Basic Hiking And Camping Gear
Basic Hiking and Camping Gear
Basic Hiking and Camping Gear
Once you've decided to try hiking and camping you have to start out with equipment that you can trust. One of the best things you can do is become familiar with the likely need before you try a hike or camp for the first time. There is nothing worse than getting in to a wilderness situation where you have inadequate equipment or where you are confronted with an equipment failure in a tough spot.
First of all, do you have an experienced mentor? This person needs to be someone whom you respect and who has a wealth of experience in the outdoors. If you have no one that has those attributes, look for a club in your area that you can join and attend some of their meetings. Most good clubs run indoctrination level courses that would do admirably for you to get started. Probably, some of their more experienced members offer to act a guides/mentors to beginning hikers/campers and will impart the basics to you in the field. This is where some good grounding and tips will pay off handsomely for your first solo or family group adventure.
Unquestionably, your camping and hiking gear should be lightweight and you should resist the temptation to overload yourself trying to cover every conceivable eventuality. Most of the basic items can be pressed in to service in more than one role. Equipment construction should be examined from the point of view of weight coupled with strength, durability and practicality. While you can concentrate on the quality of the gear you acquire, the one thing gear cannot overcome is an out-of-condition user. Make sure you are in the kind of shape that will be required for what you contemplate plus a reasonable allowance for unforeseen circumstances like an extended duration of the trek itself. Don't join an expedition where all the hiker/campers are in much better shape than you.
The next factor to consider is weather. Be ready for a wide range of conditions. Your gear should be waterproof as well as light to be effective for camping and hiking. Your spare clothing is not much use to you soaking wet. Look to layer your clothing and keep in mind wind proofing as well as waterproofing.
With the right equipment, you can hike in a wide variety of terrains with confidence. Your camping and hiking gear should be suitable for the hike you are taking and should not be a hindrance to you. How to pack your camping and hiking gear is also important to ensure that weight is distributed on your body in the best way feasible. Backpack weight should be planned to bring as much of the weight on to your hips. Your backpack is key to a good experience and you should take a lot of care in making a correct selection. Make sure again that you seek experienced advice so that you do not make an investment you will regret.
Don't think of hiking and camping as a rugged terrain sport for the dedicated enthusiast only. You can bring your family to a State or National Park and picnic as a first step. You can fit all of the items for such a day inside a basic backpack that can be carried by one adult. The children can have their own backpacks to bring a change of sweater and some light personal objects. Start samll and be sensible about overlaoding yourself with hiking and camping gear which you don't need.
Basic Hiking and Camping Gear
Once you've decided to try hiking and camping you have to start out with equipment that you can trust. One of the best things you can do is become familiar with the likely need before you try a hike or camp for the first time. There is nothing worse than getting in to a wilderness situation where you have inadequate equipment or where you are confronted with an equipment failure in a tough spot.
First of all, do you have an experienced mentor? This person needs to be someone whom you respect and who has a wealth of experience in the outdoors. If you have no one that has those attributes, look for a club in your area that you can join and attend some of their meetings. Most good clubs run indoctrination level courses that would do admirably for you to get started. Probably, some of their more experienced members offer to act a guides/mentors to beginning hikers/campers and will impart the basics to you in the field. This is where some good grounding and tips will pay off handsomely for your first solo or family group adventure.
Unquestionably, your camping and hiking gear should be lightweight and you should resist the temptation to overload yourself trying to cover every conceivable eventuality. Most of the basic items can be pressed in to service in more than one role. Equipment construction should be examined from the point of view of weight coupled with strength, durability and practicality. While you can concentrate on the quality of the gear you acquire, the one thing gear cannot overcome is an out-of-condition user. Make sure you are in the kind of shape that will be required for what you contemplate plus a reasonable allowance for unforeseen circumstances like an extended duration of the trek itself. Don't join an expedition where all the hiker/campers are in much better shape than you.
The next factor to consider is weather. Be ready for a wide range of conditions. Your gear should be waterproof as well as light to be effective for camping and hiking. Your spare clothing is not much use to you soaking wet. Look to layer your clothing and keep in mind wind proofing as well as waterproofing.
With the right equipment, you can hike in a wide variety of terrains with confidence. Your camping and hiking gear should be suitable for the hike you are taking and should not be a hindrance to you. How to pack your camping and hiking gear is also important to ensure that weight is distributed on your body in the best way feasible. Backpack weight should be planned to bring as much of the weight on to your hips. Your backpack is key to a good experience and you should take a lot of care in making a correct selection. Make sure again that you seek experienced advice so that you do not make an investment you will regret.
Don't think of hiking and camping as a rugged terrain sport for the dedicated enthusiast only. You can bring your family to a State or National Park and picnic as a first step. You can fit all of the items for such a day inside a basic backpack that can be carried by one adult. The children can have their own backpacks to bring a change of sweater and some light personal objects. Start samll and be sensible about overlaoding yourself with hiking and camping gear which you don't need.
Article by Dan Compton, an experienced outdoorsman whose opinions and equipment reviews can be found at http://www.gearforhikers.com
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