How To Choose Survival Backpack For The Environment
How To Choose Survival Backpack For The Environment
Longer trips into the wilderness require significantly more preparation and precaution and a standard backpack will usually not be suitable to long hikes through potentially extreme conditions. However, when choosing a survival backpack, the area in which the trip will occur needs to be considered as equipment for cold weather will differ from a survival backpack needed in hot climates.
In extremely cold weather, the hiker will want to carry additional food and clothing that is amenable to the hostile surroundings. One of the biggest threats to winter survival is become wet or exposed to long periods of high wind. The survival backpack used in the cold will need to be large enough to accommodate a tent, windbreak and additional equipment to supply heat inside the tent. Many folks hiking in the extremely cold elements will also find a need for additional food and water.
With many believing that eating snow will stave off the need to carry water, eating snow can drop the body temperature to dangerous levels and is highly recommended that snow be melted before drinking the resulting liquid. A camp stove carried in the survival backpack can be used for this, as well as supply heat inside the tent or behind a windbreak shelter.
Hot Weather Hiking Requires Different Tact
Long hikes through hot areas, such as desserts or in the rainforests provide opportunities far different from cold weather areas. Many believe that less clothing is needed in the heat and forget that exposed skin will burn quickly under extreme weather conditions. They will also need to have a shelter available in their survival backpack to keep the sun off them during exceptionally hot days.
Water is needed more frequently on hot weather hikes and carrying a sufficient quantity to provide hydration can make for a heavy load. Carrying a filtration system in a survival backpack can help eliminate some of the extra weight, and some water bottles use a battery-powered system to remove bacteria and other contaminates from drinking water. However, the survival backpack should have readily accessible places in which to fit treated water for frequent need.
The materials making up a survival backpack also need to be lightweight and water proof to preserve the materials being transported. Even in hot weather the survival backpack has the chance of becoming wet and should be made of a material that will quickly shed its moisture and dry to keep it from becoming damaged by mold or fungus.