How to Prepare for an Outdoor Adventure

Outdoor activities are fun and something you should do as often as you can. Both your physical and mental health can greatly benefit from them. Now, before you go on to conquer new heights and set your foot on a new trail, focus on the preparations. How good your outdoor adventures turn out will depend on how well you prepared for them.

Pick the Right Clothes

Regardless of whether you’re a hiker or if you like camping more, being properly dressed is of utmost importance for each of the two activities. I believe there’s no terrain that can’t be conquered and no height that can’t be reached as long as you have the right pair of shoes for your hiking adventures and the right jacket to keep you warm. Having proper clothes means that not only you’ll perform better but you’ll also be protected. For instance, hiking/camping boots have a special design that supports your ankles, they provide you with better stability, are durable and keep your feet dry and warm. I would choose hiking boots over any other anytime.

The clothes and jackets on the other hand are made from breathable materials, have great moisture-wicking properties and allow you full freedom of movement while you engage in outdoor adventures. I simply can’t resist the comfort they offer along with the great design they have. They feel like a second skin and allow you to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest.

Flashlights and Lanterns

The second most important thing on my must-have list is the flashlights and lanterns. You know how it can become really dark and lonely in the mountains? Well, it doesn’t have to be like that at all. All you need to do is bring enough light sources and lit up everything around you. I can’t even begin to imagine a camping trip without lanterns or hiking without proper flashlights. Fortunately, there are various options of hiking lighting and camping lighting to choose from.

In my opinion, when it comes to hiking, it is better to have a couple of flashlights and torches at hand (that by the way do a great job at lighting up the path) instead of a lantern. Flashlights are more compact and easy to manoeuvre, unlike a big lantern. Hiking lighting is easy to operate and bright enough. You won’t need anything else. Some flashlights have as many as 1000 lumens and you can use them for hours before they run out of batteries. Flashlights have a lock mechanism that prevents unintentional on and off switching as well as a strap that allows you to attach the flashlight to your backpack or pants.

Camp lights, on the other hand, usually come in the form of a lantern, are bigger and able to light up a bigger perimeter. Lanterns are ideal for camping and many of them have rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries along with control buttons meaning it will be perfectly easy for you to operate them. Additionally, you can use LED tent lights which also work with batteries and can be recharged. Together the lanterns and camping lights will be quite enough. LED lights are ideal because they don’t attract insects, have lower energy consumption, are made to withstand diverse weather conditions and even shock from falls on the harsh ground.

Take Navigation Tools With You

The same way light sources are important for making your path visible, navigation tools are important for leading you in the right direction. No matter how good you think you know the place where you camp or hike you should always have a map, compass or (even better) a GPS, just in case. Navigation tools are essentials for outdoor adventures. After all, nothing is worse than getting lost in the middle of nowhere with no way to find your way back (trust me I’ve been there).

So, even if you don’t plan on using them, put them in your backpack. You won’t even know they’re there. GPS devices nowadays are small, compact and as accurate as they can possibly be. Additionally, the newer models are waterproof, shock-proof and can work underwater for at least 30 minutes. If that’s not a gadget worth spending money on, I don’t know what is.

Don’t Forget the First Aid Kit

The first aid kit is another thing you must bring along on every outdoor adventure. I’ve found myself using the first aid kit during my camping trips more often than I thought I would. You know, there isn’t an easier way to treat a minor cut or bruise than by using a first aid kit. Inside you have everything you need to clean up a wound, stop bleeding and ease the pain. I don’t think you’ll find a camper or hiker that engages in those sorts of activities without bringing a first aid kit along. And you shouldn’t either. First aid kits are small and compact, easy to transport and a real life-saver while you’re out in the woods.

Take Food and Water Supplies

Food and water are also something you must have in great supplies. That is if you don’t want to starve or dehydrate. The best thing you can do is calculate how much food and water you’re going to need for the duration of your adventure and bring a bit more (I always do) because you never know if there’s going to be a delay or something similar. You can always bring food back home, but you can’t make food out of thin air in the woods. That’s my go-to motto and it should be yours too.

Now, don’t pack just any type of food. My suggestion is canned food, food that doesn’t require refrigeration and ingredients that can easily be transformed into a meal. Then, plenty of fruits and veggies and plenty of chocolate and granola bars for energy. Bottled water is a must for obvious reasons. You need a clean water supply that you know for sure isn’t contaminated.