The sun’s out… or at least, it is somewhere in the world. But tackling the outdoors and withstanding a torrential downpour to the face is all part of the hiking experience. Seasoned veterans will know how to handle the elements, and will likely have all the gear needed to keep you warm, dry and on the right path. But most of us aren’t as prepared as the anorak-wearing anoraks.
Wandering into the great outdoors on a whim may give off a Jane Eyre vibe, but we have shoes with ankle support and breathable materials in the 21st century so you may as well use them. The trouble is, decking yourself out for every eventuality can leave you lugging round a rucksack the size of a small shed.
That’s where the right small kit comes in. You don’t need to weigh yourself down to be prepared – you just need to be smart about what’s in your pockets.
Here are four pint-sized gadgets that do a lot more than their size suggests, whether you’re after a woodland stroll or going properly off-piste
1. Garmin eTrex SE
Beyond maybe a twisted ankle or a bear encounter, the very last thing you want on a hike is to get lost. At best, you’ll be scrambling for hours through the unknown hoping to stumble across a random house that hopefully has a phone. And, get this, there are places in this world where phone signal does not exist. How? We don’t know, but it’s true.
For that, you need a GPS tracker. There are plenty on the market designed to best suit your activity, such as the five star Hammerhead Karoo 2 bike computer. When it comes to hiking, though, few names beat Garmin. But which model to choose depends on your needs. The Garmin eTrex SE offers a compact tracker with 168 hours battery life for a reasonable price. The Montana 700 comes feature rich, and is suitable for trekking, camping, cycling and kayaking. For us, though, the GPSMAP 67i prevails.
The GPSMAP 67i delivers everything one would need. This handheld GPS and satellite communicator comes with two-way messaging, SOS alerts and location sharing, as well as mapping. It’s pricey, and holds some features that may be overkill for the more casual Strava user, but for everything you’ll ever need in a handheld device there are few better.
2. Petzl Iko Core Head Torch
We’ve already covered how not to get lost, but should you lose your way, you definitely want to be seeing where you’re going. There are few things worse than finding yourself atop the moors in the pitch black. For that, you need a torch. That’s where our personal fave, the Petzl Iko core headtorch, comes in.
This comfortable head torch comes with a rechargeable battery pack and 500 lumens of maximum light power. A thin strap and a weight of just 79g, the Petzl Iko Core Head Torch won’t cause too much discomfort over long time periods.
3. Black & Blum Explorer Bottle
A simple drinks receptacle shouldn’t need too much consideration. But when you need to consider insulation, weight and durability, buying a water bottle is a surprisingly complicated process. For us, the Black & Blum Explorer Bottle ticks all the right boxes. It’s 100% water tight, super strong and totally plastic free.
The bottle comes in two sizes, 650ml and 850ml, and it’ll keep liquids cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours. What more do you want?
4. Eono Microfibre Towel
We might sound like a worried Grandparent here, but taking a compact towel on your hike is a must. If it rains, you’ll need to dry off in a pub toilet at the end of the day. Also, you might be likely to stumble across a lake or a waterfall that’s simply goading you into taking a quick dip. Either way, the Eono Microfibre Towel will do the job, and is compact enough to chuck in a backpack and not worry about it.
A soft suede microfibre is comfortable and super absorbent. It comes in a handy zip case, which can be stuffed into a bag or a pocket after use.
Liked this? 17 camping and adventure gadgets that have earned a permanent spot in our rucksack
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