Having the correct hiking gear can make all the difference between an enjoyable time in the Great Outdoors, and an experience that makes you never want to step foot outside again! Your choice of footwear, clothes, and backpack will all play a part in your comfort and safety when on the trail, and so getting the right gear before you start is essential.
It’s also important to realize that ‘one size fits all’ hiking gear doesn’t really exist. Sadly, there’s no such thing as a lightweight, heavy duty, waterproof, cool in summer, warm in winter hiking boot! This means that the gear you need on a summer day hike in the local hills, will differ greatly from that needed on a multi-day trek such as the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.
The time of year, terrain, environment, and your own personal comfort levels will all play their part when it comes to the choices you make. Working out where and when you will be using your hiking gear therefore, is the first consideration to make before deciding what you need. As with hiking itself, planning is everything!
