Top Camping Tents for Longer Treks

Sophie Nicholson    Trekking Gear, trekkingholidays     Camping Tent, Camping Tents, Long Treks, Top Camping Tents, trekking, trekking gear, trekking holidays

Camping tents are basically portable homes, and once you have one you will be free to move in the outdoors for as long as is your want.

Camping tent for extreme adventures. Image: Flickr/ ilovegreenland

At the end of a long day on the hill and for longer treks, your tent is your haven and it should be a cozy, dry and safe place to rest and recharge before setting out on another adventure.

There are a plethora of great quality and affordable tents on the shelves of outdoor stores these days so there is no longer any reason to suffer the cold, damp and miserable camping experiences of days gone by.

All tents are not the same however and it is extremely important that the one in your pack is right for you and for your particular trekking holiday.

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Best Light Hiking Shoes of 2012

Sophie Nicholson    Trekking Gear, trekkingholidays     Best light hiking Shoes, Hiking, hiking shoes, trekking, trekking gear, trekking holidays

Although the relentless rain of the past few weeks may lead you to believe otherwise, it is actually summer which means that we should be outside enjoying the great outdoors.

This summer, get out on the trail! Image: Flickr/ GuideGunnar - Arctic Norway

Making sure you have quality travel gear is key to a successful summer trekking holiday. And if day hikes are your ambition, then you are going to want to make sure you’ve the best light hiking shoes on your feet.

Resembling chunky running shoes, light hiking shoes are generally synthetic and low cut with flexible midsoles designed to enable you to move at speed on or off trail.

The greatest advantage of hiking shoes is that they weigh less than hiking boots, meaning that less energy is exerted per pace. Here’s more about buying and a selection of the best for 2012.

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Buying Sleeping Systems 1: The Sleeping Bag

Sophie Nicholson    Trekking Gear, trekkingholidays     sleep bags, Sleeping bags, sleeping systems, trekking, Trekking equipment, trekking gear, trekking holidays

At the end of a long day in the outdoors, nothing quite beats the feeling of getting in to a warm, dry and comfy sleeping bag – remember this when buying sleeping systems and you won’t go far wrong! Whether or not you wake up the next day feeling refreshed and ready for another day on the hill can often come down to one thing: your choice of sleeping bag.

Get a good night’s sleep in the mountains. Image: Flickr/ kteague

Get it right and the world is a wonderful place, get it wrong and suddenly everything can descend into an irritable, exhausted and miserable state of affairs.

Here’s more about buying the right sleeping bags.

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Top 10 Treks in Peru

Sophie Nicholson    Top 10s, trekkingholidays     Peru, top 10, trekking, trekking holidays, Trekking in Peru

It’s little wonder that the top ten treks in Peru include some of the best trekking destinations in the world – the Andes Mountains curve like a spine through the country on their way down the back of South America.

Machu Picchu, one of the seven the wonders of the world. Image: Flickr/ leander.canaris

High mountain passes link ancient civilisations of ‘cloud people’ and offer visitors treks at all levels of difficulty.

From the commercial, but still impressive Machu Picchu, to the testing Huayhuash Circuit – expect difficulties and discoveries in this most rewarding landscape. And take good boots!

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Meals for camping trips and trekking holidays

Sophie Nicholson    trekkingholidays     camping trips, meals for camping, meals for camping trips, trekking, trekking holidays

Whether you’re heading out into the hills for one night or for a weeklong adventure, the right meals for camping trips need to be packed with energy, but also need to be super tasty.

Meals always taste great at the campsite. Image: Flickr/ independentman

Everyone who has been camping for a few years will tell you: the quality of your trip will be directly affected by the food that you bring in your backpack. Fact. And it’s not easy to ration.

Too much and your pack will be unnecessarily and uncomfortably heavy, not enough and blood sugar levels will be as low as your mood; choosing the right quantities and typesof food to take on a trek is as important as selecting appropriate footwear and remembering to pack your waterproofs.

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Trekking in New Zealand: The top 10 routes to try

Sophie Nicholson    Top 10s, trekkingholidays     Hiking New Zealand, New Zealand, trekking, trekking holidays, trekking in New Zealand

Anyone with an adventurous bone in their body and a love for the outdoors must have considered trekking in New Zealand. It’s got to be one of the most challenging and diverse adventure destinations on the planet.

Walking The Routeburn Trek. Image: Flickr/ Or Hiltch

Trekking here will take you to both islands; to the peaks of volcanic giants; around cavernous valleys, deep-filled with the darkest of waters; and to sandy shores loved by surfers and travellers alike.

You should definitely do your research before you go, and plan routes that are achievable based on your experience and ability. Here are 10 of the best to consider before you lace up your boots.

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Trekking Boots: New models for 2012

Sophie Nicholson    Trekking Gear, trekkingholidays     hiking boots, trekking boots, Trekking equipment, trekking gear, trekking holidays, Walking boots

When buying trekking boots ask yourself, “what are they for?” Trekking can be anything from a weekend wander to a holiday in Nepal, complete with ascent to Everest base camp.

Choose boots that fit your feet and your journey. Image: Flickr/ mckaysavage.

I say this as, realistically, your trekking boots may serve as your weekend walking boots, and only the most dedicated of us own 2-3 pairs.

Key things to look for if you are new to trekking are the ratings (2/3/4 season),the materials (leather or synthetic) and of course the price.

Read on to find the  best trekking boots on the shelves – and on the hills – in 2012. And never, ever buy boots based just on what you read online: Try them on first!

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