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Traveling greatly improves your health, and those benefits only increase if you inject several outdoor activities in your itinerary. When it comes to being in the outdoors, however, it pays to be prepared for anything that crosses your path. You could choose to go on a simple camping excursion, or you may want to add some excitement to your trip with a hiking adventure. No matter which you choose, it’s important that you have the means to carry out those urges by having the best outdoor gear on your side.
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Unmissable Outdoor Gear for Adventurers
Belay Devices
Are you interested in a bit of climbing? Then you may want to consider taking the best belay device with you to ensure your safety. A great belay device will help you maintain control over your climb and descent on a rope, and eliminates the risk of rope burn on your palms.
They all come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, so it might be a bit confusing to look at them all. However, it’s their construction that determines what you get out of them; some are self-locking to save you from hitting the ground when you slip, while others are more suited for all types of climbing styles. It really depends on what kind of climbing you’re interested in.
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Portable Solar Kits
Even though you’re supposed to be getting away from society and indulging yourself in nature, it can be difficult to give the phone and mp3 up altogether. Having your favorite tunes with you is one way of keeping your mood lifted, but your battery won’t last forever. However, with the means to have portable solar energy with you, you can keep your device powered to ensure you can still listen to your music and still have the means to make a phone call in an emergency.
These portable solar kits harness the full power of the sun, and some of the more expensive models allow you to store that energy in a battery to be used for later. That makes it easy for you to charge your device exactly when you need to, instead of leaving it plugged in all day when the sun is out.
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Head Lamps & Flashlights
Flashlights are quickly being outdone with the introduction of head lights that you can wear. They’re becoming brighter and brighter every year, way next to nothing, and allow you to keep your hands free for more important things. They also don’t take up a lot of space in your backpack, so you won’t have to leave any gear behind.
They’re also incredibly useful outside of the outdoor experience, as they can be used in your garage, especially if you’re working on your car. Head lamps definitely a considerable addition to your list of essential gear, no matter what kind of trip you’re taking.
As handy as head lamps may be, sometimes you just a good, old flashlight when camping. These handheld devices are easier to use and can be pointed in any direction. They’re awesome for night hikes and searching for things in your tent in the dark.
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Outdoor Hammocks
Forget about packing that tent and all those tent poles. Outdoor hammocks are versatile enough to keep you warm and dry on their own. These are equipped with all the insulation of a sleeping bag, and the outer coating of a raincoat to prevent any rain from sneaking in. And since it keeps you off the ground, you’ll sleep a lot better without sticks and stones poking you in the back.
There’s also the elimination of putting your tent up in a bad spot. If the ground is uneven during a rainstorm, water will eventually pull up under and into your tent, ruining your night’s sleep. And when you wake up in the morning, there’s no one getting stuck with tent duty in packing it all up. Everyone can be responsible for their own hammock, roll them up, and shove them into their stuff sacks.
The biggest problem you’ll likely face is finding trees close together and sturdy enough to attach your hammock to, which isn’t that big of a deal.
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Portable Cookware
Great meals are what an experience enjoyable, so forget about packing that cold granola and sandwiches that will get moldy eventually. Having a portable cookware set will guarantee that you have a hot meal every night – as long as you bring enough ingredients – and everyone can help in the preparation. Food cooked over a hot fire will give you and your family time to bond, as you make up stories or sing songs by the campfire.
Look for cookware sets that are durable and easy to clean. It’s a bonus if you can find a set that’s also collapsible so that you can maximize on the space that you need for your gear.
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Hiking Boots
Nothing can cramp up the style of your camping trip more than aching feet. Leave those sneakers at home and invest in a good pair of hiking boots to carry you through your trip. These are built to be durable enough to withstand rocks and uneven trails, as well as keeping your feet dry from any rainfall. They also provide excellent ankle support so that you won’t end up twisting or spraining them while you’re climbing that trail.
The soles of these boots also provide excellent traction to make it easier for you to get to the top of that mountain. That means more saved energy to still do the things you want to do at the end of the day.
Make sure that your hiking boots are waterproof as well. This is a useful feature whenever you get surprised by a summer rain shower, have to cross a stream, or even when you’re visiting some of America’s best national parks for snowshoeing.
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Knives & Multi-Tools
Need protection? Want to get some kindling to start a fire? Caught a recent kill and need to prepare it for dinner? Good versatile knives for camping will take care of all of these for you, no problem. They’re built to be light and fit into your pocket, but also durable enough to handle splitting limbs, cutting through skin and bone, and making any other tools you might need while you’re out in the woods.
It’s important that you pay attention to the shape of blade of a survival knife, as this determines what it can be used for. Knives with serrated edges are great for cutting and sawing, while straight edges are better at making finer, more precise cuts. Some survival knives have both, so you can take care of both jobs with one tool.
Another fantastic piece of camping gear is a multi-tool. There are countless options to choose from, all with their specific design and number of individual tools. From pliers and knives to screwdrivers, bottler openers and scissors, a good multi-tool is an unmissable part of any collection of camping gear.
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That wraps up this list of essential, best outdoor gear. Whether you are backpacking or hiking, you can’t go wrong with these items.