Some Things to Consider When Choosing Your Backpacking Gear

Choosing your backpacking gear involves far more than merely taking those items that you would consider for hiking out in the park and it could mean needing to carry more than a simple day pack to load all of your equipment. Manufacturers too have understood this need and are thus providing hikers with certain items of gear that is specialized and which addresses the type of tour you plan on taking.

Four Essential Types Of Items

However, there are four types of backpacking gear that every hiker would require and they include something in which to sleep, something under which to sleep, a means to carry all of your gear, and finally safety equipment. When you think about it, backpacking gear such as sleeping bags are available in different weights and degrees of comfort and so you can choose according to the type of climatic conditions where you intend to go hiking, and a good choice of material for this type of backpacking gear is without a doubt the Polarguard 3D in which the material used compresses very well and which is also soft and light as compared to other fabrics.

You must also include some tarp in your backpacking gear and you can use waterproof tarps safely by simply tying them to trees and thus have some basic shelter and which also obviates the need to carry poles or even heavy tents. However, if you want not to carry heavy weights, your backpacking gear may rather opt for ultra light bivy sacks which could make good shelters though they can be a bit cramped for space.

Another consideration is of course how much you are going to end up paying for your backpacking gear and a good course of action would be to comparison shop because often price and quality do not go hand in hand, especially in the case of backpacks. Also, you must test out the backpacking gear and check things such as seams and also how strong the shoulder straps are and also their durability.

There is also another type of backpacking gear that you have to deal with that is not something that you can carry on your back, but which nevertheless is very essential and that is your backpacking travel insurance which should be comprehensive and covers you for trail backpacking; more so, when traveling abroad and this is an essential item of backpacking gear that you would do well to take along with you.

Finally, you must also include safety equipment in your backpacking gear and also some essential tools for survival which will come in handy should things go wrong and having emergency equipment will protect you from unknown harm as well.