You don’t want to go on a journey without the necessary hiking devices and gear, whether you’re going on a multi-day excursion or a day hike. What you’ll need depends entirely on the sort of trek you’re going on, the time of year, the altitude, and the weather prediction.
There are many great devices for hikers, but some of them can make a significant difference in whether you have a fun and safe trek. In this article, we’ll go over some necessary hiking equipment.
Personal Locator Beacon
A personal locating beacon is a must-have when trekking, especially if you’re going alone or with kids. A personal locating beacon is a tiny gadget that you may carry with you and use to alert search and rescue teams in an emergency.
There are several distinct types of personal locating beacons. The lowest and most basic PLBs contain a single primary “call” button. When pushed, emergency personnel are called and will locate you based on your GPS coordinates. It’s a good idea to go into a clearing, if possible, to ensure that this is as exact as possible. Other PLBs need a paid membership and function similarly to a satellite phone, allowing you to chat back and forth or send pre-programmed messages to friends and family.
It is a wonderful gift for children and outdoor enthusiasts, whether they enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, or simply exploring the gorgeous wilderness. It’s far better to be safe than sorry.
Trekking poles
Trekking poles, regardless of the sort of hiking you undertake, are one of the greatest hiking gears to have on hand. Even casual hikers will appreciate being able to use them when the terrain becomes muddy, slippery, or steep. Look for a pair that can be easily attached to your bag. Bonus points if they can also be adjusted in height.
Headlamp
A superb light is one of the most useful trekking accessories! We always use ours on the trail (particularly for sunrise and sunset walks!) and at campsites. Especially when you wake up in the middle of the night and need to find your way to the bathroom. There are many alternatives available, but all you need is a simple, lightweight headlamp with a strong light and a long battery life.
Water purifying bottle
By far the most important trekking gear is a water bottle with a built-in filter. Forget carrying liters of heavy water or waiting for iodine tablets to work; with a water bottle and filter, you may drink from any fresh water source, including streams, ponds, puddles, and horse troughs.
Solar power bank
On any lengthy hike or backpacking trip, we must have a means to charge our electronics using solar power. The solar power bank has become one of our favorite hiking tools. They give piece of mind, allowing you to snap away on the trail without worrying about whether you have enough battery life. This variant is also dust and water resistant, with an integrated flashlight.
LifeStraw personal water filter
Another really important trekking accessory is the LifeStraw. This one-of-a-kind packable gadget serves as a personal water filter and is an essential tool for any outdoor activity.
The little gadget eliminates 99.99% of germs and other pollutants from water, rendering it clean and drinkable. One filter can clean up to 1,000 gallons of water, so you can feel good about not wasting all of those bottles!
Sharp knife
You may trip over a branch and injure your knee, or you may require a sharp knife to cut food or open a box. Or, more significantly, you may have packed a bottle that requires a corkscrew or bottle opener to open! These are just a few examples of how a knife may be your best trekking companion and a must-have hiking tool.
Rechargeable batteries
You need a way to charge all of the equipment you carry with you on hikes and other excursions, such as headlamps and lanterns, right? The problem is solved!
Water shoes
If you’re seeking for the greatest hiking gadgets, don’t pass up water shoes! Ideal for hiking through a stream, to a lake, waterfall, or river. Pack them in your backpack and switch from hiking boots to water shoes whenever you desire!
The trick to hiking with water shoes is to have a plastic bag so you can wrap them up after you’re finished and avoid getting everything in your bag wet. Also, make sure you have a lightweight water shoe that won’t weigh down your bag. After a long trek, it’s wonderful to reach a gorgeous lake, waterfall, or stream and dip your toes in the water! You’ll often be hiking to a location with a rocky coastline or base, so water shoes will give grip and keep you from slipping.
Solar inflatable lantern
This innovative invention charges electronics via USB wire, inflates to a decent-sized lantern, and folds flat when not in use. Best of all, it charges with the sun and is waterproof. We strap it to the outside of one of our backpacks to charge as we hike.
Deermaple cooking stove
Even if you just take day walks and never go camping, a stove is one of the greatest hiking accessories to own. They may be used to make coffee or tea, prepare a meal, and purify water.
The Deermaple stoves are our preferred camping stoves because it boils water in just 100 seconds, allowing you to save fuel and get to the good stuff faster (aka eating!).
GPS watch
A GPS watch is one of the handiest trekking tools. Modern GPS watches provide a lot of information and specifics about your hike, like distances, elevation gain/loss, maps, average pace, heart rate, calories expended, recuperation time, and so on. They are ideal for navigation since you can download a map of your selected walk and follow it on your watch. There’s no need to worry about losing the route, even if it’s not well-marked. You may also designate your routes.
Conclusion
This was quite a list, isn’t it?
I hope you discovered some hiking gear that will come in handy on your next trip!