While the destination of your hike plays an important factor in the gear that you bring, there are several basics that I carry with me whatever the terrain or the season.Equipment
1. Backpack
2. Sling Bag – for the camera, note pad, guide book and maps
3. Swiss Army Knife
4. Hiking Pole
5. Gloves – half gloves for tropical hikes, full gloves for winter hikes
6.Comms Skote – useful for drying clothes
7. Sunglass
8. Hat/Beanie
9. Camera
10. Note Pad & Pen
11. Zip Lock bags - for water proofing
12. Plastic Bag for Wet Clothes
13. Water Reservoir – water bottle or camel bag
Toiletries
1. Insect Repellant
2. Powder – dry bath
3. Toilet Paper
4. Sun Block
5. Soap & Shampoo
6. Tooth Brush & Paste
Safety
1. Compass – in case you get lost
2. Whistle – in case you get lost
3. Medicine box (First Aid Kit) – Panadol, Charcoal pills, lomotil, cold tablets Plasters, muscle relaxant, clarinase
4. Torch
5. Lighter
6. Money and Passport Safety bag
7. Photocopy of Passport
Personal
1. Clothes/Underwear/Socks
2. Sandals
3. Towel
4. Watch
5. Rain Shell (Jacket)
6. Soft Shell
7. Hiking Boots
7. Hiking Boots
3 comments:
Hey,
Thanks for the article. It is quite useful. I have a few queries though.
What size backpacks would you recommend for trips of different durations? Example 3 days, 5 days, 7 days. Also where would be a good place in Singapore to go buy backpacks that are value for money?
Thanks!
Just a Beginner
Hello beginner,
I tend to travel light. Therefore a 28 litre pack would suffice for a 3 day trip. However, this means that I carry with me only the clothes on my back and a set for sleeping. With dri-fit technology, the washed clothes dry overnight and you can wear them again in the morning. A 28 litre pack most probably cannot fit an inexpensive sleeping bag which means that it is only suitable for hikes that you know have rest huts for you to sleep in along the way.
If you plan to camp outdoors, you'll most probably need to carry a tent or at least a ground sheet and a sleeping bag. Then a bigger bag would be necessary for the additional sleeping and cooking equipment.
If you do not want to buy and store too many bags in your home, I would recommend that you buy a biggest sized bag than you'll ever use.
This means that if you usually go for a 5 day backpacking and hiking trip, but occasionally go for a 9 day trip once in 2 years, then buy a pack that fits the 9 day trip. Remember that a bigger bag can carry less things but a smaller bag cannot carry more things.
Queensway shopping center and Beach road are perfect places for good prices and variety. However, know the recommended retail price and the model number before you go. This ensures that you do not get cheated.
There are many other shops in malls such as Junction 8 and Jurong Point which have a good selection but these stores usually carry few specific brand such as Osprey and Alpine. Queensway carries the widest variety of affordable brands.
There are some brands such as Arcteryx which are expensive and can only be found in some stores. I haven't had the budget to use such expensive goods and cannot comment on them. My gears are usually bought from Beach Road and Queensway and I am still the happy budget hiker.
Whenever I go on hikes, I always bring wet wipes/wet tissues along for the cool refreshing wipe =P
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