Whether you’re planning a month-long tour of Europe by bike or considering a thru-hike of the 2,000 miles Appalachian Trail, you’ll assuredly be packing and preparing for a diverse set of terrains and weather conditions. Without a doubt, the hardest part of planning your outdoor adventure is gear management. You can only bring so much stuff with you, and for every item you bring, another item will have to be left behind. The key is trying to determine what actually constitutes a necessity and what simply counts as dead weight. Travel tips that will be extremely useful when packing for adventure travel. In this blog post you will find adventure travel.
In general, most first-time adventurers vastly overestimate the amount of gear they need, which is a far more desirable position to be in than the alternative. You can always shed gear once you’re out in the field, but it’s going to be a lot harder to add a necessary item to your inventory when you’re miles from civilization. Here are just a few tips for packing and dressing for an extended outdoor adventure.
Think Light, Think Smart
Every item you bring along is going to add to your overall physical exertion. Even a pack of gum, over the course of a day’s hike or ride, will play some role in your ability to continue on. This might seem like an overstatement, but ask any hiker who has removed a candy bar from their pack at the tail end of a grueling uphill climb and they will tell you that it feels like a giant rock has been lifted from their shoulders. The point is this: Pack light.
When it comes to clothing, avoid a single heavy item like a down jacket and focus on layers. Choose synthetic shirts, shorts, and trekking pants that will protect you from the elements, are easy to clean, and weigh next to nothing. At the end of the day a well-constructed, versatile rain jacket is going to be your best friend, because it’s breathable enough for a muggy day but can also resist all intensities of wind and precipitation. Save the thicker, heavier wool gear for you extremities, like socks (which can double as mittens) and hats. The act of moving will keep your core warm, but it’s your hands, feet and head that will need the extra protection.
Take a Dry Run
Deciding what gear to take on a long trip requires some calculation and experimentation. You won’t know exactly what you need on day 29 of your trail hike until you get there, but you can use a dry run to at least give yourself an idea of what your body can handle and what it needs to survive. In advance of your big trip, take a smaller one that lasts a few days and take careful notes about the experience.
This is a chance to over pack to the extreme. Pay attention to what gear you use and don’t use, as well as the clothes you find most comfortable. Keep track of exactly how much food you eat and note the times it takes to do basic functions like change the tire on your bike or set up a tent. If you experience some pain in your left shoulder, then you know that you need to situate gear in your bag differently. When your real adventure starts, you want to be surprised by the stunning views and memorable encounters, and not by your uncomfortable sleeping bag or broken flashlight. Plan accordingly for an adventure travel.
