Hiring equipment

When you guys first started escarpment hikes, did you have all the equipment? It's rather pricey if you are pretty much starting from scratch. What did you guys do when first starting? Are there places from which you can hire equipment such as a big enough pack,a decent sleeping bag and a tent? I know that some hiking clubs hire out equipment, but I read on the MCSA website that this is only if you are going to use the equipment on one of their organised hikes i.e. you cannot hire equipment to use on your own hike. Any ideas or advice?

Hi john mark,

Interesting point.

I was lucky to start my escarpment hikes while at university and a member of the Natal U Mountain Club, where the first few hikes were done with equipment borrowed (not even hired) from the club and several mates. Slowly I built up my own essential equipment, pack, sleeping bag, mat, stove, pots, tent etc, and much to my modern hiking buddies amusement, most of this stuff is still serving me well, into it's third decade of use, although it gets well looked after.

I know the Durban based club I belong to now hires out equipment to members for a nominal fee for use on any hikes, but I see this isn't likely to be of much assistance to you as it's not your area. I know of guided hiking organisations that hire out equipment to clients using their services, but also don't think this is what you're after. I'm not sure of any other places that hire out escarpment type hiking equipment.

It sure is. A standard Berg winter overnight escarpment pack with all the necessarily goodies are well over R10 000

I will in no way suggest you go out and risk your life but with very basic and cheap gear escarpment hikes is possible although it would be tough but so what it is part of the adventure. Look at the Basotho's, two blankets and gum boots!

The only thing I will recommend is to research every piece of gear thoroughly before buying anything. There are a lot of overpriced items out there and some very good quality "cheap" gear. Take super good care of your gear and it will last a very long time. I've heard of hiking boots lasting 13 years. (Karrimore Skye, I think)It is not only the big names that have suitable gear. I still hike with the same pack I got in 1995 for R300. A Big Foot Summit, I doubt anyone has ever heard of it. It has ripped, I repaired it, made some alterations and additions and it still does the job pretty good. I will not try a DGT with it and will only replace it because my heart is pumping chocolates every time I see the FA Jupiter.

On this topic the FA Jupiter backpack is on special at Outdoor warehouse for R1200. That is a real good price for a awesome backpack.

Don't forget to write Santa

Mountain Backpackers Club is the Durban based club I belong to mentioned in my previous post.

Thanks for the replies!

I know that this sounds stupid , but is Mountain Backpackers Club only in Durban or are their other branches? I did go onto their website but I couldn't find the answer.

Does anybody know if any clubs in Gauteng (Pretoria/ joberg) hire out equipment?

Yes, MBC is only a Durban club. Of course there are many members like me (I live in Benoni when I'm at home in SA) who don't live in Durban but belong to the club.

There are several Gauteng clubs that I am aware of that you could check out, for example Johannesburg Hiking Club, Footprint, Kempton Park, Boksburg hiking Clubs etc, but I don't know if they hire out equipment or not, and if so on what terms.

For those in Pietermaritzburg, Bush and Bundu in Pietermaritz Street hires out 80l packs for R25 per day, they don't hire out any other equipment though.

The cheapest way to get into it is to check all prices when buying equipment, different brands don't seem to compete on prices, also plan hikes according to equipment costs (thats how I managed to put together equipment on an article clerk salary), I found the following:
- K-Way's Adventure70 pack costs R900, has all the standard things you expect (eg compartment for a hydration bladder and an outlet for it, rainproof cover, multiple compartments etc) and is a really good quality pack
- Hiking boots are good to have, but you won't die without them (well in winter you might), but as previously stated, get good quality or you will regret it. My first hiking boots where Hi-Tec's bottom of the range waterproof boots (they sell for R700 these days), my work told me to buy them for a contract that our firm had successfully tendered for, but days before it was supposed to start the firm had the contract taken away and they therefore did not pay for my shoes . These metal bar in the shoes came loose on my recent trip up Mashai Pass, the shoes are still ok, but I had to take this bar out (yay, 600grams off my shoes). I now have Solomon Gortek Boots
- If you hike with people who own tents, or plan hikes around caves, you will be fine
- If you hike in summer to start with, all you need is a good raincoat and normal clothes (and a space blanket in case of freak weather)

Also watch adverts and competitions, I get lots of my info from the Cape Union Mart facebook page, they always have a special on Tuesdays, I often get equipment at reduced prices at these times. I got my Treklite III and my stove at 10% off because our local CUM was renovating, I won my Buff in their Movember competition (which is still on, both the competition and my mo ), and I got my hiking boots at 66% of their standard price on their recent sale (they seem to run 2 each year, one on footwear, one clearing their old range).

@ Ghaznavid

My biggest issue with the K-Way adventure 70 is the weight. My hiking buddy has one and if I remember correctly it pushed my digital scale to 2.3kg! Also I've seen that if you're on the shortish side you cant adjust the bag for the hip belt to sit on top of the hips, even at it's maximum adjustment. The bag will however last two or three lifetimes and even a couple of rolls down the Berg.

The details for the Mountain Backpackers Club - equipment hire can be found on this page:

www.mountainbackpackers.co.za/fixtures-introduction.html

scroll down the page to the heading: Equipment Hire

they do have terms and conditions eg:

- Equipment can only be hired by Club members, and can only be used on official Club hikes – i.e. hikes appearing in the Club’s Fixture List.