When you go hiking you need to have the right equipment to finish your expedition safely. The gear that you select needs to be appropriate for the weather, terrain, difficulty of the trail and your experience level.

Selecting a Hiking Boot

There are several ways you can select a hiking boot. However, a good rule of thumb is to select a boot that is designed for the type of hiking you plan on doing. Casual hikers, for example, that only tackle low level trails can get by with the lightweight, hiking boots. These boots weigh in around a pound a piece and look like a cross between a hiking boot and a running shoe. The drawback of this type of boot is that they aren't as waterproof as better hiking boots are, and they don't provide your feet and ankles with the stability needed to handle heavy backpacks or extra rough terrain.

The next level of hiking boot is the middleweight hiking boot. This boot typically weighs more than two pounds a piece. These boots are for the average hiker and backpacker. They are great for weekend adventures during the summer months. However, if you plan on an extended backpacking trip, if you plan on exploring extreme environments or if you plan a trip during inclimate weather, then you may want to upgrade your hiking boots.

The top of the line hiking boots are the heavy clompers. These boots weigh in at over five pounds a piece. These boots are designed for hard core backpackers and trekkers. They will provide your feet and ankles with the support that they need, they will keep your feet dry and warm and they will provide you with the traction and versatility that you need for your adventure. They also accommodate strap crampons.

High Altitude Hiking Gear

When you travel into high altitudes there are several pieces of equipment that you are going to need in addition to a great pair of hiking boots. First you will need warmer hiking wear. Weather in high altitudes is colder than you may expect and weather conditions can change rapidly. To stay warm you will need a great jacket, think layers, gloves, a hat and warm thermal underwear. You will also need a great pair of goggle style sunglasses to protect your eyes from solar radiation and the cold. You may also want to bring oxygen with you if you plan on going really high, as well as a GPS locator in case you get lost and need to be rescued. Finally, you can bring with you strap crampons, ice cleats, snow shoes and ski equipment with you to handle snowy and/or icy terrain.

Recreational Hiking Gear

If you are just a recreational hiker then you can experiment with the type of gear that you bring with you on your hiking adventures. Generally a short hiking trip will only require a good pair of hiking boots, a walking stick and a canteen of water. If you are hiking in warm or hot weather then you will also want to wear a hat, wear sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 and a carb rich snack. On the other hand, if you plan a hiking trip during cold weather then you will want to also bring appropriate clothing, ice cleats or snow shoes, matches in a waterproof container, a plastic garbage bag and extra food and water.

All Hikers

No matter what type of hiking adventure you want to go on, it is always a good idea to bring a friend with you. They can be your most valuable piece of hiking gear that you can have. After all if you get injured you have someone to help you out of the backcountry, or someone to go for help. A cell phone is another valuable piece of hiking equipment to bring with you. If you get reception in the area you are hiking you can call for help or update people on where you are and when you plan on returning home. This is very important to do, especially if you change your original plans.

As my family and I sit here planning our next camping trip, all I can do is laugh, remembering our first camping experience years ago. We were so unprepared. What happened is pretty hilarious now, but at the time it wasn't all that funny.

You see, we really had no clue what we would need, but we sure thought we did. It's a good thing our accompanying friends had a few things we were lacking. Unfortunately, we did have to leave the campsite for the rest of the items, which would not have been as simple if we hadn't had friends with us or if we had chosen a more remote location. It's obvious that a tent is needed for camping, unless a cabin or camper is being used. However, what wasn't so obvious to us during our first camping trip was to bring extra stakes and tie downs.

Sometimes what comes with the tent just won't cut it, as we found out when one section of our tent sagged no matter what we did. Borrowing a friend's extra stake and tie down solved the problem.

Another item we mistakenly left out was sunscreen. At the time, we were not very good at wearing sunscreen to begin with, so it's no surprise we forgot that, but on a camping trip sunscreen is essential. Being outdoors all day without protection from the sun is not good for the skin at all. I've even heard that putting it in the hair can help prevent sun streaks and split ends. Luckily, our friends had some extra sunscreen we could use.

Thicker, longer socks was something we hadn't considered at all for our camping trip list. This was one of the items we had to leave the camp site for. Since we were camping in an area that could have contained ticks, we really should have had better socks on, as well as packed additional ones. Thankfully we were not too far outside of town, so it was fairly easy to pick up some appropriate socks.

In addition to the items above, there were several more items we forgot during that trip. Because of that experience, we now know exactly what to bring, so I guess it was good for a lesson. Some of the items on our main camping trip supply list are: tent and extra stakes and tie downs, tarp, hammer, pillow/sleeping bag/extra blanket/air mattress/sheets for each person, air pump, air mattress repair kit, compass and map for each person, folding chair for each person, folding table, fishing poles/bait/line/bucket, lots of water (some for drinking, some for cleaning), cooking source, cookware, utensils, knives, food, fire source, trash bags, plastic tablecloth, dish soap, foil, tissue, paper towels, dishes and silverware, plastic bin for dish-washing, personal care items, clothing for all weather types, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and various other items, depending on the camping trip.