The North Face Borealis Backpack

We take another brief look at another backpack today and it's the North Face Borealis Backpack.

At first sight it looks like a dedicated day hiking backpack, or a day pack, but on further inspection, we can see it's fitted with a padded laptop sleeve inside!

This is an excellent idea because The North Face have long had a reputation for quality and style. This means a student will be able to benefit from this outstanding backpack, just like a hiker does!

Not only does this bring students in touch with The North Face, but also workers, commuters, teachers and anyone who is likely to take work to work!

The North Face Borealis Backpack is also excellent for city trips or short nights away...it's opened up a whole new world for the customer and manufacturer.

To read the full review go here, the backpack is also available in many colors and a dedicated womens design.

The North Face Borealis Backpack

Jansport Wasabi Backpack

I'm going to do a mini-series on backpacks reviews starting with Jansport and one of ther most popular day packs the Jansport Wasabi Backpack.

You can read a more thorough review here by this new website that draws in, or is doing so over time, most of the backpacks available online.

Now, the Jansport Wasabi Backpack if great for day hiking as it is able to carry the most essential of hiking gear, and imprtantly...the water bottle!

You may laugh, but this is the one piece of your equipment you don't want to leave home without.

The bag itself it well made and has plenty of pockets, but should really be used only for day hikes. It simply isn't big enough for longer than 10 hour hikes, you will need a bigger backpack.

Saying that, the Jansport Wasabi is good enough for walking trips and offers a good level of comfort, or perhaps you could use it for city trips and even get it for students. It's big enough to carry a 15 inch laptop and a few text books, mp3 player and whatever a student hides away in the secret compartments!

A very good backpack...sorry, day pack...that will see you though most day hikes.

Great backpack reviews

Backpacks

The last entry into my top 10 essential for hiking is one of the most important...the backpack!

After all, what are you going to carry the other essentials in? A backpack can come in may shapes and sizes. If you're away for a simple day hike, a smaller version would be appropriate to use, such as a 15l or up to 25l size, anything bigger is just not needed.

Longer hikes, obviously could benefit from anything over 30l up to a full sized rucksack which can contain camping equipment and a small one man tent.

Try to get a backpack that is light, has plenty of pockets and a good zip motion. Some backpacks are let down by their flimsy build and rotten zips!

Your backpack doesn't need to be totally waterproof, but it helps. Without having a decent rain resistant material, the bag could get heavy and seep water into your dry items inside. A waterproof daysack or backpack would be the perfect answer, but these can prove expensive.

A cover that loops over the top of the bag should also be considered for even more protection of your goodies inside.

 Small Day SackCheck Price Medium BackpackCheck Price Large Hiking BackpackCheck Price

Get a backpack with a solid structure and built-in frame for sturdiness and comfort, some backpacks without an inner frame can become just a thing to hang over your back! They become uncomfortable to wear and tend to bulge in all the wrong places, digging into your sides and back.

The shoulder straps and waist straps should be padded so they don't dig into you and should be easily adjustable to fit your frame. Many cheaper backpacks are a devil to get on properly and, even worse, when in full motion. Make sure the adjustable straps are easy to figure out.

Another good idea is to get a pack that has an air flow system between the backpack and your back. This would be in the shape of a mesh area that sits just away from the contact with your back. This allows air to flow through and stops a sweaty back happening!

Lastly, though not essential, there are backpacks and day-sacks that allow a hydration unit to be fitting inside the backpack and allows the water pipe to be fed through a dedicated hole at the top of the backpacks. This means there is an easily reached supply of water just over your shoulder.

That's about it for backpacks, just try to get one with a decent reputation as well as being well built. This piece of equipment is a 'must have' in the 10 essentials for hiking equipment list.

Multi Purpose Tool

This essential will be short in description...a multi-purpose tool. Why do you need a multi purpose tool as part of your arsenal for essential hiking?

First of all, they are small. A little tool like this will fit easily into your backpack and will come in very handy when the situation arrives. There are several cases where you may need the help of a tool like this, starting with the pliers feature.

Once on a hike, I managed to break the zipper on my backpack leaving it solidly closed. the only way I would have been able to get into the backpack would have been to cut it open with a knife, another part of the multi purpose tool, and that would be just crazy!

The pliers on my tool were perfect to not only open the backpack, but to repair the zipper also.

Among the other uses afforded by this tool includes a can opener, something we all forget at some time or another, as well as a bottle opener.

 Multi ToolCheck Price Swiss Army KnifeCheck Price Leatherman ToolCheck Price

Even more tools you can find on a multi purpose tool are spring loaded scissors, essential for cutting bandages if you're unfortunate enough to suffer an accident, or maybe you just want to cut string or cord.

Then there's the file, screwdriver, awl, mini-saw, crimper among other smart tools you just don't think of.

These days, the tools are so light but also very strong and it makes sense to get a good quality brand to ensure all the parts work soundly. Try to get one that folds away to a small/rectangle square shape if possible so there are no parts that can damage the inside of you backpack, or any 'pointy' bits that can give you a surprise when fumbling around inside your pack.

A multi purpose tool goes on the list of one of the 10 essentials for hiking because the simple tools, and often forgotten ideas, sometimes come in the most useful.

Protection

Protection? For hiking? Sure! I'm not talking about arming yourself or hiring some heavies though...I'm talking about protection from the sun, snow and beastly insects that can blight your hike.

Firstly, protection of the eyes is important. The suns rays can be pretty relentless in their power and we don't want to be squinting all day, making our eyes tired causing headaches etc. The very simple answer here is take a pair of sunglasses with a high UV protection factor.

Try to get a pair that fit well so as not to steam up the lenses when sweating in the heat. A set of sunglasses that sit too close to your eyes, or sunglasses that are tight, may cause an enclosed area ripe for condensation to build up on the lenses. They should be light and comfortable.

Sunglasses are also important when there's snow on the ground because the sun reflects the white brightness up into your eyes. This can cause snow blindness (Photokeratisis), and although I've never suffered from it, by all accounts you really do go temporarily blind.

 Insect RepellentCheck Price SunglassesCheck Price SunscreenCheck Price

So slipping a pair of sunglasses into your backpack is an essential for hiking. Obviously, you won't particularly need them if your in an area where there's no snow, or the weather is cloudy, this is where common sense comes into the equation. If it's going to be hot and sunny, wear sunglasses, if it's going to be a white-out...wear sunglasses.

The sun also causes sun burn, so a good sunscreen is advised on those hot days, even when in the mountains where the air is thinner, the sun can be scorching above whilst your feet could be freezing. The sun will burn you in all kinds of weather conditions, so it's always good to slap on some high factor sunscreen to keep it at bay. If you're wearing shorts, don't forget rub in the cream, especially at the back of the knees.

Another form of protection is insect repellent. Those pesky little critters will bug you all day if you're in their territory and there's nothing worse than having your hike ruined by little bites and stings. Then there's all that swiping and slapping to be done!

I cover myself with a deet based formula when hiking in places where the little blighter's are rife. I hike around Scotland and always seem to run into clouds of midges unexpectedly, and whilst the insect repellent won't see off all the nasty biters, it will cut down the nuisance to an acceptable level.

In areas where mosquito's are known, the wearing of a strong repellent is essential. These little rascals can eat you alive! The stronger the deet formula, the better.

So, really we have 3 more essentials for hiking here, but as with all things, common sense prevails on what sort of things you take to what sort of hike you're taking on. You may well need all three in this section, but then again, you just might need one. Whether it's sunscreen, sunglasses or insect repellent, you're bound to need at least one in our 10 essentials for hiking list.

First Aid

OK...some folk might say this is a boring subject and may overlook the importance of taking a first aid kit along with you when out hiking, but let me tell you...it's a very important subject and should not be just brushed off as 'going over the top'!

What if you sprain an ankle and have no means of supporting the ankle? Surely a tight bandage would help? Or maybe you've cut yourself or been stung, or need cream to sooth a burn or rash?

When out on a hike, you can't just pop to a cupboard and get resources...you're miles away from any sort of first aid equipment. Many part time hikers think they don't need to be carrying around a first aid kit, they think it's not worth it, after all, they'll only be away for a few hours.

You can be an hour into a hike and receive a nasty cut from a jagged rock or branch or any number of other sharp objects...what are you going to do? Bleed to death?

Well, perhaps not, but you will need something to stem the blood and stop it becoming infected.

 Basic First Aid KitCheck Price WeekenderCheck Price Day HikingCheck Price

You may be only a mile away from human contact, but if you're ankle has been sprained or twisted, wouldn't it be easier to reach that contact in less pain with the support of a good bandage?

First aid kits don't have to be huge affairs. These day a good first aid kit takes up only a small part of you backpack, they are designed to be small and compact to allow easy carriage.

And, they're not expensive. you can pick up a decent basic kit for around £25 ($35) and it will include all the essentials like bandages, tweezers, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, gauze, aspirin, creams and a whole host of other products that can aid you.

Don't ever take your safety and recovery for granted. Another common problem for hikers are blisters, taking a first aid kit with you will ensure you have the cream and band-aids to overcome this uncomfortable condition.

So, next time you're out and about and you haven't got a first aid kit with you, think of what you would do if you did get an injury. What would you be able to do to make that injury more comfortable and maintained. Nothing.

A First Aid definitely goes on the list of 10 essentials for hiking.

Safety

When you're out in the wilderness, one of the most important things to be is safe. Apart from clothing, water, food and navigation, staying safe is just as important. What do I mean by 'safe'?

Imagine being miles from anywhere and you've miscalculated the distance from your base, or there's a storm about to break out to which you were not anticipating...what can you do and use to remain safe and comfortable?

Firstly, we would need light to guide our way and help seek shelter, so a torch or flashlight would be a godsend. There are many torches available, some small enough to slip into your pocket or sit in a small compartment of your backpack, and then there's my choice...a headlight. These are powerful but light to carry, and the best thing is, you don't need to use your hands to work them and they're always pointing in the direction you want to see.

 Fire StarterCheck Price Head TorchCheck Price Survival KitCheck Price

It's a good idea to carry waterproof matches to light a fire for warmth, keep critters away and be a beacon for whoever might be looking for you, should you be lost. At the very least you should carry a flint fire starter to spark a fire from dry kindling. Again, these items are light enough to not cause you any bother whatsoever.

Another tiny piece of essential equipment for your safety is a whistle. They take up no room, but could be a life saver. 3 short hard blasts is the usual signal for a distress call. Don't discount this idea, a whistle can penetrate a thick wooded area much more effectively than your voice.

You could always take a basic survival kit with you if your in more hostile areas which would include, survival blanket, snare and sewing kit among other survival tools. It doesn't need to be big, just enough little tools to at least give you a better chance of being comfortable and safer.

I see many hikers not even giving survival tools a second thought. One day they just might take Mother Nature for granted and get caught out. Don't let this happen to you. Have a look around at some safety and survival tools that are available and realize, they don't take up much room and could save your life. It's so much better to be safe than sorry.

Energy Food

Food is important no matter how long you plan to hike, but obviously, common sense is needed to determine how much to carry and what type of food to prepare.

On day hikes of 5 hours plus it's best to go for high energy foods on a snack basis. Only take what you plan to eat as you may not eat all your food...carrying it around only adds weight to your backpack. Day hikes should include nutrient rich foods that give you a boost of energy.

Cereal bars are small and the goods quality ones are packed with dried fruit and oats that are both filling and energy rich. A chocolate bar will keep your spirits up, as well as giving you a sugar spike that will give you a lift. Don't forget to hydrate along the way.

Hot Soup can give you motivation on a cold hike and even a tasty sandwich can give you something to look forward to at the half way mark.

If you are taking shop-bought food, make sure you take the wrappers back with you and try to take the least amount of packaging beforehand. It would be a good idea to take all the packaging off before you set out and put the food into seal tight bags, this will reduce the size of waste packaging and keep things a lot tidier.

 Backpacking FoodCheck Price Freeze Dried FoodCheck Price

On longer hikes, say 10 hours plus or a weekend hike, prepare a good healthy meal to see you through the first day, then try to get food from a store en-route like pasta and sauce if you have cooking utensils, or simply fill up at the self service store before setting off for the day.

There are special precooked foods especially made for hiking trips that are small and packaged well. You would only need to heat the contents up to enjoy a tasty meal. Don't take tinned food...they are heavy, are an awkward shape and you will have to carry the tins back with you. Obviously it depends how deep your hike is, but these are the basic rules of eating food whilst out hiking.

A longer hike over a few days will need to be planned at lot more in detail. Make sure you can reach supply stores along the way at least once a day. Keep your money safe in a zipped pocket...you don't want to be in a back country store without cash!

Hiking for more than a day is different to day hiking. You will need to camp out so will need a bigger backpack with more supplies. Day hiking will only really need small amounts of energy foods, but even day hiking needs to be planned. Make sure you're not too far away from human contact or supplies.

Food is definitely one of the 10 essential for hiking, and be aware that these 10 essentials are only the basic needs...longer hikes need to be planned with a fair amount of common sense on board.

This video will go through the 10 essentials for hiking.

Hydration

You can live 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. That's the famous warning that all hikers need to be aware of.

If you're preparing to hike locally, or in an area you know well, it's fine to just take a bottle of water with you that should last for the entire hike. You may also find a Hydration pack that fits into your backpack might be worth considering, but just make sure you have water that will last you all day.

If you're more adventurous and tend to go on long hikes that last the entire day, or hikes that take you away for a few days, the wisest thing your can do if purchase a portable water filter.

Nowadays, these are small enough to be easily carried in your backpack, and are very simple to use.

If you're in the wilderness and run out of water, you may be tempted to take a sip from the river or a stream, or maybe a pool or lake...but this is dangerous. You just don't know if the pool or lake is contaminated with chemicals or poisonous objects. The river or stream may have a rotten carcase of some animal that is seeping all kinds of unpleasant things downstream!

With a water filter, you can eliminate those dangerous substances and be sure the water is almost as pure as a fresh mountain spring.

 Katadyn Water FilterCheck Price Hydration PackCheck Price

These water filters are not that expensive when you realize they could be life savers, and being only light and portable, they fit perfectly into your backpack without any trouble.

Expect to pay around $90+ (£65) for a decent basic water filter. The process is simple, just feed a tube into the source and let it run through the filter to produce fresh water. Clicking on the Katadyn above will take you straight to a page that explains how to use the water filter to the best benefit.

Water is so important for hydration, and this little contraption will keep you safe in times of trouble, or if you simply run out of water, lose the bottle, or spring a leak.

Clothing

Obviously, we need clothing to hike...but they're slightly different to just walking clothes.

We've covered footwear in another post apart from socks. The socks just have to be comfortable with possibly anti-wicking properties built into them. I've got along fine with ordinary, everyday socks for many of my hikes, but with longer treks in colder climates, I've always worn a longer sock with a little padding at the heel.

A good pair of boots will aid comfort with the socks just acting as a lining. It is important to try and keep feet fresh, so there's no harm in buying those wicking socks especially made for hiking. Not totally essential, but probably a good call on longer hikes.

Next, we look at trousers, or pants as they say in the U.S. These should be light and waterproof, or at least shower proof. Do not wear jeans! Denim will hold water and you don't want extra weight when walking. They will also stay wetter for longer and will take an age to dry out.

 Merino Wool Base LayerCheck Price Walking TrousersCheck Price Quality Rain JacketCheck Price

Get a pair of pants that have a few pockets with zips. These can then hold small change, a pen, snippets of info and the large side pockets can hold a map. Trousers should be a good fit with plenty of flexibility available for when you have to reach or climb giving you a better level of comfort. A good idea is to get a pair that have knee and seat padding for climbing over rocks or taking to scree. It's also a good idea to get a pair of pants that have the ability to be able to be turned into a pair of shorts with a zipper just above the knees for when the weather gets warmer.

Quick drying material is also a must.

Next we move onto the base layer...one of the most essential pieces of clothing on the list. A good base layer will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They should be of synthetic material, or, if you can afford it, a base layer made of Merino wool.

Now, you will sweat when out hiking, in cold or hot weather, so wicking away moisture from the skin is paramount. Do not where cotton next to the skin. Cotton will hold moisture, making the shirt heavy and cold against your skin and will be very uncomfortable.

With sweating will come body odor! Synthetic material will do a better job of keeping the odor at bay longer than Merino wool, but Merino wool with keep you feeling fresher for longer. The decision is yours...whiffy or cool!

Make sure the base layer is flexible. I like to have the material tight against my skin, the moisture goes straight to the outside of the material instead of staying with my skin...so much more comfortable.

Next is a shirt, or mid layer. The mid layer could be a micro fleece, again, with good wicking abilities, but light enough to wear on it's own if needed. The shirt simply has to be light and flexible.

We now move onto the jacket. The type of jacket depends on your climate of hiking. If you're expecting cold then it obvious the material should keep you warm and be breathable. Inner mesh does a grand job of moving moisture away from you body. Cold weather also brings wind chill, so make sure you have a collar that can at least close high enough to cover your mouth, and even your nose. The jacket for cold weather should also, again, be flexible for ease of movement. Make sure it is totally waterproof with strong Velcro storm flaps to keep out the cold.

 Light FleeceCheck Price Hiking HatCheck Price Water-tight JacketCheck Price

A jacket for a slightly cold day, or when hiking when it's likely to rain needs to be windproof and waterproof, but light enough to be taken off and stored in you backpack. Breath-ability is also important. Get a good quality jacket...don't scrimp here, this jacket will be worn more often than not. Buying a cheap jacket that promises to be waterproof and breathable often does not do the job properly and the jacket can almost become a hated piece of clothing!

Lastly, we'll look at hats. Most jackets will come with a hood and this is usually good enough for rainy cold weather, but not always ideal when there are showers, or the weather is bright but cold...I don't like putting up my hood when it's a bright, clear, crisp, cold day, I much prefer to just have a beanie that covers the top of my head and my ears.

Try to get a waterproof beanie, or cap (caps don't do it for me!) that won't get soaked or keep you head wet.

In the summer, I wear a Tilley hat that covers my head well and offers good shade, but a cap works well for most people, though I', not keen as they can get quite hot and damp. Make sure you pay the extra bucks for a good hat, it will be worth it.

These are just the very basic clothing essentials you'll need when hiking, don't just go out in Denim jeans and a cotton t-shirts, they will just let you down when push comes to shove.

Invest in good quality clothing, and buy renowned brands that stand out in the hiking field. These companies have a reputation to keep up and won't produce shoddy goods. Paying that little bit extra will reap all kinds of rewards.

Navigation

Navigation is definitely one of the most important essentials for hiking. After all, the main reason people end up lost and in trouble is because they have no idea where to turn.

Being lost can totally break a person. A panic takes over and irrational thought sets in. But it's not all bad news. If you have an understanding of the basics of navigation, it will go a long way to perhaps saving your life.

Years ago, we had to rely on simple map and compass navigation to determine our path and for planning our route...and it's still vitally important to take some time learning how to read a compass and apply it to map reading.

It's very simple and this guide will show you how it's done. Read it and take it in! The importance of this cannot be underestimated! the page is quite old, but the knowledge remains the same.

These days, we have can even have more help in the guise of a GPS system. The Global Satellite Positioning units available to us are nothing short of astounding. They can pin-point your position within a few yards and guide you to safety if you're lost, or show you the way through a route.

They all work on a number of the same satellites floating around in space. They 'lock' on to a minimum of 3 satellites to give you a triangular reading of where you are.

Only recently released to the general public from the Americans, we can now use this information as a back up to our compass and map. If we know how to read a map with a compass, we can use thee GPS units on their own...they are that accurate...the map and compass then become the back up.

 Garmin eTrex 20Check Price

Some will not work accurately in dense areas of forests, and some will be skewed by mineral deposits in the earth, but on the whole they can be life savers.

They all work the same, but some are just basic units showing you how to get from A to B, others are full of fancy data like elevation, distance, speed, camera confirmation software and a whole lot of other interesting stuff!

You really only need a basic GPS unit to start, it doesn't have to be the most expensive kid on the block! The ones that give you more detail and have more bells and whistles are obviously more expensive.

Make sure the batteries are fully charged before going on a hike, and take a back-up set of batteries with you. You never know how long you'll be out there! Make sure you have read all the instructions at least twice over and understood them, then, go on a few practice runs to really get used to the GPS unit.

Don't rely totally on the GPS units though, make sure you have basic skills in compass and map navigation, meaning always carry a compass and a detailed map. Learning navigation is easy once you sit down and learn in properly. Once you have the knowledge, it will never leave you.

Footwear

The first in my list as one of the 10 essentials for Hiking is Footwear. It might sound a bit obvious, but so many people start off with great intentions of going the distance, but invariably end up hobbling and in great pain, just because their choice of footwear.

There are 3 styles for the basic hiker to consider:

 Hiking ShoeView Info Hiking Mid-BootView Info Tall Hiking BootView Info

First we'll take a small hike over relatively low to middle hillsides. You can easily get away with a hiking shoe, but I would certainly go for the Mid-Boot, not the Tall boot. A Hiking shoe will be fine, but they are more favorable for flat hiking on solid ground, hopefuuly in drry weather.

The Mid boot is a more sensible choice for hilly walks, or if the weather is wet, or likely to turn so. The main reason for choosing the mid-boot over the shoes is ankle support. When climbing hills, the support is there when your ankles are likely to be pushed into different angles. another reason is support when you tread on an unseen boulder, or try to traverse a hill. the mid boot will support your ankle so much better than a shoe.

Tall Hiking boots are more for a longer, more intrepid hike that will take in steep hills or mountains. The longer the hike, the more support your feet will need, especially on hilly terrains. they're also excellent when walking over boggy areas, or soaked terrain where you're likely to be in the mire up to your ankle, of course, a good pair of gaiters will help your boots not getting soaked inside as well as out.

All three types of boot should be waterproof, and kept in that condition by using oils for protection afetr each hike. Keep your boots maintained...if you find a pair that are perfect, they are well worth looking after!

 Get Good Traction SolesView Info

A good sole is also a must. Good traction is imperative and a non slippery sole will keep you safe and save you from slipping and even falling. It's difficult for a boots sole to be perfect, but get the best you can...they are worth their weight in gold!

Get boots that are lightweight, yet tough. A heavy boot will only get heavier when it's caked in mud. A good boot should not weigh much more than a normal pair of shoes and the laces should be strong and tied twice.

Pricing and branding should also be taken into consideration. A brand that sells hiking boots cheaply is a brand that goes after the beginner. They want to ship them out fast, and although some are half decent, you will be lucky if a pair coasting £30 ($45) will last you more than 5 hikes.

Be prepared to pay up to £125 ($160) for a decent pair, and look at the brand. Are they reputable? Are they specialists in the Hiking field? Are they a renowned brand?

And finally, there's common sense. A boot should be comfortable. If you have used a certain kind of boot and brand before, and they have been excellent, don't defer from getting another exact pair...why fix something if it ain't broke?

If you're new, try them on first...walk around the shop, bend, kick, wiggle...anything that test the boot out in that very short time you have to make your choice.

You won't know if the boots suit you until you have 2 or 3 hikes under your belt, what might feel like a great pair of boots at first might turn out to be your worst enemy. You may get lucky and the boots you choose are perfect for you (very lucky), and it does happen, but always be prepared to give your boots a good test before your happy with your purchase.

Pinterest Board of Mine!

As I'm trying to get the word out about how important I think the 10 Essentials for Hiking is, I have created a Pinterest Board where I hope more people can pin pictures relating to hiking essentials.

This will, and can, include pictures of anything to do with hiking, but it would be nice to see different boots people like, or jackets and perhaps even food that people take with them on treks.

The idea is to build a really honest and good board with lots of interesting pics that folk can pin to.

Here's the Board over at Pinterest if anyone would like to add content.

Feel free to add...I will be putting as many relevant pics that merits this subject...the 10 Essentials for Hiking.

Quick video of the 10 Essentials for Hiking

OK...I know my video skills leave a lot to be desired, but I've put up a simple 'show and tell' lens on Squidoo, then recorded it and uploaded it to YouTube.

Tarrantino it ain't!

But, it gives you the breakdown of what I will be covering over the next few posts, such as Hiking Boots, clothes and equipment, I will also go over the safety aspect of hiking, which cannot be taken lightly!

Here's the Link - 10 Essentials for Hiking

I'll keep these intro posts short so I can get into what is important...Hiking.

I will embed the video at a later date along with other good relevant video's that hammer home what you need to stay safe out on the trail.

For now though, the video is up and waiting your perusal.

The 10 Essentials for Hiking

I thought I would start this blog about one of my passions....Hiking. I hike between 40 and 50 miles a week, usually in 2 or 3 day trips. The most important part about taking a hiking trip is to be prepared!

Fitness apart, the equipment you use could save your life. You may think I'm being a little dramatic by making this blog to cover these 10 essentials for hiking, but do not underestimate anything when pitting yourself against Mother Nature and human oversight.

I will soon go into the details of each of the 10 essentials for hiking in other posts, but for now, just be aware that your NEED this equipment on EVERY hike.

Accidents do happen, they're not supposed to...that's why they're a surprise when they happen, but at least being prepared will help lessen the impact an accident can have when you're away in the wilderness.

Not only accidents, but comfort and well being are things to take into consideration as well as a bucket load of common sense!

That's it for now, I will start posting the 10 essentials for hiking soon.