Spending time outdoors is great not only for your body and mind but for your spirit as well. This is because there is just something with the rays of the sun hitting your face, the feel of the wind on your hair, and the tickling sensation of the sand or grass on your toes that seems so refreshing. If you haven’t experienced an outdoor adventure, then it is about time that you embark on one and when you do, here are some things that you will need for your first outdoor adventure.
Food and water
Alongside an EDC kit, the first thing that you would want to pack is sufficient food to keep you nourished and ample water to keep you hydrated. It is recommended to pack high-calorie snacks to provide you with the energy you need to keep active and moving. Thereby, opt to pack granola bars, trail mix, or even a peanut butter sandwich. If you are going to a hot and humid destination, a pack of salty foods would also do you good. While you may have the overall goal of packing light, taking in some extra snacks probably won’t hurt your load. After all, an extra chocolate bar may be all you need to boost your morale to keep you going.
In parallel, make sure that you have a sufficient amount of water to keep you hydrated all throughout your adventure. It depends on how long you will be outside, but more often than not, two liters of water is ideal. However, water is heavy and carrying two liters of water may tire you sooner, which is why it is important to know whether there will be water refilling stations along the way. As such, all you need to bring with you is your initial supply, and of course, a reusable bottle that you can refill over and over again. It is even more ideal if you can bring with you a portable water filter system which ensures that you have clean and potable water, wherever you choose to refill your container.
Navigation tools
The outdoors is vast and wide where you can easily get lost, which is why it is important to have navigation tools that you know how to use. The advancements in modern technology paved the way for smartphones to give you directions and ensure that you will not lose your way. This is by far the best navigational tool that you can use outdoors. However, you may eventually run out of battery, but fortunately, there are already power banks to serve as extra batteries when you need it. Nevertheless, it is always a good practice to bring a map with you and a compass that is not reliant on batteries. Apart from this, you may also consider using a separate GPS device with your route already loaded.
Headlamps and a multi-tool
Headlamps are essential for any outdoor adventure, even if you are only planning for a day trip because you will never know if there may be circumstances that may lead you to spend a little while longer outside. Ensure that you have extra batteries for your headlamp too, because you wouldn’t really want to rely on your smartphone to give you sufficient lighting. This is because you will need to keep your hands free to be able to do other activities, and you will also need to preserve your phone’s battery for other purposes such as getting in touch with others. Headlamps provide you with the capability to free up your hands while lighting up your surroundings and helping you get on your way. Nevertheless, carrying a flashlight with you is also a great backup plan.
In parallel, it is also a good idea to carry with you a multi-tool such as an army or Swiss knife that gives you the ability to cut through ropes or open bottles. Your multi-tool doesn’t necessarily need to be large and fancy, just make sure that it is sharp and functional.
First aid kit
Make sure to pack a first aid kit with you, especially if you will be spending quite some time outdoors because you can never be too prepared for an emergency or an injury. Scott, an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and prepper behind bestsurvival.org, ranks some of the best first aid kits for an outdoor adventure in https://bestsurvival.org/best-first-aid-kit/. Most of these kits include antiseptic wipes, first aid gloves, tweezers, Band-Aids, gauze, small scissors, and basic medicines such as OTC pain relievers, antacids, as well as those for stomach aches, allergies, and colds. The key thing is that your first aid kit should allow you to be able to handle most kinds of emergency situations, such as those which entail the need for treating bleeding, burns, sprains, and fractures.
Sunscreen and insect repellent
While basking under the sun is refreshing, you also need to protect your skin from its harmful rays, especially during the midday. Thereby, it is imperative to bring with you some sunscreen to ensure that you wouldn’t get those harsh sunburns when you get back. In the same manner, you would also want to bring with you an insect repellent, which is especially effective in shooing away the mosquitoes that are known transporters of deadly viruses. Keep this in check, particularly when you are traveling to destinations that are known to have cases of diseases brought about by these insects.
It will always help to bring with you some layers of clothing that you can take off when it becomes too hot, or that you can put back on when it becomes too chilly. You can even bring with you a multi-purpose scarf that can serve a variety of purposes such as using it as a blanket or using it to cover and protect your head from the drizzling rain. An outdoor adventure is truly invigorating and fun, but outdoor adventures also pose risks and hazards. Nevertheless, these hazards and risks can be mitigated if you pack the essentials for your outdoor adventure. Balance the need for packing light and coming ready and prepared to inhibit the risks that come with spending time outdoors.
Featured image: RÜŞTÜ BOZKUŞ/Pixabay
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