Mountain trek: essential equipment

Discover the essential equipment for a mountain trek: protective clothing, sleeping arrangements, care kits and orientation tools.

Do you like to go on an adventure in the mountains? Trekking allows you to explore atypical paths at altitude and to recharge your batteries in the heart of nature. This sporting activity requires the use of different equipment. These include protective clothing such as the mountain jacket, suitable footwear, tracking devices, backpack, sleeping bag and of course the first aid kit. Discover below these essential equipment for a mountain trek.

Protect yourself from the cold with a mountain jacket

To practice mountain trekking in complete safety, it is essential to dress appropriately. In general, hikers apply the principle of three layers of clothing to protect themselves. The purpose of the base layer is to keep the body dry. That of the middle layer is to keep him warm, while the last protects against rain, snow and wind. This last layer of clothing, worn over the first two, is one of the essentials for trekking. This is the mountain jacket.

This abrasion-resistant protective garment is characterized by its impermeability. It is made up of several layers of fabric to effectively protect you from the weather and adapt to outdoor conditions as well as possible. This waterproof jacket is designed to help wick away perspiration to keep you dry. Models with a three-layer Ultrashell membrane are among the most efficient and comfortable on the market. They offer great freedom of movement, a good level of breathability and are stretchable.

For more fluidity, opt for flexible and light trekking jackets. Also consider buying a comfortable fleece with waterproof zips and heat-sealed seams, like those offered on outdoor clothing sites. Hooded jackets are particularly practical for protecting the head, especially the ears, from wind and cold. They are the most suitable for hiking in the mountains, as temperatures can drop drastically at high altitudes. However, be sure to choose a model with pockets. These allow you to expand your storage space a little bit and store the most useful small items for the trek nearby.

Take the essentials to the mountains with a trekking backpack

If there is one essential piece of equipment for mountain trekking, it is a trekking backpack. This accessory allows you to go on an adventure by bringing the necessary: ​​provisions, bedding, water, care products, knife, survival kit, etc. It should allow you to provide the least effort and be free to move. However, this bag must have certain characteristics to perform its functions well.

It must have a volume adapted to the duration of your trek, because the quantity of things to carry depends on this, but also depends on the nature of the hike. For a trek in autonomy, you must provide a bag whose capacity is between 50 and 70 liters, in order to easily carry the necessary equipment for the adventure. For a hike in the mountains in a refuge, a volume of 40 liters can be more than enough.

The hiking backpack must also be comfortable to be easy to carry. So check that its carrying system is comfortable. Ideally, it should have a belly strap or padded belts. For reasons of practicality, opt for lightweight equipment with several pockets of varying capacities and pay particular attention to their layout. Also, make sure your bag has exterior pockets so you can store essentials and access them easily. To provide excellent protection for your belongings in all seasons, choose a model with waterproof protection.

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Walk safely with trekking shoes

Trekking can be dangerous when hikers are not wearing the correct shoes. These not only protect the feet from cold, heat and sharp objects, but also optimize walking. To do this, you must choose resistant and comfortable shoes. It is essential that they are in your size. To ensure good perspiration wicking, it is recommended to choose models made with breathable fabrics.

Bet on a light pair to optimize walking, as heavier models are extra weight and can delay you. Of course, you must also wear adequate socks. These have the role of keeping the feet warm and absorbing shocks during travel.

There are several types of hiking shoes on the market, including high tops and those with low cuts. The latter are suitable for short-term trekking (less than 24 hours) in the middle mountains, while the former are suitable for longer-term practice on steep paths.

Comfort being a key point on which you should not skimp, it is important that you try them on to judge the support that the shoes offer you. As for the materials, choose those that are resistant, breathable, waterproof and easy to maintain, such as the Gore-Tex membrane. It is also important that you pay special attention to the soles. They must be of good quality, rigid, and offer good grip on the ground.

Opt for a sleeping bag adapted to the mountains

After a long day of hiking in the great outdoors, it's finally time to camp. To be able to leave in good shape the next day, it is essential that you have a good sleep. In addition to devices such as the tent and the inflatable floor mat, the sleeping bag is one of the essentials for trekking in the mountains independently. This equipment must be chosen with care to avoid the risk of hypothermia.

Some models are made of feathers, others are made of down (goose or duck), and still others are made of synthetic materials. To choose a good model, check the information relating to the 3 temperatures indicated, namely that of "comfort", that of "limit" and that of "extreme", taking the comfort temperature as a reference. Although this equipment is generally light, some can quickly become bulky. So be sure to opt for a lightweight sleeping bag to optimize the load of things to carry.

Models made with down are renowned for their lightness, insulation and compressibility, unlike those made of synthetic materials. The latter are, however, the most suitable for humid areas. There are several types of sleeping bags on the market, including sarcophagus-shaped models, which are the most insulating, and rectangular models. These are much wider, but also more bulky.

The bag closure system also matters when choosing this equipment. For the sarcophagus models, there are two closing systems. The first is available on all these types of sleeping bags and comes in the form of a drawstring located at the hood. The second, less common, complements the first. It comes in the form of a collar used to better insulate the body, from the shoulders to the legs, to offer better thermal comfort. These bags with two closures are certainly more insulating, but also heavier.

Don't forget the first aid kit to carry out first aid during the trek

Safety plays an important role in the organization of a mountain trek, because as experienced as you are either, no one is safe from an accident. This is why it is essential to carry a first aid kit with you. It allows you to quickly carry out first aid and calmly wait for reinforcements if necessary.

Depending on the case and the urgency of the treatment, this equipment can be vital for hikers venturing on steep mountain terrain. It is usually sold as a kit and includes the essentials to clean wounds and protect them from dust. In general, first aid kits for hiking contain items such as:

This can be supplemented with medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin and medications prescribed by your doctor if you are undergoing treatment. Make sure, however, that this equipment does not take up too much space in your bag. It doesn't have to be heavy either. We also recommend that you bring a survival blanket to protect you effectively against the cold in case you are injured or in a hypothermic situation.

Remember to bring a compass and a map to orient yourself in the mountains

In front of the beautiful landscape offered by nature and from a new point of view, you can quickly lose your way. This is a scary and dangerous situation that can lead you to the wrong destination. This is why it is important to take all the necessary precautions to orient yourself properly. If you do not properly master the peaks you want to survey, bring a compass and a map to easily locate yourself in space.

This equipment is definitely one of the essentials to keep during an autonomous trek. But before you set off on your adventure, make sure you know how to use them properly. Opt for an easy-to-read template. Also, be sure to choose a compass with a long battery life. Compasses with clinometers are particularly suitable for mountain trekking, as they provide valuable information on the angles of slopes.

These are some essential pieces of equipment for a safe hike in the mountains. To these can be added other useful devices such as the headlamp, sunglasses, walking sticks and water bag.