5 Ways to Get Most Out of Your BackCountry Gear Chuck Fitzgerald ©2004. All Rights Reserved.Time out of doors is a precious commodity to outdoor enthusiast - but are we getting most out of this time. One way to ensure maximum backcountry enjoyment is to get most possible value from gear you acquire and use. Here are 5 ways to get most out of your backcountry gear – and your backcountry experience.
- Purchase best gear you can possibly afford. If you are going to spend a year planning your next excursion on continental divide, spend three months getting into great shape, take three weeks vacation when it’s time for hike, purchase an airline ticket, and so on – then why are you using cheapest backpack you can find? A good backpack will make all difference in world. This applies to all of your backcountry gear. Whether its your GPS unit, sleeping bag, rain gear or dual-fuel portable stove, be sure to carry good equipment in order to get most value for your money. Don’t buy cheap!
- Learn how to use all of your gear correctly and practice using it. When you are completely lost, it’s not time to learn how to navigate with a compass and map. When you and your firewood are wet, it’s not time to learn how to start a fire with flare you’ve been carrying for 5 years in your pack. Take time to learn all of features of your gear. You might be surprised to learn just how useful your GPS really is when you understand how to use backtrack feature. You’ll be mighty thankful when you learn proper weight distribution for your backpack. Take time to learn – practice around your home before you venture into backcountry.