5 Uncommon Items to Pack in With Your Hiking Gear

5 Uncommon Items to Pack in With Your Hiking Gear

When hiking, most people know to bring the basics: a compass and map, water, a flashlight, insect protection, and so on. But for serious hikers, there are a few other tricks they have to bring just the right tools for their trip, while still maintaining a low weight for their pack. From safety to comfort to simple enjoyment, make sure that on your next hiking trip, you don’t leave these five essential items at home.

More Varied Raingear

Weather can change quickly, or you might need to cross a watery area. To keep yourself dry, investing in a plastic poncho is a good choice. These ponchos are cheap, reusable, and don’t take up much space. They can also be used to sit on if you are taking a break and want to remain dry. Make sure everything, from your feet to your head, can be protected. Many people forget to pack rain pants even if hiking in icy, wet weather: don’t make this mistake! Rick Curtis, a writer for Outdoor Action, working with Princeton University, wrote that wet clothes increases body heat loss by as much as five times. This increases the risk of hypothermia. So remember your raingear!

Baby Wipes

This unusual supply is recommended by Yosemite National Park. On the trial, baby wipes are lightweight and cheap. With them, you can cool down without having to unnecessarily waste drinking water on your forehead. And although you will undoubtedly get dirty on any hike, baby wipes can help you clean up before you eat. They also work out as a toilet paper substitute. Just make sure to keep your wipes with you – keep your hikes litter free.

Whistle

Lightweight and tiny, a whistle won’t weigh you down, but could save your life in case of an accident. If you have fallen and are hurt, or you are lost, or someone else is lost, a good whistle is very helpful. They require less energy than shouting, and the sound can carry over long distances. Backpacking.net, recommends the Fox 40, a plastic, pea-less whistle that can be heard up to a mile away. Unlike metal whistles, it won’t freeze, and the pea can actually stop working in cold enough temperatures. Keep a whistle on hand to keep yourself safe.

Vaping Supplies

Unlike cigarettes, which leave ash and bad smells on fresh nature hikes, vape mods leave little smell and no ashy residue. They also don’t require ash trays, making them much friendlier for a hiker on the go. So bring your vape box mod with you, and take a stop in a clearing to admire the beauty around you. Vaping can also get rid of some of the bad smells in some hiking areas. For these reasons, your vaping supplies are a must when you pack for your next hike.

Golf Ball

These tiny white balls weigh less than two ounces, and they can add greatly to your comfort after a hike. If you are a marathon hiker, or just taking a longer than usual route, this little ball is a wonderful massage tool. You can use these to massage deep into the muscles of your legs and feet. Marathon hiker Seth 'Cap' Orme writes that the muscles of the arches, calves, quads, and hips can all be loosened out with the help of a golf ball. Give it a try – you never know how quickly this will become an indispensable part of your gear pack.

Conclusion

The Hiking Dude writes that the National Park Service has taken to calling people “tourons” – a combination of tourist and moron. Make sure to be prepared so this label doesn’t apply to you. After all, taking these items means you have planned ahead, and are looking carefully into what you’ll put in your pack. Thus you already have the most important of all supplies for hiking – common sense!