Hiking Gear – The Essential Equipment
When out on the trail, the hiking gear you take is all you have to rely on until you get back to the comfort and safety of civilisation. It is up to you to determine the essential equipment that you carry and wear to make your hike both safe and enjoyable. Failing to bring along the right gear may result in a miserable experience or worse.
What you carry in your day pack obviously depends on the weather, terrain, time of year and a number of other factors. Whether I’m going for a two-hour walk or a day-long hike my checklist for day hikes always starts with the required Ten Essentials. Make your gear selection based on weather and the remoteness of destination, as well as the experience and preferences of your group.
The following pages cover gear that I find useful when out on the trail. Please leave your comments and suggestions so that they may benefit others.
The Right Clothing for Hiking in Australia The right clothing for hiking ensures you enjoy hiking in both comfort and
Read More
Hiking Shelters 101 There are a range of shelters available for hiking including some “non-traditional” shelters for lightweight hikers. Most
Read More
Hiking Poles - Why? The Benefits International research* over the last ten years has confirmed that the health and fitness
Read More
Choosing the Right Hiking Pack With so many different styles and sizes of packs available, it can be difficult to
Read More
Have You Packed Enough for Your Hike? Here is a summary of what I believe to be the essential items
Read More
Why would you wear gaiters for hiking? Planning on hiking through frosted peaks of the alpine regions, heading out for
Read More
Field Tests and Gear Reviews Helping you decide what gear is right for you When out on the trail, the
Read More
Cooking Equipment for Hiking I remember as a child, with fond memories, many camping trips where we cooked our evening
Read More
Choosing the Right Sleeping Bag A sleeping bag is an important purchase since it can keep you warm in subzero
Read More
Choosing and Caring for Hiking Boots Hiking footwear needs to protect feet from damage and to provide a solid grip. Other
Read More
The Ten Essentials are survival items that hiking and Scouting organisations recommend for safe travel in the bush. The Ten Essentials first appeared in print in the ...
Read More
The CamelBak Fourteener 20 is a comfortable, versatile and lightweight pack (weighing in at only 1.1kg). I look forward to ...
Read More
Use hiking poles, even on shorter hikes. None of the most experienced and hard-core hikers and backpackers I know ever ...
Read More
Clothing keeps you warm by trapping warm air near your skin. That's how cotton kills. When cotton gets wet, it ...
Read More
Most of us master shoe-tying in primary school and don’t give our laces much thought after that. If your hiking ...
Read More
A well packed backpack can be the difference between pleasure and pain when you’re out in the wilderness. It is ...
Read More
With so many brands and styles, choosing the right daypack can get a little confusing. Taking a few minutes to ...
Read More
Taking on a trekking adventure can reward you in more ways than you may anticipate. During your treks, you rely ...
Read More
Stuff sacks and dry bags can make a huge difference for your packing, organisation, and protection of your gear. Mesh ...
Read More
With proper care of your sleeping bag you can improve the life of your bag and the warmth in colder ...
Read More
Cleaning your pack is probably the last thing you'll think about doing after a long trip, you'll empty your pack ...
Read More
When embarking on a hike or travel, never underestimate the importance of pack organisation. It can affect your centre of ...
Read More
Be prepared and stay protected in any weather Jackets can protect you against humidity, wind and cold. When choosing an ...
Read More
Apart from looking good, every backpack is designed for a purpose. Different designs and sizes suit different activities. At Mountain ...
Read More
Team the right socks for your footwear Most people understand that appropriate footwear is essential for a successful outdoor experience ...
Read More
No matter how you've spent your day outdoors, with the right sleeping bag you can recover at night. The standard ...
Read More
Anywhere on the trail, you can have a fun debate about what are the 10 essentials to take on every hike. There are no hard and fast rules and every hiker will have different want’s needs and likes. This checklist should be a good starting point for the gear that is essential for your safety and enjoyment.
Pippa ??
Mark Owen
Is it legally ok to carry knife/axe with you while in the nature?
Daniel