Whether you come in Spring or Fall, the shoulder seasons in Maine are often warm and sunny, but cold fronts are common and 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 both May/June and September/October. Daytime temperatures range from the 40s to the 80s.
Bringing the required clothing on your course is crucial to being prepared for ALL the weather conditions you may encounter. On expedition, you carry a lot less than when you travel in the regular world. The clothing on this list is designed to keep you warm if it is cold or wet and be flexible enough to allow you to pack away items if it is on the warmer side. Please bring everything on the list.
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.
The clothes, gear, and personal items that you bring on course will be well used. By the end of course your clothes are likely to be smelly, stained and a little bit frayed. We recommend having good boots, socks, rain jacket, rain pants, but try to bring things you already have when possible. The service work we do may include heavy cleaning and painting, make sure you have clothes with you that you are okay getting paint on and stained.
Please note that Outward Bound provides all other equipment, including (but not limited to): stoves, sleeping pads, dry bags or duffel bags, and lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device). There are no additional fees for the use of our equipment.
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, Brazil 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.
You are welcome to bring extras of the items marked with a plus (+) sign. 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, Campmor and Eastern Mountain Sports will have a range of appropriate items to choose from. Discount retailers, like Sierra Trading Post and 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 Goodwill and The Salvation Army.
Please contact your course advisor for suggestions.
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TOPS |
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2 |
LONG UNDERWEAR TOPS |
Materials may be Capilene®, polypropylene or other synthetics; silk is less effective—NO COTTON. Light or medium weight. |
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2-3 |
SPORTS BRAS (as needed) |
Quick-drying synthetic bras. |
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2 |
SYNTHETIC T-SHIRTS |
Can be 50/50 blend of cotton/polyester but all synthetics dry faster. One could be a tank top. Check out the HIOBS Store for some great options! |
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1 |
COTTON T-SHIRTS |
Nice for dry weather or for sleeping in. Check out the HIOBS Store for some great options! |
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1 |
WIND JACKET |
Lightweight, breathable, unlined nylon jacket |
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1 |
WARM FLEECE JACKET OR WOOL SWEATER |
Thick: 300-weight Polartec® or the equivalent in wool or pile. A full front zipper helps you vent and makes layering easier. Check out the HIOBS Store for some great options! |
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1 |
LONG-SLEEVED, LIGHTWEIGHT SHIRT |
Old loose fitting dress shirts are great for sun protection. Thrift stores generally have the best and brightest selection! Can be cotton. Check out the HIOBS Store for some great options! |
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1 |
HOODED RAIN JACKET |
Can be Gore-Tex or coated nylon. Make sure that the seams are taped or welded so they can’t leak. |
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BOTTOMS |
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7-8 |
UNDERPANTS |
Synthetic fabrics work best but cotton is okay. |
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2 |
LONG UNDERWEAR BOTTOMS |
Materials may be Capilene®, polypropylene or other synthetics; silk is less effective—NO COTTON. Light or medium weight. |
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1 |
QUICK-DRY PANTS |
Loose-fitting, lightweight nylon fabric dries quickly. |
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1-2 |
SHORTS |
Loose-fitting, quick-drying athletic shorts. |
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1 |
SWIM WEAR |
One-piece quick-drying swimsuit, t-shirt and/or sports bra and shorts, or lightweight swim shorts |
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1 |
RAIN PANTS |
Can be Gore-Tex or coated nylon. Make sure that the seams are taped or welded so they can’t leak. |
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HEAD, HANDS and FEET |
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1 |
SUN HAT |
For sun protection, either a broad-brimmed hat with chin strap or a baseball cap. Check out the HIOBS Store for some great options! |
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1 |
HEAD NET |
Fine mesh bug net that will fit over your head, to be worn as needed on land. HERE is a good example. |
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1 |
WINTER HAT |
Make sure it covers your ears when you pull it down. Wool or synthetic only. Check out the HIOBS Store for some great options! |
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2-3 |
SOCKS |
Thick: wool or synthetic only. NO COTTON. |
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1-2 |
LIGHT SOCKS |
Thin synthetic socks |
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1 |
RUNNING SOCKS |
Synthetic sock |
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1 |
RUNNING SNEAKERS |
Full-coverage, below-the-ankle, athletic footwear |
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1 |
CROCS (or similar) or WATER/RIVER SANDALS |
Closed-cell resin clogs with partial foot coverage, drainage and ventilation holes, and a heel strap, or: WATER SANDALS: Appropriate design for OB courses with heel straps, and toe caps or bumpers |
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1 |
BACKPACKING BOOTS |
As described on our "HIOBS Backpacking Boots Guide" found under Information Forms on the Course Page. |
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PERSONAL ITEMS |
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1 |
INSURANCE CARD |
If you have health insurance, please bring your card, or a clear photocopy of both sides of it. |
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1 |
$25-75 CASH, OR A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD |
To buy snacks during travel or to pay for lost or damaged gear. Items from the school store are for sale at the end of your course. |
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2 |
HAND SANITIZERS |
Pocket-sized squeeze bottles of hand sanitizer |
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1 |
HEADLAMP AND BATTERIES |
Minimum three volts (>two AA- or AAA-batteries). Bring one set of alkaline batteries per week of course. Many headlamp varieties offer a red-light mode for preserving night vision, which can be useful. |
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2 |
WATER BOTTLES (WIDE-MOUTH) |
32 oz. water bottle. Wide-mouth makes filling easier. |
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1 |
PACK TOWEL |
A synthetic, wringable towel, also called a chamois, a sports towel or a swimmer’s towel. No cotton. |
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1 |
SARONG or large piece of fabric |
A length of very light cotton or rayon (3’ x 7’), preferably not white, to wrap around yourself while changing clothes. A non-fitted twin bedsheet can be used. |
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1 |
WATCH |
Make sure it’s waterproof and inexpensive. Stopwatch, light, and alarm are useful functions. |
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1 |
SUNGLASSES |
Bring a strap to hold them on and a hard-sided case to protect them when you’re not wearing them. |
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2 |
EYEGLASS SYSTEM (if needed) |
Bring a hard case and a keeper strap for your glasses. Bring two pairs, or a pair of contacts and your glasses. |
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1+ |
JOURNAL / NOTEBOOK |
Personal journal or notebook, put in a Ziploc with pen. You may want to take notes during your course. (5" x 8 1/2" or smaller.) |
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1 ea |
BOWL AND SPOON |
Bowl can be wood or tough plastic; having a secure lid for it has been very helpful. Spoon can be metal or plastic. |
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1+ |
BANDANNAS |
Useful for shading your neck from the sun, cleaning sunglasses, as pot holders, and more. |
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2-3 |
PLASTIC BAGS |
Gallon-sized Ziploc®-type with a closure for keeping things dry or separating wet items |
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1 |
TOILET KIT (BASIC) |
Toothbrush, small trial-size toothpaste, comb, brush, and dental floss. Don’t bring soap, deodorant, makeup or razor. |
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DISPOSABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS |
An ample supply. Changes in diet and activity can produce changes in cycles. |
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1-2 |
SUNSCREEN |
8-oz, minimum SPF 30. Do not bring aerosol sprays. |
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1 |
LIP BALM |
Minimum SPF 30 |
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1 |
INSECT REPELLENT |
Bring a small unbreakable container, 10-50% DEET. Do not bring aerosol sprays. |
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2 sets |
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS (if needed) |
MUST be in original bottles or vials. The extra set is just in case the medication gets lost or damaged. |
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1 set |
TRAVEL CLOTHES & COURSE END TOILETRIES |
Clean clothes for the trip home, towel, soap and shampoo for the course end shower. |
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1 |
INSURANCE CARD |
If you have health insurance, please bring your card, or a clear photocopy of both sides of it. |
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COOLER MONTHS: May, June and September |
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1 |
FLEECE VEST OR LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT |
Mid-weight: can be Polartec® fleece, wool, or the equivalent weight shirt or 100- or 200-weight Polartec® vest. |
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1 |
MEDIUM WEIGHT PANTS |
Mid-weight: 100- or 200-weight Polartec® or the equivalent |
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1 |
MITTENS OR GLOVES |
Can be wool or fleece. |
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1 |
BALACLAVA |
A hood-shaped hat that covers your head and neck. You could also bring a neck gaiter and a second hat. |