Fancy a good hike to get some fresh air and stretch your legs? What a great idea, it’s an activity that is as enjoyable as it is good for your health!
Before leaving to work your calves, make sure you have everything you need in your backpack to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Clothes
Most of the time, a day’s hike results in changes in temperature and weather.
If you are going at dawn, you will need to be well covered and thus have a jacket that will protect you from the morning dew and cool temperatures. In the afternoon, if the sun is pointing its nose and warming the atmosphere, you will be more comfortable with shorts and will have to put aside your morning jacket.
You will understand, depending on the time of year and the weather of the day, you will have to adapt your clothes for each hike.
How to choose your hiking clothes
Some tips for choosing the right clothes to put in your backpack:
- Take light and versatile materials, materials that let you breathe and are waterproof.
- Bring a change of clothes, in case you sweat a lot or get wet.
- Take clothes in which you feel good; you will have them all day on you!
- Put on several layers that you can remove as the temperature heats up.
- When you walk for a long time, you sweat and if the temperature drops, it is not only unpleasant, but not to keep your clothes damp.
- Do not go hiking with new hiking boots; you need to “break” them at least a week or two before the hike to be sure they won’t hurt your feet.
- Do not take dress shoes if you are hiking in the mountains, the risk of sprains is too great.
- Remember to bring a cap, a multi-function collar and sunglasses.
The backpack
Just because you go hiking for just one day does not mean you should neglect the quality of your backpack! Indeed, after a few hours of walking, you will feel the negative effects of an unbalanced backpack on the body, such as straps that hurt for example.
Choose your adventure bags or backpacks that are ergonomic, can contain everything you need to bring, and are covered with a waterproof material in case of rain.
Osprey
This ultra compact bag is practical if you want to bring only the necessary equipment for a day. It is possible to choose a larger bag, always with the possibility of carrying the water on your back (2.5 liters), while increasing the storage capacity of your items, according to the volume of the backpack , calculated in liters.
Find your way while staying connected
Remember to bring some gear in case you get lost. Whether it’s a GPS, a phone with a GPS app (if the network is available) or a good old paper map. Plan as much as possible.
You can also download the map of where you are going to walk and view it without being online.
Food and water
In order to keep your energy, you will need to restore yourself during your day of walking.
Bring at least 1.5 to 2 liters of water per person for a full day’s walk and enough to take a lunch break midway. Not to mention snacks (fruit, soft bars …).
The first aid kit
Even if you are only going for half a day, always take a first aid kit with you.
Here are the essentials to have in your kit:
- What to make a bandage;
- Sterile gauze pads;
- A disinfectant / antiseptic;
- Safety pins;
- Dressings of different sizes;
- Eye drops;
- Tweezers;
- A needle;
- A pair of scissors;
- Latex gloves;
- Scotch tape;
- Aspirin / ibuprofen;
- An antidiarrheal.
- Other essentials for hiking
You can also bring these essentials in your backpack:
- Toilet paper;
- From the mosquito ;
- The sunscreen ;
- Plastic bags (to leave no waste);
- A lighter;
- A cell phone;
- A headlamp ;
- Survival blanket;
- A camera;
- A pair of binoculars.
