Top 5 Essential Pieces of Hiking Gear

Image: Argyruntum

Planning on going for a hike? Making up your mind is easy, but executing the plan is quite a task. This is because it takes more than a willing mind and body to go on such an adventure. The need to have the right hiking gear is unbeatably the most important thing. But aren’t there so much things that you’ll need? Forget those. Here are the top 5 most essential hiking gear that you should always bring with you:

1. Backpack:

We all know that you can never go hiking without taking with you the essentials. And since these hiking essentials have to be packed, you’ll certainly need a backpack. Depending on the duration of your adventure, you can choose to carry a small backpack (one that’s about 500 cubic inches) or a large one (one that’s about 1,500 cubic inches). When shopping for the right backpack, check to see it has the features that you are looking for. The most important features to look for include being of high quality, comfortable, water-proof, having a hip belt to enable your pelvis support your backpack and, compression straps to aid in compressing and stabilizing the weight.

2. Water:

Going on a hike without water is the same as going on space without air. Since a normal human being requires at least three liters of water per day, whose weight is approximately 6 pounds, you have to carry enough of it in order to remain hydrated. Thus, you should have a water bottle that’s big enough and easy to carry. In this case, bota bags or a Camelbak hydration pack would be excellent. You should also consider taking with you a water filter that you may use in filtering the water that you may fetch on a stream or lake.

3. Food:

The more you hike, the more energy gets used. As such, the body will need to be constantly fueled so as to keep you going. Hiking therefore doesn’t require that you sit after a couple of hours and enjoy your meal. Instead, you will have to keep on snacking throughout the hike. To be on the safe side, always pack extra food and snacks; for you never know what might happen. This food should require little or no cooking at all. And, the minimal amount of food you should carry should be 2000 calories.

4. Map and Compass:

It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first, second or tenth time on a trail. Even though there’s a 0% chance of you getting lost, having a map and a compass with you will help you navigate even when the unexpected happens – like a closed trail, unexpected injuries, dangerous wild animals or bad weather. Moreover, you ought to know how to read both the map and the compass so as to be able to stay on or, get back on course.

5. First Aid Kit:

To help you treat minor injuries, take your first aid kit with you and ensure that it has more than just the basic items. Examples of supplies that it should have include sterilized bandages, adhesive aid bands, rubber gloves, antiseptic wipes, basic medication and tweezers among others.

Though there are quite a number of other hiking gear you may need, once you have these five, you can rest assured that your hiking experience will be more than just good enough.