Hiking Gear Introduction

"That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."
Henry Thoreau, Journal, March 11, 1856.

If you walk into a specialized outdoor shop and start pricing top-of-the-line gear as your first step toward going backpacking, you'll probably faint dead away and never set foot off pavement. Fortunately, there's no need to exhaust your bank account before you can start to enjoy the wilderness. For short day-trips in the summer, you've probably got almost all the gear you need lying around the house. Sneakers are fine for your first outing, and for many more besides. Throw a wool sweater, a rain jacket, a water bottle and some snacks into any old kind of book pack or day pack, and head out.
As you extend your range, you'll probably want some other items. More supportive, protective and waterproof footwear will probably be one of your first purchases, and perhaps a more commodious and comfortable pack. You'll surely want a map of the area and a compass, if only so you can orient the map so it's facing north and so directions on the map correspond to directions on the ground.
When you really get rolling, you'll probably get the itch to start investing in some of that lightweight, high-tech gear whose prices made you gag initially. As you'll soon discover, it costs about $100 a pound to lighten your pack. Don't jump in head-first, however, and end up buying gear that either doesn't work well or isn't exactly what you need. That's doubly expensive, because you'll probably keep hankering for the right gear until you finally cave in and buy it. Learn your way around before investing lots of money by talking to more experienced people, finding out what they like and don't like, then comparing their needs with yours.
Once you've put some trail miles behind you, it's time to start thinking about your first overnight trip. Many quality outdoor shops have rental programs that offer full-size packs, tents, sleeping bags and stoves. More experienced friends may be willing to lend you some gear for your first outing or two. You shouldn't have to make a big investment to try the sport for the first time.

Next Page: Backpacking Gear - Going Light

Site Map  - 

Copyright © 2006 Beginner's Guide. All content rights reserved.
Trademarks and brands mentioned are property of their respective copyright owners.