What backpacking equipment is required for a trip to Europe?

Due to the massive ranges now available in most shops, buying backpacking equipment can be a lot of fun, although also a little expensive. Some of the gadgets and gear use technology that resembles space-aged objects whilst other items on store shelves may give you ideas for other uses they could have for tasks around the home.

Face it; there are hours of amusement to be enjoyed in a store that sells backpacking equipment. The important things to keep in mind when you’re out shopping for backpacking tackle is that the items you choose could end up saving your life. It therefore doesn’t matter how cool it looks, or how expensive it may be, it needs to be chosen on how well it will help you survive and also it’s weight.
Whether you’re backpacking around South America or Eastern Europe; you’re still going to require basic survival gear. Fire lighting equipment, a sharp blade, a compass, first aid kit, water, a whistle, and food are all essential backpacking equipment that you need to carry at all times.

These basics can be complemented with a torch, a map, a puncture repair kit, and sunglasses, as well as a bottle of high factor sunscreen. These items, although small, can sometimes mean the difference between life and death if something happens to go wrong during any of your backpacking tours.

The backpack (rucksack) is another important piece of equipment that must be chosen with care. There are such a wide variety of choices available, but be sure to choose a backpack that fits your needs.. Buying one that is bigger than what you need or has more zips and pockets than actual storage space is a mistake. It always wise to try a backpack on before you buy it to ensure it’s really comfy. Some people even wear them around their home prior to leaving for a expedition just to make sure they have made the right choice.

Choosing a large bag with a detachable day sack is often a sensible way of making the most of your budget. There will be days when you do hill walks from base camp when a large sack is not needed and a day sack will suffice. Enusure both backpacks are lightweight, otherwise they will speed up fatigue.
You can choose from top-loading backpacks or panel-loading backpacks. The advantage to top-loading backpacks is that they can hold and contain a lot of items. The major drawback is that you have to unpack everything to get a item of equipment from the bottom. Believe me, this can be very frustrating. Panel-loading backpacks allow you to have easier access, much in the same way as a suitcase, but they are known to let rain in through the zippers so ensure you check this before purchase.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at 10:16 am and is filed under Backpacking Equipment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.