By Alison Stevens,
an online author and maintains
The Hiking And Camping Website
alison [at] redwinepublications . com
http://www.hikingandcampingsite.com/blog
Hiking and camping can provide
some of the greatest fun you can have in the great outdoors.
The quality of your equipment goes a long way to creating
either a wonderful experience that you??ll want to repeat or
a nightmare that you??d rather forget.
How to choose the right camping and hiking equipment
A hiking and camping adventure can be a great test of your
resourcefulness. Purchasing the equipment used for hiking
and camping can prove to be the first challenge!
Price
Cheap camping or hiking equipment often appears attractive
at first glance; however it rarely proves a sound investment.
There are exceptions of course ?? aren??t there always? You
can sometimes make large savings when buying last year??s model;
whether it is a tent, a backpack or a pair of hiking boots,
fashions change and the equipment manufacturers regularly
update their lines. If you can find a genuine sale of quality
brand products then you may be able to make substantial savings.
Stick with known brands that provide a guarantee with their
product. Quality brands will rarely let you down ?? you don??t
want to find yourself on the trail with faulty hiking gear!
Hiking Boots
Do invest in a good pair of hiking boots. There are many top
quality brands to choose from ?? the decision is more about
the type of terrain you are likely to be hiking in and the
weight of the boot. Waterproof hiking boots will cost you
more but they are almost always worth the additional price.
You can??t guarantee the weather when you are out hiking and
wet boots will lead to blisters and great discomfort.
There are several reputable online retailers of hiking boots.
But, a word of warning ??¦ before purchasing hiking boots online
always ensure you??ve tried on the boots in a retail store.
Uncomfortable boots can cause misery on your hiking trip and
have the potential for causing danger if you cannot maintain
your footing due to discomfort.
When purchasing hiking boots look for sturdy uppers made from
leather or a combination of leather and nylon, breathable
liners, reinforced rubber heels, well constructed toes and
solid arch support. Soles will usually be rubber or a combination
of rubber and polyurethane.
Don??t forget good quality hiking socks ?? preferably wool.
Tents
When choosing your tent, consider the seasons in which you
like to hike and go camping. A hiker who enjoys camping late
into the fall may require a four-season tent or even a convertible
tent. The downside to the four-season tent is the additional
weight ?? they are often 10 to 20 percent heavier than a three
season style. A convertible tent will allow you to adjust
the ventilation and to add and remove poles as required.
Three-season tents are designed for use from spring through
to fall in temperate climates. Whilst they are unlikely to
collapse under and inch or two of snow, a heavier snow fall
may cause problems. Four-season tents usually incorporate
extra poles to strengthen the walls against strong winds and
heavy snow falls. These tents are usually dome-shaped so that
there are no flat surfaces where snow can accumulate.
Convertible tents are designed for four seasons but usually
allow the removal of one or more poles to convert them into
three-season tents.
When purchasing a tent pay attention to the capacity rating
suggested by the manufacturer ?? these sometimes tend to be
over optimistic. Check out the tent in its assembled form
and see if there is enough space. If you are looking for a
two-person tent then test it out with your camping partner
and make sure there is enough room for your gear ?? not just
you and your sleeping bags.
Always use a ground sheet or tarpaulin under your tent. It
will protect the underside from tearing and extend the life
of your tent.
Sleeping Bags
A sleeping bag keeps you warm by trapping air inside that
is warmed by your body heat. Sleeping bags have a comfort
rating which represents the minimum temperature in which the
user should be comfortable. For example a user of a +30 sleeping
bag should remain comfortable in areas where the temperature
is not below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Comfort ratings on sleeping bags should be used as a guide
only. If you have a choice (and the budget) pick the sleeping
bag that provides more warmth.
Down or synthetic?
A synthetic sleeping bag is usually the best choice for kids
and beginner hikers. It is cheaper, it dries more quickly
if it gets wet but it is heavier. Down is usually the choice
of the experienced hiker. It has extraordinary insulating
properties and offers tremendous warmth. It can be compacted
into a small space and it will outperform a synthetic sleeping
for years (or perhaps decades). Down is a lot more expensive
than synthetic but considering its life expectancy it could
be considered an investment. If there is a downside it is
that if it gets wet it takes a long while to dry.
Shape
Mummies ?? close-fitting, narrow bags with a fitted hood. They
are wider at the shoulder and taper to a narrow foot space.
Their shape can be restrictive but their narrowness makes
them efficient users of space, they offer great heat retention
and they are often light in weight.
Rectangular ?? these are usually warm weather sleeping bags;
they have room to move, they tend to be heavy and/or bulky.
They??re useful for children or family camping holidays but
are not used by backpackers or serious hikers because their
inadequate insulation and their bulkiness. Their shape allows
too much heat to escape the bag.
Semi-Rectangular ?? wide at the shoulders and hips but narrow
at the feet. There is more space than a mummy bag which means
there is more air to keep warm but they can be a good choice
for someone who doesn??t like the restriction of a mummy bag.
Some models have hoods.
This is only a start on the equipment used for hiking, however,
it will serve as an introduction to some of the gear you will
find when you visit your local camping store.
About the Author:
Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains
The Hiking And Camping Website to assist hikers, campers
and backpackers to choose the right equipment.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=126481&ca=Recreation
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