Trekking essentials : Glimpse inside our backpack
Hello all,
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
– Mary Davis
That is what we feel about when we roam in lap of nature. When we started our Sunday excursion, we did not know much about hiking or trekking; at least, I did not. Slowly and steadily, we are learning and getting used to it. The main thing we should remember while trekking or hiking or being outdoor is comfort, comfort, and more comfort.
And for this comfort, it is imperative to have all the right trekking gear, including clothes and shoes.
I have divided it into three sections:
1) Clothes
2) Shoes
3) Other necessities
CLOTHES:
Whether you are going for a stroll in the jungle, a day hike, or a multiday trek, these will be essential aspects. So choose wisely according to the weather and terrain you are going.
Points to consider:
– The most critical aspect of clothing at high altitudes is layers. You can get protection from cold through the number of layers, and you can put on or take off according to the change in weather.
1)The base layer, the first layer against your skin, removes moisture
2) The middle is an insulating layer that keeps you warm
3) The outer layer protects you from snow, wind, and rain.
– Check the terrain you are going. If it is a jungle trail, avoid wearing shorts or half sleeve t-shirts. If going on a mountain, Take multiple thin pull overs rather than single thick Jacket and yes! always carry a puffer jacket, fleece, and a poncho.
– Avoid cotton clothes as cotton retains water and keeps the sweat intact towards your body. Instead, use polyester, nylon, or merino wool.
1) Trek Pants :
I made a mistake in my first Triund trek by wearing jeans. It was not at all comfortable. It might be cold at night, so jeans are a better option, but No! So invest in good trekking pants. Decathlon has amazing trek pants. We have also bought trek pants with fleece linings for all four of us. We usually wear those at night while camping. During the day hike, we wear water-resistant trek pants. I am attaching links for all we are using. We take two regular trek pants and one with fleece linings. Your trek pants should be lightweight, quick dry, and easy to clean. You have to cross the streams, there might be muddy trails in the rainy season, you will sit for lunch, or you want to roll in the bugyals or do snow slides. Your trek pants should resist all these!
We have these:
Kids:
– Regular – https://www.decathlon.in/p/8586203/kids-trousers/kids-hiking-softshell-trouser-mh550-black-7-15-yrs?id=8586203&type=p
– With fleece lining – https://www.decathlon.in/p/8569832/kids-trousers/kids-warm-water-repellent-hiking-trousers-sh100-x-warm-7-15-years?id=8569832&type=p
HRX brand has some amazing rapid dry joggers with bright colours. we have few of those for kids.
For us:
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8588308/women-s-trousers/women-s-hiking-trousers-nh100?id=8588308&type=p
with fleece lining: – https://www.decathlon.in/p/8558721/men-trousers/men-warm-water-repellent-hiking-trousers-sh100-black?id=8558721&type=p
2) T-shirts/shirts as a base layer:
Try to take T-shirts or shirts with merino wool, polyester, or nylon base. Choose short-sleeved or long-sleeved according to season. Again take t-shirts according to the number of days of the trek. Usually, three t-shirts are suitable for any trek, and we take one or two extra for kiddos. It would be best to take T-shirts with a collar and long sleeves to avoid sunburns on the neck and hands. I have a confession: we take cotton t-shirts because kids want some specific t-shirts, and I love cotton. As such, we have done a maximum of four days treks up til now, so it didn’t harm much. But as we increase our days now, we must reconsider our options.
3) Fleece:
Fleeces are a must because they are your best companion for spring or summer hikes as a protective outer or middle layer for a winter hike. We are using basic Decathlon fleece for Sheel and me, and Shaurya and Satva received their fleece as gifts. 
Ours are:
https://www.decathlon.in/p/966430/fleeces-and-pullovers/men-hiking-fleece-mh100?id=966430&type=p
4) Thermals:
They are essential to keep the body warm. Generally, we take thermals only for kids and mostly use them at night. During the day hike, thermals become uncomfortable. We are using jockey thermals (both T-shirts and pants) for them.
5) Sweaters / Hoodie :
Bulky woolen sweaters are a big No-No for a trek. They take up lots of space and are heavy to carry. Instead, use 2-3 more layers. However, for kids, we take one hoodie sometimes. They usually wear those hoodies directly above the t-shirt during some day hikes. In that way, we can avoid fleece and down jackets altogether. Sometimes, I take thin sweaters for versatility and make them my base layer. Light sweaters are also a good option for layering in the winter trek, and you can use them as a second layer between the base layer and fleece.
6) Jacket / Down jacket/ Puffer jacket:
This will be your most important protective outer layer. The most important part is that it should be lightweight, waterproof, windproof, and compact (packable). We have Columbia Omni Heat and Omni Tech jackets for this. Kids have other puffer jackets also, and we use them alternatively. But Columbia ones are lightweight and compact, and they are beneficial in cold weather, and the plus point is they are water resistant. So they are perfect for us. 
7)Windproof / Windcheater:
We haven’t got any windproof jackets yet, so I can’t comment. But we might need one soon.
8) Woolen Cap:
Again a must-buy and essential because body heat exists from the head, so it is imperative to cover your head.
9) Socks:
At least 3-4 pairs of synthetic sports socks with woolen socks for the night.
We usually use these:
10) Undergarments:
11) Gloves:
You need synthetic gloves with extra fleece gloves as an inner layer, mainly if you go for a winter trek. Kids will need two pairs as they want to make a snowman, do snowball fight, and snow slides. So one extra pair for them won’t harm you.
We have these:
12) Raincoat / Poncho:
Again when you are going in the mountain in whatever season, this is a must because the weather is unpredictable in the mountains. We have a compact poncho from Decathlon. It is preferable to take poncho as it covers backpack, easy to fold and carry, and does not hinders our movements.
I got kids’ poncho for just 199 Rs at Decathlon (Kids Waterproof Hiking Jacket MH100 Red). I am not able to find the link for the same.
13) Sun cap / Hat:
This is also compulsory. Because in the mountains, you will get direct sunlight with UV rays directly falling on your head, and you will get headaches and dehydration, leading to acute mountain sickness. We have sun caps with flaps at the neck, which we got from Amazon, which also provides shied in the neck region; in that way, we can avoid collared t-shirts.
https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B08Y6VRYS8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
SHOES:
Again the most important aspect of this will be your comfort. And you also have to look for weather conditions, the duration of your trek, and the type of trail.
We were in a lot of dilemma about shoes. We wanted comfortable shoes with good grip and good ankle support, but at the same time, we didn’t want to pay a huge amount of money for them, as we were not sure how our trekking journey would continue. For kids, we are already on the second pair of Decathlon shoes. So we bought NH 150 for us. Now I will tell you the advantage of these:
- Budget-friendly: If you are unsure how your trekking journey continues, you may not want to spend 10-15k on shoes. And these are relatively budget-friendly for beginners with excellent functions.
- Good ankle support: These shoes provide good ankle support as they are mid-ankle-length shoes. My ankle twisted a little during the Dayara trek, but with the support of these shoes, there was no major injury. The same happened with Sheel during Tungnath’s descent.
- Waterproof : These are waterproof. In our Dzukou Valley trek, we did the entire trek in rain and crossed a few streams, but these shoes have kept our feet dry. So they were totally worth it. Even during Nag Tibba and Tungnath trek, where the snow was up to the ankle, our feet never got wet. And when the outer part got wet, it dried up overnight.
- Shoe grip: And this is the most critical part. They have cross-contact soles, and they are good at maintaining grip. We walked in snow, muddy, and uneven trails and even climbed boulders with these shoes at Gupteshwar Mahadev.
So if you don’t want a dent in your pocket, we can definitely say that you can go for these shoes, and one central plus point is they look so good!
Kids have: SHOES MH120 MID WTP TW GREY; again, I can’t find the link.
Slippers / Trekking sandals:
You will need them at the camping site to move around.
Initially, we had these sandals for kids but now they want slippers or Crocs only as they don’t use sandals while hiking. Sheel also takes slippers.
I take hiking sandals instead of slippers, as sometimes I want to remove shoes and socks and walk when the terrain is paved or there are meadows.
OTHER ESSENTIALS:
1)Sunglasses
2) Headlamp / Torch
3) Toiletries
4) Medicines – click here for the blog.
5) Rain cover for bag
6) Day bag
7) Extra plastic bags – zip locks and a few large ones if clothes are wet.
8) Self-heating warmers – We love them. They are air-activated body warmers that provide heat for appx 8 hours. You can insert them in sleeping bags, your jacket pocket, or your shoes and gloves. We use this:
https://www.amazon.in/WARMEE-Hand-Warmers-Variety-Pairs/dp/B077XX3PXK/ref=sr_1_6?crid=BEIGUDMG12P7&keywords=warmee&qid=1681646404&sprefix=warm%2Caps%2C359&sr=8-6
9) Last but not least – Trekking pole
trekking pole is a blessing in the Himalayan trek. It is a must gear for any trekker. And for beginners like us, they are a boon. They give excellent flexibility during climbing and incredible support while descending. They reduce your effort by almost half. They also decrease the strain on your knee. We have four trekking poles. Satva usually doesn’t use so I always have two, which is perfect. So I plan to get two more because Shaurya wants two poles while descending.
As I mentioned, we were unsure about our journey, so I got the most basic trekking poles from Decathlon: (https://www.decathlon.in/p/8807204/forclaz/hiking-pole-mt100-blue?id=8807204&type=p ), and we are happy with it.
Though people say it is not firm and the grip could be better, it works for us.
I plan to get ( https://www.decathlon.in/p/8493720/forclaz/1-ultra-compact-trekking-pole-mt900-black?id=8493720&type=p ) or (https://www.decathlon.in/p/8379457/summer-collection/anti-shock-mountain-hiking-pole-500-grey?id=8379457&type=p ) for our next trek.
So these are our trekking essentials. I have yet to mention bags and a few requirements for drinking water, and I may post it in a separate post.
If I have missed anything, please add it in the comments. And if you are using any of these and share your views also. This is not a sponsored post, but as you can see, all our trekking items are from Decathlon’s lowest or economic ranges. And we are incredibly comfortable and happy using them.
Attaching the checklist of the same.
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That’s it.
See you next week.
Kajal.
Super awesome guide to trekking essentials.
descriptive and with links. Very very useful. Thank you Kajal for writing this blog.
Thanks dear…
A very useful first hand guidance for those who are keen to trek with kids . 👍🏼.
Thank you so much dear..
Thanks a ton kaajal,for the small tips to be taken,yes badly needed as was confused to take which shoes to involve….keep it up…thanks again Safarwithsasha…
Thank you Meetadidi…
Thank you so much for such a compact and to the point post…needed it the most…indeed helpful…
Thank you. We were also confused for the first few times so thought this might need help people like us. We are also in our learning phase.