Hiking equipment is the equipment taken on outdoor walking trips. The duration, distance, planned activities, and environment impacts equipment selection. For example, a short day hike across flat farmland versus trekking in the Himalayas would call for different types of equipment.

Planning

According to Tom Brown, the order of survival is shelter (including clothing), water, fire, and food. Cody Lundin writes about the "Rule of 3s" and states three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, or three weeks without food will result in not surviving. Considerations for selecting hiking equipment: Henry David Thoreau and several other early outdoor authors were some of the first individuals to publish examples of items to carry while hiking. The Mountaineers of Seattle later developed the “10 Essentials” while teaching climbing courses in the 1930s, which eventually appeared in Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. This was developed so that outdoor recreationists could respond to an accident or spend an unforeseen night in the wild. Their research included modern equipment as it became available. The Mountaineers of Seattle proved that the following are necessary on hiking trips :

Carrying methods

A pack's capacity to carry items is determined by : Commonly used carrying means include :

Apparel

Apparel provides insulation from heat, cold, water, and fire. It shades the body and protects it from injury from thorns, insect bites, blisters, and UV rays. Basic outdoor clothing materials are goose down, wool, polyester, and polyolefin, which provide similar degrees of insulation when dry. Wool and polyesters perform reasonably well for most weather conditions and provide some insulation while wet. Cotton and linen wicks moisture, which is good for hot or humid weather. Natural fabrics, such as cotton, linen, and wool have high burn temperatures, and they char instead of melting when exposed to flame. When a fabric melts onto skin it is difficult to remove, unlike a material that chars. Nomex is used for fire-resistant clothing. Shoes with traction reduce the chance of slipping. Shoes that support the ankle may also prevent injury. Breathable and waterproof hiking boots are general-purpose hiking shoes. Mountaineering boots provide more specialized protection. Waterproof gaiters are used in cold or wet conditions to protect the lower pants and upper part of the shoes and reduces the amount of water, snow, and debris that gets into boots.

Overnight shelter

An overnight shelter may include a wool blanket and tarp or a complete sleep-system inside a double-walled, four-season tent. Bedding options range from a pillow made from clothes to a sleep system consisting of a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, bivouac shelter, bag liner, and compression sack. Shelter structures can be constructed from a tarpaulin, ground sheet, rope, poles, or trees (with a mosquito net).

Other hiking equipment

Possible hazards

The possible hazards of hiking may affect equipment choices:

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