Hiking Gear: A Priorities List of Hiking Items to buy for Hiking Adventures
Are you on a budget and wondering what hiking gear you need to buy? Cool! Friends and SUPER #travelwithirine fans often ask me for the top 10 items they should buy for hiking. Here are my suggestions for investing in your first hiking trip, items you can buy without breaking your bank.
Sometimes you don’t have extra cash to spend on gear. If this is the case, I say, start with what you already own. Use what you have, I certainly did.
In the below pictures, you’ll see I was hiking in tennis shoes, gym tights, without a warm hiking jacket. I wore my hoodie which wasn’t waterproof so, one time, we had to bring an umbrella. That’s how determined Emily and I were to hike.
Who is Emily? Emily is one badass woman whom I’ve had the pleasure and honor to hike with on multiple trails before she moved out of state. She is the one person who inspired me to go solo hiking as she pushed and helped me slowly overcome my fear of heights. She and I did some EPIC stuff. And the beauty is that we didn’t have all the high-tech gear nor have all the hiking knowledge one might need. We were amateurs. Looking back at some places we hiked, I think yikes, we did some cool shit.
So, if you have a bit of cash for hiking gear, but a tight budget, here are the items I’d suggest you start with. These items will enhance your hiking experience with more comfort, enjoyment, and also help keep you safe.
10 Hiking Gear to Buy on a Budget
1) Good hiking boots. Waterproof boots are best. Some prefer regular hiking shoes, but boots help with ankle support and help prevent injuries such as sprained ankles.
2) Sturdy backpack. I use Osprey Packs. As one of their brand ambassadors, I’ve used their packs for over 4 years and I am a happy customer. In fact, I just bought some of their travel bags and I love their backpacks.
3) Hiking Socks. Double layered socks will avoid rubbing that could lead to blisters.
4) A water bladder/aka, your water storage. A bladder is a more convenient way to hydrate than carrying a water bottle.
5) Protective hat. Something with a brim to protect your forehead.
6) Sunglasses. To avoid constant squinting and reduce brightness and stress on your eyes, get a pair of sunglasses.
7) Warm Jacket. To keep yourself warm, especially after sweating, get one that is water resistant. I recommend the Columbia brand, which is the one I use.
8) Hiking pants. Pants that you can turn into shorts are ideal. REI offers some amazing hiking pants.
9) Long sleeve breathable hiking shirt. To keep you warm, reduce sun burn and also protect you from bug bites. I use REI or Columbia brands.
10) Lip balm. Trust me, this makes a big different. Having dry cracked lips isn’t fun.
There you have it, 10 Hiking Gear to Buy on a Budget. Hope you find the list helpful. Dont forget to subscribe (FREE) to my email subscription for helpful tips and suggestions #travelwithirine
You can also check out 5 Things I’ve learned About Life through Hiking
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