It’s a well-known thing that hiking is an activity that requires a proper preparation. You need proper gear, survival tools, and food to conquer the hike. Hiking is more like a marathon or too slow marathon that requires more than just stamina. Fitness is not the only thing a hiker should have, but all the proper gear and food are also some other important things that you can carry with you on a hike. But there are a lot of beginner hikers who may know what they should take on a hike but are not aware of what should you not take on a hike. If you are one then there is no shame because it is not that important in some cases to know. But in some cases, you should know what should you avoid taking with you on a hike. Below are some things that you should totally avoid taking with on a hike.
What should you not take on a hike?
Expensive accessories
The first thing you should avoid taking with you on a hike is expensive accessories. The reason for that is there is a high chance you can misplace it or it may get lost. While you may think that this is not that big deal. But besides all that, one should know that too many expensive accessories or items attract the eyes of thieves.
It is rare but there are a lot of trails where thieves are always in search of their prey. And if you wear visible accessories then it is a clear invitation for thieves.
To avoid any such situation that can ruin your whole trip, you should avoid carrying expensive accessories with you.
Wrong fabric
The second thing to avoid taking with you on a hike is the wrong fabric. You may wonder What do I mean by wrong? Well, the wrong fabric is what is not compatible with the season or the environment.
In simple words, you should avoid fabrics like cotton on a hike because cotton is a breathable fabric and it lets the water, cold, or anything let inside. On the other hand, cotton takes time to dry and favors little conditions during hikes.
Choose to carry fabrics like polyester, nylon, and wool with you. These materials withstand the harsh conditions on the trail during hikes. Cotton may be good when the sky is clear and all is good from weather to track conditions. The problem arises when the sky suddenly changes its colors and it starts raining. In that conditions, if you wear any cotton fabric on you then it’s of no use and you will get wet in no time.
Slippers or shoes
I have seen a lot of people who wear slippers when they hike. Though it is an easy way to save money, this only stands true on some day hikes. But still, hiking in slippers is still risky for many situations. Slippers are bad for hiking and you should not take them with you on a hike. The reason for that is slippers don’t provide your ankle any support on rocky surfaces. Not only that slippers are more slippery and don’t give you the grip you want. If you wear slippers on a hike then it raises the risk bar for you. You are one step away from hurting your ankle.
Besides that, there are some people who carry slippers as an extra pair for them on hikes. They try to switch between them again without any reason. This not only wastes your time but also fills up space for you in your backpack. So, you should avoid any extra things to carry with you on a hike.
Too many clothes
Too many clothes are always a no on a hike. Some clothes may be light but most of them take a lot of space in your backpack. Nobody needs two-three pairs of shirts on trousers on a hike. If you do that, you increase the weight on your shoulders which makes it hard for you to hike more.
Also, during rain, if your clothes get wet the weight will increase more which makes your hiking journey tough.
Cooked food
This is important for any beginner hiker to know that carrying cooked food on a hike is just a waste of food. You should totally avoid any cooked food on a hike. The best thing to do is pack dry food and then cook during your hike on your campsite.
Cooked food will not look like food after you take out it from your backpack. The moisture in your backpack will totally ruin the food. Also, cooked food can ruin your clothes if it spilled out inside the backpack.
For refreshments between the breaks, you can carry dry fruits or dry-packed food with you. To save yourself time to cook again, eat a cooked food before starting your hike. If you may wonder what should you eat before a hike then don’t worry, here is a Complete guide on – What to Eat Before a Hike ?
Sharp tools
This is the less talked point but you should avoid sharp tools on a hike. Tools like axes or any type of chain, shaw are no for a hike. For the protection and for other purposes one pocket knife is always good. Sharp tools are dangerous for you, and for others around you.
Avoid Too much moneyAgain this is a very important thing to do before a hike. Avoid carrying too much money with you on a hike. As discussed above it will attract a lot of thieves. Not only that your money may get lost during your hike. On the bad side sometimes goons put knives on throats and demand everything you have. Money is the first thing they ask. There are a lot of trails in the world where goons and thieves are real and that’s why a lot of people also recommend hiking in a group on some trails.
You should carry a sufficient amount of money with you that can fulfill your needs. Carry money for tickets, entry fees, food, and some extra for emergencies. But you don’t need too much extra money for a small hike. In case you are on a long hiking journey then you should prepare in advance that how much money is sufficient. On a long hiking journey, it becomes difficult to predict because the cost of living or staying also adds up to the list.
Big heavy tent or backpack
While there are a lot of lightweight tents out there today in the market. But still, if you have thought of saving money on a tent or backpack then you are making a mistake. Because you should totally avoid tents that are too big or too heavy for hiking. If you are two persons then carry a two-person lightweight tent with you or you can carry a single-person tent for each person. A big tent and heavy backpack adds up the weight on your shoulders and make you tired in no time.
Heavy backpack after rain becomes so heavy that your shoulders will give up before you give up. So, always choose lightweight tent and backpack for you hiking trips and avoid big heavy tents or backpack to save some dollars. One high-quality tent and backpack can last you long enough and pays a worth for your every penny.
Full crockery sets
I have seen a lot of hikers carrying full new crockery sets on a hike. While this may be an exciting thing for some people but one should also know that a hike doesn’t demand that. All you need on a hike is limited utensils that don’t add up too much weight or take too much space in your backpack.
Avoid things like camping chopsticks or designer crockery utensils. Instead, only choose the important ones like – spoon, bowl, and gas. Gas is optional because sometimes the trip is too long that it is hard to carry that amount of gas for the whole trip.
Half sleeves and shorts
Avoid half sleeves and too short clothes. The reason behind that is it exposes your skin directly to the sun. Even you apply sunscreen to overcome this problem still you are not risk-free. Short clothes are bad for hiking especially where there are a lot of bushes, leaves, and trees on the trail. Lots of greenery means lots of insects and a lot of ticks. If you don’t know ow tick bite is the most common bite that has been recorded during hikes. While there are a lot of ways to protect yourself from a tick bite, wearing full proper clothes is one. Know more- How to Avoid Ticks While Hiking
