Essential Equipment and Planning for Outdoor Activities

Having been raised in California, I was completely spoiled by the year-round exquisite weather.There was more than plenty of time for activities on a daily basis. Whether we felt like hiking, running, or camping, it was always the right time of the year. Most people kept top quality equipment around because the opportunities to use it were so plentiful. However, this was not the case at all if you were from the Midwest.


People from the Midwest know that the warm months are few and far between, because of our brisk autumns, and our mind-numbing, cold winters. This cuts the time you can spend outside comfortably, by at least half. More specifically, the prime of the outdoor activity season ranges from April to September. Unfortunately, even this abbreviated time frame is a best-case scenario. Given that great weather could last an even shorter span of time, it is essential to make the most of the limited season.

Great Place to Set Up to Optimize Breeze and View

When looking for the proper activity consider how much time you'll have, and what the temperature will be like for the duration of your planned activity. Aside from trying to plan your activities for peak hours, also, try to get a feel for what the extended forecast is going to be like. There is no point, for instance, in planning a week-long camping trip when a heat wave will be arriving in one day. Your trip will be miserable and you will probably end up returning home after 7 hours, let alone 7 days. So, to avoid problems like this, realize that all outdoor activities start with the weather.


Too often, we get so used to our climate controlled-bubbles that we don't realize that the weather doesn't operate on our clocks or on our schedules. Therefore, to enjoy the most out of your planned hiking, travelling, baseball games, or barbecues understand this main thought. 


Once you're planned your activity for the corresponding weather, take a look at what you'll need. For example, if you've decided on camping, you will need a great tent to protect yourself from elements of moisture and wind. In my last post, I talked about the basic essentials, so now I will try to focus on the often overlooked but entirely necessary pieces of equipment.


Apart from a durable tent, and great, top-of-the-line clothing, you should look into collapsible, folding chairs. This may sound obvious, but at least 50% of people who go camping forget to bring usable chairs. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you are out, enjoying nature you will have no place to sit, but inside your tent, which can be burning hot during the middle of the day. Your other option is to sit on a well-positioned log or something along those lines.

Another thing to consider in terms of camping gear is your portable stove. Once you have your high-quality clothes, tents, and chairs you have to pay attention to the stove because it will dictate how you eat, and potentially start a fire, to stay warm. So, if you are interested in cooking the food you catch such as fish, or food you don't catch, like beans, you are going to need a sustainable sense of fire! Make sure you look into high-quality stoves that won't let you down in your most dire hour of need! Until next time, friends, be sure to stay safe out there!