Trekking is something that I joined recently. Until now, most of my trips were by car or motorcycle, and the trekking part was limited to just a short walk of no more than a few hours. However, I recently took a few walks and realized that it is really one of the best ways to experience natural beauty. Trekking will take you to places that few people would have seen; untouched and untouched by the locals and tourists. In this post, I want to address an issue that was my biggest concern before starting all these hikes. And I’m sure that everyone who doesn’t have a lot of experience in hiking asks the same question. Questions of the items needed to transport for trekking.

Before continuing to write this article, let me first clarify that trekking for me is still a few hours of walking through the jungle, in the snow or in the mountains. Or a few days of hiking, at most, where we arrived at the place, camped for the night and returned the same day. So, when I put this list of items to carry, I’m really referring to the easy items; short walks you can take on the weekend that don’t involve serious planning; and it doesn’t lead to any challenging place. If that is the type of trekking you are talking about, then this article is not really for you. But if you are someone like me who would like to take an easy, short walk on the next trip, the information below may be useful.

Easy Treks

What are some of the easy hikes that you can venture on? Well, that’s really a question for a different article, but Mcloedganj’s Triund walk is the one I just returned from; and I can say that it was a great experience. It is not very challenging, nor very easy, but it is great in terms of scenic beauty. You can climb up to Triund on day 1, stay there at night and return to Mcloedganj on day 2. If you are a beginner in terms of trekking, I recommend it as your first hike.

Items to carry for trekking

Below is a list of some items you should bring before going for a walk; easy or difficult.

Schoolbag

The first thing you need to do before any hike is to get a good backpack, if you don’t already have one. Three things you will need to consider when buying a backpack. First of all, it is comfortable and it is not putting too much stress or biting your shoulders. The second is that it is easy to manage and can store many things in less space. Third and last, it is able to protect your things if it starts to rain anywhere on the track. Amazon has a good range of backpacks that you can review and buy, if you prefer. Take a look at the link below.

Shoes

The second thing to worry about is a good pair of shoes. If you can buy a pair of waterproof trekking shoes with high ankle and good grip. This can be a little expensive and may seem like an additional expense at the moment; but trust me, you don’t want to walk around with uncomfortable shoes that keep slipping; hurting your feet or getting wet. Buying good quality and a robust pair of trekking shoes can also be your long-term investment; one that will be useful on all the trails that you will venture into the future.

Trek Pants

Can you go for a walk with your appropriate jeans or capris? Maybe you can, but it is definitely not recommended. Shorts may seem like a good choice too, but it really isn’t. What you need is good quality and comfortable pants for that purpose. I would recommend buying a synthetic that can dry quickly. If you can find one with cargo style, all pockets are sure to be useful for carrying the things you need.

Bottle of water

It will probably be the most important thing to do on a hike. You just can’t help but bring a bottle of water. There are two things you need to keep in mind in this regard. The first is that your bottle can be refilled whenever possible. The second is that it is not too heavy to carry, otherwise it will only become additional weight. Definitely don’t bring a balloon if you’re on a hike with nothing but a bottle of water and a camera. A balloon looks light for a while, but then it starts to get heavy when you need to keep it for a long time. Simply buy a bottle of mineral water and keep refilling it whenever you find a source of water.

Snacks

When you are going up a hill or through a jungle, you can assume that there will not be much food involved between breakfast and dinner. However, the energy will drain quickly, so you need to secure some snacks that can help you recharge quickly. Energy bars, chocolates, dried fruits etc. will be very useful. They don’t take up much space, they are light and very delicious, of course.

Walking Stick / Trekking Pole

Whether or not to buy is really a personal choice, but I would recommend buying one if you were planning a long trail with lots of things in your backpack; or if you are walking in the snow. This can be quite useful for providing stability and comfort when you start to tire or under steep climbs. They can also be used to clear the way ahead a few times.

Torch

You can get a standard hand torch; or take a torch with a head that you can wrap around your forehead and keep your hands free; or take both. During a walk, you can sometimes travel the last two kilometers in absolute darkness and a torch can be really useful.

Basic Medicine Kit

Bring some basic medicines like headache, fever, flu, stomach ache. Also take some Band-Aids, Dettol, antiseptic creams, bandages etc.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses would be very beneficial if you can bring one along. As a matter of fact, you would need one even more if you were planning a winter hike. The sun that shines on all the surrounding snow definitely puts pressure on your eyes. Sometimes, so much so that the slight burning sensation remains, even when you try to sleep. Even if there is no snow around, even in the sunny summer noon, wearing sunglasses will be calming for the eyes. Be sure to bring sunglasses with U / V protection. People who wear glasses should opt for contact lenses for a few days, so that they can also wear sunglasses.

Toiletries

These are some items of personal preference, so I’ll just list a few.

• Sunscreen lotion
• Moisturizer
• Lip balm
• Mosquito repellent
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels

These may seem like small items, but they will be really useful. Try to bring sunscreen lotion with the highest SPF possible. Mosquito repellants that I found extremely useful if you were camping in the forest at night.

Hat or cap

This is another item that is extremely important. Walking for long hours with the sun hitting your head will not be a pleasant experience. At the very least, it will tan you, and in the worst case, it can cause severe sunburn that you must protect yourself against.

Swiss Army Knife

A set of Swiss knife tools can be very useful when hiking. You don’t really have to pay dearly if you don’t want to. There are some cheaper options available online as well. A Swiss knife does not take up any space, it fits comfortably in your pocket and you will be surprised at how useful it will be.