Spending most of your time indoors due to the COVID-19 situation probably has you raring to get outside in the open air. If you love nature, or you want a nice change of pace from staring at the walls of your home, a perfect way to do this could be to go hiking or camping. No matter what kind of environment you plan to venture out to, there are some foundational essentials for outdoor adventures that are always good to have. Make sure to gather these items as you map out your venture.
Food and Water
On a normal day, many people don’t physically exert themselves much, but they have relatively easy access to food. When you’re on an outdoor adventure, the opposite is true. You will be moving constantly—traversing steep climbs and uneven ground—and you probably won’t have access to a kitchen. Bringing along food and water is important since you will be getting a lot of exercise and sweating along the way. Choose nutritional snacks that are easy to carry and eat, and which have high energy content. Granola, nuts, dried meat, and dried fruit are good examples.
Navigation
Traveling into areas that are mostly untouched by people allows you to experience the environment in a beautiful, unadulterated form. However, this also means that you are going to leave behind some of the societal conveniences you rely on so heavily in day-to-day life. One of those may be a working GPS to help you figure out where you are, since phone reception may not reach into some trails and camping locations.
Consequently, your stock of supplies should include a map of the area you’ll be exploring, along with a compass—and be prepared to use them. This will prevent you from getting lost even when your phone is out. Pro tip: You can even take classes on how to navigate using such tools.
First Aid Kit
You want to be ready for whatever comes your way while on an outdoor journey, so a first aid kit is an absolute must. Forgetting one is a common hiking mistake that you should avoid. You or someone with you may sustain an injury as you are moving across tricky spots. From little cuts and scrapes to nausea and ankle sprains to full-on broken bones and bleeding, your kit should have the means to treat a broad range of possibilities until you can receive proper medical attention.
The first aid kit should include items such as bandages, gauze and tape, moleskin (to stop blisters from forming or becoming worse), pain medication, and disinfecting cream or gel. Don’t forget items that you might personally require, such as allergy medication or an EpiPen.
Adapted Clothing
The clothing you wear is another foundational essential for outdoor adventures because it can drastically change how comfortable and safe you are. No matter the weather, you should put on base fabrics that can wick sweat away from your body and keep you dry. It’s also a good idea to pack a waterproof, breathable jacket to deal with rain, even if you don’t expect precipitation.
On your feet, you should have hiking boots that similarly shrug off water while providing rugged traction, durability, and overall comfort. Wet or aching feet can easily bring your excursion to a halt. Even if you already have them, check to see whether it might be time to replace your hiking boots as you plan your future trip. Old boots may be wearing to the point that they no longer provide ample protection as they once did.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
