If you love hitting the trails all over the world, you’ve likely had some experiences where you weren’t as prepared as you should have been for the hike that you ended up taking. And while this might make for a great story now, your life likely would have been a whole lot easier if you’d had a couple simple things with you on your trip.
So to help ensure that you’re safe and prepared regardless of where you’re hiking, here are three things that you should always bring with you on a hiking trip.
Personalized First-Aid Kit
Because you never know if you’ll sustain any kind of injuries while you’re hiking, it’s good to always bring a first-aid kit with you, even if you’re only hiking a short distance.
Not only should you have a basic first-aid kit with you at all times in the outdoors, but it’s wise to have a few personal items in your first-aid kit as well. According to REI, in addition to your first-aid kit containing things that you can use for cuts, scrapes, and run-ins with poisonous plants, you should also stash some bug or bear spray with you as well. Keeping unwanted pests away from you in the wild can help ensure that you don’t have to use your first-aid kit on any battle wounds you might wind up with after an altercation.
Emergency Items
Along with the first-aid kit that you should always have with you on any hike, you should also pack a few other emergency items that could save your life if things start going south.
Some of the most important emergency items, according to the American Hiking Society, include things like a map and compass, a means to make fire, a whistle, water purification, and some extra food. Without these things, a hike that goes longer than intended or ends up veering off course could quickly turn deadly.
Feet Protection
While hiking is going to give your whole body a workout, the area that you need to be most careful about is your feet.
According to Outdoors.org, you should try to wear wool socks when you hike because they can give your feet some extra cushioning as well as help to absorb moisture, both from your feet sweating or from any moisture you might pick up outside. For if your feet do get wet or damp, it’s good to have an extra pair of socks that you can switch between. And in case you wind up getting blisters, which are very common, be sure you bring moleskin or a blister kit with you.
If you’re planning to start going hiking more often, make sure you keep the above-mentioned items with you at all times in order to stay safe and healthy.
