water bladders that I use regularly. One has a 2 litre capacity, it is made by MSR and called the Dromedary. I like it very much because it is bomb proof and a very simple design. It never leaks and I use it to fill up my canteen when it is empty. This bladder is used by a lot of special forces around the world, because these guys cannot afford to have a hydration system fail on them.
  It can also be used as a shower. Happy day. 

MSR Dromedary, 2 litre. Very simple and very strong.

  The other water bladder I use is a model designed during the Vietnam war. It is also a very strong and holds 4.7 litres of water (5 US quarts). It was also designed as a flotation bladder for crossing rivers and stuff. And some dudes used it as a makeshift pillow. Not bad for one item. I love it when one piece of gear does several things.
  I only use it when staying outdoors overnight or more. But I have had it for some time now, and it's still looking great. .

US 5 quart canteen, collapsible, made for the jungles of south east Asia.

  There are more modern water bladders on the market, a good one is made by Sea To Summit, it's called the Pack Tap, and it has the advantage of having a mylar interior, which means you can stick wine instead of water inside.
  So, now you know what ol' Santa Claus is going to bring me this year.

Sea to Summit Pack Tap water bladder, good design.

   There are various water bottles on the market, in either aluminium, stainless steel or plastic. Some are better then others. For example, aluminium conducts heat and cold faster then steel or plastic. In hot weather, if you put cold water in one, it will quickly form condensation on the outside. You need to get an insulating cover to keep the liquid cool. Stainless steel is similar, just heavier and stronger,however you can put anything inside it, which isn't the case with aluminium. This is because, for health reasons, they put a coating on the inside of aluminium bottles which do not like alcohol and some other beverages.

SIGG aluminium bottle, very nice quality gear.

  Plastic bottles are quite strong, light and they are generally cheaper then metal ones and you can put anything inside them. Be careful in freezing weather though, some lower quality ones don't like it.

Different types of Nalgene water bottles, very strong and good design.

  SHELTER
  The choice is yours; You can use a tent, a hammock, just a tarp or a bivy bag. I like hammocks because they keep you off the ground where ants and other insects can be a nuisance. They keep you cooler compared to a tent, and no condensation! They are light and you can set them up just about anywhere. Very comfortable also.
  You may need a tarp to cover it in case of doubtful weather, and you may find that your back gets a bit cold during the night, this is because the insulation in your sleeping bag is compressed against the fabric of the hammock and leaves very little air to trap the warmth. So you may wish to put a sleeping pad in your hammock, or maybe a blanket underneath your bag if you have one handy. You have to experiment, there are also under-quilts specifically designed for hammocks that are great, but they add weight and take up a lot of valuable room in your backpack.

Ticket To The Moon hammocks, on the recent Chamjé Khola expedition in the Himalayas. In this pic, camp was set up at over 3000m altitude. I use the same hammock on my expeditions, and they're great, very comfortable and very strong.

  If there is nowhere to hang one, then it's going to be one of the other options. There are no specific tents for hot weather (there are special ones for colder expedition type climates), but you have the choice between single wall and double wall. A single wall tent is just that, a single piece of fabric with usually a mosquito net added at the entrance. The double wall are tents in two parts, the inner part which is often made of a lightweight mesh or netting and a waterproof floor, and the outer part which protects you from the elements. These are heavier, but generally more comfortable, as they keep the condensation away from you.
  In the summer, they can get hot and stuffy, you need to ventilate them as much as you can, so when setting up, pay attention to the wind direction so that you can have a air flow going through the tent. It helps to keep you cooler and cuts down on condensation.
  I have both, but generally use a single wall tent when by myself, because it is lighter (1kilo) then my double wall tent (2,8 kilos) and packs up very small. I used it recently on Solunska Glava.  
  
  Tarps are a very handy item to have, you can use them by themselves or with a hammock or bivy bag. This type of shelter is becoming quite popular with the ultra lightweight crowd, particularly in the US and western Europe. They can be used in many ways, and don't have the shortcomings of tents.

Some of the ways to set up a tarp, pretty useful item.

   Good ones are hard to find over here, but some of the surplus military stuff can get the job done, even the cheap blue or green plastic ones you find in hardware shops can eventually work. 
  The advantages are that they are cheap, strong, multi-use and easy to carry. No condensation, and you are closer to nature, something that some people don't like so much.
  They are also used with hammocks to protect you from the rain and sun. And eventually snow in winter camping. The minimum comfortable size is 3X3 metres.

Hammock with a tarp, now it can rain or snow.

  And sometimes, you want to be a minimalist hardcore dude and just use a bivy bag. You just find a good spot that you like, stick your sleeping bag in it, put a sleeping pad underneath you (either under the bivy bag or sometimes in it) and you're set for the night.
  Now, there are different kinds of bivy bags. The simpler ones are just a nylon or polyester fabric with a waterproof coating on the inside to keep the rain and humidity out. These are usually only good for emergency situations, because they condensate a lot inside from your perspiration (during the night, you can lose up to 1.5 litres of sweat, even in the winter ), your sleeping bag will be wet in the morning. Not cool.
  The higher quality ones are made out of "breathable" fabrics, there are two kinds; the ones made with coated breathable fabrics, and the ones made out of double or triple layer membranes like Gore-Tex.. The coated ones work better then the waterproof ones, but you will get some condensation inside, sometimes a lot. In practice, only the Gore-Tex or other quality membrane ones keep you dry on the inside. And even with them you can get a little condensation. But they are much more expensive, and usually heavier. 
  A good solution is to get a surplus military bivy bag, they are usually made of Gore-Tex or other similar membrane, are well made and are much cheaper then the usual commercial ones. 
  I use a bivy bag when I bivouac in a spot where tents or hammocks won't fit, such as a ledge on a mountain. I use a French military Gore-tex bag, and it works great. 
  In the video below, I was bivouacking on a hill top on a cold winter day, about -8°C, where a tent wouldn't fit.  I had a little blue tarp to protect my gear for the night in case it snowed (it did), and it also allowed me to cook and keep the wind off the Trangia stove.
  It's wonderful to sleep with the stars above you.

Millet bivy bag, made with a coated breathable fabric called  Dryedge.

  SLEEPING BAG AND PAD
  The summer nights here in Macedonia can get pretty warm, so an appropriate sleeping bag is necessary, your 3 season bag will be way too warm.
  There are one season sleeping bags on the market that are just fine for this climate. You don't need a super deluxe model, a basic sleeping bag will do. You can find a few in Skopje. There are basically three designs, the mummy style and the rectangular and semi-rectangular style.

The three main types of sleeping bags. There are other types, but they are  more specialized.

  In a one season bag, the rectangular style is the least warm of the three styles. It is usually sufficient, as you don't really need a hood, and the wide bottom lets more air to circulate, useful on very hot nights; your legs aren't stuck together.
  These bags also can be completly unzipped so you can use them as blankets, another advantage. Sometimes, it's just too hot or humid to sleep inside a closed sleeping bag.
  This shape sometimes has a hood, this is more useful on colder nights.The bottom can also be semi-rectangular.
  The mummy shaped bags are designed to keep you warmer and to save weight. So, depending on where you're sleeping, they may not be the best choice for hot summer camping. 
  But if you're going up in the mountains, it gets colder at night. When I went to Solunska Glava, it was 40° in the valley and it went down to 2° at night at the summit, so my mummy bag was useful there.
  The filling of the bags is either synthetic or down (goose or duck feathers). Synthetic is the most common filling, it is fine for most situations and cheaper than down, but it is heavier.
  Down is wonderful, but it's expensive, and it has to be kept dry because down absorbs humidity and a  soaked down bag is useless, takes forever to dry.. 
  Gram for gram, they are much warmer than synthetic bags and very comfortable. They also weigh  much less, pack up very small, and last forever if properly cared for, another big advantage. But you have to be careful with them, and it's imperative to use a liner inside, because the less you wash a down bag (complicated procedure), the better. 
  In my post "Skopje looks like the Himalayas-solo camping trip in the snow", I talk about sleeping bag ratings. Have a look. For the summers over here, a rating of 15° comfort -10° limit comfort - 2° extreme is fine, might even be too warm on some nights so just open the bag up or use it as a blanket, and if it gets too cold, use a liner inside (cotton, Coolmax, silk, even fleece it it was too cold) or wear some clothes. 
  I use two different bags for the summer, one is a bag designed for jungle and tropical use and is rectangular in shape, lightweight and has a mosquito net incorporated in it. It weighs 850g and packs down very small.
  It's  the one I use most often.

Snugpak Jungle sleeping bag, with the mosquito net up.

  The other one I use is a down bag that I use in higher altitudes and more extreme conditions, it's a mummy shape, weighs 400g (!!!) and packs down to the size of a grapefruit. The temperature rating is 14° / 09° / 0°  about the same as the jungle bag but less than half the weight and half the packed volume, luxurious!
  I always use a Coolmax liner with it for the reasons explained above. It's the perfect fabric for summer use.

Lestra Alpilles Light down sleeping bag, also used as a liner in my  other lestra sleeping bag  (synthetic fill) on very cold winter nights. Only 400g !

 !

Cocoon Coolmax sleeping bag liner.

  And, some cowboy mountain men use just a blanket to sleep in. It works. Nothing can break. Cheap too. And you wake up feeling like a real he-man, full of testosterone and stuff..

  You will need a sleeping pad, and they also come in all shapes and sizes. But there are three basic types; foam pads, self-inflating pads and inflatable air pads.

  The foam pads are the simplest, lightest, cheapest and most durable of the pad types. There are many kinds on the market, but try to get a descent one, not too thin otherwise you will feel the ground underneath you. A thickness of 1cm is usually the minimum, 2cm is a lot more comfortable.
  Like all pads, foam ones are generally about 182cm in length and 51cm wide,(6 feet x 20 inches US), but you do find smaller and larger ones.
  Only drawback is that you have to carry them on the outside of your backpack usually.

Lafuma classic EVA foam mat.

  The self inflating pads are more comfortable, however they are heavier and much more expensive. They also are warmer in the winter, but they have a nasty tendency to puncture easily, and that is something nobody likes. 

Thermarest self-inflating pad.

  The new inflatable air pads are also very comfortable, but they are less warm then self inflating pads and suffer from the same tendency to puncture easily. However, they are lighter and pack up smaller. They are fairly expensive also.

Thermarest inflatable air pad.

  I have tried many different pads over the years, I even use to sleep without pads for a long time, but I  have given up on the self inflating pads, they just puncture or leak too easily, and when that happens, you're directly on the ground, dude.
  I am using a system which consists of two foam pads. The bottom pad is a Thermarest Ridgerest, one of the most famous foam pads around and the one you will inevitably see on a lot of mountain summits, where self inflating pads don't work so well due to the thin air. It is fairly comfortable and durable, but to make it more comfortable (and warmer in the winter) I use a Thermarest Z-lite pad that I cut down to a length of 120cm, enough for my upper body, the legs matter less. This system works great, is very durable, fairly inexpensive, can't puncture and weighs around 650g, less then most self inflating pads, who average around the kilo for a full sized one.

Thermarest Ridgerest green pad with short Thermarest Z-Lite pad on top for added insulation and comfort. The legs rest on the green pad and do not need the extra thickness

  VARIOUS GEAR
  The other gear that is more or less specific to the summer is the following.

  -Mosquito head net. When they get too pesky, you just slap this net on your melon and say bye bye to the bugs! 
  This net can also be used when sleeping in a hammock. Some hammocks have nets incorporated in them, others not, but if the little bastards start biting, stick the net on your head when in the sleeping bag.

Mosquito head net, keep them pesky critters away!

  The net can be impregnated with an insecticide, but that's for really baddass places!

 - Insect repellant can be useful in baddass places, but I don't think Macedonia qualifies for that, however if you are of the sensitive type, this type of product will help you find peace.
  Or just put a big cigar in your mouth, the smoke will clear the bastards away.

 - Machetes. They are useful if you go out in the deep woods and bush. There are many types available You don't need a very big one over here, here are a few tips on using and maintaining them.
  First, avoid the ones with plastic handles, they will slip out of your hands with the sweat. Even wood handles are slippery sometimes. A good trick I learned from guys coming back from jungle school in French Guyana is to take the inner rubber air chamber of a bicycle tire, cut some to the right length and wrap it around the handle.  
  It is also a good idea to have a lanyard so that if the machete slips out of your hand, which happens sometimes if you use it a lot, it will prevent the machete from flying out and injuring someone. If there is no hole for one, well drill one, and stick some nylon cord through it.
  You can also paint the part of the blade nearest the handle in a bright orange colour so that if you misplace your machete, it will be easier to find.
  An easy way to sharpen a machete is with a metal file or a diamond sharpener. And remember not to sharpen the tip, the last 2 cm or so should be blunt, as you don't use that part and it is much safer. Keep it well sharpened, as it is easier to work with a sharp machete and safer (less effort to cut).

French military Tramontina Brasil 14" machete as used in the jungles of Guyana by the instructors of the CEFE jungle school.

- First aid kits. The summer ones have a few specific items in them, such as tick removers (quite a few over here, beware), hydration salts (easy to make yourself) for long periods in very hot weather,cold packs for sprains or hypothermia, tweezers for thorns, insect bite lotion to stop the itching. 

This is how to use a tick removal tool. You have to remove the tick (in particular the head) correctly.

- Thermos. Yep, they're designed to keep water and drinks cold also, not just hot.
- Portable shower. I don't know about you, but it is heaven to take a shower after a hot days worth of trekking. These showers are simple to use, just put some water in them, hang them in the sun and later you will have warm water.You find an appropriate place to shower, hang the bag above you and your set to go.
  If you are limited in water, I find that 2 litres is enough for a descent shower. But if you have access to water, well fill it up! 

Pocket shower from Sea To Summit, a really great product that packs up really small and works great.

- Towel. You're going to need one after the shower, so the lighter and smaller the better. You can find microfibre towels that are just perfect for camping. They absorb a lot of water and dry very quickly, which is important when your on the move.

MSR Pocket towel, on of the better ones on the market, very small and lightweight, and dries very fast.

- Suntan lotion. This may be necessary for some people, I rarely use it myself except in the mountains, where the sun can burn you very fast. Same goes for the lips. There is a lot of choice out there, so choose the one that suits you best.


  Well, that's about it, the rest of the gear is the same all year round, so no need to get into that.
A lot of the gear on this page can be found in Skopje these days, which is a good thing. Prices vary according to quality, some of the gear is affordable, some not, like anything else. But try to buy good gear if you can, it will last longer and be more comfortable.

  Now you are ready for hot weather; The latest forecast in Skopje calls for 45° C on Tuesday. 

I think I will stay home on Tuesday.