1.Tropical jungle varies, even within the same region. Primary vs secondary forest, lowlands vs highlands, malaria vs non malaria, swamp vs dry season etc can all influence debates on gear.
2. Locals are often not the best example of what to wear or carry. They are usually operating less than a days march back to home with a larger degree of local expertise and natural resources than expeditioners will have.
3.There is difference between day hikes/tours on village paths, ( not much different from any summer hiking) and extended cross country bushwhacking which is more what we are discussing.
4. Duration in the region can effect gear choice. Due to the high wear and tear this environment places on gear, the best technical choices are not always the best financial choices longer term or for those living here.
Item Life. The military classes tropical jungle as extreme wear on tear on gear, often second only to active urban warfare where hard surfaces of roads and concrete during warfighting wears gear faster. Some of the accelerated effects gear may encounter are:
1. Continual wet, heat and aggressive mould species can delaminate materials, degrade coatings and rot natural materials.
2. Constant pushing through harsh foliage will abrade or penetrate thin materials and coatings.
3. Uneven terrain and obstacles can increase chance of gear contacting the ground.
4. Mud and detritus will get into nooks and crannies and can degrade materials.
5. Humidity and moisture will fog and introduce mould to optics that are not gas purged and sealed. It can also loosen various equipment adhesives and cause electronic equipment with poor IP ratings to fail.
6. Boot life in particular will be shortened by several of the above factors.
Occasional trips can be handled by most equipment. A suggestion for long term jungle use is choose equipment more around durable mid-range cost options that will not break the bank to replace. Choose synthetics over natural materials where practicable. Choose basic, slightly heavier weight materials for packs and load bearing equipment. Technical equipment such as optics, flashlights, GPS, NVG's should have high IP/waterproof ratings where possible. Other expensive equipment such as non IP rated optics, phones, chargers, cameras should be carried in sealed plastic cases. Develope a habit of drying and airing textile based gear before long term storage and sealing with dessciated absorbents. Mould can even return in storage after being scrubbed off and contaminate adjoining equipment. Store these problem items( previously cleaned of mould) by bagging them separately. Inspect equipment in storage at periodic intervals and before planning your next trip.
Packing out. The environment is hard work cross country. Aim for lightweight backpacking principals as much as possible whilst maintaining durability. I choose sensible material weights, minimum of equipment and expedition style rations. Ultralight weight materials may struggle with the harsh foliage, heavy rain and associated replacement costs. 500D or better 1000D nylon pack materials and frames will better enable you to carry kit to last a couple of seasons. The newer materials like dyneema may be worth a look also but I have no experience in them. There is no set rule for pack configurations and several styles will work. My own preference is single compartment or basic configuration packs being overall lighter and easier to waterproof( less compartments to line particularly for deep wading). I avoid too much external stitching, zippers or molle which all add weight and are areas for moisture and mould to enter later. Load bearing straps I have double stitched. To move easily, pack externals should be streamlined aka extreanous items, clips or pouches should be low profile or well secured to the pack so foliage does not hang up on them. Similarly kit in belts or pockets should be well secured or lanyarded, vines and twigs make great pickpockets. I prefer 'behind the back' styles, that is is styles that do not sit too high above the head which will make ducking vines and foliage more difficult.
Sleeping bags and quilts. Down can be used but synthetic gets my vote due its hardiness, ability to retain warmth if wet and lesser replacement costs. Down can be difficult to even store effectively in humid climes. Keep an eye on expected temperatures and elevations. Mountainous jungle can get surprisingly cool in winter months.
Shelters. various types will work. Hammocks are very popular given the abundance of trees to sling them, ability to avoid groundwater and messy undergrowth. Ensure they have good net and tarp, adequate bottom to prevent mosquitoes biting through and mats for lower than expected temperatures. I use a ground tent for dry seasons and non swamp areas being I move between jungle and open areas at times, and prefer not to leave large footprints by constructing woodwork shelters. Obviously ground tents will not be suitable for flooded or swamp forests. For ground setups ensure adequate material thickness and waterproofing rating for fly and tub floors. 15D or 30D materials can struggle with heavy rainfall and ground surfaces. Mesh inners or net domes are preferred to keep crawlies and bities out of your sleeping area and also promote air flow. I choose mid weave in this regard as opposed to tight weave mesh which can restrict airflow, aiming to restrict mosquitoes only being the worst disease carriers.My personal choice is an economy 2 person tunnel style dome mesh inner . I replaced the fly with a 10x12ft 70Denier rectangular tarp. In this way I can vary pitch height as needed and dry clothes at night.
Clothing. Extended treks in the jungle you may often be wet , either from sweat, foliage or rainfall. The military 2 set method is my choice. 1 set of clothes during the day, often wet, and 1 dry set -only for sleeping. Hang your wets at night and get into them the next day, dry or not. Materials choice varies. Don't go too lightweight as the foliage can take a rapid toll on flimsy materials.Carry a small sewing kit for repairs. Pure cotton while great for dry hiking, dries poorly and clings once wet beign a hydrophilic substance( retains water weight). Synthetics do not hold water and have a much better chance of drying overnight or even on the march.My choice is mid weight synthetics/ low % cotton mixes. I wash my day sets on the march with a cake of soap while wearing them if there is an available stream or if I can spare a waterbottle in camp. Longs versus short clothing varies on region. I can wear shorts and tank tops in high canopy areas with mimimal undergrowth in non malaria areas but use longs pants in tougher or unknown regions. Your legs/pants will generally take the most beating from the foliage. A general rule is shortsleeves or sleeves rolled up and long pants will cover a lot of scenarios. Ensure pants are not too restrictive and allow good kneelift as you will be stepping over fallen logs, vines and scrambling up banks. Hats are a personal choice, just ensure you can secure it to your head.
Boots and feet. There are a lot of modes of footwear seen in the jungle and all have their pro's and cons. In long term treks feet being wet are one of the main issues with potential fungus, long term immersion injuries and bacterical infections. The heavy hiking, goretex or waterproof boots are generally too hot, will retain moisture and fill up like all boots wading anyway. A better choice is choosing designs that will drain and dry well. Features are mesh sides, boots made of single thickness materials with drainage grommets, non padded ankle cuffs which retain less water, decent treads for the mud, and ankle high designs to prevent deep mud or sandy creek banks from sucking them off your feet. Dedicated military jungle boots by Altima,Altberg and the original Jungle Panama boot will have these features. Other options are simple designs like lightweight hiking boots, old style leather combat boots with grommets, canvas/cordura boots like the palladiums. Keep in mind this environment will claim footwear more quickly than you are used to.Some take a semi-disposable approach to footwear and make do with old workboots, combat boots or runners to keep costs down. Locals in the developing world will often wear just flipflops, sandles or rubber rainboots successfully, though they are not often carrying heavy packs as we would. I often use low cut trail running shoes successfully for shorter hikes, though with a heavy pack, slipperiness on soft slopes becomes an issue as does losing them in creek sand. For longer trekking I wear palladium boots- very light durable high ankle single thickness material boots with grommets installed by a cobbler.
For camp wear or lengthy stops change into something like flipflops, crocs or sandals to give your feet a break. Its important to air and powder your feet at any opportunity, consider this as recharging them for another period of wet. Choose something comfortable and moderately durable in this regard, they can also do double duty marching on roads or easy trails during the day if your feet need a break from boots.
Navigation.
The jungle is often a wall of green with minimal visual cues and limited perspective on the surrounding landscape. Some streams and features may be seasonal or incorrectly marked.Common sense prevails, choose easy walks to familiarise yourself at first with this type of country , follow well defined features such as trails, major waterways and ridgelines or use local guides where available. Ensure you practice various forms of navigation before and during your trek. Depending on your area of the world decent GPS will often function under canopy, stay on top of your map/compass checks though. Cross country can vary from brisk walking speed to less than a mile a day depending on the thickness of the cover and terrain- ensure you factor supplies, water and rendezvous with generous margins of error. Stay alert, the green wall can part suddenly into a deep gully or cliff .
Foodstores and Foraging. Generally lightweight expedition concepts work best for carried rations in my opinion. Concentrates of low water content, lightweight containers, and items that can survive hot daytime temperatures once opened. My personal choices if I can bring them are bulk jerky, peanut butter, honey, tortilla or flat bread, nuts , dried fruit, electrolyte powder satchels and vitamins. Some normally all weather foods like durable cheeses and salami's may become putrid or mould here, check with the supplier if in doubt. Local foods will depend hugely upon region as will foraging and harvesting game. Ensure you have local knowledge and laws/permissions behind you. Many rainforest fruits, berries and produce are highly toxic, what the birds eat is not a reliable guidline. Protein sources are often small, fast moving or nocturnal, which is why rainforest peoples tended to be less protein fed and physically smaller. Store your food separarely from your pack at night, rainforest rats in some regions may chew through tent material and backpacks to get at food in the night. I hang my pack separately from food which I guyline in its container
Snakes- as a hazard too much fuss made of them in my opinion. In my region we have the deadliest but they are protected species so we get by avoiding and detouring them. Some regions locals will kill every snake they see, snake is often edible. Generally for any snake you see, you probably missed another dozen between sightings anyway, they are better at hearing and avoiding lumbering mammals too large to eat than we are at seeing them. Keep your eyes open and be aware where you put your hands and feet of course, which is a good skill to have in any environment. Know your snake recognition and first aid for different types of venom. Check boots and pouches in the mornings, snakes may enter these areas during the night for warmth. They will also be reticent to move from them, or from paths at this time, until they can warm up.
Water and rainfall. Despite the jungles wet reputation they can be major hazards for dehydration. One of the bodies important cooling mechanisms is sweating which allows evaporative cooling as it leaves the skin. If the air moisture content is too high( aka high humidity) sweat cannot leave the skin, the body overheats faster losing more water to try and compensate. Unless you are trekking along a major waterway ensure you carry adequate water and purification equipment : as mentioned streams may be seasonal, intermittent or incorrectly marked on maps. Inclement weather or minor storms are not likely to kill you in the jungle, in fact rainfall can be very refeshing in this environment. More a concern is very heavy rains or washouts cutting you off from roads or civilisation. Avoid trekking during the wet season until you are familiar with an area as floods may last for weeks or months. Before you embark ensure you check access and weather reports for any incoming low pressure systems. These may develope into floods, or cyclones( hurricanes/Typhoons) in coastal regions.
Machetes and bush knives- though conservationists and the ultralight crew don't prefer them, this is one environment they can come in handy. Some areas of jungle can be impassable without manipulating the foliage. Using hands or detouring is often possible but will be time consuming. Also clearing a camp or sleeping space often requires removal of foliage. When using a machete on the move try and take a minimal approach. Learning to slip through spaces and deflect obstacles instead of cutting everything is a good skill to develope and will save energy and make you less trackable. There are many types of machetes but my choice for handling the jungles springy foliage, saplings, cane and wiry vines is something with decent reach and tip velocity for good cutting. A 15-20" blade, light weight profile 1.5-2.5mm thick steel(3mm maximum) and a decent handle you can use all day will handle most of what you encounter. Shorter heavier choppers can work but you may end up closer and more personal with the foliage. Any of the jungle/work machetes by major manufactures will do. I like condor and OKC personally as they seem to use a harder grade of steel maintaining an edge longer. Carry a decent sharpstone on you, frequent sharpening will assist greatly.
Fitness preparation/Adaptation
At first the terrian may feel hot, unsteady and tiring but percevere and shortly you will develope your 'jungle legs' so to speak. Striding on uneven ground, choosing gaps in foliage effectively, knowing which way to bend spiky plants will become second nature and you will be moving faster, burning less energy and enjoying the trip more. An option is to do your first trip during winter or cooler months if applicable to get used to things. Some locals in my area often still prefer to do their trekking only during drier/cooler periods. This time also usually avoids the wet/rainy season and less risk of floods. While you do not have to be a marathon runner to negotiate the jungle this is one region where some advance fitness preparation and pack loaded mobility can assist .The unsteady ground, constant pushing through foliage and changing levels to duck and step over obstacles will be different from what you are used to. I would suggest 2-3 walks a week of at least 40 minutes duration wearing your full gear, a month prior to arriving. Every 10 minutes or so on these walks stop to do a few pushups and lunges, lunge a few steps preferably wearing your pack if you can. This will also identify any skin hotspots and chafing areas . Toughening these areas before you are sweating in the jungle will be a great benefit.
Just my 2c
Jungle Trekking equipment
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