One bag - 12 months: what to pack?

Preparation for departure starts this week.  I am planning on having a 20kg luggage allowance (flights to Kandahar via Dubai), and there will be very little opportunity to get replacement kit in that location, if I choose badly now.  Over the following 12 months, I will be living in a sandy/dusty/rocky environment with a temperature range between 50c (summer max hi) and -10c (winter max low), so whatever I pack needs to cover the widest range of temperature possibilities and be extremely rugged. Most importantly, clothing and boots need to be very comfortable, as I will be wearing it day after day.


Boots
My biggest decision was on boots. These really did need to be exceptionally comfortable, but hardwearing enough to cope with months in the grinding dust, sand and stones of Helmand province.  I tried a lot of boots from companies like Berghaus, Karrimor, Salomon and Meindl.  I loved the Meindl Ottowah boots, but eventually opted for the most comfortable option. The Meindl felt more sturdy, but the Merrell cannot be beaten for comfort.

Merrell Moab Mid

These boots really offered a very fine balance between comfort and (stated) performance and durability.  The are Goretex XCR lined and have a hard-wearing Vibram® Multi-Sport Plus™ sole.

The boots are designed for hot climates, wicking sweat away from the skin for comfort in extreme temperatures. Breathable mesh and nubuck leather uppers and mesh bellows tongue enhance ventilation. Keeping my feet cool is very important, as they do tend to 'rot' easily.

I opted for a mid-length boot, just to help keep sand and small stones out of  boot when moving around.

These boots will either become my  best friends, or worst enemies, over the next 12 months.  Having owned 3 pairs of Merrell shoes before, I have high hopes for them...but will definitely report later on their performance. I hope that I never regret not getting the Meindl's.

Jacket / Outer Layer
I also did a lot of research to purchase a decent waterproof outer-layer.  I expect my equipment to get battered and bashed over the coming months, so I didn't want to spend a fortune on a 'rolls royce' jacket. I knew that I wanted Goretex fabric, as the breathability is essential for that climate. I do own a nice goretex jacket, but it is a US military issued one, and I don't want to wear that in an operational area.  I definitely want to look like a civilian at all times!

Having inspected expensive offerings from Arctyrx, Berghaus and North Face, I evaluated the 'pros and cons' of heavyweight XCR fabric versus the super-light 'paclite'. I won't be facing much torrential rain and the jacket itself shouldn't need to cope with much direct abrasion, so I decided to get a  'paclite' goretex jacket.  After doing some more research, I found what seemed like a great economical choice.

 Craghoppers 'Bear Grylls' Paclite Jacket

 I chose this as a very cost effective Goretex Paclite jacket.  At only 500g weight, it is the perfect choice for my limited baggage allowance.  I am not expecting very intense rain, but it should work excellently to keep the cold desert wind away at night times.

I am also a big 'pockets' person and this jacket offered a better stowage selection than many of the more 'minimalist' hardshell jackets.  As I will be wearing this day-to-day, rather than hanging from a cliff face, the extra chest pockets will give me somewhere to stick a wallet, sunglasses, IPod and (several) mobile phones etc.



Fleece / Mid-Layer
I had a clear idea what I wanted to fulfil the 'warmth' requirement.  I have owned 'Gore Windstopper' fleeces before and I am always amazed at how they can be so warm, yet so light.  I much prefer them to the big 'snuggly' thick style of polartech fleece.

Having already decided what I wanted, it was just a case to find a well-fitted and economical option.  What I chose was...


Mountain Equipment Windstopper Alpine Jacket

 I found this fleece was a nice snug fit, which is essential to get the thermal benefits of the lightweight windstopper fabric.

It has thumb loops on the cuff and two convenient hip pockets that can be accessed when wearing a rucksack waistbelt.

I also liked the concealed chest pocket, built into the inner mesh lining.

The fleece is also very light weight (for packing) and takes up very little space - so it should be perfect for sticking in the bottom of a daysack, ready for those cold evening winds.

I had considered taking my North Face 'Nuptse' 700 Down Jacket,  but at this point I don't think I will need that much thermal protection.  If I find myself spending more time in the Northern part of the country (Kabul and surrounds) during the winter, then I may get that jacket posted over.


Shirts

I had a few 'travel' style shirts already, from Mountain Hardwear, and these will perform fine in the climate I am expecting.   One new purchase I have made is on a shirt from '5.11 Tactical'.  I was surprised at how heavyweight this shirt was.  It certainly won't have a problem with being rugged enough, but I am not sure how well it will perform in the heat (even with the mesh lining and vented back).

5.11 Tactical Shirt

 One of the reasons, I decided to try these shirts was the novel use of 'concealed' document pockets (velcro behind the main chest pockets), which makes them really useful for travelling in remote areas, where you want your important docs (passport, IDs etc) on your person at all times.

5.11 Tactical do a wide range of clothing specifically aimed at middle east/desert wear and it is usually populatr with journalists and security personnel.





BASELAYER
I've got a selection of baselayer garments/tshirts, that I have used for previous travelling and sporting activities.  I actually use a lot of Marks and Spencer 'Active' wear, as this tends to perform really well and is very economical.  The best performer, that really suits hard-wearing and hot conditions is the famous 'Lifa'.

Helly Hansen Lifa Dry

These have been around for years, and a designed to work as part of a layered clothing approach.  I find mine perfect for sports and hot weather.  I've run, rock climbed and mountain walked in these. They do really keep you dry and 'wick' away perspiration very effectively.  For use in remote areas, they don't get 'smelly'' quickly and are easy to wash and dry.

I wore one of these all around Vietnam and Cambodia whilst trekking, so I know it will suit me perfectly for Afghanistan.

The long sleeve style also helps prevent sunburn on the arms.


Main Bag

I opted against using a large capacity rucksack for my primary bag, as I intend to take a mid-size (45L) rucksack as hand luggage. I've owned a North Face duffle bag for several years now and decided that the 90 litre capacity of this, coupled with the completely weatherproof and hardwearing construction offered great security for my belongings en-route.  Also, the bag is much more lightweight than a simularly rugged rucksack, so I would not be wasting valuable airline luggage allowance on the bag itself.

The North Face 'Base Camp' Duffle Bag

With 70 litres capacity, this bag will swallow my 20kg of equipment and clothing, keeping it safe and secure from start to finish.  Made from thick PVC and well-stitched, it can be left outside for days, strapped to the outside of vehicles, and will keep the rain or dust outside.

I like that there is very little to break, or fail, and the twin zips can easily be secured with a padlock for security.  Unlike most rucksacks, I can pack this so that fragile items are protected in the middle and it should be a lot easier to 'live out of' than a rucksack.

I will still need a smaller rucksack for travelling around the various Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), so I am looking for a 45 litre climbing rucksack for that purpose.  Climbing bags have less pockets, but do tend to be built to a more rugged standard.  Normally I would opt for 1 35 litre 'daysack', but I am also expecting to have to carry a laptop and sleeping bag on these trips around the country. Sadly, for the commercial air travel, I will only be able to half-fill the rucksack, otherwise it would exceed carry-on size/weight allowances. 

I will report soon about my rucksack choice, along with the other 'essentials' that I have chosen.