Are The 10 Essentials Really Essential?
Backpacker magazine had an article about a study that questioned whether a hiker needed to bring the 10 essentials of hiking with them to have a safe hike.
This was a smart article choice from the editors of Backpacker because it generated a lot of debate in the community. And that debate means this article got more eyeballs.
If you are not familiar with the 10 essentials of hiking, these are the 10 items you should carry with you whenever you go on a hike, whether it's a day hike or a backpacking trip.
The essentials are:
Clothing
Rain Gear
Water
Headlamp
Firestarter
A single-walled steel vessel to boil water in
Shelter
Navigation
First-Aid Kit
Bug Spray / Sunscreen
Many people also include a knife, paracord, a whistle, and an orange bandana to this list.
Read on to see my response
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