As some of you might know, I nurse a very severe addiction of the great outdoors. Looking at the top of a small hillock brings me the same joy as looking at a bright flower or the golden peak of a distant alpine behemoth. I steal as many chances as I can to dash out of my house and head towards the mountains where I instantly feel at home and completely immersed in my elements.
We each have different reasons to love or hate the outdoors. After putting myself through the rigors of the outdoors for some time now, I can say that I have come a little closer to understanding why I love it so much. I believe I love it primarily because the outdoors is a gentle teacher of our ancient school. She teaches me great many things. With each visit, having learnt a thing or two new things about myself, I come back with a lighter heart. I come back a little more patient and a smidge more energetic, ready to look upon my world with more love and understanding. I guess what I mean is that Nature enables me to study myself and that is precisely why I love going out…
I plan to frequently start sharing my learnings from these outings, and this post is the first step towards that. Here, I believe, will be consolidated information about the list of gear you can equip yourself with in order to be better prepared and enjoy the outdoors whatever the condition, wherever you might be.
Even if you are a person who might not be regularly going out, you might still be able to find something useful from this list as they are items that (at least some of them) are indispensable universal survival essentials.
This page will be updated regularly in an effort to improve it.
Let me jump right into the weeds…
None of the links are sponsored, I have no affiliations with them in any way. I stand to gain nothing monetarily from this. I’m merely sharing my knowledge.
Likehemlock
Survival
Tools
Check out my tools idea list on Amazon – Amazon idea list , you can buy it on amazon with just one click
Essential list
Potty trowel – Trust me and get the biggest size. It serves as a useful multipurpose tool for digging and shoveling earth.
Backpacking saw – Gerber makes best quality tools
Giga pump – super useful portable pump serves multiple essential functions
Water filter: LifeStraw
Lighting and illumination
Check out my Amazon idea list for lighting – Amazon Idea list for lighting
Headlamp best option/bang for the buck – Black Diamond Cosmo 350
If you want heavier water protection check out the storm series in Black Diamond
For lighting option near campsite –
Goal Zero 600 lumens (heavier, extravagant option)
Lightest and most logical option – Goal Zero crush light
And lastly, perhaps the coolest option – UCO candle lantern
Having a light source is important.
Survival Knife
It is a good idea to carry some kind of knife. It is especially a good idea to carry a universal survival knife. One can never understate the importance of knives, it serves multitudes of important functions.
Check out my idea list on Amazon for knives – Amazon idea list for knives
Cordage
It is good to have cordage. Cordage can be used to tie down makeshift shelters, used to hang up bear canisters to keep away from bears, used for emergency medical applications.
Use my Amazon idea list to shop cordage – Amazon Idea list for cordage
First aid kits
Two people/ one day outing – HART Outdoor Day hike.
Overnight weekend trip 3 people / two days – HART Outdoor Weekend kit
Explorer kit, the one with most essentials for more serious situations where help is not available quickly – Adventure Medical Kits Explorer
Clothing
Rugged pants need to be breathable and resistant to cuts and abrasive use while being lightweight and utilitarian in terms of having pockets and harness points.
I love products of Decathlon and recommend it to literally everyone. They make high quality products that rival those sold in REI, at half the price sometimes, or cheaper.
Irrespective of Decathlon, you will likely come across the term ‘Merino Wool’, it is advantageous to look for clothing or clothing-related products with Merino Wool because:
It provides good insulation, transports moisture and has anti-static properties; it doesn’t itch, smell or crease much; it is lightweight and keeps its shape.
Ortovox
Men’s
Pants best option Quechua MT100
Pants for extended rugged use – Trek 900
Women’s
Pants best option Quechua MT100
Pants for extended rugged use – Quechua MH500
Down Jacket
This down jacket from Decathlon is an absolute must (in my opinion) to have. I cannot believe they offer an 800 fill power real down material jacket for such price. The quality rivals micro puff by Patagonia (but of course you can’t really beat micro puff). What is best about this is that if packs into the left pocket ! and ofcourse, not to forget, it is super warm! – Forclaz Trek 100 -5C Down jacket
Gloves
Gloves, start with a basic good quality liner gloves – Forclaz Trek 500 Merino Wool Liner Gloves
Socks
Please, please invest in good Merino Wool socks – your feet will thank you.
Darn Tough Bear Town Micro Crew Merino Wool
Hat
Another essential item is a hat that protects you from sun and rain – Trek 900 Backpacking Hat
Another good option – Trek 500 Hiking Hat
An often times neglected item that I believe should be in the list iof every outdoor person is a scarf. Scarfs protect you from wind, sun, and bugs! Again, the best quality budget scarf available in Decathlon – Forclaz Trek 500, Multiposition Merino Wool Hiking Tube Scarf
Shoes
Important to remember:
- Ankle support is very helpful especially for longer excursions on rugged and changing terrain.
- A kilo on the leg is equivalent to four kilos on the bag! So, lighter the better (much much better!)
- Have an inch of gap between the tip of your foot and the front wall of the shoe.
- Depending on the shape and size of your feet, different brands might fit you better than conventional ‘popular’ brands. So, it is a hit and miss exercise where you fail your way to the perfect shoe for your feet.
Good starting points are:
Cooking
My Amazon idea list is filed with backpacking cookware options including considerations for stoves – Amazon Idea list
I use the Stanley Adventure All-in-one boil plus french press. Advantages are –
- I can boil a liter of water
- Make splendid french press coffee
- fit gas canister, stove and spork once done!
Another type of stove is the wood burning stoves. These require nothing except wood, dry pieces of scrap to burn a blight flame.
Ohuhu camp stove a cool wood stove for backpacking and the cool thing about it is that it is a gassifying stove that essentially ignites the hot air channeling through the special vents and thus giving a gas-stove like jet-flame as seen in the picture below. Consider that this is a heavier option compared to the überleben Stoker Flatpack Stove which has become an universal essential gear for all outdoors-men alike.
Sea-to-Summit makes good camp utensils and cookware that are lightweight and of high quality. Other considerations include – kettle, pans, etc depending on your need.
Decathlon’s cookware is worth giving a try as always – Camping Cookware
Other than that, check out my amazon idea list listed above to buy from Amazon quickly.
Tents and shelters
Check my amazon idea list for tents – Amazon Idea list
Super deal for one person light weight backpacking tent (3-season) – Clostnature 1-person
If you live in a cold area, and have some ideas to cozy yourself up during your chilly adventures, check out this hot tent – One Tigris Iron Wall
You can purchase a foldable hot stove from Pomoly and complete the hot tent setup.
Sleep systems
Check out my amazon idea list for sleep system options – Amazon Idea list
Sleeping bag options are aplenty. Do proper research before buying one. Consider the following options:
- How you sleep – sideways, on your back, or however
- Temperature range rating of the bag
- How light it weighs
- Real Down or synthetic?
Nemo makes truly exceptional sleeping bags and that might be your starting point.
Camera equipment
Backpacks
OSPREY, OSPREY, OSPREY.
Hiking Poles
I use the Forclaz MH500, Quick+Precise Adjustment Hiking Pole. I love it because of its simplicity of design, cost-effectiveness, and light-weight.
Items to add in next update:
- Water storage
- Sunglasses
- Crampons and micro-spikes
- Helmet
- Ice-Axe
- Hammocks
Please provide your feedback or suggest edits and additions to this document. I will gladly consider them.
Likehemlock
Blog post being updated…
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