This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need trekking poles? Trekking poles are walking sticks with soft handles, like ski poles. Sometimes they have wide discs around the end at the ground to keep them from sinking into… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Trekking Poles
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need a First Aid Kit? When you’re out hiking, you might be hours away from help. You are your own first aid when you’re in the backcountry. Small cuts and sprains… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: First Aid Kit
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need a GPS or a GPS phone app? Some trails are marked clearly with signs and trail markers but many are not. GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a system of… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: GPS and Phone Apps
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need a compass? Some maps show trails, lake names and mountain names on them and may work for navigating without a compass but most don’t. The lakes and mountains also need… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Compass
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need a map? Navigation is one of the 10 Essentials. You always need a way to figure out where you are and where you are going that doesn’t have batteries and… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Map
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need gaiters? Gaiters are like jackets for your hiking boots. They wrap around the top of your hiking boots and up your legs a bit. They keep the mud, branches and… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Gaiters
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need camp shoes? Camp shoes are lightweight shoes like Crocs or flipflops that you can wear around camp. Taking off hot, heavy hiking boots at camp and putting on fresh socks… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Camp Shoes
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need a water bladder? A water bladder is a plastic bag of water that sits in your backpack with a tube that hangs over your shoulder. Whenever you need a drink… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Water Bladder
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need a water bottle? On day hikes and multi-day adventures, you’ll need a water bottle. Humans can survive without food for longer than we can go without water. It doesn’t need… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Water Bottle
This post is part of the Backpacking Gear for Beginners course. Why do you need hiking boots? Hiking boots are one of the most important pieces of your kit. Without some sort of footwear, you won’t be hiking anywhere. Your footwear protect your feet and… Read More »Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Hiking Boots