When planning your backpacking trip, you need to think carefully about what equipment to take and what you can afford to leave behind.

There are some things that you simply must have. Whilst there are plenty of new gadgets and devices that are supposed to enhance your backpacking experience, when it comes down to it, there are some traditional items that you should never leave home without, regardless of what new technology you may have in your pack. These essential items are listed below.

Map

The key here is to choose a map which has sufficient detail to clearly show the trails and area details of where you will be backpacking. Apart from that, it really does not matter what type of map you choose.

Compass

You will need a good quality compass that will withstand the elements outside. The fact is you have to know which direction you are going. Just taking a map is not going to work.

Flashlight

It is very important that you always can see where you are going. A good quality flashlight is essential, plus batteries. You can now buy wind-up torches, which remove the need for batteries. Remember, it can be very dark in none-rural areas. Not having adequate lighting can contribute to falls or injuries which can really ruin a good backpacking trip.

Extra food and clothing  Read more...

If you are planning a camping vacation for you and your family you are going to need to get some hiking and backpacking gear. Before you go out and spend thousands of dollars on stuff you do not need you may want to read on so that you can come up with a plan of what to purchase.

There are many places that sell hiking and camping gear, but for the most part these paces will have severely inflated prices and low rate equipment. This is not to say that there are some out there that have good, high quality hiking and camping gear, but for the most part you are going to want to find a backpacking, camping and hiking specialty store.

Items to Look Get for You Hiking and Backpacking Gear

The first thing you will need to get if you are planning your hiking and backpacking gear is a good solid pair of boots. A good pair of boots is by far the most important thing to have when you are selecting your hiking and backpacking gear because without a good pair your hike will be absolutely horrible. Your feet and ankles are the most likely spot for you to get injured on a hike so make sure they are well protected with a good solid pair of boots.  Read more...

Beginning backpackers should not always go out and buy the most expensive equipment for backpacking, since they do not yet know if the sport will be one that they will continue throughout their life or if they will be done with it after their first real excursion. Plus, even experienced backpackers do not necessarily buy the most expensive supplies, knowing that the medium or even cheap backpacking gear suffices in most situations.

How Cheap is Cheap?

There are some items that a consumer can not get around paying close to one hundred dollars for, such as the tent. A solid tent is essential, so even when looking for cheap backpacking gear, a buyer should not go too cheap. One solid tent is the Granite Gear Vigra that runs at close to one hundred dollars.

A couple of other choices are the Osprey Ather 45 or the GoLite Jam. All of these tents are also light, at about thirty ounces. Check backpacking gear reviews for other tents that have the same features as these do and look for sales. Another essential item that is on the more expensive side is the tarp, which runs at about fifty dollars. Beyond this, a ground cloth and stakes will run about twenty dollars, putting the total amount for shelter just under two hundred dollars.  Read more...

For a beginner backpacker who is looking for backpacking gear for the first time, there are so many choices out there it is difficult to decide what is the right choice in backpacking gear. Thus, a backpacking gear review that gives the main features that solid backpacking equipment should have. The three biggest items to buy, both in weight and in price, are the tent, sleeping bag, and the backpack, as well as the gear that goes with each one.

Tent

There are many backpacking gear reviews that talk about the specific features that make one tent better than the next, and the local specialty backpacking store employees will also be able to tell all of those special features. The first decision when buying a tent is what size to buy – deciding how many people will normally be sleeping in the tent. Most backpackers will buy a two person tent even if they will be the only one sleeping in it the majority of the time. The reason for this is that it will give them more room for supplies within the tent which allows for a more comfortable sleeping condition.  Read more...

One of the biggest hassles of backpacking is having gear that is too heavy. Heavy gear can slow you down and even cause problems with your back or joints. One of the best ways to combat heavy gear is to pack things that have a multiple use. By using gear that can be used for a few different things you not only cut down on the amount of stuff you have to pack, but you are also lightening your load which will make your trip easier and more enjoyable.

The following list explains a few ways to get more than one use out of some typical gear. These are some of the most inventive and creative ideas, but there are other pieces of gear that have multiple uses, too. In fact, you probably already are using pieces of your gear in more than one way without even realizing it.

- Parachute cord: You may not be parachuting on your backpack trip but this usefully piece of gear is easy to bring along and offers a few different uses. It can be used as a clothesline or to tie your food bag up when camping overnight. You can also use it in case of an emergency to tie a splint in place. To pack you loosely wind it up and hook it to the outside of your pack.  Read more...