How to Select the Right Hiking Equipment - Here's What You Need to Consider #SportsColiseum
Preparing for a hiking trip can be a daunting endeavor, especially if you haven't explored the outdoors in the past. And one of the most difficult things is selecting the right camping equipment. There are so many options available that it can be confusing, not to mention expensive, to figure out the correct items that you need.
When making your gear list, consider both the type of trip and the environment through which you will be hiking. For example, hiking through high mountain passes for a week in the middle of the winter will require a lot of specialized equipment that will not be necessary for an overnight summer jaunt through a river valley.
No matter what kind of trip you plan on taking, you will require some kind of shelter. Tents are by far the most popular form of camping shelter and they come in a variety of styles. The classic double-walled tent comes with a separate fly, designed to provide maximum protection from the rain while also allowing for ventilation to prevent condensation.
Alternatively, single-walled tents do not have a separate fly, but rather combine the fly with the tent itself. The benefit is a lighter tent that is easier to pack and carry. However, single-walled tents are generally not as stable as double-walled tents and should not be used on trips where persistent storms are expected.
Of course, you do have options besides tents at your disposal. Some people like the simplicity of a tarp, the lightest shelter available. But you will not receive complete protection, either from the weather or from other curious animals. And despite their simplicity, it takes a degree of technical skill to properly set tarps up.
After deciding on a shelter, you need to select a proper sleeping bag for your trip. And you have as many options here as you do with shelters. The most important choice with any bag is its temperature rating. The key is to select a proper temperature rating suitable for the environment in which you will be camping.
If you select a bag that is too highly rated, you will wake up in the morning drenched in sweat. But if you select a bag that is too thin for its climate, you run the very real risk of hypothermia.
Once you decide on a proper rating, it is important to do your research on the various bag manufacturers, since some bags more accurately reflect their ratings than others.
Another important attribute of a sleeping bag is its insulation material. Your two options here are either goose-down or synthetic. Goose-down bags are lighter and more compressible, making them easier to pack. However, goose-down tends to be more expensive than synthetic alternatives. Further, goose-down bags lose much of their insulating value when wet, making them ill suited for rainy climates.
As with sleeping bags, you have two choices when it comes to backpacks: internal-frame and external-frame packs. Historically, external-frame packs were the most common thanks to their ability to easily carry a large load. However, advances in new suspension systems have made internal-frame packs by far the more popular choice today.
Perhaps a more important feature of modern backpacks is their size. Now, the proper size of a backpack is very much dependent upon the length of your hiking trip. The longer the trip, the larger the bag you will require. For a week-long trip without resupply, for instance, a bag between 50 and 60 liters will generally be sufficient to carry all of your gear.
Understanding the basics of camping and hiking equipment is very important in order to ensure that you are prepared for the unique challenges you will face while out in the wild. And with this guide in hand, you should be able to make more informed purchasing decisions.
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I am not into hiking but for those doing it, your info is definitely of big help.
ReplyDeleteA great post with some fantastic tips! Would love to take part in proper hiking one day, as yet my only hiking is around the local reservoirs with the dog!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried hiking yet, but thanks for this post, I'm now more familiar with the equipments although I think these are more for difficult-level hiking. Anyhow, I'm still looking forward to when I finally experience the adventure of it. :) Hopefully, soon!
ReplyDeleteI like hiking, but not camping. I like to hike but at night, I would like to return to a decent hotel room and rest. Camping is not for me.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to buy for a hiking trip! I need to go to more hiking trips to be able to make the investment worth my while. Hopefully I can try to join one without having to spend so much.
ReplyDeleteNot really into hiking, I would be the worst companion I think to go up in the mountains haha. This article's perfect for my husband though, but I do think these are for skilled hikers already and not so much for beginners. Only the best when it comes to equipment I guess. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally have no idea of hiking and so I didn't know that there's so many things you have to bring or at least have with you. I find the sleeping bag the hardest to decide with! There's different climates, I'm sure so I guess the best thing to do to know which to have or bring is ask those who have been there to know the temperature/climate.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever go hiking, I will go with someone who knows much more than me and not a fellow newbie friend. it will be so much safer!
ReplyDeletei never thought there would be that much equipment. my mum loves hiking and takes as little as she could
ReplyDeletewow, didn't know there are so many equipment and things to prepare for.. i went for a short hike once at Eiger, with normal gear (sweater and jeans, fashion boots, ladies sling bag).. glad i survived that..
ReplyDeleteTill now we havent done camping but love to do for sure. Thanks for such a detailed photo with everything in one shot easier to remember.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips for those who love to go hiking. Never tried it, but this is one of the things I want to do some day.
ReplyDeleteIt's really important to study the trail and terrain before doing it. You have to adjust your gears depending on the trails.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know hiking required this much gear! Definitely pays to be prepared, though! :D
ReplyDeleteThese are helpful tips. I'd love to buy em all at once, but I'm afraid I don't have enough budget. However, I am definitely getting em all soon. Piece by piece. :D
ReplyDeleteWow! that are a lot of equipment to get ready for hiking. I have not go on a proper hiking trip yet, I think those gadget are quite expensive too.
ReplyDeletei always go for a tested brand,,, for shoes i opt to shoes and bag i opt to use merrell.. thanks for the tips... though i am no longer active with trekking.. i got over it after so many years working in the mountains back in 2011-2013
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