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A visit to a national park can be extremely comfortable—a scenic drive for example—or crazy adventurous, as in a long mountain trek—and everything in between. Whatever you like to do, there is some adventure travel gear that, I think, is absolutely unmissable on any national parks trip.
Essential National Park Adventure Travel Gear
I always encourage people to get outside, leave the comfort of their cars behind, and really experience a landscape.
Smell the air, feel the dirt, listen to birds, curse the rain, praise the sun.
In order to do that, you need some basic outdoor gear. Below, I’ve listed some absolutely necessary stuff that you’ll need for a hiking and camping adventure in a national park.
Camping
There’s no better way to experience and get to know a place than camping. Whether it’s in a tent or a hammock, sleeping outdoors gives you a much better understanding of and appreciation for a particular environment. Also, campfires!
Small, portable and lightweight tent for camping in all conditions and on all terrains.
, great for sleeping under the stars or lazing in your backyard.
that’ll keep you warm in temperatures down to 20°F (-7°C).
Extremely lightweight and packable inflatable sleeping pad. Won’t take up any space in your backpack.
A good headlamp is an essential part of any adventure travel gear kit. This is one of the best you’ll find.
No meal tastes as good as the one cooked at your campsite after a long hike. Highly recommended, lightweight cooking set.
Hiking
Nothing compares to hiking when it comes to exploring a landscape. It’s the most natural human activity, after all. People literally evolved to walk (on two legs). You all know that it’s by far my favorite thing to do.
Ideal for camping, too.
– Superb hiking shoes for short and long hikes. Extremely lightweight, great traction and just overall awesome.
An essential part of any hiking gear kit, a good BPA-free water bottle is a “must” on any adventure.
Miscellaneous
Besides camping and hiking equipment, there is some other adventure travel gear that usually comes in very handy. Consider bringing the following items with you when you’re off on a national park adventure.
Photography
Although this is obviously not something that’s absolutely necessary for an adventure, it’s always nice to be able to capture your experiences and exploits, wildlife you encounter and landscapes you stumble upon.
, useful for both wide angles and basic zoom.
Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless 24.3MP SLR Camera w/ 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens This is my backup camera, lightweight and tiny but creates images of very high quality.
58MM Complete Lens Filter Accessory Kit
A filter kit including UV filter, circular polarizer, ND filter, close-up filters
SanDisk Ultra 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-I Card
16GB SanDisk memory card. Shock-proof, magnet-proof, temperature-proof and waterproof. Unbreakable, in other words.
SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC UHS-I Card
Note: I own all this gear myself and use most of it regularly on national park outings. This post is not sponsored by anyone or any brand. I paid for all these items myself and simply want to share what I think is the most essential adventure travel gear you need for national park adventures.