In recent years, more and more people have taken up outdoor trekking activities, known as backpackers. Hiking around not only helps build physical fitness, broaden your horizons, and get close to nature, but also provides you with rich outdoor knowledge and survival experience. However, the journey can be full of dangers, with potential risks such as hunger, cold, injury, or getting lost at any time. Therefore, before you pack your bags, it's a good idea to learn some basic knowledge to ensure your trip is safe, healthy, and relaxing.

Preparation

      Some say gear isn't everything, but for backpackers, certain equipment can play a crucial role at key moments.

      Outdoor food should be lightweight, high in energy, simply packaged, and in sufficient quantity.

      Carry drinking water according to the length of your trip.

      Bring some simple snacks — high-energy meats like beef, flatbread as the main staple, and chocolate to quickly replenish energy.

      Replenish salt intake by eating salty foods such as pickled vegetables.

      It’s a good idea to carry raisins, fruit candies, or hawthorn slices while hiking.

      ★ Backpack

      The backpacker’s essential piece of gear — otherwise, why call yourself a hiker? The size of the backpack depends on the length of your journey; around 25 liters is generally sufficient for trips near the city. For longer treks, women should opt for 45–55 liters and men for over 55 liters. The backpack must be capable of carrying heavy loads. When buying one, make sure to try it out and ask the store staff about the correct way to use it — otherwise, it might not help distribute the weight or ease the burden during your trip.

      ★ Tent

      Choose one with a good waterproof rating, preferably 1500 or higher. Unless you're climbing high mountains, windproof performance isn’t as critical from a practical standpoint. Pay attention to the weight — anything over 3 kg is not recommended. Most tents now come with fiberglass poles and usually weigh around 2.5 kg.

      It’s advised not to buy a single-person tent because a two-person one doesn’t weigh much more, can help share the load when in a group, and besides, it’s nice to have a beach moment under the moonlight once in a while…

      ★ Sleeping bag and sleeping mat

      If you have a tent, you’ll naturally need a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat. If you mostly camp near the city, the suitable temperature range doesn’t need to be extremely low; if you often go to colder areas, it should be rated for sub-zero temperatures.

      ★ Headlamp or flashlight

      We can’t always calculate our travel time precisely. These come in handy when delays happen, as most people without wilderness experience can find themselves in danger once it gets dark.

      ★ Knife

      A sharp, multi-functional military knife should be your first choice — its saw and blade will likely be the tools you use most in the outdoors.

      ★ Compass

      Essential for outdoor activities. Its specific uses go without saying, but you must know how to use it.

      ★ Mobile phone

      Make sure the battery is fully charged, and it’s best to bring a spare battery as well. Keep it in a small waterproof pouch to protect it from dew.