You are welcome to bring extras of the items marked with a plus (+) sign. Where a range of quantities is indicated, e.g., “1-2” bring the smaller quantity if you are on a one-week course, and the larger quantity if your course is 10 days or longer. There are multiple brand name options available at varying prices. The clothing and equipment on this list is widely available in many places. Specialty outdoor stores like L.L.Bean, REI, Campmorand Eastern Mountain Sportswill have a range of appropriate items to choose from. Discount retailers, like Sierra Trading Postand the REI Garage often have good prices on name-brand gear and clothing. You may also locate many first- quality clothing and equipment items at military surplus stores and area consignment stores and thrift stores, such as Goodwilland The Salvation Army.
The HIOBS website has some great items. A complete collection of HIOBS-recommended-for-course items can be found HERE. Please contact your course advisor for suggestions.
Packing several light layers rather than fewer heavier layers allows you more flexibility as the weather and workloads change. Inner layers should fit closely, middle layers should fit loosely and outer layers should be just a little bit baggy. When shopping or packing, it is a good idea to try on your layers together.
Before your expedition, your instructors will check your gear; they will assess your clothing with the actual route and the anticipated weather in mind. Items you don’t take on expedition will be stored safely at base. We suggest leaving the tags on any items you purchase in case you don’t actually pack them for expedition, but please note that you should check with each store to see what their return policies are. If there are items that you would like to bring but which are not mentioned on this list, feel free to call and ask your course advisor at 855-802-0307.
Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases are an increasing risk of traveling in the wild regions of the Americas, including our course areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Florida, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica. Fortunately, there are prevention steps that are very effective and, in most cases, treatment is relatively simple and recovery complete, so long as the diagnosis is made early. Students and their families should educate themselves on the risks, prevention measures, and signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses.
Since prevention is always better than treatment, we STRONGLY recommend pre-treating your footwear, long pants, long-sleeve shirts, jackets and hats with a chemical barrier containing permethrin, at least two days before traveling to your course. Applied correctly and allowed to dry before wearing, the treatment remains effective for up to a month. For even longer-lasting protection, you can either purchase clothing with permethrin embedded within it, or send your clothes to Insect Shield®, who will treat them and ship them back to you, ready for your course. Use the Coupon Code “HIOBS” to receive a 15% discount on both clothing and treatment services at this website (please note that you need to use the coupon separately for products/ service).
Permethrin spray is readily available at many retailers, including Dick's Sporting Goods, Campmor, and Walgreen's.
For more information, please download our Vector-Borne Disease General Fact Sheet.
Late summer and early fall in Maine are often warm and sunny, but cold fronts are common and these bring wind, rain, and cooler temperatures. Out on the water and in the mountains, the air stays cool and moist so warm, quick-drying clothing is essential. Temperatures at night can drop to the 30s and even lower in September and October. Daytime temperatures range from the 40s to the 80s
The Bahamas are semi-tropical and temperatures remain fairly consistent, with temps rarely dipping below 60 degrees, even in winter. Average high temperatures from December to May range from the high 70s to low 80s. Average Bahamas daytime temperatures from May through November are in the mid to upper-80s. The sun can be intense, making sun protection (sun screen, sun hat and clothing) very important. The rainy season occurs between May and November. Though sunny for 300 days a year, cool rainy weather can occur briefly at any season.
These are NOT required items. Please only buy them if you plan to use them outside of your course.
Our course areas are rugged and require boots that are appropriate to the demands of the terrain and carrying an expedition backpack. For most students, boots are a significant investment. Good boots that fit your feet will make your course safer and more enjoyable, and last you for many years. Follow these guidelines to ensure a good fit and help simplify your shopping. At the bottom are some suggested makes and models currently available. Please call your Course Advisor at 855-802-0307 if you have any questions, or to ask about a specific model.
It's best to do your boot shopping in the afternoon because feet typically swell in the afternoon, and this will affect the fit. You should start with at least two or three possible boot options in order to find a good fit. Put your first choice on one foot and the second on the other. Lace the boots up fully with the socks that you plan to wear - one pair of lightweight liner socks under heavy outer socks (see general clothing list for more detail).
Start by standing on a downward slanting incline and try to jam your toes to the front of the boot. Next, take a walk around the store.
Though your boots should feel comfortable, heavy and medium weight backpacking boots will feel much stiffer than you are used to. If you are not sure you've found a good fit, ask the salesperson if you can wear them around the house (not outside) for a few hours and bring them back if there is a problem.
Backpacking boots are usually in the category described as "medium-weight" hiking boots, backpacking boots or mountaineering boots. These boots have:
NO JUNGLE/WORK BOOTS - they are simply not suited to the rigors of course.
Most are relatively lightweight, comfortable, supportive, and weatherproof and require only a moderate break-in period. Medium-weight boots are offered in a wide variety of brands.
Please note that Outward Bound provides all other equipment, including (but not limited to):