What gear do I need?
So I recently met a man who said he loves to camp/hike, however he went on a recent trip with his family and he was very unprepared. His family brought a lot of the gear so that was helpful, however he felt very underprepared and thought if he had a good checklist to look at before going, he would make sure he had all of the right gear.
Now of course, there is a huge variety in what people might be trying to do. Day Hikes, Car or Organized Campsite camping with day hikes, and dispersed camping/backpacking. What you should have for each of these differs of course. Also, it is important to think about how long you will be on each trip so you can decide if comfort is most important, or lightweight is most important. How long you will be away from a food source is important to consider if you are backpacking. While it is nice to think you could catch some fish for dinner- I have been caught before in situations where we were counting on fish for a meal and that didn’t happen. I hope it is obvious you should also really consider the weather and plan for it. If your hiking in mountains, weather can change drastically. If your hiking in a humid area, everything will have dew on it and need to dry out before worn/used.
Day Hike:
- Water
- Single day light backpack or fanny pack
- Food for the day (granola bars, oranges, trail mix)
- Sun protection
- Good shoes and appropriate cloths.
- First aid kit
- Trekking poles if you need them
Car Camping: (If you want to be comfortable and not feel like you are “roughing” it).
- Water
- Tent
- Sleeping bag (note the temperature rating of the bag for the weather you expect, i.e. -20C, or 20C)
- Mat to go under your bag so you don’t feel all the twigs and rocks
- First aid kit
- Grill if you choose. Else have to cook on fire
- Matches/lighter
- Cooking gear- utensils and pans/pots
- Headlamp/Light source
- Toiletries– depending on whether camp site has toilets/showers, etc.
- Hammock for relaxation
- Chairs– optional
Backpacking: This might seem like a lot, but hopefully there is more than 1 person going out, best to hike in pairs at least, and load can be shared by many.
- Water
- Large overnight pack
- Tent is optional based on your preference. I carry one cause I like to feel some protection from bugs and critters- despite the extra weight
- Sleeping bag
- First Aid kit
- Mat is optional again, depends on length of trip
- Matches/lighter
- Rope to hang food and such in tree away from bears
- Cooking gear – utensils and pans/pots – utensil could include knife.
- Trekking poles if you need them to help with weight and terrain while hiking in and out. (see above)
- Water purification kit, if camping near stream or creek for water supply
- Stove
- Headlamp
- Toiletries (soap, TP, shampoo- use eco-friendly save our rivers).
- Poncho– optional
- Women’s bathroom assistance– optional.
Extras- If you plan on fishing, bring that gear. If you aren’t going to be near a fresh water supply try to bring plenty of water to drink and to rinse your body off. My friend from Hawaii said fresh water is critical after a swim in ocean! If it ends up pouring rain- bring a deck of cards or good book. DON’T bring your phone/electronics. This is a time to get away.
