Camping and Hiking Essentials

So you want to go hiking and/or camping? You are not alone as the outdoor activities of camping and hiking have escalated through the years. I can assure you that the technological advancements regarding equipment, clothing, safety and comfort have kept up with the popularity of this sport affording a much better outdoor experience to hiker and camper alike. Their is a plethora of equipment out there on the market, with various price ranges and brands competing for our almighty dollar. Deciphering, what is best for you as well as what you ultimately need or not need is essential for proper success and enjoyment.

Having the bringing the right equipment with you for you journey can make all the difference in the world as far as you having a wonderful experience or a sick and miserable misfortune. I will provide some of the key components that should accompany you as you head outdoors. Obviously, different brand and store names can influence how much money you spend on your equipment, so research is your best tool for combating the scenario of going overboard financially.

A safe, successful and enjoyable hiking and camping experience should start with proper clothing, since this will ultimately be closest to your body. The avoidance of bringing any type of cotton based under and outerwear with you is crucial. Cotton, though it can be comfortable, is a terrible commodity to bring with you once it gets wet, through perspiration, dew or good old mother nature. It traps moisture between your skin and clothing, causing an uncomfortable, sticky and wet feeling and is warmer and heavier than other materials such as polyester.

Instead of cotton, a better alternative would be synthetic, polyester and vinyl clothing, which allows your body to breathe, and removes water vapors that otherwise, would be trapped close to your skin making you uncomfortable and cold while aiding in blisters, viral and bacterial infections. Micro porous laminates(vapor wick) associated with polyester material, consist of millions of pores allowing water molecules to pass through the material away from your body and also doesn't allow moisture to enter either.

Sock liners, undergarments, polyester pants and shorts and both long sleeve and T' shirts are recommended. Rain gear and a lightweight/heavy weight fleece jacket or parka, depending on the season, is ideal to help combat the changing temperature and weather conditions wherever you may be. Wool socks that can be worn in association with polyester sock liners will enable you to have comfortable, dry and cool feet, while negating the chances of acquiring blisters. Don't be bashful in your decision to bring extra socks and undergarments as the possibility is there for extras to come in handy from time to time.

A suitable backpack is essential for carrying all of your clothing and equipment, enabling you the freedom of not having to carry items to keep your hands free. A 2600-3900 cu/in. pack is ideal for kids while 3900cu/in. and larger packs are great for adults, allowing all of your equipment and clothing to fit nicely within the confines of your back pack. Their are two different styles of packs: external and internal frame. External packs allow for a cooler back as their is a gap between your back and the pack for better circulation and ventilation, better weight distribution and torso adjustment plus the advantage and conveniences of internal packs. Internal packs allow top and panel loading, extendable lid and great compressibility. It is a great idea to purchase a backpack rain cover to help reduce the chances of your contents inside your getting wet!!!

Sleeping bags are another pertinent part to the outdoor experience. Having the right bag for the weather conditions is critical. Their are two basic styles of bag, mummy and rectangular. The mummy bags are often recommended due to their smaller size and lighter weight. Their are different ratings for a sleeping bag regarding temperature also. You can get a bag that is rated for no lower than 50 degree, which would be great for camping in the summer time, or bags rated for -20 degrees below zero or lower for winter camping. Determining the temperature for that given time period is essential for the best results. Mattress pads can be a great addition to your overall experience in enabling you added comfort and protection. Air or foam mattress pads are ideal though the air is often times lighter weight, though more expensive. A compression sack is a nice added feature as well as it allows you to be able to hold and compress your sleeping bag into a smaller area, freeing up critical and essential limited space.

Other items to be considered are the head and flash light with spare batteries. Head light are normally krypton and LED bulbs that are housed in a small light fixture that is worn around your head to free up your hands from holding a flashlight.

Medical kit, duct tape, first aid whistle, compass, pocketknife, matches, trash bags, toilet paper, chamois cloth, water bottle, cooking utensils pots and pans and cup and bio-degradable soap and sponge for personal hygiene and cleaning purposes all should be part of your repertoire for you camping and hiking adventure. Zip lock bags are essential components as well due to the ability for you to place items safely inside for protection from moisture, spillage, soiling and messes.

Most of all, time and dedication to reading and educating yourself about the location you will be discovering and exploring, as well as preparation, planning and packing of the right items for the particular time period combined with safety precautions will afford you the best possible case scenario and equally obtainable enjoyment opportunity while exploring the beauty of the great outdoors!