Backpacking Equipment – Helpful Tips
Backpacking equipment has come a long way and the developments have made choosing the right gear a lot of fun. Some equipment looks practically space-aged and other gear can bring on ideas for all the other uses it would be good for. Let’s face it; hitting the sports equipment stores that cover a wide range of activities can provide hours of entertainment. When it’s time to make a choice of backpacking equipment for the type you’d like to do, deciding on the right gear comes down to two things – survival and carrying.
It doesn’t matter if you’ll be backpacking in Mexico or Europe; you’re going to need basic survival gear. Matches, a knife, a compass, a first aid kit, water, a whistle, and food are survival backpacking equipment that you need to carry at all times. You can supplement your basics with a flashlight, a map, fire starter, a repair kit, and sunglasses, as well as a bottle of sunscreen. These small items can mean the difference between life and death if something happens to go wrong during any of your backpacking tours.
Another item of backpacking equipment that is very important is, of course, your backpack. There are a wide variety of choices available, but be sure to choose a backpack that fits your needs. Buying one that is bigger than what you require or has more zippers and pockets than actual storage space is a mistake. You can choose a good day pack for some hours of trail backpacking or you can buy mammoth-sized packs with internal frames that support heavy loads and carry a ton of stuff, but pick the best size for the type of expedition you plan on taking.
You can choose from top-loading backpacks or panel-loading backpacks. The advantage to top-loading backpacks is that they can support and contain a lot of items. The huge disadvantage is that you’ll have to unpack everything to get that tiny piece of equipment at the bottom. Panel-loading backpacks allow you to have easier access but they have a tendency to let rain in through the zippers.
When choosing a backpack, select one that has proper support and padding in all the right places. Shoulder supports need to handle 40% of the total weight inside the backpack, so make sure construction is strong. Also, make sure the fabric is tough because your backpacking equipment is going to suffer plenty of abuse. Pull on seams hard and try to expose stitches. It should be tough to see them at best. Check to see whether inside seams are covered with fabric to help keep rainwater from seeping in.
Before stocking up on all sorts of backpacking equipment, narrow down how often you’ll be on the trail backpacking and what kind of trip you’re most likely to have. If you want to have a backpacking camping vacation, then you’ll need sleeping bags and tents as well. Will you be doing some lightweight backpacking during the day or are you going on a major expedition? Will your backpacking equipment need to support heavy loads and do you need to carry a lot of gear? Are the elements going to be a factor in your trip and what kind of terrain will you be tackling? Taking a look at the type of expedition you’re going to have and what level of activity you’ll be doing will be important for choosing the proper backpacking equipment for your needs.
By Nature Editor
