Friday afternoon. You’ve shut down the laptop, tossed a few things into a backpack and you’re heading out of town with friends who promise the weekend’s hiking route is “pretty manageable.”
One of them said the same thing about a mountain bike trail last month. You still have the bruises.
There’s something addictive about getting outdoors for a couple of days. The climbing, the hiking, the spectacular views you had to work ridiculously hard to reach. Trouble is, you also love your technology, and there’s only so much you can squeeze into a backpack before it becomes a punishment to carry.
So what makes the cut?
1. Give Your Phone Some Armor
Your phone’s coming along. Obviously. You’ve got photos to take, trails to follow and possibly a few questionable decisions to document.
But rocks and expensive electronics aren’t exactly best friends.
Before you head off, get yourself a decent phone case. Reinforced corners are good, as are raised edges that stop your screen taking the full impact of a fall. And if there’s any chance of getting soaked, a waterproof pouch wouldn’t hurt either.
I once watched someone put their phone on a rock while adjusting their backpack. It promptly slid off and disappeared into the undergrowth. We spent twenty minutes searching for it.
Not quite the wilderness experience we’d planned.
2. Don’t Bring a Dead Power Bank
A friend arrived at camp with a brand-new power bank once. He’d researched the capacity, compared reviews and bought something that could probably charge a small fleet of phones.
Hadn’t charged it, though.
You don’t need to go overboard here. A 10,000 mAh power bank will generally provide a useful backup for a weekend, although heavy phone users might prefer something larger. Just remember that bigger batteries weigh more, and you’ll be carrying that weight uphill.
My packing routine now includes plugging everything in the night before. Phone, power bank, headlamp. All lined up on the kitchen counter.
Of course, remembering to take them in the morning is another matter.
3. Download the Map Before You Disappear
Here’s something I learned after spending an embarrassing amount of time staring at a phone with absolutely no signal.
Offline maps need downloading while you’re still online.
Sounds obvious now.
I like having the entire hiking area saved, not just the little line showing where we’re supposed to walk. Trails sometimes close, weather changes plans and occasionally someone suggests a shortcut that turns out to be anything but.
And yes, I still pack a paper map and compass for remote trips. They’re practically weightless compared with some of the other rubbish I’ve carried into the mountains. Learning to use them takes a bit of practice, though.
Best done at home, rather than halfway through a forest.
4. Pack Something for the Worst-Case Scenario
This one’s less exciting than a new action camera, but considerably more important.
My rule is pretty simple. If we’re going somewhere without reliable phone reception, I want another way of getting help.
That might mean a satellite communicator, or a registered personal locator beacon if we’re heading properly off-grid. They’re different devices, so it’s worth figuring out which suits the trip before spending the money.
Check coverage and any subscription requirements too. The last thing you want is to discover your expensive new gadget needs activating when you’re already standing in the middle of nowhere.
5. Your Phone Isn’t a Flashlight
Well, technically it is.
But try setting up a tent in the dark while holding your phone under your chin. Particularly when it’s raining and someone keeps asking where you packed the tent pegs.
I’ve become quite attached to my little headlamp. It’s nothing fancy, but I can cook, rummage through my bag or walk to the bathroom without sacrificing a hand to hold a flashlight.
Get one that’s water-resistant, comfortable and bright enough for walking after dark. And check the batteries.
There’s something particularly annoying about finding your headlamp exactly where you packed it, only to discover it’s completely dead.
6. The Little Emergency Bag
I have a small zippered pouch that goes on pretty much every outdoor trip. It’s not especially impressive. In fact, most of its contents look like things collected from the bottom of a bathroom drawer.
Bandages, blister patches, a whistle, some basic repair bits and an emergency blanket. Personal medication goes in there too.
It’s amazing how much attention a tiny blister can demand when you’re several miles from the car.
I also put spare clothes in a waterproof bag. Learned that one after a wet weekend involving a leaking backpack and the unpleasant discovery that every pair of socks I owned was damp.
One last thing before heading off: leave your route and expected return time with someone at home.
They don’t need a minute-by-minute itinerary. Just enough information to know where to look if you don’t turn up on Sunday night.
