This is the most common question I encounter every time I take newcomers on an outdoor activity.
My friends around me are not lacking in gear enthusiasts, and this article is not intended to share highly professional outdoor gear knowledge.
Instead, I want to share the lessons I’ve learned from my own experiences in choosing outdoor equipment. I want to provide the most easily understandable gear knowledge for new friends preparing to get into outdoor activities.
Outdoor life is just life, and life involves clothing, food, shelter, and transportation.
The outdoor weather environment is changeable, and the equipment used has some considerations, but the outdoors itself comes from life, and it’s not that complicated.
So, before we set out, let’s consider what we need to wear from head to toe to avoid overlooking anything.
Hat
The head accounts for 30%-70% of body heat; in hot weather, a hat under the sun can block about 30% of the heat, while removing the hat in the shade can quickly dissipate body heat.
In cold areas, a hat can help retain 60%-70% of body heat.
Choose a quick-drying brimmed hat; it’s a versatile choice. It provides sun protection, keeps you comfortable, and can come in handy when you haven’t washed your hair for a night outdoors.
No need to consider too many types of hats; a brimmed hat is the most basic and versatile choice. You can buy one from Decathlon or Quechua.
Magic Headscarf
Yes, its design is a cylindrical piece of fabric, but it can be used in many ways.
Worn on the head: as a hat, as a headband
Face cover: sun protection, protection in dense vegetation
Neck gaiter: for warmth
Worn on the hands: as a sweatband
Other functions: towel, object tethering, first aid, etc.
You can find it in various outdoor stores and sports supermarkets.
Sun Sleeves
I personally don’t consider them a necessity; it depends on the weather conditions.
Mainly used when hiking in jungles with short-sleeved quick-dry shirts, providing protection for arms and sun protection. They also have some insulation properties.
In outdoor activities, quick-dry clothing is your best choice. Good breathability, moisture wicking, resistance to acid and alkali, UV resistance, lightweight—click the image for more detailed information.
For me, a short-sleeved shirt with sun sleeves is the recommended combination for comfort.
Skin Clothing
The function of skin clothing is to provide warmth, wind resistance, and, in some brands and styles, water repellency. Note: it is water repellent, not waterproof! It can handle short periods of light rain.
Skin clothing’s biggest advantage in the outdoors: lightweight, compact, and easy to carry. Suitable for all seasons.
Many people consider skin clothing as sun protection clothing. In fact, any clothing that covers the skin can provide sun protection. “Sun protection clothing” is a marketing term; the actual sun protection depends on the sun protection index of the fabric.
So, I don’t recommend wearing skin clothing for sun protection in hot summers. It’s not only uncomfortable but can also lead to heatstroke in unfavorable conditions. It can also cause more sweating, and sweat can take away electrolytes from the body, leading to cramps and increased energy consumption.
So, during summer walks, I recommend a short-sleeved shirt with sun sleeves.
Shell Jacket (Pants)
Shell jackets (pants) are characterized by waterproof, breathable, windproof, and tear-resistant properties.
What does waterproof, windproof, and breathable mean?
This is a physical knowledge point: fabrics themselves do not have these functions; the key is a thin film on the fabric. Since the molecules of air are smaller than those of water, it can achieve the “breathability” function of human skin while preventing “wind and rain” from the outside.
However, this thin film has a lifespan, and its waterproof performance will decrease with wear. Therefore, do not tumble dry or machine wash your shell jacket; handle it gently.
Shell pants have a lower frequency of use during hiking, usually worn in extremely cold conditions or at night in the camp.
Hiking Shoes
Mid-high hiking shoes are recommended for newcomers. Brands like Decathlon, Quechua, and Polar Edge are good choices.
If you are buying hiking shoes for the first time, make sure to try them on personally.
Every brand has slight differences in shoe design, such as arch design, width, etc. As long as you don’t have extremely picky feet, there shouldn’t be a problem. When buying hiking shoes, be sure to try them on with thick socks and ensure that you can fit 1-2 fingers behind your heel. In simple terms, choose a size larger than your regular shoe size.
Because during long hikes, our feet may swell to varying degrees, and the force on the toes is forward when going downhill, so the toes need some space to avoid injury.
Socks
Here, it’s not necessary to have specialized outdoor quick-dry socks; the key is to choose socks that are longer than the shoe collar, or else the shoes will rub directly against the skin, which can lead to discomfort and even blisters.
I once used a roll of gauze to wrap the ankles of a girl wearing boat socks and high-top shoes. After wrapping her ankles, which had no sock protection, her entire ankle was covered with blisters.
Pot Set
This type of stove is the most common choice for most outdoor enthusiasts, with sizes ranging from large to medium to small, plus a frying pan. It can generally meet the needs of a team of 5-6 people.
Stove
Compact outdoor stoves come in various brands. Common choices include split stoves, which are stable and have sufficient firepower.
Brands like Fire-Maple 121, 105, and Wildfire series are good choices.
Gas Canister
This is the fuel we use in the wilderness.
On the market, there are tall canisters and flat canisters. The one in the picture is a flat canister, which can be directly connected to the outdoor stove without an adapter. Tall canisters require a separate adapter.
Tent
A tent is like a mobile house. There are many types: dome, geodesic, pyramid, tunnel…
A more versatile choice: dome/geodesic – two-person double-layer three-season tent.
Dome tents can be considered from Quechua’s Spring and Autumn series or Mogadishu’s Cold Mountain series.
For geodesic tents, you can choose Novoks’s Cloud Up series, Sanfeng’s Expedition, and Piaoyun series.
If budget is not an issue: MSR Hubba, Big Agnes Fly Creek, Naturehike Cloud Up.
Absolutely not recommended (except for car camping): automatic pop-up tents. They are not suitable for complex weather and environments, heavy, and not easy to pack.
Sleeping Bag
You can choose a down sleeping bag with a comfort temperature around 0 degrees Celsius and a price under 1000 RMB.
The first sleeping bag I bought was Black Ice B700, and I am still using it. It’s suitable for three seasons in Guangdong. In summer, I usually bring a small blanket.
Moisture-proof Pad
Ranked by price:
- Aluminum foil pad: economical and practical, moderate storage volume, less comfortable.
- Foam pad: economical and practical, comfortable, convenient, lightweight, but larger storage volume.
- Self-inflating pad: price ranges from low to high, comfortable, due to the built-in filling, the storage volume is relatively large compared to manually inflated pads, and it is relatively heavy.
- Manual inflatable pad: convenient storage, small volume, cheaper ones may not be durable, and there may be noise when turning over. Better quality ones have high comfort, easy to use, and make less noise.
Backpack
If you plan to play in the long term, be more careful.
I don’t recommend buying backpacks with a market price below 1000 RMB; exceptions apply to certain channels.
First, choose a backpack that fits your height. Choose a backpack style and waistband size based on your body shape.
For 2-4 day trips, choose a 40-50L backpack.
For 4-7 days, you can choose 50-60L.
For trips longer than 7 days, it’s recommended to choose 60L or larger.
Here are a few recommendations: Toread, Mountaintop, Granite Gear, Gregory, Rockbros. In the price range of 800-1500, these are cost-effective choices.
Trekking Poles
Using trekking poles correctly can save you 22% of energy.
In complex and changeable mountainous terrain, they can help you balance, support, and cushion, effectively reducing the risk of injury during exercise.
Trekking poles also have many additional functions, such as beating the grass to scare away snakes, providing tent support, serving as an emergency stretcher, etc. They are indispensable companions for outdoor activities.
Personal First Aid Kit
In case you make mistakes, having a chance to rectify them is crucial.
For beginners in outdoor activities, you don’t need to have a very complicated first aid kit. Some commonly used items are sufficient: adhesive bandages, iodine swabs, sunblock, gauze, pain relievers, antiallergy medication. Too many complex medicines without professional training won’t be used correctly, and mishandling can backfire.
Headlamp
A lightweight headlamp with strong battery compatibility is a must-have for outdoor activities.
You can choose brands like Black Diamond, Fenix, or, for a higher price, Black Diamond, Petzl.
Around 200-300 lumens is sufficient. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light, but it also consumes more power.
Special reminder: when putting the headlamp in your backpack, remove the batteries inside, and remember to bring spare batteries.
Rain Gear
Professional outdoor raincoats are lightweight and can cover large backpacks. Regardless of the weather, raincoats or umbrellas are indispensable. Mountain weather is changeable, intermittent rain is common, and rainy conditions are frequent.
I do not recommend buying 3-in-1 raincoats: the marketing idea of combining a groundsheet, rainfly, and raincoat.
As a groundsheet: wears out after a few uses, basically cannot be used as a raincoat. As a rainfly: small, but there’s a hole in the middle. As a raincoat: poorly designed, like a piece of cloth in the wind and rain.
Umbrellas are very useful. In hot summers with simple road conditions, I prefer using an umbrella.