Very few bags had full-length zips. Those with zips often didn't have a covering flap and were quite cold.

Often walkers would pick armfuls of bracken for softness under their groundsheets. It was also common to sleep on several sheets of newspaper, which also provided some insulation. In 1960 a plastic inflatable mattress became available. This was fairly light but very susceptible to puncturing. Some walkers preferred the heavier but more dependable rubberised canvas lilo.

Foam rubber mats were sometimes used, but of course acted like a sponge when wet. This problem was overcome with the introduction of closed-cell foam in 1973. Self-inflating air mattresses became available in the late seventies.

Footwear

Footwear has long been a contentious issue with bushwalkers. The Club has always recommended 'stout footwear' for walks. For day walks golfing shoes or similar were considered suitable, but longer walks required boots work boots or ex-Army. These were heavy, leather-soled affairs, which walkers proceeded to make even heavier by driving hobnails (usually treble hobs) into the soles and adding tricounis around the edges.

Tricounis on boots; the boots on the right belong to Darrell Sullivan. Wilsons Promontory, probably on a track-clearing trip, 1961 or 1962.
Darrell Sullivan