Essential Hiking Gear

Hiking gear makes all the difference to how much you enjoy your hike.

Get the right equipment for your trip into the wild and you are almost assured a fantastic time. Your feet won’t get sore, the sun won’t burn you or make you sweat, you won’t get wet and you won’t get too tired or sore from carrying too much weight.
You can just stroll along, enjoying your surroundings and companions.

On the flipside, get the wrong hiking gear and your trip can turn into a nightmarish trek. Hobbling or wincing with every step, cold and miserable or boiling in your own clothes, tired and praying to get to the finish. The wrong equipment on a hike can cause you a great deal of pain and discomfort. Bottom line : You need to get good quality stuff from a reputable company. And it’s not just that good camping gear will help you enjoy your hike. Sounds corny but a good piece of kit can be almost like a friend to a dedicated hiker – it is there with you through a lot of extraordinary times. There is definitely a pleasure in itself to owning a good quality trekking item. Here is an overview of what most hikers need:

1. Hiking Boots.

First and foremost you need to look after your feet. For obvious reasons – that is where the hardest work is being done. You need the right balance of

• Comfort.
• Durability.
• Weight.
• Grip.
• Flexibility or rigidity.
• Water resistance.

Don’t forget to wear in your boots before going on a long hike. You really want to avoid painful feet on that first day.

Camping Tents

2. Camping Tents

Ok, not every hiker needs a tent. A lot of hikers just do day hikes within driving range of their house. Others will establish a base camp with a large family tent (such as a Coleman Instant tent) and do day hikes from there. Then a lot of the time you’ll want to have a tent small enough to carry with your pack so can overnight in the wilderness.

There are 3 things to be aware of here:

a) Size. For example a ’5 man’ tent won’t fit 5 men in any kind of comfort. ’5 man’ just means you could squeeze 5 men lying down onto the floor on the tent. So a ’5 man’ tent is really just suitable for 2 or 3 people and their gear.

Will you need a vestibule to keep your gear out of the rain?

b) Conditions you’ll use it in. Have a think about what conditions you’ll need to cater for – high winds? snow? insects? strong sun (tents get very hot without ventilation? Work out what you’ll need and buy accordingly.

c) Weight. If you will be carrying it on your back, you’ll want it as light as possible. After a few hours, you’ll be very glad you paid a few extra bucks for the lightweight version.

3. Hiking Backpacks

If your hike is longer than an hour or two you’ll need to wear some kind of backpack. Don’t be tempted to buy the cheapest here. Get the wrong backpack and your stuff will seem to get heavier with every step.

Like  most hiking gear, there is the ever present tradeoff between weight and usefulness. Things you’ll want in your backpack are

• The right carrying capacity. Not too little, not too much (too much and you’ll find yourself packing tings you don’t need)
• Comfort and fit. A good fitting backpack fits well and distributes the load well across your back,shoulders and hips, and has good padding.
• Waterproof. What happens if it pours?

4. Water Bottles

Not owning a good quality water bottle is a common mistake by inexperienced hikers. Sure you can get away with the PET water bottle you bought at the supermarket but you really want something tough enough to withstand a few knocks. Think about it this way : What if your bottle gets punctured halfway through a hike?

Also some studies show PET bottles can leach potentially toxic chemicals over time. So you want a proper reusable bottle.

The next scary thing to avoid is something known as BPA. This is a synthetic hormone which has also been shown to leach from regular polycarbonate bottles over time and has been linked to some cancers.

So you want a tough BPA free bottle. Either BPA free plastic or a metal such as aluminum or steel.

5. Dedicated Hiking Clothes

Another thing newbies don’t have which is often regretted. Proper clothes for your hike will make a huge amount of difference to your comfort and energy levels. Don’t forget good socks and hat.

The main thing here is breathability. This means the clothes provide protection from the elements (sun, rain, snow, wind), but also takes (wicks) the moisture from your body and keeps you dry. You don’t want wet underclothes at the end of a long hike. Not only uncomfortable but in cold conditions can be very dangerous.

6. Emergency Hiking Gear.

You need to be prepared if something goes wrong like an injury or getting lost. You’ll need a way to patch yourself up, call for help, find your way, or get you through some extra hours on the trail. Suggested items are a first Aid Kit , whistle, flashlight, rain/cold gear, sat phone, water purification tabs.

Ask before you start – what will I do if I (or a companion) can’t walk or get lost?

7. Hiking GPS and Navigation Gear

Even if you are old-school and only want a compass and perhaps a map, we recommend getting a portable GPS as a backup. The stories of hikers getting unexpectedly lost are legion. Don’t let this happen to you.

Other hiking gear to consider

• Trekking poles. Can be a huge help, especially when going up or downhill, where they take a lot of the stress. -
• A good multi-purpose knife -
• Spork. Love the word, love the usefulness. -
• Trail mix or high energy bars.

The right hiking gear makes all the difference to your hike. Be sure to get the right stuff – do so and it will last for many years and be your partner in a lot of great times out there.