Hiking and Backpacking

Time spent outdoors is a natural pastime and a great way to ease one's mind. It is not surprising that a large number of people enjoy hiking and trekking as a counterweight to a hectic and often stressful everyday life. The sound of wind in the woods and foliage. Creaking of old trees in the silence of the forest. The soft echo of a woodpecker chucking wood. These are the sounds that clear your mind from job deadlines and can silence most earworm songs - even Toto's Africa. Yeah, now it's playing in your head too. Sorry about that!

There are many types of outdoor people: some like it easy, some like it rough. We think that everyone should spend time in the wilds. Therefore, we have gathered a set of gear recommendations for different levels of hiking and backpacking. We will start with the easiest: day trips. After that, we turn to a more challenging (and so exciting!) direction, overnight trips. In our last section, we cover our recommendations for longer hiking trips.

If you like less product-oriented stories, do check out the Tales and field tests -section from our articles.

Checklists

Our recommendation groups aim to create a checklist of tools and equipment that you may need for your excursion. There are lots of similar recommendation lists and it is good to have a look at different options and to apply lists according to the climate and terrain you're heading. We have tried to keep our listings simple and short: from footwear to clothing. From backpack to camping. You will find suitable subgroups below each trekking level.

Ten Essentials and other checklists

One popular and good basis for a checklist is the Ten Essentials list that was developed in the United States in the 1970's. This list has seen several revisions and has been applied to different environments. This list of necessities has developed into a concept of its own and is a well-established tradition amongst hikers. In addition to our shorter lists, you may also wish to consult this list!

1. Navigation Map, compass, GPS, smartphone.
2. Sun protection Sunglasses, sunscreen, headgear.
3. Warmth Clothing and insulation.
4. Illumination Headlamp, flashlight, enough batteries.
5. First Aid Bandages, First Aid Kit, Insect repellent.
6. Fire Lighter, matches, tinder, waterproof container.
7. Tools and repair Repair kit, knife, multitool.
8. Food A days worth of extra food, lightweight.
9. Water A days worth of extra water, water purification.
10. Shelter Tent, tarp, bivouac sack, sleeping pad.