The Most Essential Mountain Hiking Gear

The Most Essential Mountain Hiking Gear

Hiking up a gigantic mountain can be a significantly freeing experience. Walking over a tall mountain, so close to nature and surrounded by a tranquil environment can prove to be an invigorating experience. The good part is that you need an astonishingly limited array of mountain hiking gear if you want to go mountain hiking. Make sure you fulfill the following list of gear if you are planning to set out on an adventurous mountain hiking venture.

The Most Essential Gear Mountain Hikers

Unlike conventional trail hiking, a lot more education and gear for comfort, safety and utility is demanded by mountain hiking. It can be rather challenging since your breathing passage will become coarse as you start hiking to the top, you will not be able to breathe easily, and no one will be able to get to you to rescue you. So, all the gear that you will have to act as your life-support system and will be necessary to keep you safe. If you are going on a mountain hiking trip, then you should have the following gear.

Carabiners

If you are going on a mountain hiking trip, all by yourself, then make sure you have carabiners. Carabiners are small metal clips that are usually made of aluminum. You will need carabiners while hiking so you can clip yourself onto the mountainous surface, or you can even clip your gear onto them. You can use carabiners for a variety of purposes depending on their shapes and styles. You can even use larger locking carabiners for belaying and for securing the rope to the surface of a mountain. You can use non-locking carabiners for holding other gear and for nonessential clips.

Belay Device

If you are worried about falling while mountain hiking, then you should essentially carry a belay device with you. A belay device is a small unit with two slots through which the rope is fed. If you are not hiking alone, then using a belay device will allow you to hike above or below your hiking partner. If you are hiking above your hiking partner, then you can pull back on the rope if hiking partner begins falling or vice versa.

Harness

If you are going on a mountain hiking trip, then another important gear, you will need is a harness. You can wear a harness just like a pair of pants, and it will rest on your hips. While hiking, you will need to use the harness for attaching yourself to the belay device or the rope and for carrying gear. A harness will act as a safety net for you while you are hiking over a mountain and make sure you wear it tightly enough so that if you end up flipped upside down, you do not slip out of it.

Rope

The rope is a very important mountain hiking gear and for it, you will be using a specialized rope. If you are lead hiking, then you will tie the rope to your harness, this way you will carry the rope with you as you ascend the mountain. You can place bolts and carabiners into the surface on the mountain in order to tack the rope onto it. This way, if you are using a belay device and there is a hiker hiking below you, will be able to catch your hiking partner in case of a fall.
Shoes
Since mountains have an uneven surface, you will have to wear cleat-like hiking boots that have spikes and tread marks under them to allow you to have a firm footing over the rugged surface. Shoes like these will prevent you from slipping while mountain hiking.

Helmet

Many mountain hikers overlook the importance of a helmet, but it is an essential mountain hiking gear. Even when hiking over a mountain, there is always the risk that a broken chunk of mountainous terrain might fall right on top of you, and your helmet will protect your head from damage.

Other Gear

While this was the most essential mountain hiking gear that you might possibly need, depending on your preference and style, there are several other hiking gear you can use too. Some of this gear includes cams, chalk bags for the winter and webbing.