A good trip starts before you set foot on the trail.
Hiking doesn't have to be complicated. You can head out on a day trip with minimal gear, whereas on an overnight trip, the importance of the right tent, sleeping bag, and other equipment quickly increases.
The most important thing is to choose the right equipment, taking into account the trip, the conditions, and your own experience. You don’t have to own everything – and you don’t have to bring everything.
Plan your trip according to the conditions
Start with three questions:
Where am I going? For how long? In what kind of conditions?
A day trip on Ounasvaara, a week-long hike in the fells, and a winter night in a tent all require completely different gear. The experience and physical condition of your hiking party also affect the suitability of a route. Suomen Latu recommends considering the route, available time, terrain, and the abilities of the hikers when planning.
Before leaving, check at least the weather, route, distances, conditions, and any potential local restrictions.
What to pack for a day trip?
For a trip of a few hours, you usually manage with fairly minimal gear. However, depending on the weather and the season, you should at least have appropriate clothing and footwear, something to drink and eat, a phone, navigation tools, and a small first-aid kit. In winter, add items like a warm drink, a headlamp, and sufficient break clothing.
Don't pack everything imaginable "just in case" – but don't compromise on safety to save weight.
What about overnight trips?
On an overnight trip, three things are emphasized:
Shelter. Warmth. Sleep.
You need a shelter suitable for the conditions, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad that provides sufficient insulation from the ground. In addition, you need cooking equipment, food and water, a change of clothes, first-aid supplies, and other necessary gear based on the trip.
When choosing a tent, don't just look at the capacity. Consider the season, wind, rain, destination, required storage space, and how far you need to carry the tent.
Hiking pack or daypack?
A daypack is usually enough for a day trip. When you add a tent, sleeping bag, food, and gear for several days, you need a properly fitting hiking backpack.
A good backpack transfers some of the weight from your shoulders to your hips. Pack the heaviest items close to your back and keep the gear you need during the day easily accessible. Especially your sleeping bag and other gear that needs to stay dry should be carefully protected from moisture.
Winter trips require more
In winter, small mistakes easily turn into big problems.
Dress in layers and pay special attention to protecting your fingers, toes, and head. For sleeping, you need a tent suitable for winter conditions, a sufficiently warm sleeping bag, and a well-insulating sleeping pad. A pulk is a good alternative to a backpack.
You shouldn't rely solely on your phone, either. Freezing temperatures drain the battery, and there may not be mobile coverage in wilderness areas. A map and compass are essential for longer trips, and on more remote expeditions, a GPS device or satellite messenger can be extremely useful.
You don't need to buy everything for just one trip
You don't have to build your own stockpile of gear for your first night in a tent or a week-long hike in Lapland.
From Getarctic, you can rent, for example, a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, hiking backpack, camping cookware, headlamp, GPS and satellite communication devices, portable power station, pulk, and much more.
Renting is also a great way to try out different high-quality equipment before you decide what you really need to own.
Not sure what you need? Ask us.
Tell us where you are going, when, for how long, and how many people are in your party. We will help you choose the right gear for your trip from Getarctic’s selection.
You don't need to know about tent structures, sleeping bag temperature ratings, or sleeping pad R-values in advance.
We know the gear – you decide where you want to go.