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Recommended Trekking Gears To Buy
Essential Things to Carry While Trekking
Hiking Shoes are the most crucial part of your trek as the term “trekking” is analogous to “climbing”. Appropriate footwear is what keeps you going through the trek because the shoes that would hurt your feet or cause pain would tire you soon. This might hinder the further part of your Trek. You must buy or rent trekking gear shoes that have ankle support. Boots are suitable for any kind of terrain, such as rocky, icy, and snowy, and with strong grip, it lets you take steep ascents/descents.
Taking a Waterproof jacket with yourself uphill saves you from any unpredictable downpour. A waterproof jacket with a hoodie covering your head, and ears is a top recommendation. You should immediately wear the waterproof jacket according to the weather forecast and if drizzling starts. Covering your entire body, the waterproof jacket doesn’t let rain touch you, saving you from cold, and any sort of sickness. It must be noted that temperatures uphill are colder, and getting wet would make you susceptible to fever, common cold, and cough.
Trekking Poles are highly recommended to enhance your hike and increase your energy ascending uphill. You can use a pair of trekking poles for making ascents, and descents, climbing mountain stairs, and moving through rocky, and snowy trails. Such trekking gear reduces your energy consumption by 30-40%. This lets you apply pressure via your hands to take a step forward, hence energy expenditure reduces to a good extent, and you are able to trek more with improved activeness.
Taking sleeping bags with yourself during the hike enhances your sleeping experience in the tents, and makes you comfortable. Sleeping directly on the floor might not be pleasing to some, hence sleeping bags come in 5 shapes to help you doze off peacefully. Most sleeping bags come in 5 shapes, and sizes- Rectangular, semi-rectangular, mummy, double bag, and kid-sleeping bag. The rectangular bag allows you to stretch your hands, and legs for the most comfortable experience while the semi-rectangular bag keeps you warm instead.
Carrying Warm Gloves during the trek protects you from cold and lets you maintain a good body temperature. Rent trekking gear gloves to save yourself from unnecessary expenses. It should be noted that most of the winter treks require you to wear warm gloves as unconverted hands might let cold waves hit you. These gloves are usually made up of thermal wear or wool to keep you warm. You can also wear gloves during monsoon treks to maintain grip.
You must carry a 50-60 L Rucksack (Backpack) for a suitable trekking experience. The top of your Rucksack should contain frequently used items like water bottles, sunglasses, moisturizer, sunscreen, etc. Below them, lightweight items should be kept, followed by heavier items. The bottom of your Rucksack should contain items infrequently in use. The Rucksack should stand straight on the ground without any support. An important thing about backpacks is that they should be waterproof, else the items getting wet inside would make things tougher for you.
Headlamps are an important trekking gear that provides you the most visibility due to their large coverage area compared to torches and single-bead flashlights. These are best in use during evenings, and moving through dense forests with no entrance of sunlight, mostly through winter treks. Another benefit headlamps offer is that wearing them over your head keeps your hands free. You can hold trekking poles or any other relevant object during the hike with no tension of holding a light source.
It is mandatory to carry a water bottle with you during the hike to stay hydrated. Refillable water bottles are helpful in getting water from nearby resources. Drinking enough water can help you beat acute mountain sickness. You can consider taking temperature water bottles that may keep the liquid heated for hours. These kinds of water bottles are best suited for winter treks. Another option is to carry a life straw water bottle for drinking from any impure source such as mud, or gushy streams.
You can buy or rent trekking gear like a Fleece Jacket to keep yourself warm during the trek. These types of jackets help you beat some normal-type of cold at high altitudes. Even during the summer treks, temperatures are lower at higher altitudes, compared to ground level. To beat this little to moderate-level cold, you can think of a fleece jacket to add/remove as per your convenience, and temperature.
It is important to pack accessories in your backpack for the best trekking experience. Accessories like caps, hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses serve as protection against direct sun rays during the trek. Carrying snow-special glasses lets you prevent temporary snow blindness. The UV reflection of sun rays from the snow hurts your eyes and causes you the same damage as looking directly at the sun. Some other important accessories to carry are moisturizers during the winter, and bug sprays for monsoon trekking experiences.
FAQs About Things to Carry While Trekking
Can I rent trekking gear in Himachal Pradesh?
Yes, you can rent trekking gear in Himachal Pradesh from trekking shoes, fleece jackets, head lamps to warm gloves, trekking poles, sleeping bags and others at affordable rates. With the rented trekking gear, you can cut the cost of your trek to a certain extent and enjoy the experience without extending your budget.
How expensive is trekking gear in India?
The typical budget for trekking essentials in India goes up to INR 6,000- INR 7,000. In this budget, you can maximize items in good condition. You can get trekking gear like a 50-60 L backpack, hiking boots, sleeping bags, raincoats, etc. The budget for a suitable pair of trekking shoes ranges between INR 2,500- INR 3,000, and a rucksack would cost you around INR 2500.
What are trekking gears?
Trekking gear is a list of essentials to carry during your hike. They are necessary to keep your trekking experience normal, just like your day-to-day life. You must carry a 50-60 L backpack with all necessary, and frequently used items. A trekking gear list includes Trekking Shoes, Waterproof Jackets, Trekking Poles, Sleeping bags, Head Lamps, Water bottles, Accessories like caps, Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Moisturiser, etc. It is important to carry weather-appropriate clothing like sweaters, jackets, raincoats, warm gloves, scarves, and other thermal wear.
What is the most important equipment in trekking?
Appropriate hiking boots are the most important equipment in trekking. The trekking shoes with ankle support and a strong grip are designed to make your climb comfortable through any kind of terrain- green grasslands, stairs, ascents, snowfields, frozen lakes, and rocky surfaces. Another important thing is to carry a refillable water bottle to keep yourself regularly hydrated. Furthermore, weather-appropriate clothing, headlamps, rain-protective gears, and many other things are essential enough for your trek.
Which clothes are best for trekking?
Light, comfortable, and cotton clothing is appropriate for the trekking experience in summers. If you are going on a winter hike, you must wear multiple layers of clothing like sweaters, jackets, inners, and coats to protect yourself from the cold. If the temperatures are moderate, you can always add on or remove clothing layers at your convenience. Furthermore, it is important to carry a raincoat for beating a sudden downpour.
What we should not do while trekking?
You should avoid trekking during snowstorms, heavy rains, and extreme temperatures. It is best to avoid trekking at night because the lack of visibility may cause slips or encounters with dangerous animals. Another aspect to avoid during the trek is climbing too rapidly. Taking quick steps or climbing faster uphill depletes your energy reserves for the rest of the journey. Failure to heed the advice of your trekking guide may land you in difficult situations, as learning from the experiences of others is significant.
What are the protective gears required in trekking?
Protective trekking gear list includes carrying a Swiss knife to cut ropes, chop fruits, and vegetables, pierce overgrowth, and kill harmful insects. A waterproof backpack protects your items from getting wet and makes your Trek easier. Another protective gear is carrying weather-appropriate clothing to protect you from adverse climatic conditions—thermal and woolen clothing for protecting yourself from cold temperatures. You can always add on or remove layers of clothes as per the temperatures.