Category: hiking

The right hiking gear can really make all the different between a great day on the trail and a total disaster. You are going to want to make sure that you are prepared and have all the hiking gear you need before heading out on your next adventure, and although there are thousands of different pieces of equipment to choose from, there are a few in particular that are considered as essential.

The Basics

When it comes to discount hiking gear, there are a few items in particular you will need to have on hand. One is the right clothing. You can t just wear your regular clothes when you are going camping, and even if you are going during the warmer months you are still going to need to bring some heavier clothes to keep you warm at night.

This will especially be true depending on the environment that you are camping in, for instance if you are camping near water the air will be even cooler so you will want to bring some extra sweaters.

One of the most important things in hiking gear is food. Unless you know that there will be a store or other resource in the area where you could get food, you are going to need to meal plan and make sure that you are going to have enough food to feed yourself and whoever is going with you for the duration of your trip.

The best idea is to include almost double what you think you need, and then ration it out, just to make sure that you definitely have enough and will not run out and end up hungry.

Also important hiking gear is water. You never know if there is going to be fresh water where you are camping, unless of course you are camping at a camp site, and so you will need to bring enough water to last you for the duration of the trip. Keep in mind that the human body is made up mostly of water, so without enough water you will dehydrate and get sick.

For hiking gear you don t want to forget a map of the area you are going to be camping in. This is important because if you don t and end up getting lost, all rations of other things such as food and water will be pointless because even if you packed more than enough you may end up running out.

You need to not only include several maps in your hiking gear but as well know how to read them and get familiar with the area.

When a hiker or backpacker is selecting his hiking gear, one of the more important selections is that of the hiking boot. Since every hiking trip requires miles of walking, sometimes for an entire day at a time, the choice in hiking boots can make or break a trip, leaving a hiker feeling strong and sure-footed or exhausted with blisters. In addition to the choice in type of hiking boot, there is also the choice of whether a waterproof hiking boot is required for a trip.

Pros

Waterproof hiking boots are designed to withstand water even when submerged. That way, a backpacker can walk through streams, rivers and deep puddles and snow and can be sure that his feet with not get wet. Normally a waterproof pant is worn with these boots so that the elastic bottomed pant leg is pulled down over the top of the boot, providing additional insurance that water will not inadvertently come down the top of the waterproof hiking boot, getting the foot wet.

Waterproof hiking boots are sometimes confused with water resistant hiking boots which only withstand water for a certain amount of time before letting it through to the foot. Although waterproof hiking boots can withstand submersion, water resistant boots cannot, even though they often look like they are made of the same materials. It is important for an individual who is looking for waterproof hiking boots to check with the store or manufacturer to make sure they are indeed waterproof rather than water resistant.

Cons

One drawback to using a waterproof hiking boot is that they do not breathe as much as a water resistant hiking boot or especially the lightweight hiking boots that do not have any water repelling properties. It is important for the foot to have some air passage in the hiking boot so that the moisture from the foot itself is able to pass out of the boot. Waterproof hiking boots do have some breathability, but a hiker will find that they will need to make sure they wear water wicking socks so that the water that does come from their foot is wicked away from it, thus providing more comfort while hiking.

Waterproof hiking boots are also usually more expensive that regular hiking boots of the same type, although if the individual searches for sales or buys them in the off season then they can often find them for comparable prices to water resistant or non-waterproofed boots.