OUR GARAGE

CSP's Guide to Good Hiking Gear

DO A PRE-HIKE CHECK
Prior to setting out on any adventure it’s a good idea to review your gear and decide if any new acquisitions may be required. The very worst thing that can happen to you is to travel for hours by car to an exciting destination only to find that you left some gear at home or the gear you brought is broken or dilapidated. This has happened to us on several occasions. We’ve driven to a remote dive spot in search of abalone only to find that we’re one fin short of a pair. We’ve gone mountain bike riding and gotten a flat several miles into the ride only to find we’re out of patches. These situations could have been avoided, of course, by a few minutes of planning prior to leaving on any trip.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
Hiking is a relatively simple sport that requires little planning and a small amount of gear. There are however some essentials that you don’t want to forget.

Hiking and overnight backpacking go hand in hand, so we will cover the gear that you will want to remember for an overnight trip. If you're only going for the day, just leave out the overnight stuff.

What goes in or is attached to your Backpack/Daypack:

Tent/Shelter Sleeping bag Pad for sleeping Flashlight First aid kit Map of trails Rope/Cord Watch Matches/lighter Compass Lantern/candles Water filter You may also want: Camera Binoculars Hat Sunglasses Reading Material	Multi-tool Knife (Swiss army?) Stove Fuel Pot and lid Fork/spoon Cup Water bottles Toothbrush & paste Toilet paper Towel Gloves And don't forget: Mole Skin/Silk Undersocks Biodegradable Soap Sunblock Lip Protection FOOD!
It's always a good idea to wear clothing that can be layered. The temperature and weather can be very fickle. If you've got extra clothing that can be added and removed as the temp and the weather change, you'll be more comfortable. Also, in case of an emergency, you should always carry one of those space-age blankets. They're inexpensive and light in weight, but can be a life-saver.