How to choose the right equipment for hiking in spring?

Of course, we will need much less for spring hiking than for winter hiking. But in no case should we underestimate the weather, which often resembles a swing. In the following article, we will advise you on how to prepare for a spring hike.

The snow is slowly disappearing, the temperatures are rising, the days are getting longer. This is a sure sign of the arrival of spring. If you want to become a part of the spring season, you have to get out of your home whether you like it or not and take in the spring atmosphere. If you are planning a hiking trip, think carefully about what equipment you will take with you. You will need less than in the winter. But at the same time, you must not underestimate anything. We will now talk briefly about how to be properly equipped for spring.

A man with a backpack hiking - Krkonoše Mountains

Weather

Compared to winter, spring weather is way more unpredictable. In early spring, you may be surprised by snow, which may alternate with clear skies, when the sun can warm you very pleasantly. In the second half of spring, you can also encounter thunderstorms, which can be very dangerous. These storms are usually caused by heat, or they form on the fronts. While we often know about the thunderstorms moving on approaching fronts in advance thanks to the Internet, predicting a thunderstorm from heat is much more difficult. Therefore, do not be surprised if you get wet or are surprised by, for example, hail. This also belongs to spring and needs to be taken into account.

What to take with you?

Now we list the absolute basics that are suitable for longer trips. Whether you are going out for a single day or you are going to spend the night in the spring nature, don't forget the following things:

• backpack

• hiking boots

• food and drink

• knife

• first aid

• light jacket, thermal underwear and t-shirt

These are basically the things you can't do without. Clothing is a one big question mark. As already mentioned, spring weather can be very changeable. Therefore, be sure to monitor the current weather forecast and adjust your clothes accordingly.

What boots to take?

The most important factor is the anticipated terrain in which you will move. For lighter trips, sports shoes will suffice. If you are going for a hilly or even a mountain hike, then you will need some adequate footwear. Shoes must fit perfectly, provide sufficient support, wick away moisture and be breathable enough. These are the features you have to look out for when it comes to hiking shoes.

AKU Selvatica Boots

Backpack

Backpack is a vital part of any longer hiking trip. Adapt it to the nature and length of the expedition. A backpack in which you can put basic necessities such as food and beverage is certainly not enough for multiple-day expeditions. We therefore recommend buying two backpacks. One smaller and the other for longer trips. What to expect from the backpack? Just like shoes, they have to fit perfectly. When walking, it must not be loose and bump into your back, especially the small of the back. High-quality straps and waist belt are very important features too. Your back will sweat, so when choosing, think about backpacks that have ventilation functions.

Maxpedition Entity 19

Knife

A knife is your invaluable companion and should be treated as such. Knives are always a matter of personal preference, so we will not recommend a specific type of knife. Both folding knives and classic knives are proven in practice. A multitool with a number of useful gadgets will definitely come in handy for camping too. Whatever you choose, the important thing is that you have it with you and ready to use when you actually need it.

How to choose the best clothing?

Choosing the right clothes is not a science. This is only true if you have mastered the basics of layering clothes. What is it? Imagine an onion that you are peeling off skin by skin. You can proceed in the same way when dressing up. Put on more layers and if you get hot, take off one or more layers. You will proceed in the opposite way when you are getting cold.

Now let's speak about what individual layers are:

• The first layer is to keep your body warm and dry. It must wick away moisture, especially sweat, and above all it must dry quickly. Therefore, we recommend synthetic materials, thermal or merino wool.
  

•  The second layer wicks sweat away from the body and helps keep a pleasant micro-climate.

• The third layer is to protect from the elements. In this layer, it is important that the body breathes well, otherwise you will start to sweat very quickly. A typical material can be softshell.

• The fourth layer must be as breathable as possible. It protects us from rain, frost, humidity, rain and wind.
  

Choosing the right equipment for spring trips is really not difficult. We recommend sticking to a few rules that are mentioned in the article and you can't be far from the positive result. We wish you beautiful and safe trips!