Essential Gear for the Consummate Backpacker

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

When you’re a backpacker or a hiker who enjoys long jaunts through undiscovered territory, it goes without saying that you need to pack light. When you’re traveling solo, there’s no additional aid or transportation: just you, your feet, and gravity. Because of this need to stay light, it helps to narrow down the few essential items you’ll want to bring with you on your next backpacking trip.

• A Water Filter – Bringing a water filter, especially as you travel along a lake, river, or stream, will be greatly beneficial. Why? It reduces the excess energy you’ll have to spend preparing to filter water while keeping you adaptable. After oxygen, water is the most essential compound we need to get our bodies going: do you want to be ready when your bottle runs out?

  Keep in mind that many water filters are not very heavy. They might take up a little more space than you’d like, but the trade-off is more than worth it.

• Proper shoes/boots – Since you’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet, you won’t want to break in a new pair of shoes or boots the moment you decide to go backpacking. Instead, you’ll want some comfortable shoes that have already been broken in, and shoes that you know you can rely on after all of the wear and tear that walking in the wild is bound to bring them. Having your feet well taken care of is also an integral way to keep your spirits up well after you have started your backpacking trip.
• A Swiss Army Knife – We all know about the practicality of a Swiss Army Knife, so why is it so especially important that you bring one along with you while backpacking? Putting the practicality aside, a Swiss Army Knife is tiny, lightweight, and won’t take up the kind of space some of your other tools will. Some people even clip their knives or include them on their keychain. Besides, you never know when it will come in handy.
• The proper “living” equipment – If you’re backpacking out in the wild and plan on spending more than a few nights out under the stars, you’ll need to remain both comfortable and warm. Both are integral to getting a good night’s sleep, which will be even more important when you’re out backpacking throughout the day. Bring a small, lightweight sleeping bag that covers your body and traps heat well, as well as a pan for cooking.

When filling your backpack, keep these essential items in mind so you know what to be prepared for – and how to pack it light.

Must-Have Survival Equipment for Hiking

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Let’s face it: some of us take rather tame hikes. We might head out to a “bunny” hill, or a place with clearly-mapped trails that never veer off too far from civilization. Some of us are amateur hikers who prefer to still be able to hear the sounds of the highway even as we reach the hilltop.

But for more serious hikers, not everything is so comfortable and predictable. Bottom line: you could get lost on a hike. Rather than worry about it, it’s better to prepare for it. Here are some must-have pieces of equipment to bring with you in case you get lost:

• Navigation: Whether you bring a map/compass or a GPS watch, you should have some sort of contingency for finding your way around. At the very least, be able to discern your direction so that you know where you came from and where you’re going.
• Fire-starters: Flint, matches, a lighter: whatever you need to get a fire going, bring it. If you ever get lost into the night hours and the temperature drops, you’re going to need a fire to stay warm. Fire also has other practical purposes, like boiling water and preparing food.
• A knife: In addition to helping you start a fire with flint, a knife has so many practical uses that any survivalist will tell you to bring a knife whenever you head out into the wild. From building shelter to hunting down food, a knife (especially a multi-purpose knife like a Swiss Army Knife) won’t seem like a luxury. It will seem like a necessity.
• Medical packs: A first-aid kit with disinfectant, tape, gauze and other necessary items will be vital, especially if you ever get knicked or gashed and need to prevent an infection without the help of civilization. Make sure to bring enough medical supplies for everyone in your party – and, to be on the safe side, bring a little extra.
• Food and water: Water is always a necessity, but the need for it increases with higher temperatures. If you get lost, it’s a much safer bet to find your water supply first, as humans can survive much longer without food than water. But bringing more than enough of both will keep you going as you gather your bearings once lost.

Keep in mind that most hikers don’t encounter an emergency situation like this – but it does happen. Rather than assume the best on the hiking trail, it’s wise to take a more cautious approach. Bring more food than you need, bring a Swiss Army Knife even if you can’t think of any uses for it. Simply by making these survival items a staple in your hiking pack and keeping them there, you’ll be prepared for getting lost every time you venture out in the woods.

Five Reasons to Bring a Swiss Army Knife

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Many of us marvel at television shows like the Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild” and marvel at all of the things the survivalists are able to accomplish with so little support out in the wilderness. But there’s a common denominator to many of these shows – and to better survival, in general – that helps explain their success.

Their knife.

Any knife has a million and one uses in the wild, but a quality knife like a Swiss Army Knife, with its variety of blades and options, is even more practical. With that in mind, here are five reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife on your next camping trip.

1. Scissors.

Each Swiss Army Knife comes with a small scissors. These scissors might seem superfluous indoors, but it’s only out in the wild where you discover the kind of help they can offer. Whether you’re repairing tents or untying knots, it’s definitely more practical to have a small pair of scissors in your back pocket.

2. Fold-away blades.

It’s not only convenient to have a variety of blades and tools at your disposal, but being able to fold them away safely is a major plus. You can keep all of the different tools and blades tucked away in your back pocket, saving you both worry and space. A Swiss Army Knife can be like having a toolbox the size of a Chicken McNugget.

3. The knife, stupid!

Don’t forget the benefits of a knife – whether you’re cutting meat, gutting a fish, shaving bark, or peeling an apple. The chances aren’t very good that you’ll find yourself in a life-or-death situation on your next camping trip, but it can’t help to be prepared while enjoying the benefits of a strong blade.

4. Preparing for the unexpected.

If you’re really venturing far into the wilderness for a more rustic camping experience, the chances are good that you’ll encounter something you didn’t plan for. A simple knife is definitely beneficial, but a knife with all of the options of a Swiss Army Knife will help you feel that much more prepared.

5. Getting used to the outdoors.

It’s not the same “outdoors” experience when you bring a camper into the woods and enjoy all of the same luxuries you have at home. Sometimes, it’s better to get out there, use tools you wouldn’t otherwise use, and explore your “survivalist” side.

There are more reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife along with you on your next camping trip – this is just a small sampling. To explore more of the reasons, why not make a purchase and get off of the couch and into the woods?

Photo Credits: Alesist