6 Essential Backpacking Tools You Shouldn’t Forget
Backpacking is indeed one of the most freeing stress discharging activities you can do. Filling a backpack and swing it on your shoulders is a sign for another great and memorable adventure. However, there are things that you should always have in you every time you are going out for trekking.
These following tools listed below are useful for you to have a safe and excellent adventure.
Survival Knife
This one should always be written at the top of your list; every trekker should always bring a survival knife. This one can be used in different situations like emergencies, food preparation, safety purposes, and many more. One of the advantages of this compare to a regular knife is that this one is handy and could easily fit in any backpack. There are different types of survival knives, and each of them has various classifications. It would be better to review them first and pick the best survival knife that you think will be more useful for your adventure.
Lighter and Matches
There are different ways to make a fire, but these two are the easiest. A lighter and a match is an assurance that you could still make a fire in any unexpected situation. For example, if there were a sudden rain, it will be challenging to create a fire. Always remember that you should always prepare for the worst.
First Aid Kit
In any adventure, one should not forget this one. If you are heading to the wilderness, one thing that you should double-check is your list of first aid kit. There are so-called adventure medical kits, and these are the things that your first aid pack should have.
- Antibacterial ointment
- Antiseptic wipes
- Assorted bandages
- Gauze pads in various sizes
- Multitool
- Safety pins
- Tweezers
- Butterfly bandages
- Non-stick pads
- Antihistamine for allergic reactions
- Ibuprofen (or another preferred pain-relief medication)
- Insect sting treatment
- Medical tape
- Moleskin or another type of blister treatment
- First-aid cards that include instructions on how to use the items if you are not familiar
Food and Water
In backpacking, you will be spending a lot of your energy, and of course, it is essential to bring plenty of food and water as this will be your tool to regain your strength. It is best to bring foods that can be easily consumed during your trails like nuts, jerky, and other good sources of energy. For water, typically, it should be 2 liters per person, but it will depend on the length and intensity of the adventure. Hikers should also consider their age, weather condition, and sweat rate.
Hiking Gear
One should have full hiking gear. It will be for your safety and to make your adventure easier. Hiking gear composes of the following items listed below:
- Compass
- Hiking Shoes
- Sunglasses
- Headlamp
- 11-20 Liters hiking bag capacity
- Spare batteries
- Itinerary of your hike
- Whistle (this could be a lifesaver if you get lost of the track)
- Emergency contact info
You can add more items on this list, depending on your itinerary plan or other essential things to consider before going to your adventure.
Extra Clothes
Backpacking is considered a sweaty activity, and I’m sure you don’t want only to have one pair of clothes during the entire adventure. It is best to bring extra clothes, so you could change if the weather condition changes unexpectedly.
Whether a beginner or seasoned backpackers, one should always make sure to put safety at the top of the list. If you are sure that you already have all the things listed here in your backpack, then that’s the only time you can start your adventure.
