5 Backpacking Must-Haves: The Ultimate Checklist
If you have ever been hiking and had a less-than-pleasurable experience, it probably was because you weren’t 100% prepared with all your backpacking must-haves. You should always think ahead for pretty much any possible scenario, and you should have the proper gear to counteract any issues that may come up. As such, here are five items that you should never go without when backpacking:
1. Another Set of Clothes Plus Raincoats and Boots
Rain gear and a change of clothing will ensure that you will stay dry and comfortable while in transit.
While it can be great to plan a weekend hiking trip far in advance, it can be impossible to predict the weather too far ahead. While a little rain doesn’t necessarily mean that your whole adventure will be washed away, it is essential to be dressed in proper rain gear to continue your hike safely.
Rain gear and a change of clothing will ensure that you will stay dry and comfortable while in transit. The wet clothes can give you a chill or irritate your skin. These are two things that can make a hike miserable.
2. Spare Food and Water
You can never be too sure exactly how long you will be out hiking. You may take the time to look at nature and the gorgeous views all around you. You may even stop to take a few inspiring photographs.
While these things are wonderful, they can cause a hike to last longer than anticipated, and that means you could have under-packed your supply of food and water. This can be dangerous because hiking is a strenuous sport that can dehydrate you and deprive you of a healthy amount of energy.
It is also crucial to prepare if in case you get lost. Extra food and water are backpacking must-haves.
3. Safety and First Aid Items
Pepper spray can be used in the event of encountering a vicious wild animal.
If you happen to hike in tough terrain, you can fall and scrape your elbow or knee, or worse yet, you could twist your ankle. For these reasons, you must pack a first aid kit for insurance.
Just as crucial are safety items like pepper spray, in the event of encountering a vicious wild animal, a pocket knife to cut brush, and a battery-operated flashlight.
4. Physical Paper Maps
While you may believe that the GPS on your phone is more than sufficient for gauging where you are and figuring out where you are going, the fact remains that you can certainly lose connectivity. In that case, a map makes a convenient backup.
Between a good map and a magnetic compass, you should be able to find your way by assessing your present location quickly.
5. BeltBro
BeltBro ensures your pants stay put throughout your hike while going beltless.
When you are hiking, it can get quite annoying to have to pull your pants up again and again continually. Just as irritating would be to wear pants that stay at the waist but are not proportioned to the rest of your body, resulting in a tight fit. This causes uncomfortable sweating, loss of circulation, and difficulty breathing.
You could try a larger size, with a waistband to match, and a belt to ease the problem. However, belts can sometimes come with their own issues, like stomach cramps, loss of ease of breath, and discomfort, necessitating you to go beltless with belt alternatives.
To remedy this, try BeltBro, one of the better belt alternatives. It is a dynamic product that connects to two adjacent belt loops and tightens your shorts comfortably. It ensures your pants stay put throughout your hike while going beltless.
In conclusion, these items are essential for taking a recreational hike without worry. As long as your backpack is filled with the articles outlined above, you should stay safe, healthy, and comfortable.
