Have you ever gone hiking? Most people envision dusty trails and sleep slopes at the mention of the word “hiking.” Some envision blisters, insect bites and sore feet and legs. Unpleasant images, aren’t they? That’s just one side of hiking. If you take the time to learn the proper hiking techniques and have the right gear though, you don’t have to experience the unpleasant side of hiking. Hiking is a great activity. It gives you the opportunity to see and experience nature and breathe in fresh air. It’s a healthy exercise that can also give you a soul-renewing solitude if you choose to hike alone or a joyous companionship if you go with a friend or group of friends. To experience all these, however, you will need to get started on the right foot. You have to also understand what hiking isn’t.

First off, hiking isn’t mountain climbing even if you can hike up mountains. With mountain climbing, you primarily scale steep inclines using mountain climbing gear and special climbing techniques. Compared to hiking, mountain climbing is much more dangerous, lethal even. While you can get lost in the wilderness or get bitten by a snake while hiking, it’s still not as serious as dropping a few hundred feet from the ground if you lose your grip on steep mountain climb. However, the risks in both outdoor activities can be minimized with expert guidance and common sense.

While hiking can be a component of other outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, canyoning and cave-exploring, it’s still a different activity altogether. The aforementioned outdoor activities tend to be more vigorous than hiking. They also require specialized training or guidance. With hiking, you only need a good pair of hiking boots, the right hiking clothes, a good backpack, the appropriate hiking gear, a place to hike and you’re all set.

For a good pair of hiking boots, you can start your search online. As for the hiking apparel, you’ll find them in a wide range of styles, purposes and prices. Make sure to pick the right pair of pants, jackets, and socks for the hiking area and weather conditions.

There are hiking gear that can make your hiking experience an enjoyable one. Some hiking gear you may need include a GPS device or compass, poles, backpacks, containers, first aid kit, bug spray, bandages and burn cream.

And before you go hiking beyond those local trail-lined hills, it pays to remember a number of common sense safety guidelines. For instance, it’s not at all difficult to get lost in the forest, so it’s a good idea to have a compass with you, or better yet, have a hiking companion. It also pays to research about the area before hiking through it. You don’t want to run into snakes and other wildlife.

Take the time to learn the basics of hiking, as well as  prepare for each hike you plan on taking. When you gain some experience, you can eventually go on longer hikes or overnight hikes. Pretty soon, you will be able to hike even the toughest of trails.

If you’re getting ready to go hiking or backpacking, you will need to think about the backpacking gear to take with you. And if it is your first time to go backpacking, it’s best to stick with the basics. Make a list of the essential backpacking gear supplies you need and then go on from there. A good rule of thumb to remember is to pack light, which means it’s best to pack light or ultralight supplies. Backpacking involves hiking, miles and miles of walking, so you need to not be carrying too heavy a backpack; otherwise, you aren’t going to be able to go very far or even enjoy your backpacking trip. A normal load is a base weight of 20 pounds. If you can pack supplies totaling less than 20 pounds, the better.

Of course, you will need to consider your budget for your backpacking supplies. Since you’re a beginner in backpacking, you can’t really tell yet if backpacking is something you want to do a lot of in the future. Keep in mind that backpacking gear don’t come cheap, so budget-wise, you’ll do well to invest in inexpensive backpacking gear for now until you decide backpacking is an activity you want to be doing regularly.

So what backpacking gear do you need? You can classify backpacking gear in two general categories: the big backpacking supplies and the small backpacking supplies. The big supplies are going to take up most of the room in your backpack. They also are going to weight the most. The small supplies, on the other hand, you can fit into the nooks and crannies in your backpack.

Then there are your consumables — your water, food and anything else you will eat or use while you’re backpacking. These are things you can dispose of; they will take up space in your backpack initially, but as you use or consume them, they will reduce the weight you have to carry as you progress in your trip.

Your backpack, sleeping bag, shelter (tent) and clothing are your big backpacking gear. Your backpack is what’s going to hold all of your supplies, so it needs to be big enough. Also, it should be comfortable for you to carry. How big a backpack should you carry? It depends on your trip. If your backpacking trip is short, a small backpack is adequate. If your trip is going to be longer, it means you will need to bring more backpacking supplies, and thus, your backpack needs to be bigger. Many backpackers buy a few different sized backpacks that they can use depending on how long their trips are.

As for your shelter, this is typically a tent, but this depends on where you are backpacking and what time of the year it is. It may be that a tarp or screened tent is sufficient. Sometimes, you may be able to get by without taking a tent with you. However, it’s a good idea to check with the weather service if you can go without a tent. At the least, take a ground cover or sleeping pad with you.

Sleeping bags, pads and liners comprise your sleeping gear. As you can imagine, this backpacking sleeping gear can be the bulkiest, so it pays to find out what you will need to bring with you based on the weather conditions. You may or may not bring clothing with you, but again, this all depends on the weather conditions. If you are backpacking during the colder months of the year, pack caps, wool socks, parka, windbreaker and long underwear.

Small, but essential backpacking gear include kitchen items (e.g., camp stove, matches, nesting pans, fuel), a flashlight and a map.

When you’re planning a camping trip, you’ll probably be wondering how much stuff to take. Do you take the entire house or do you take the minimum only to discover that you forgot a much needed item. There is no hard set rule on how much, or how little, equipment and supplies you should take because it depends on the trip itself. You need to put some thought into what is absolutely necessary and then add from there. Just make sure you do not overload yourself or the vehicle.

A Camping Tent

For tent camping, a primary piece of equipment is, of course, the tent. A tent may require additional items like rope, poles, stakes, and tools for assembling it. You can reduce or eliminate some of the items by investing in a self-assembling tent. This type has all the necessary components in one integrated unit to create a sturdy structure.

Such tents are not exactly “self-assembling”, but they can be very quick to pack, unpack and set up which can be very useful for cold weather camping. They are also easy to haul to your location. It is preferable to have one that uses waterproof material and strong seams that resist tearing.

A Sleeping Bag or Air Mattress

Unless you are just planning a day trip, you will probably need something to sleep on. Maybe you’ve seen some movies were cowboys just sleep on the ground with a log for a headrest. It may look adventurous and some people actually enjoy it, but it can be really hard on your back and can prevent a good night’s sleep. If you are planning on hiking the next day, a stiff neck and sore back can hinder the trip.

There are many different kinds of sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses (air mattresses). If you want to use an air mattress, make sure it is self-inflating. Unless you enjoy being light headed, you will not want to blow it up with your lungs. You may also be out of luck if it requires an external power source. Many air mattresses come with built in, battery powered air pumps. If you are going to use a sleeping bag, make sure it has a durable exterior, good insulating material and is waterproof.

Camping Cookware

You will probably want to take some equipment for cooking. You could take some ready-to-eat meals that do not require any preparation, but many people find cooking outdoors very enjoyable. However, you do not want to overburden yourself with equipment that is time consuming to unpack, clean and repack, so it’s best to keep the cookware to a minimum. A lightweight camping stove, a multi-purpose pan, and a few utensils should do nicely. If you decide to bring plastic utensils, be sure to dispose of them properly. Keeping the outdoors clean for others to enjoy should be part of the camping experience.

A First Aid Kit

You should always be prepared for the unexpected mishap and a first aid kit is essential. Some important things to include in a first aid kit are:

• Bandages. Band-aids, wrap around gauze and pads.
• An anti-bacterial/disinfectant cream or spray for treating scrapes.
• Aspirin. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen could be used as aspirin substitutes for peoplewith sensitive stomachs.
• Bug bites cream or spray.
• Moleskin for treating blisters
• A multi-purpose knife or at least some scissors.
• Some sanitary towelettes.

A Supply of Water

The quality of a campsite’s water supply can vary greatly, so be prepared to bring some of your own water. Since water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon, you are going to be limited on how much you can haul. You should at least bring enough bottled water for drinking, cooking and any emergencies like cleaning scrapes and cuts. Depending on your destination, you may find yourself with limited access to fresh water, so it is very important to plan ahead for your water needs.

A Dependable Flashlight

A good flashlight can be the most important item in your possession at night. Before leaving for a camping trip, make sure your flashlights have fresh batteries. In fact, you may want to take some spare batteries just in case. The last thing you what is to be away from the campsite at night and discover that your flashlight’s batteries are dead.

As an alternative to a battery powered flashlight, you could bring a rechargeable flashlight. The only downside is that you will need some kind of power source, like the cigarette lighter in a car, to recharge it.

Just Bring Essentials

One of the most important things to keep in mind is to just bring the essentials. If you try to bring all the comforts of home, you will find yourself hauling around a lot of extra weight that requires more work to pack and unpack. The saying “less is more” definitely applies to packing for a camping trip.

Don’t worry if you’ve never been camping before. In fact, you’re lack of experience may make some experienced campers a little jealous. You have the chance to experience an exciting camping adventure for the first time. Expert campers may know the finer points of what to wear, where to go and what to pack; but you can have a great trip with a moderate amount of knowledge and little or no previous experience.

Consider Your Camping Gear

Regardless of the destination, you will want to take some time investigating what camping gear you’ll need. Some essential items are a lightweight tent and a comfortable sleeping bag. There are plenty of excellent choices that use modern design and materials. Of course you have options other than a tent or sleeping. You may wish to stay in a local motel, cabin or even a vehicle.

In place of a tent, a Large Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) can provide better protection against adverse weather. You could take a tent along with a SUV so you can ‘rough it’ in the tent but still have a comfortable back up just in case. Another great option is a Recreational Vehicle (RV) which can be available in a variety of sizes. For people that wish to take the comforts of home with them, some smaller RVs have a stove, running water, a TV, and can comfortably sleep two. Some larger RVs can serve as a permanent mobile home.

Cooking Supplies and Lighting

A couple aspects of camping that have been influence by well designed products are food preparation and lighting the camp site. It will serve you well to investigate your cooking needs before hand because it can be difficult to cook outdoors. However, stoves like a Coleman fuel stove or other propane stoves simplify outdoor cooking. There are a lot of options for lighting as well. There a several types of lanterns ranging from liquid fuel to battery powered lamps. You certainly will not want to forget a handy flash light.

Communication and Navigation

You cannot make the assumption that you will have cell phone or internet access at your camping location. If you need to have such communication, be sure that you have selected your location accordingly. Depending on how far away from civilization you plan to get, a good GPS unit could be a very important piece of equipment to have. If getting lost is of any concern, it would be a good idea to understand how the GPS unit works and to get familiar with maps of the area. Being knowledgeable about the surrounding area is very important.

Proper Planning Is Key

If you want to avoid a lot of potential headaches, do some advanced planning. Since camping is becoming more popular than ever, it helps to decide on a destination and make any necessary reservations as early as possible. You should also consider more than just the destination itself. Be sure to research any poisonous plant life or local wildlife that you may encounter. Checking the weather is also important. Knowing what weather to expect will help when choosing what camping gear to take.

Where Can You Go?

If you live in the U.S. there are plenty of great locations to choose from, however, you do not have to limit yourself to only U.S. destinations. There are excellent campsites the world over. Canada and Europe, with impressive scenic locations, have been popular with campers for generations.

You will find plenty of options in Greece or Portugal. The UK alone has a multitude of sites in several countries. You can visit the calm seas in wild Wales or the wild seas of the Orkneys. Perhaps you would prefer to head inland to the Midlands. Some of the most diverse scenery of any country exists in the UK. If not the UK, maybe the Black Forest of Germany is to your liking.

No Need to Wait

First and foremost you should just have fun. You don’t have to wait until you’re an expert to get out and enjoy yourself. After all, it should be an adventure, not a homework assignment.

The Mistral 20 Kelty sleeping bag is ideal for those campers who want reliable comfort for their cold-weather camping endeavors at a reasonable price.

Price: 48.95 USD

The new Porcupine 15 degree sleeping bag is the first youth sleeping bag in Big Agnes’ line to feature a goose down fill.  The 600 weight fill is sure to keep your Tiny Trekker warm and cozy through the night, and all the features make this a pint sized version of your favorite Big Agnes sleeping bag.  Fits kids up to 5′ tall.

Features:

• Integrated pad sleeve. Never roll off your pad again
• Integratedhalf pad sleeve design keeps you securely attached to the pad from thehips up while allowing freedom of movement for your legs
• Requires ANY 20″ wide rectangular or mummy shaped pad to fit in the half pad sleeve design
• Built in pillow pocket holds a fleece or Big Agnes pillow
• Interior fabric loops for sleeping bag liners
• YKK #8 zipper
• Cotton storage sack and nylon stuff sack included
• No-draft collar seals around neck to keep cold air from sneaking in
• No-draft wedge insulates the connection between the bag and pad
• No-draft zipper tube insulates along the length of the zipper
• Shell: Lightweight nylon rip-stop with WR surface treatment to repel water
• Lining: Nylon taffeta with stain resistant finish
• Pad Sleeve: Nylon rip-stop. WR surface treatment to repel water

Specs:

Pad Size	Any 20″ wide
Color	yellow/green/blue
Fill Type	600 fill goose down
Fill Weight	12.5oz
Bag Weight	2lb 7oz
Shoulder Girth	63″
Hip Girth	54″
Foot Girth	37″
Stuff Sack Size	S-7.5″ x 15″
Compressed Bag Size	7.5″ x 8″

Price: 149.95 USD

The Mistral 0 Kelty sleeping bag is ideal for those campers who want reliable comfort for their cold-weather camping endeavors at a reasonable price.

Price: 48.95 USD

A premium 800-fill goose down, 0?? sleeping bag that offers superior warmth with unmatched comfort, weight and versatility. The waterproof Pertex?

Simple in design, CamelBaks Skeeter gives kids, ages 5 and up, 35 ozof hydration whenever and wherever they want it. Fully insulated tokeep water cool for hours, take the Skeeter to the park, on a hike, oron a car ride. Parents can offer kids three great colors.

Capacity: 35 oz.

Features:

• 35 oz / 1 L OMEGA HydroTanium Reservoir with Lifetime Warranty
• Insulated reservoir pocket keeps liquid cool for hours
• Low-profile design wont interfere with a helmet
• Wicking mesh back panel keeps kids comfortable
• Reflectivity on harness & pack increases low-light visibility
• Ergo Angle w/ Big Bite Valve

Price: 30 USD