A Must-Have Gear for Beginner Hikers A Comprehensive Guide

Beginner hikers' guide, Hiking must-haves for beginners, Beginner hikers must-haves, what gears you need for hiking, Hiking gear recommendations.

Hiking is the first love of adventurers and travelers. It simply means a Journey on foot. Climbing up the hills and mountains, walking around the bank of rivers, and walking through the green lush fields all come under the umbrella of hiking. It is not only a physical activity but also a mental activity. The cold breeze mesmerizes and revitalizes your lives. Hiking comes with many benefits it's not only about surpassing difficult trails but also can experience beautiful scenes and sounds of nature. Viewing the beauty of nature zeal and zest inducted in our lives. In other words, we can say if you are feeling sad and down then hiking will ward off sadness and aloofness from your lives. If you are a beginner this blog is for you to understand the basic ethics of hiking. 

Why hiking is great:

There are hundreds of benefits of hiking few of them are 

      • Hiking is a perfect exercise for your physical and mental health. 

      • Hiking is free and anyone can have access to it. 

      • It is a time to unplug yourself from social media and phones.

Beginner hikers' guide:

Hiking is not just an exercise it is a great way to explore nature. If you are going hiking for the first time you may feel a little intimidated. So we have provided you with a little beginner hiking guide to make your trip enjoyable and fascinating.

Beginner hikers' must-haves:

Do you want to go hiking but don't know where to start? Here we will discuss some guides that will ignite your excitement to go hiking. Here are some hiking must-haves for beginners which include:

Decide how long you have to hike

As a beginner, you should choose a trail that can be done in a day or less than a day.

Are you hiking alone or with your friends?

Solo hiking is good but it can be dangerous so it is always recommended to plan it with your friends. 

Decide your starting point

If you are a beginner it is not recommended to decide unmapped tracks instead pick places which you are familiar with or can easily be tracked. 

Decide hiking location

Do some research with your friends and always decide place which is near to any national park.

Clothes for hiking

It is important to choose wisely about dresses while you are going hiking to protect yourself from sun, cold, wind, and insects. Always go for fabric that is according to the weather. Moreover, footwear should be tennis shoes or athletic wear because these are most comfortable for your feet. 

Caps for hiking

It is always wise to choose hats, caps, and bandanas to cover your scalp from exposure to the sun and heat.

Outwear for hiking

Wearing outwear is a good decision because it protects you from chills or any uneventful weather conditions. 

What essentials pack along?

Here are a few essentials that are recommended to bring along. You don't need to go for so much stuff you just need a sturdy bag to fix all the stuff. Make sure your mobile is fully charged because you can need it in tracking any place or contact someone in case of emergency. Bring sunscreen if it is sunny outside. Bring sunglasses with you to wear if it is sunny outside. Bug spray in the time of year when bugs are common to prevent you from bug bites. Having a first aid kit is always a good idea to be used in any odd situation. 

For eating

To prepare yourself adequately for the trip bring yourself some nuts, water, fruits, and almond butter. Bring lots of protein which is easy to pack and keep well. 

Hiking soundtrack

To enjoy the hiking track make sure to decide soundtrack. An epic soundtrack playlist helps you to push up the difficult tracks. 

Check for ticks and leeches

If you are moving through the wilderness check yourself for leeches. When home take a shower with hot water and come back immediately to ward off leeches if in case you get in contact with them.

Don’t pollute, leave no trace

No one after you will clean it all so make sure to bring everything with yourself which you bring with you. Leave only a footprint but no trace.

Hiking gear recommendations

If you are planning for hiking then should know what hiking gear you need to bring with you. There is a list of hiking gear recommendations that have been tested over the years but a few of them are mentioned below:

Day pack

Day packs are to carry food, water, and extra clothing along with you along the hiking trail. Day packs usually come with a ventilated backpack to keep cool while you are hiking on a hot day. These are durable and easy to carry.

Hydration vest

Hydration vests are usually used if you are going for a short hiking trial but on a hot day. They have the capacity for water and extra gear.

Hydration reservoir for water

Hydration reservoir is for water. It is usually filled with water to go into your hydration vest. Its straw is usually attached to a hydration vest to drink easily when you feel thirsty. 

Water purification tablets

What if you run short of water on a hiking trail? To safely drink water from outside you first need to purify it. Iodine tablets are mostly used as water purification tablets. 

Headlamps

One of the essential parts of hiking gear is a headlamp. If you are on a trail till past sunset you need to have a headlamp to walk through easily.

Day pack rain cover

These covers shield you from the rain if rain starts pouring down. You can easily add these in your bag and these don't add much weight. 

Trekking poles to feel lightweight

Trekking poles ward off 30% of the weight of your knees and give relief to knee pain. They are also helpful in giving you balance on a rocky trail. Now you can easily finish your trail. 

GPS device

GPS device helps to navigate the trail and protect you from getting lost. In case you get lost GPS device helps you to get back on your track. 

Emergency whistle in case of emergency

Emergency whistles are a little costly but can be heard up to 1 mile away. It helps in giving signal for help in case of an emergency.

Miscellaneous hiking gears

Your day pack should carry sunglasses, bug spray, fruits, nuts sandwiches, and salty chips with enough water. Also, all the above-mentioned essential gears must be part of your day pack. 

Final words:

You can't take everything with you but all these above-mentioned things help you to make a checklist before heading for hiking. On a shorter track, you don't need to worry about the day pack. But if you are going for the longer track you should carry everything mentioned above.