How to equip yourself for hiking

Hiking is a very healthy activity and at the same time entertaining, since in addition to exercising, you can know beautiful places and enjoy nature. Also, it is not a sport reserved for specialists, but you can also get started on the routes on foot and mountaineering. Although this will require you to consciously prepare the kit and everything you will take with you to make it a success. Since, we explain in detail how to equip yourself for hiking.

Steps to follow:

one

The footwear will be one of the main points of hiking equipment, since we must protect our feet correctly. And it is that they will be the ones who support all the weight of the body and when performing mountaineering we will be subjecting them to abrupt terrain, where it is necessary to take extreme precautions. In this way, the mountain footwear should have a thick and non-slip sole, with a deep drawing that grips the ground.

two

When choosing mountain footwear, you can choose a shoe type or boot style, which protect the ankles more; Whatever your choice, it is recommended that you release your shoes before starting hiking trails. Use them in the city or during a short outing so that they are molded to your feet and do not cause pain or pain.

3

Also, to hike it will be essential that you use a pair of socks adjusted to the foot, to avoid chafing or blistering. They should also be made of materials that prevent excessive sweating of the feet (synthetic fibers) and, as far as possible, that have no seams.

4

As for the clothing, it will vary depending on the time of the year we go hiking . To combat the cold of winter, it is recommended to wear different layers, so that thin layers of air will be created between the garments that are easier to heat; At the same time, we can take off our clothes in case we are hot. On the contrary, in summer we will never have to do routes without a shirt-despite the temptation to heat-because the rubbing of the backpack will cause injuries and solar radiation can seriously affect our skin.

5

In very cold climates or with adverse weather conditions, polar linings and, especially, waterproof and windproof jackets will be very useful . Also, the latter usually incorporate hood, which will be very practical in case of rain or very intense cold.

6

On the other hand, when it comes to equipping for hiking, will be very important the role of the backpack, since it should be comfortable, large enough to carry everything necessary, but not too heavy to carry it without problem. It should be adjustable to be able to adapt it to our height and it is recommended that it has straps to tie it on the waist and / or chest. The waterproof cases for hiking backpacks are also very useful, to prevent our belongings from getting wet.

7

At the time of filling your backpack with the equipment for hiking, do not forget:

  • Water bottle, big enough to not have to fill it constantly.
  • Sunglasses to protect our vision.
  • Cap, hat or some other complement to prevent the sun from hitting directly on our head.
  • Compass and map of the route that we are going to carry out.
  • Mobile phone to notify in case of emergency.
  • Sun protection cream of the right factor for our skin.
  • First aid kit for small injuries.

You can see here in more detail How to prepare my backpack for an excursion.

8

In case you make a route of several days, you should also include a sleeping bag and, in case of not sleeping in shelters, tent . The choice of these elements should also be premeditated and taking into account many factors; Therefore, we explain how to choose a sleeping bag and how to choose the best tent.