Sporting equipment and backpacking - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**LostFarmboy** · 07-07-2008, 05:23 PM

Howdy all,

I plan on catching the tail end of the Canadian climbing season (August, September) this year. While climbing, I intend to stay at hostels. So, for this trip I need to take my regular travel pack full of clothes (around 13kg) and my climbing rucksack full of climbing gear (around 20 - 25kg).

I have several concerns and queries about this arrangement that I was hoping you guys could help me with:
- how on earth am I going to manage carrying two full size packs around with me?
- I've never used lockers in hostels before, but as my climbing gear is worth a bit of money I will be wanting to have it locked up somewhere safe when I'm not using it. Do all hostels have lockers?
- I've heard that some airlines have much higher luggage allowances for sporting gear, does anyone know if this is true?
- Does sporting gear encounter many problems at customs?

Any tips and advice are greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

Nick

**maracle** · 07-07-2008, 05:52 PM

Hmm, I guess you'd need to have transportation by car whenever you're moving from place to place. Unfortunately in Canada Taxis and the like aren't going to be cheap. But I'm sure you'll find a way to make it all happen once you're faced with it!.

I've never seen a hostel that wouldn't store luggage, usually it's just a back room you have to ask an employee to get to though, not the most secure thing in the world but pretty good. Regular lockers probably aren't big enough for that much gear.

As for customs, I think you'd be ok carrying on anything but ice tools/crampons and maybe pitons. Checked, I don't see why anything would be a problem.

**simply_angelic** · 07-07-2008, 06:35 PM

(1) where in Canada will you be climbing?! west coast? or closer to toronto...

(2) why don't you just get a large rucksack for your back and a small one for the front half....pretty easy to carry around with you that style. I know ropes, shoes etc take up a lot of space but I'm pretty sure you don't need 2 full size packs...

**LostFarmboy** · 07-07-2008, 07:29 PM

Cheers for the replies guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_angelic

(1) where in Canada will you be climbing?! west coast? or closer to toronto...

Sorry mate, I'll be heading to Vancouver to climb at Squamish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_angelic

(2) why don't you just get a large rucksack for your back and a small one for the front half....pretty easy to carry around with you that style. I know ropes, shoes etc take up a lot of space but I'm pretty sure you don't need 2 full size packs...

No can do. I need a seperate pack for my climbing gear as I don't want to have to carry all my clothes, toiletries, etc, with me when I head out for a climb.

When I say full size packs, they aren't 90L packs or anything like that. I have a 65L pack for my clothes and a 45L rucksack for my climbing gear. So, they're certainly not the biggest packs around, but they're not small either, and my climbing pack is a heavyweight.

**worldwidemike** · 07-13-2008, 07:24 AM

Glad to hear the plans on coming to N. America are still a go! We will definitely have to have a LostFarmBoy meetup when you're here.

Not sure on the technical details of climbing gear...maybe PM Anthon, he's a climber too, if I remember right? He might be able to give you the info you need to know...

The airlines, though, are all about charging extra money for overweight bags and multiple items. So, doublecheck the airlines you are flying on...most have changed their policies in the last couple weeks. Then weigh your bags and figure out how much you'll be charged. It might be cheaper to buy some of your clothes over here! Or even pick up some of the heaviest climbing gear when you get to the states...

Good luck! Oh, any itinerary firmed up, yet...?

worldwidemike

SGRHewitt · 07-13-2008, 09:40 AM

The advantage of the weakening dollar for you is, stuff will be cheaper here. It seems like things are inflated incredibly in Oz.

So if you have yet to purchase some things, check online in Canada for stores, call them and see if they have the things you want/need. You could save yourself a boat load in airline charges, and the chance of it to be cheaper in Canada.

**LostFarmboy** · 07-14-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldwidemike

Glad to hear the plans on coming to N. America are still a go! We will definitely have to have a LostFarmBoy meetup when you're here.

Yeah, my plans never stopped, they have just been moving along very slowly. I always take way too long to come to a decision about these things. I think I might finally be getting somewhere now though. And yes, we will definately have to have a meetup when I finally get over there

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldwidemike

Good luck! Oh, any itinerary firmed up, yet...?

Getting to Vancouver for climbing in Squamish is the only plan I have so far, the rest will sort itself out as I go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGRHewitt

The advantage of the weakening dollar for you is, stuff will be cheaper here. It seems like things are inflated incredibly in Oz.

Yeah, Canada and the US are waayyyy cheaper for climbing gear than here in Oz. I plan on leaving my rope here to save some weight, so I'll be buying one when I get over there. As for the rest of my gear, I couldn't afford to replace it all when I get to Canada, so I guess I'm going to have to just take the hit from the airlines.