Category: hiking

Choosing the right camping and hiking equipment is critical to the safety and enjoyment of any camping or hiking trip. It is especially important for new campers and hikers since they are already unfamiliar with the past time. For novices, it is a good idea to try out camping and hiking equipment that friends and family own first so that they can experiment and see what they like best. There are also outdoor rental companies that will rent camping and hiking equipment so that different brands and types of equipment can be explored at a minimal cost.

Types of Equipment

A camping or hiking backpack is one essential piece of equipment to be purchased. A backpacker should look for a pack according to the type of trip that will be taken. Many experienced backpackers have multiple packs so that they can choose according to the length of the trip and gear to be carried. For day hikes, smaller packs are needed with less of a requirement for pockets or straps. For longer excursions with camping involved, especially in colder climates, larger packs are required with many different pockets, both inside and outside the pack, and places to strap equipment to the outside. Backpacks should fit comfortably to a person’s body, resting firmly on the hips with the shoulder straps fitting snugly and hooking in front of the chest with larger packs. That way the weight of the pack rests on the hips instead of the back which is safer for the backpacker.

Another piece of hiking and camping equipment is the sleeping bag. These can be cumbersome and hard to pack if the right ones are not chosen. Most sleeping bags will have a larger storage bag for when it is not in use so that the fibers inside of it do not get compacted, and also have a smaller camping bag which the sleeping bag fits snugly into for compact packing on trips. Hiking and camping equipment for sleeping also requires a sleeping pad which not only increases comfort for the camper, but also keeps them warmer, providing a layer of insulation from the cold ground.

Hiking and camping equipment also requires the tent be made for the climate and the number of people going on the trip, as well as being lightweight and compact. Most campers choose two man tents for additional versatility without much added weight. The tent fly should reach all the way to the ground, rather than about six inches from the ground as is found in cheaper versions. If it is not all the way to the ground, water can get in when there is any sort of wind, as well as allowing wind to blow up into the tent. A tarp is also needed as ground cover under the tent to prevent seepage into the tent despite waterproofing.

When planning to go on a camping trip where everything will be packed into a backpack to be carried during the course of the trip, there are specific camping and hiking gear requirements that will make the trip more enjoyable for everyone involved. If there is too much camping and hiking equipment carried on the back, then the backpack gets cumbersome, with too much weight pressing down on the shoulders and hips. In addition, if the backpack is not fitted correctly, then the weight of the pack might be resting on the person’s back instead of hips, causing back pain and possible injury.

What to Bring

Lightweight camping and hiking gear is the best way to go for overall enjoyment, since the backpack only weighs about twenty pounds with the core gear in this type of camping. Although it is a more Spartan way to camp, leaving some of the luxuries at home, the hiking part of the trip is more enjoyable so that when the camping spot is reached, the person is less exhausted and sore, able to enjoy the time camping and not dreading the return trip.

The backpack is one of the most essential items in camping and hiking gear since it is what must be carried the duration of the trip and has to be able to carry all of the supplies needed for the trip. A backpack should be chosen for the type of trip being taken, with smaller, lighter packs working just fine for day hikes, but larger packs with many straps and pockets being necessary for longer camping trips, possibly requiring a metal frame for support. Any backpack should be fitted to the person who will be carrying it and should not be bought until adjusted in the store to see if the shoulder straps fit comfortably and snugly and the belt allows the pack to rest firmly on the hips, distributing the weight of the pack there instead of on the back.

Another essential piece of equipment in camping and hiking gear is the tent. Most campers choose two man tents even if they are going to sleep alone since they are not much heavier than one person tents yet supply more room for comfort sleeping, even with supplies. When a tent is chosen, the individual is wise to see if the rain fly comes all the way down to the ground, since that is the only way to ensure protection from the elements even in high winds. Another lightweight camping and hiking gear requirement for the tent is that it is as lightweight as possible and also compact, making it easy to pack in addition to not adding more than a couple pounds to the load if possible.