Essential hiking gear
The equipment you carry along during a hike is what makes your hiking experience great or terrible.
There are several items and pieces of equipment that you must absolutely have when you go for a hike that brings you more than a mile away.
Keep in mind that there's no perfect list of things to have on a hike and everyone should have his personal equipment list, moreover the list of things to have depends on the type of hike you're going for.
However there's a basic list of things you should never forget:
A detailed map of the area.
It doesn't matter how well you have planned your hike or how easy it is, you must have a map of the area you are going to explore.
You never know what is going to happen during a hike, a different route might be necessary for multiple reasons.
A Compass.
A map is totally useless if you can't tell where the north is. You should always bring a compass with you so you know which direction you are going.
If it's the first time you use a compass then make sure you understand how to use it. Make all your tests at home, you don't want to discover you don't know how to use it when you are already lost.
First Aid Kit.
Sounds so obvious, but you don't imagine how many hikers forget to bring a first aid kit during their hikes.
All you need is a very basic, small and not expensive first aid kit. Depending on where you are hiking you might find poisonous snakes hence it is highly recommended to bring a snake bite kit, but make sure you know how to use it or you could make more damage than good.
Pocket Knife.
You Must Have It. Period. Always keep a pocket knife with you. If you don't have one buy one that is lockable and always keep it in a pocket of your clothes as it can be useful in many situations during a hike.
A Whistle
No way your voice can travel so far as the sound of a whistle will. It can be used in case of emergency as well as to give a sign to other members of a group or for wild animals.
A Flashlight
You must absolutely carry a flashlight on your hiking trips, it can be very useful at night when everything is dark and it can even save your life if you happen to be lost helping rescuers find you.
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