A common question that new team members have is, “What kind of gear do I need to carry?” Unfortunately, there is no single list that standardizes what you will need for every SAR mission or every environment. The following listed equipment is a generic recommendation of what you might carry depending on the mission type, length of the mission, environment, and weather. If you were to examine two seasoned team members’ packs, you would likely find two distinct sets of gear. Likewise, the gear that any team member carries will vary based on the time of year and mission type; and there is nobody on the team that hasn’t second guessed what they carry and is constantly changing the contents of their pack. These are just recommendations on what gear might assist you in remaining safe, effective, and efficient in a mission. Experience will be the best way to decide what to carry and when to carry it. And just like the rest of the team, you will need to constantly question what you carry as you try to balance perceived needs against your effectiveness as a team participant.
YOUR PACK
Some of your selected items can be carried on a belt, in pockets, or strapped on to your person. But the majority of your gear will probably be carried in a backpack (or in some cases a vest). Your pack should:
•Be of internal frame construction with a 1500-2000 cubit inch capacity for day packs (12-24 hrs) and a 2000-3500 cubit inch capacity for overnight packs (24-72 hrs). This will all depend on what you carry, how much you carry, and the weight of your gear.
•Be lightweight and durable.
•Fit well and feel comfortable/secure when fully loaded.
•Have a wide and padded waist band with a quick-release buckle.
•Have compression straps and gear tie down points for versatility.
•Have a Rain Cover to protect your gear in raining or snowing conditions.
It is probably best if your pack is a dedicated piece of SAR equipment. A SAR call can occur at any time, so your pack should be mission ready at all times and stored in a readily available place. Some team members keep their packs in their vehicles at all times, so that wherever they go, their pack goes. Many team members actually choose to carry two packs in their vehicle; a day pack and an overnight/winter pack. In the summer they may choose to have their day pack ready at all times, but in their vehicles they will carrying an overnight pack, a duffle bag with various extra clothing, and other mission specific gear. That way they can alter the day pack as necessary or convert to an overnight pack depending on the mission needs. Having a fully stocked smaller pack enables them to quickly deploy on a short mission, but allows them to throw the contents of that pack, more clothing, and other gear into a larger pack for longer summer missions. In the winter, they may elect to keep the larger pack fully stocked and ready, and will likely have more nordic specific clothing and gear in their vehicle. After a call is complete, it will be necessary, before you rest from your labors, to restock you pack… the next call could be hours away.
CLOTHING
When it comes to clothing decisions, you best choices are usually going to be items constructed from synthetic materials is (especially for cold weather calls); and remember “Cotton Kills” and is almost never a wise decision. Layering is the key in how you choose to dress. Try and follow these basic rules for layering:
•A Base Layer should be of polypropylene, thermax, capilene, or similar synthetic construction. These materials wick moisture away from your skin and help keep you dry.
•A Mid Layer insulation should be of pile, fleece, or wool. All of these materials trap air to keep you dry, and keep much of their insulating power even when wet. A polar fleece pullover and fleece pants are great as a mid layer and will keep you toasty on cold nights.
•An Outer Layer will be your shell to keep out wind and rain. Gore-tex jackets or similar products are great. Likewise, a good pair of waterproof rain pants or snow pants will keep out moisture on wetter calls. It would be advisable to have zippers in the cuffs of pants to make them easier to get over boots.
•Good Hiking Boots are a must. In summer, leather or other waterproof synthetics are probably your best bet. In winter, these same boots might suit you, but snow boots (such as Sorrels) might offer you better moisture protection. No matter what your choice in boots, they must fit well (break them in), be waterproofed, and be of solid construction so as to last you a long while. Boots are one place that you do not want to skimp.
•Your Socks should be of polypropylene, wool blend, capilene, or similar construction. Some people elect to have a thin wicking base layer on their feet, covered by a warm mid layer. You should also have at least one extra pair in your pack.
•Your gloves or mittens should be constructed of the same material as your socks for cold weather, covered by a waterproof outer layer for wet weather. Some elect to carry both fleece mittens and waterproof snow gloves, while another common strategy is to carry several pairs of fleece gloves (for when they get wet) and some type of Gore-tex shell gloves to cover them.
•A wool or fleece hat is a great way to help retain much of your body heat on colder calls. Ball Caps are also acceptable, especially in summer.
•Gaiters are a great way to help keep your feet dry.
Whatever you choose to carry in regards to clothing, remember that duplicates of certain items are never a bad idea, especially when it pertains to keeping you warm and dry on those cold winter calls.
WATER AND FOOD
Keeping hydrated and energized are key on any mission. You can lose more than 1 liter of fluid an hour in strenuous working conditions. So you need to drink a lot of water to replace it. It is recommended that you carry at least 2 liters of waters with you at the outset of any call. You should also carry more than one type of water container. Many people like to carry hydration bladders for easy access, but these can be hard to refill in the field and are not easily shared with a victim. Carrying one or two wide mouth water bottles (Nalgene or similar) in addition to a 2 litter hydration bladder may be a better choice. Some also choose to carry drink mix packets such as Gatorade Mix or Cool Aid Singles for the extra electrolytes and for a change of taste.
Also, when it comes to refilling your water containers in the field, many people have various ideas on water purification. There is some amount of unjustified fear in the general population about “untreated” backcountry water sources and contracting various water borne parasites, such as Guardia (a highly treatable ailment that won’t begin to affect you until the mission is long over). The fact of the matter is that some our High Sierra water sources may carry small amounts of a few treatable water borne parasites. Studies have been done on this subject, which have revealed that the chances of you getting anything from a higher altitude lake, river, or creek in our county will be rare. Having analyzed the risks, some team members have elected to not carry any form of water purification and they will drink directly from the source. That said, in SAR you will never be told not to take any precautions that you feel are necessary to ensure your safety. Please continue to filter your water if you feel the need to so. However, if you choose to purify your water, consider that while pump filters tend to be the method of choice, they take up extra space in your pack and are an added weight. Iodine or chlorine tablets may be a better choice.
Food items should be of a non-perishable variety. Your day pack food items may consist of nothing more than trail mix, granola bars, power bars, dried fruit, jerky, and other easily packed snack-type foods. The goal is to provide you with a quick source of the energy and nutrients needed to keep you going. If you are packing food for an overnight or nordic mission, than you might want to pack some high calorie, lightweight meal items such as Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals, Dehydrated Meals, MREs, or “Add Water” Soups. You will also need a means to heat them (a small, lightweight, portable stove with fuel), a metal pot or cup, and utensils. The small stove also provides you with a way to melt snow for water or to make warm drinks such as cocoa.
SHELTER
What you choose to carry as far as shelter and bedding go will be largely weather and season specific. While a tent, a foam pad, and sleeping bag or bivy sack might seem like reasonable items to take with you on an overnight search, the added weight and bulk might be more of a hindrance. In winter these items might be absolute necessary, but in the summer other options should be considered. Every team member should have some type of weather dependant shelter devices such as reflective tarps, an emergency tube tent, or even extra large heavy duty trash liners combined with some type of cordage for rigging. A few mylar space blankets are also recommended for their lightweight nature and their ability to reflect and contain heat.
Whatever packing decisions you make, remember that you are responsible for what you take or do not take. You want to stay as mobile and as light as possible without leaving behind key items. (as a general rule, if you day pack exceeds 25 lbs. than there is probably something in it that you don’t really need.) The box entitled “TCSAR’s Fourteen Essentials” describes the only generalized basic items required for every searcher. Beyond that, you will have to decide, based on the mission and your experience, what you choose to carry
