Well, this week’s Top 5 is one that is important to me when
I am out on the trail and that is my Top 5 Day Hike Items. I must point out I
debated about putting my camera on this list and it like my phone I care most
places. Also, I am not putting my day pack on the list because that is an item that you can't hike without and I use it at other times. So, I am going to limit this to things I almost exclusively use to day
hike. I have a number of cool items but these are my Top 5.
Honorable Mention: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter. This has to go to an item I take on most hikes, but I don’t
use all the time and that is my Sawyer. I looked at a lot of filters before I
decided on this one and I am glad I did. It has a simple design. It comes with
three different size bags, you fill them up and then squeeze the water through
or let gravity do the work. It is that easy to get filtered water. It has come
up big on a number of different situations, like the time I took a wrong turn, at
Yonah Mountain, and
to hike half-mile uphill and my water ran out. It is what got me through the
hike.
Number 5: First Aid Kit. This doesn’t sound sexy, but it
comes in handy. Funny thing is I have used it more on what may be termed as “easy”
hikes than harder ones. There is the time back in May I did the Hike Georgia trip to
Wildcat Creek. I thought there will be a lot of people so I don't really need to care it, but then I told myself “You
know you will need it.” Oh, and I did this guy broke his finger crossing the
creek (see
here for details) and I was able to help him tape it up.
Number 4: GorillaPod. Well, this little device has earned it’s
keep in a short time. I picked this up back in the spring and it has been worth
every penny. For those who don’t know it is a camera ti-pod, but its legs are
bendy so you can hook it to a tree or trekking pole. I bought an xShot, but the
GorillaPod is flat-out better. Oh, and if you use a phone opposed to a camera they make GorillaPod for phones too.
Number 3: Platypus Hydration Pack.
I was skeptical of hydration packs, but people seemed to like them so I decided
to give them a try. The only problem the one that came with my Kelty day back
leaked, so I decided to get another. The Camelbak and Gregory were designed
like the one I had that leaked. So, when I came across the Platypus Hoser. I loved the
simple design of the hydration system. Water goes in the same place the hose connects to; the design is
simple and great. I have had it almost two years and it has been great, this is
the only hydration pack for me.
Number 2: Gaiters.
Ok, I wasn’t sure about these when I bought them, but I am a believer
now. In books and magazine about hiking gear I kept seeing things about
the advantages of gaiters. It was said they keep dirt, snow and other things out of your boots. I just didn’t know
I thought this was just something that might be a waste of money. However, one
day at
REI they had a sale and I got a pair for $20. So, I put them and they did what
they are advertised to do and keep crap out of my boots. But, it is what else
they did that made them essential.
I have
had a continuous problem; my boots seemed to come untied more than they should.
The gaiters help solve this problem, which this alone would have made them
worth the twenty bucks I spent.
Number 1: Trekking Poles. The usefulness of this item can’t
be understated; they just make hiking easier, which help makes it more fun.
This is another item I didn’t know if I wanted to invest in. I had a hiking
stick, but when I went to
Springer Mountain everyone had trekking poles. I
asked, mostly
AT thru-hikers, what they thought about how the worked and everyone I ask
loved them. So, I found a set of two pairs one
eBay and ordered them for Deb and I.
The first time out I was hooked, I then found a set of REI Summit Trekking
Poles at the stores member sale, while they slip a little they work and are still going
strong. I now get asked by people what I think of trekking poles and I say get
some, they are worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment