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Bushwalking Manual

Bushwalking Manual

Information and guidelines for safe and enjoyable bushwalking in Australia. Published by Bushwalking Victoria.

  • Trip planning
    • Planning for enjoyment
    • Safety
      • Safety essentials
      • Other approaches to safety
      • Standards for outdoor activities
    • Extreme weather events and natural disasters
    • Forming a group
    • Practical planning considerations
    • Route planning
    • Fuel reduction burns
    • Maps, guidebooks and other references
    • Trip emergency contact
    • Vehicle preparation
  • The trip
    • A good start
    • Practical navigation
      • Map and compass basics
      • Navigation techniques
      • Navigation in difficult conditions
      • Mobile phone navigation
      • Handheld GPS navigation
    • People, progress and conditions
    • Pace, rhythm and rest stops
    • Keeping the group together
    • Challenging conditions
      • Terrain
      • Wind, rain and snow
      • Walking in hot, dry conditions
      • *River crossings
    • Campsites, stoves and campfires
    • Snow camping
    • Bush huts
    • After the trip
  • Leadership
    • Leadership overview
    • Checklists for leaders
    • Bushwalking Leadership Training
  • Weather
    • Understanding the weather 
    • Thunderstorms
    • Lightning
  • Equipment & clothing
    • Clothing
    • Footwear and gaiters
    • Packs
    • Tents
    • Sleeping mats
    • Sleeping bags
    • Knots
    • Walking poles
    • Ultralight bushwalking
  • Food & water
    • Safe drinking water
    • Water treatment options
    • Food
    • Food dumps
  • Emergencies
    • Emergency communications
      • Overview of emergency communications
      • Mobile phones
      • Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
      • Sat phones
      • Satellite trackers with SOS
      • Handheld CB radios
    • Helicopters
    • If you are lost
    • Group member lost
    • Bushfire
      • Planning – don’t be there
      • Be vigilant – get to a safe location
      • Last resort – surviving a bushfire
      • Bushfire smoke
    • First aid
    • Maintaining core temperature
    • Heat Illnesses
    • Cold illnesses
    • Cold water immersion
    • Snow blindness
  • Environment
    • Environment and conservation
    • Minimal impact bushwalking and skiing
  • Related activities
    • Rogaining
    • Ski touring and backcountry skiing
      • Skiing uphill
      • Skiing downhill
      • Skis
      • Ski skins and ski crampons
      • Avalanche safety
  • State information
    • New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
    • Northern Territory
    • Queensland
      • Thorsborne Trail
      • Wet tropics great walk
    • South Australia
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
      • Overview
      • Great Ocean Walk
      • Grampians Peak Trail
      • Australian Alps Walking Track
      • Great South West Walk
    • Western Australia
  • About
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Sitemap
    • Acknowledgements
      • BMLC manual acknowledgements
    • History
      • A short history of the BMTAB
        • BMLC graduates in numerical order
        • STLC graduates in numerical order
        • DWLC graduates in numerical order
        • BMLC graduates in alphabetical order
    • Governance
    • Scope
    • Feedback
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer – Use of this Manual

Home » Equipment and clothing

Equipment and clothing

This section provides information about the following topics:

  • Packs
  • Footwear and gaiters
  • Sleeping bags
  • Sleeping mats
  • Tents
  • Clothing for bushwalking and ski touring
  • Knots
  • Walking poles
  • Ultralight bushwalking

  • Updates
  • Links
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
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Bushwalking Victoria acknowledges and thanks the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for providing funding for the development of this manual.

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NOTE: Follow all state COVID-19 regulations for limited bushwalking, maintain 1.5m social distance, carry hand sanitiser or wipes.

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