I’m going to start by saying that Astroturf is a terrible surface to play football on, and you should never do it. But if you’re going to play on it anyway, you need the right gear.

First things first: wear cleats. If they don’t have studs, they aren’t going to work—you’ll slip right off the turf.

If your cleats are too long, they’ll get stuck in the turf and cause you to trip over them. Too short? That’s no good either! You won’t have any traction when you try to stop or change direction, which means that your footwork won’t be up to par and you’ll be at a disadvantage against your opponent.

The next thing you need is a pair of pants with built-in knee pads that aren’t too bulky—if they’re too baggy or bulky, they’ll slow down your movement and make it harder for you to change direction quickly enough for success on the field (and even more so if there’s any rain!).

Finally, make sure that whatever jersey or uniform top you’re wearing has sleeves (they provide extra protection against injury).

One of the biggest mistakes we see with foot care while trekking Kokoda is to bring a pair of socks for each day, this is NOT necessary and is an expensive exercise. They way in which you take care of your feet and boots is far more important to trekking Kokoda safely with no sign of Tinea or trench foot as some like to call it.

Here at ETA we advise you to bring 4-5 pairs of socks for the entire trip. One of those pair of socks should only be used for night time, keeping them clean and dry. The other 3 or 4 pairs you can rotate through each day and wash once if you choose.

Every morning and night you should coat your feet in Tinea powder and or eucalyptus foot powder (we personally use both). When coating your feet ensure that you rub the powder in-between your toes where skin infections on your feet often begin.

Every night you should also coat your boots liberally in these powders by tipping in an ample amount followed by turning the boot on to it’s toe and bang it up and down firmly to spread the powder through out the internals of the boot. You should make this a regular practise with your boot shortly after you have purchased them by doing this once every 2 weeks while using them and three times a year if they are not seeing regular use. By doing this before and during your trek it will not allow fungi and bacteria to establish inside your boot unknowingly.

What if my boots are saturated with water?

The same practise of coating your boots with powder should occur as this will help soak up moister and keep the bacteria under control.

For your feet use the powder at night as normal however each morning coat your feet in antiseptic cream (Dettol or Savlon cream or similar) concentrating on your toes especially.

Dry your innersoles and socks out each night (or even at lunch time if sunny) but do not put your boots around the fire place to dry as this is a sure fire way to destroy them.

Hot spots (signs of blisters)

One early warning sign of blisters is a warm or even hot sensation on the skin of your feet from friction when walking. These are noticeable when you pause for a rest and you can feel that slight tingling/burning sensation. You should immediately  stop and place some protection in the form of a covering over the top of the area of skin affected. Use something like strapping tape, blister pads or second skin coverings to protect the area from friction. Ensure that you do this straight away as 10 or 20 minutes later you may end up with a painful blister that is more difficult to manage and far more uncomfortable to walk with.  

Boots

Good boot care while trekking Kokoda will help ensure that the most important piece of equipment you have is in the best condition to complete the walk. Prior to your trek you should give your boots a treatment of conditioner to ensure they are supple and in good condition.

Do Not walk through the water with your boots on, as it is very hard to dry your boots, and wet boots dramatically increases the chance of blisters. Even if your boots are wet do not cross the rivers with them on as the will become much heavier and have no chance to dry out.

Your pick of boots is a personal preference, as people all have a variety of feet sizes and shapes, please do not get the same boots as your friend who has done Kokoda as chances are your feet will be a different shape and require a different footwear.

Some people prefer Full Leather Boots, while others prefer Goretex Boots, some are even using trail runners (not our guides choice of footwear) but the point is to get a comfortable and light boot. In the selection of your boots, you need to be conscious of the humidity and muddy, wet conditions that Kokoda may bring. Kokoda does not require heavy and hard soled boots the trail while being difficult and in a jungle environment does not require heavy duty boots, good hiking boots yes as most runners will simply fall apart over the coarse of the trip.

It is important to have your boots well worn in, please do not turn up with boots that have not been worn in and tested on your feet.

Do not I repeat do not dry your boots out around are fire as this will damage the glue holding your boot together and may crack the waterproof (Gore-tex) lining that keeps your foot dry. I have seen boots that melt from being to close to others that the sole simply fell of due to the glue giving way to the heat of a fire. If your boots get wet, pull the inner sole out and dry this but allow your boots to dry naturally. During lunch time if the day is clear sit them on the grass to allow them to dry.

Socks

We suggest good quality moisture wicking socks. Cheap socks tend to fall out of shape and slide off your foot being very uncomfortable to wear.

If you are intending to use sock liners try them out long before your trip. Do not use 2 pairs of the same socks, as this does not allow for there to be any movement and the friction can seriously increase the chances of blisters. Sock liners allow for movement between the socks while protecting your feet. Some people find sock liners increase the heat in the boot making your feet sweat even more, this can be an issue if your feet turn pulpy.

Bamboo socks tend to take for ever to dry and are not really suited for Kokoda.

Clothing

The days are hot and humid however you will spend most of the time under jungle canopy.  The nights can be quite cold (it can get down to 1°C at the higher altitudes at certain times of the year).

You will need a set of casual clothing for your short stay in Papua New Guinea pre and post-trek.  This could be the clothing you travel in, or a spare set.  Either way you can store this clothing at the Lodge until you return from the trek.

Avoid heavy-weight cotton clothing which does not breathe, is very heavy when wet and is almost impossible to dry out in PNG’s humidity.

For trekking we recommend you wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants (lightweight and quick dry) for proper protection from both the elements and malarial mosquitoes, however, it is OK to trek in shorts and t-shirt if you wish (but you should apply tropical strength mosquito repellent to any exposed skin in the morning and late afternoon as this is when the malarial mosquito is active).

Long pants and long sleeve shirts provide protection against sunburn; from some plants that tend to sting when you brush past them; and from leeches, bugs and creepy crawlies on the ground. 

For protection against chafing it is a good idea to wear a pair of nylon jogging shorts, lycra gym shorts or skins (compression shorts) as underwear.

On most nights you will camp near a creek with plenty of fast flowing, crystal clear mountain water or have access to a bush shower in a village campsite.  You will therefore always have the opportunity to have a good refreshing wash.  After this you will want to change into a lightweight tracksuit which you will sleep in).

Women should bring a sarong wear between the campsites and the bathing areas.

Because it rains on a regular basis it is a good idea to have a waterproof poncho or light rain jacket. 

It is a good idea to store your spare clothing and sleeping gear in a ‘dry sack’ which are available in camping stores. This will ensure you always have something dry to put on each evening.

Footwear

The trekking boots you select should be lightweight, fit well and have a good tread.  We recommend boots with a synthetic upper in preference to leather – they are lighter, more ‘breathable’ and do not need to be ‘broken-in’ like leather boots.  Synthetic uppers are usually made from cordura and suede.

Your boots must fit properly. To test the fit first, with the boot unlaced, you should be able to get two fingers easily down behind your heel, then you should lace up the boot and kick the ground with your toe. If your toe hits the end of the boot it is too short – this means your piggies will not be happy on the downhill sections of the track!

The boot needs to support your foot without compressing it.  Some brands fit narrow feet better than wide ones; other brands do the opposite. Don’t be conned by a brand name – buy the boots that fit your feet.

The boots you choose should have good ankle support to assist with stability – we do not recommend hiking shoes.  You should also make sure the sole of the boot flexes at the ball of the foot and not in the middle. Check the under-foot cushioning to ensure it is firm and supportive.  Handy hint: make sure you buy the socks you are going to trek in before you buy your boots – then use these socks to try on the boots you intend to buy.

If you are not an experienced trekker we strongly recommend you visit reputable trekking shops such as Paddy Pallin, Trek and Travel, Mainpeak etc who have experienced trekkers as staff and who can give good advice on equipment selection, fitting etc. 

Trek sandals or reef walkers are essential for water crossings where you want to remove your boots and socks to keep them dry.  You also need to wear them when you bathe in rivers and creeks and for walking around the campsite at the end of the day’s trekking.

Do not bring thongs and we don’t recommend Crocs as they have no grip and are too slippery. Do not bring joggers as when they are wet they become very heavy and you need dry shoes at night to avoid foot problems.

Personal Equipment

Trekking Poles

We strongly recommend that you use two trekking poles.  These not only take some pressure off your leg joints on the uphills and downhills but also provide stability for your feet on rough ground – and it is all rough!

Backpack

If you choose to carry your own gear your backpack should have a capacity of 75 – 80 litres.  The ‘dry weight’ (ie less water) should not exceed 12 kg (if it weighs more than this you are carrying too much).  Avoid carrying extraneous items – stick to recommendations in the checklists provided.

Our group carriers carry our group camping equipment, trekkers tents, food for our main meals, group first aid kits, ropes, machetes, shovels, emergency equipment and radios.  They erect and dismantle our tents each day.

Day Pack

If you engage a Personal Carrier you need only bring your daypack 30-49L.  It should weigh no more than 4-6kg, including water (1 litre water = 1kg). We will provide your carrier’s pack.

If you wish you can hire the following gear from Adventure Kokoda for the duration of your trek:

   Backpack* (75 litre)$35
   Sleeping Bag*$25
   Sleeping Mat (thick foam)$15
   Trekking Poles (pair)$50


 

Clothing Checklist:

ITEMCHECK
One rimmed hat or peak cap (and a beanie for night-time is suggested) 
One waterproof poncho or light rain/spray jacket 
Two long-sleeve shirts (lightweight and quick-dry) 
Two pair of quick dry long pants (lightweight and quick-dry) 
One pair of lightweight long thermal underwear (Polypro) 
One long-sleeve top for warmth (lightweight and quick-dry) 
One sweat rag 
One trek towel (we recommend the ‘chamois’ variety not the microfibre) 
Two pairs of Skins/lycra gym shorts (to wear as underwear – helps prevent chafing) 
One Sarong or long shirt (for women) 
Swimming costume (for bathing in) 
FOOTWEAR 
One pair of quality trekking boots (refer Clothing and Equipment section) and spare bootlaces 
One pair of sandals (for the end of the day – we recommend Shimano Evair sandal or Teva sandal)

Thongs and crocs are not suitable as they have no grip and are too slippery and avoid joggers as when they are wet they become very heavy and you need dry shoes at night to avoid foot problems
 
Short gaiters (Oilskin Overboots available from Trek and Travel www.trekandtravel.com.au are a popular choice) 
Three (3) pair of socks suitable for trekking 

 

Equipment Checklist

ITEMCHECK
Backpack (only required if you choose not to engage a Personal Carrier)
(75 litre backpack can be hired from Adventure Kokoda for $35)
 
Daypack 30-40 litre (required only if you engage a Personal Carrier to carry your gear) 
A pack-cover for your backpack or daypack to help keep your gear dry 
Two Trekking Poles
(Can be hired from Adventure Kokoda for $50)
 
A small camping pillow (blow-up variety) 
Sleeping Bag (lightweight – +10 degrees is normally okay but for the period Jul-Sep 0 to +5 degrees is recommended)

(+10 degree Sleeping Bag Can be hired from Adventure Kokoda for $25)*

*If you are over 5’10” tall you are best to bring your own Sleeping Bag
 
Dry sacks or dry compression bags in various sizes for your sleeping bag,
clothes, socks, etc are recommended (match the size to what they are to contain and a number of smaller bags make packing easier than too many items in one
or two big bags)
 
Sleeping mat (thick foam or Thermarest – lightweight)
(A Foam Sleeping Mat can be hired from Adventure Kokoda for $15)
 
Sleeping Bag Silk Liner 
A good quality head torch with spare batteries (avoid cheap brands – they don’t last) 
Pocket-knife (to lend to one of our PNG guides if you would like them to carve a souvenir walking stick – don’t pack it in your carry-on luggage) 
A plastic bowl, enamel or plastic mug, and a spoon 
Hydration bladder (2 or 3 litre) 
One (1) 1-litre water bottle 
Small (30cm X 30cm) closed cell foam mat for use as a seat (available from camping stores as interlocking floor mats) 
Small car chamois (useful for drying your boots – cleaning the floor of your tent, etc) 
Camera with spare batteries (there are limited opportunities to charge your
battery during the trek)
.
 

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