Your outdoor gear can be as simple or complex as you want it to be

From pocket knives to backpacks, outdoor gear comes in a dizzying array of styles and prices. How do you know what's best for you? Information is the answer. The more you can learn before you select and buy your outdoor gear, the more the equipment will suit your needs and serve you well on your outdoor adventures.

Take something as simple as a pocket knife, which can be single- or multi-bladed. Do you need a variety of blades when you're in the backcountry? Do you need the blade to lock securely into the handle when it's open? What should the handle be made of? Should the blade have a serrated or straight edge? How do you sharpen it? That bargain knife with the non-serrated, non-locking blade and smooth plastic handle might be a bad choice if you're an avid fisherman who's scaling and filleting that wet, slippery trout. Your pocket knife should be a carefully-chosen piece of outdoor gear. If a small tool like a pocket knife can have so many features, imagine what the case is for larger, more expensive equipment.

Consider the backpack, a critically important piece of outdoor gear. Depending on the your height, the type of trekking you want to do and the weight of the load you plan carry, you'll need to decide whether to choose an internal or external frame. There are women-specific backpacks with narrower frames for a better fit. Sized for tall, short or average-sized wearers, backpacks come in various heights. Which fabric is better - nylon or polyester? Do gel-filled shoulder straps add to the comfort of carrying the pack? Something as simple as easy-to-access external pockets for multiple water bottles can make you either love your backpack when they work or hate it when they don't.

Choose your outdoor gear carefully. Learn as much as you can before buying and chances are you'll be better-equipped for those outdoor adventures.

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About The Author:

Rita Liotta is a successful author and publisher at www.1st-at-camping-gear.com.  Recommending camping equipment, tents, backpacks, GPS, binoculars, sleeping bags, hiking boots, camping stoves, containers, water purifiers, compasses, topographical maps, pocket knives & hammocks
18-04-04