Are You Ready to Hit Those Trails?
Hiking is one of the greatest adventures you can take—regardless of your skill level! With a few buddies and nothing but the great outdoors, you have hours at your disposal to get lost in nature. However, you don’t want to get…too lost. Here are a few essentials you should never leave without.
1. Navigation Tools
You won’t get far without some navigation in your back pocket. Compasses and maps are your best friends, and they can ensure that you don’t get lost on unfamiliar trails. They might not seem like a big deal, but they can literally save your life.
2. Sun Protection
You shouldn’t go anywhere without sunblock, least of all an open path. All that time in the sun can weigh heavily on your skin, and good protection ensures you don’t reach base camp with a nasty burn.
3. First Aid
You never know what will happen in the great outdoors, so it’s important to keep first aid supplies. While you probably won’t run into anything too dangerous, a lot of hikers scrape their limbs or get bitten by pesky bugs; the right supplies dull the discomfort.
4. Extra Food and Water
Hikers could have the perfect day planned, but that doesn’t mean Mother Nature is on your side. You might get rained out. You could experience a thunderstorm. Heck, you might take a wrong turn somewhere. Extra food and water knock at least one worry off your list.
5. Emergency Shelter
They’re called life tents for a reason! In the horrifying event that you get stuck somewhere, emergency shelters can protect you from all kinds of danger. Wildlife, adverse weather, and freezing temperatures are kept at bay.
