A comfortable hike is impossible without high-quality equipment: it must be practical and perform its functions. How to choose clothes for a hike, as well as a backpack, a tent, and a sleeping bag, “DIP” tells in new material.
Clothing and footwear
When hiking, you should have a comfortable set of walking clothes for warm and cold weather, waterproof clothes, and something to sleep in. All the things you take mustn’t be heavy and dry quickly. If you go to places with low temperatures, take thermal underwear, and if you are going to swim, do not forget all the necessary accessories.
Shoes should be comfortable to wear. Which one to choose depends on the type of trip you are planning.
Backpack
Don’t skimp on a backpack. If it breaks or is uncomfortable, the memories of the trip will not be the most pleasant. The longer you go on a hike, the more roomy backpack you should take. For hiking trips with an overnight stay (2-3 days), 40-60 liters are enough.
The backpack must have wide straps, and other fastenings help to evenly distribute the weight of the burden throughout the body. The heaviest items should be placed closer to the back, then place groceries, utensils, small things, a raincoat, and everything you might need while moving (for example, a knife, water, a snack, napkins).
Tent
It is better not to take large-sized and heavy-to-transport models. If you are planning a short trip, a trekking tent on aluminum arcs will do. It is easy to install, and it weighs little. The material from which the tent is made must be two-layer: the outer part is waterproof, and the inner part is absorbent. This will prevent condensation from accumulating inside.
The water resistance of the tent (PU) is at least 3,000 mm for the top and at least 5,000 mm for the bottom.
Sleeping bag
The sleeping bag must be chosen depending on the time of year, so pay attention to the temperature range on the label or patch. The female designation is “t, comfort”, and the male tag is “t, limit”.
The sleeping bag can be triangular and convenient to use as a blanket. Such a model takes up a lot of space and usually weighs a lot. There is also a sleeping bag cocoon: it is wide at the shoulders but narrows towards the legs. It is lighter and retains heat well.
In addition, there are sleeping bags that can be fastened to each other. They are not as comfortable, but they retain heat much better.
Regardless of which type you choose, for a comfortable sleep, the sleeping bag should be 10-15 centimeters longer than the height of the person who plans to use it.