It is necessary to take the minimum necessary things for a comfortable trip. About what to take on a hike in the summer or at other times of the year, a list of things and food for one or more days – we will tell in this article.

What you need to take on a hike in the summer

For any, even a one-day hike, you need to fully plan in advance and prepare everything you need. On a hike, you should take functional and durable things that are sure to be useful.

In general, the weight of the equipment is a very important point to remember, do not take unnecessary, especially heavy things. Even if your things “go” on the kayak and not on your back, why take a spare pan? Try to be practical. Gennady Yagupov site

Preparing for a hike

If it is wrong to pack a backpack and go on an unsafe route, then the hike can be a problem. To avoid this, you need to think through every detail in advance – to discuss with the participants of the trip features of the path, distribute who will carry what things, think about the menu for each day, purchase the necessary products, etc.

First, plan the route, and decide on transportation. Calculate the time so that there is a small margin. Firstly, there may be a transport delay if you go by car or fly by plane. Secondly, the weather can make adjustments. For example, it may rain so hard that you will spend an extra day in a tent, and on the lake, there may be a big wave, and you won’t be able to kayak for a while. So it is better to have at least one extra day, especially if your itinerary will be built in such a way that there is no way to cut the distance to the endpoint. It is better to buy tickets for public transportation in advance because, in the season and for popular destinations, they may simply be no longer available. If the starting point is far away from civilization and you need special transportation to the place, find the contacts of drivers and arrange while you are still at home because your group might not be the only one who wants to go, and you will have to waste time. How to pay, too, agree in advance – not everywhere “in the woods” gets a network to transfer money to the application, so you’ll probably need to prepare cash. Find out whether the whole group will fit in the proposed vehicle, given your large luggage, as well as how long it will take to more clearly plan the time of the start on the route.

In addition, it is necessary to study in advance the nuances of the area in which you are going to hike:

If it is a border zone – do you need any permits? If it is a national park and nature reserve – what are the rules of entry and staying there? If you go on bicycles to another country – are there any special features, such as the mandatory presence of a helmet, etc., as well as where you can make fires and put up tents? What is the situation with drinking water on the route, etc.? Suppose you go to a mountainous terrain where the water problem, then think in advance about what container it will take to transport the liquid for cooking. Be sure to check the weather and temperature of the area you are going to in order to plan the things you will take with you.

Things you need

In addition to a backpack, sleeping bag, and tent, you need safety equipment, a first aid kit, food, cooking and hygiene supplies, documents, maps of the route, and other things that may come in handy.

A basic list of things

Equipment, tent, and sleeping bag should be of high quality, practical and functional.

Backpack

Hiking backpack – not the thing on which you should save money. If it is uncomfortable to carry or it will tear, the trip will not bring positive emotions. For hiking with overnight stays (2-3 days), fit that holds 40-60 liters, weighing no more than 2.5 kg. The longer the hike, the more roomy backpack must be. It is necessary that he had to have wide straps. Other fasteners help to evenly distribute the weight of the burden over the whole body. When collecting the heaviest things is better to put them closer to the back, then go food, dishes, various small things, a raincoat, and everything you might need during the trip (knife, water, snack, tissues, etc.).

Tent

When choosing a tent, it’s best not to take large and heavy models for transportation. For a short hike, suit a trekking tent on aluminum arcs. It is easy to set up and weighs little. You should also pay attention to the material of which it is made: it should be double-layered, where the outer part is waterproof and the inner – absorbent. Thanks to this, condensation will not accumulate inside. Water resistance of the tent (PU) is needed at least 3 000 mm for the top and at least 5 000 mm for the bottom.

Sleeping bag

The sleeping bag is selected depending on the time of year, so it is important to pay attention to the temperature range, which is indicated on the label or the patch. It is denoted by “t, comfort” (for women) or “t, limit” (for men). There are two varieties of sleeping bags:

  1. Has a triangle shape and can be used as a blanket. Of the disadvantages: it takes a lot of space and is quite heavy.
  2. Cocoon. This kind is wide at the shoulders and tapers towards the legs. It is lighter and also retains heat better.

There are also sleeping bags, which can be attached to each other. Although they are not as comfortable, they are much warmer. For a comfortable sleep, you should take a bag 10-15 centimeters longer than the height of a person.

Clothing and Footwear

For a hike, you need to take a comfortable set of walking clothes for warm and cold weather, waterproof clothes, as well as something to sleep in. Try to take something that dries fastest and is not heavy. Take a fleece jacket instead of a wool sweater, replace cotton clothes with synthetic pants, and a jacket of waterproof membrane materials instead of a huge raincoat. If you plan to hike in places with low temperatures, it will be nice to have thermal underwear. It’s warm to sleep in or go to the trail if it’s wet and cold. Need comfortable shoes for the way and, if space allows, the one you can change your shoes in the camp. Which one to choose depends on what kind of camping you are going to do. If you plan to swim, do not forget things to do. The towel is better to take with a microfiber; it dries quickly and takes up little space.

Food and kitchen utensils

A basic set of kitchen utensils for a camping trip:

  • camping stove;
  • knife (and hatchet);
  • fuel (gas cylinders);
  • cooking set (saucepan, frying pan);
  • utensils/disposable bowls;
  • cutlery;
  • a mug;
  • soap (best to take biodegradable);
  • a small, quick-drying towel;
  • a container of water.

Make a menu beforehand of what you will have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. It’s better to put in packages (“breakfast 1”, “lunch 1”, etc.), so you won’t forget anything; it will be convenient to pack in a backpack – later days, put away, put up what you have for today. Try to make your menu nourishing and varied, and calculate the approximate number of calories so as not to be hungry and not to overeat. Choose compact products. Do not take something that will crumble in transit and transport; all that can get wet, pack hermetically. Do not take anything that spoils in the heat. If you’re going to the mountains, refrain from stewing in cans, and choose dried or freeze-dried meat; you can buy it or make it yourself.

Food list:

  • Cereals (buckwheat, rice, oat flakes);
  • pasta;
  • canned foods (canned stewed meat, fish, pates);
  • sausage (raw smoked);
  • Potatoes (only for soup);
  • onion, garlic;
  • salt, spices;
  • tea, coffee;
  • sweets;
  • nuts, seeds, dried fruits, candied fruits, etc.;
  • ready-made meals from home like cutlets, chops, etc. (only for the first day of the trip).

Hygiene

To maintain personal hygiene, you should stock up on the following necessary minimums:

  • Shampoo;
  • Soap;
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste;
  • A small mirror;
  • Toilet paper;
  • Nasal tissues, wet wipes;
  • Antiseptic;
  • Deodorant;
  • Small scissors;
  • Hygienic lipstick;
  • Comb;
  • Towel;
  • Shaver.
  • For sun protection:
  • Sunglasses (and straps for them so they don’t get lost);
  • Sunscreen;
  • A hat or cap to hold your lips in and out of the sun;
  • A hat or cap to protect you from the sun.

Equipment and items for navigating

For a camping trip, you may need the following:

  • Telephone, complete with several external batteries. Now most models are equipped with GPS, which allows you to determine the location of your smartphone, build routes and find the right object on the map. The main thing is to have a connection.
  • Flashlights – handheld and headlamp. LED ones have good battery life.
  • A map of the area. It must be printed for all participants of the campaign. You can not rely only on electronics because they can break.
  • Compass. It will help you better orient yourself on the terrain.
  • Spare batteries for everything you need to charge.
  • Powered walkie-talkies if needed.

First aid kit

It’s extremely important to have a complete first-aid kit, even for a one-day hike. It should be airtight and contain, above all, antiseptic medications and bandages.

It is necessary to take medicines that you might need personally, antiviral, decongestant, analgesic ointments, and pills. You should also take medication for a sore throat, cough, GI disorders, allergies (even if you do not have them in normal circumstances), bandages, peroxide, tourniquets, iodine, and green. Be sure to have a Band-Aid to spare because blisters are a tourist’s enemy.

Money and documents

You need to have cash with you because not everywhere, and you can always pay with a card or transfer funds.

As for documents, you should have a passport, health insurance policy, driving license if you’re going or you take a rented car, or for a deposit, tickets for transportation. Pack everything airtight; there are handy waterproof cases for documents.

Additional things

From the additional things, you’ll need an axe and ropes to hang things.