Last week we covered what to bring for your dogs whilst out adventuring, but its important that you come prepared too! Read on to find the essential items we suggest you bring or keep in your hiking bag at all times, and seasonal or optional items, depending on the time of year you are exploring!
The Essentials
Plenty of water
It's always a good idea to bring plenty of water with you whenever out and about on an adventure. Depending on the season, and time of day you attempt your adventures, a good rule of thumb is to bring at least 1.5 litres per person, especially in the summer.
If its particularly hot, you may want to pack a sports drink with electrolytes too.
A good pair of hiking or stream trekking shoes
If you're going to be a regular explorer, we HIGHLY recommend you invest in a decent pair of hiking shoes or stream trekking shoes for your adventures. This can make all the difference on your travels and save you from a bruised bum - and ego!
Although there are plenty of stream trekking shoes available out there - and you can almost never go wrong with brands such as Salomon or Five Ten - we use the Canyon or Jungle shoes from TropicFeel, which have served us well in all of our water-based adventures. They provide good grip, drain water well and they are made from recycled materials, which is a nice added bonus. If you're just starting out, however, can find affordable hiking or water shoes at Decathlon too.
A hiking or dry bag
It's not a bad idea to invest in a comfortable hiking bag for your adventures. If you know you will be encountering quite a bit of water on your travels - be it a day at the beach, kayaking or a stream trek - it's a good idea to store your essentials in a dry bag for extra peace of mind. That way you can splash and frolic to your heart's content. If out in open water, we suggest wearing your dry bag in the front - if you trap enough air in it (and depending on the size) it should provide some buoyancy. Decathlon have a variety of dry bags available, ranging in size and price ($99 - $875)
A map
It's not uncommon for poor telephone reception the further out you go, so we would advise ensuring that you know the lay of the land before setting out on your travels.
You can either purchase a physical map to have on hand (available from the Lands Department) or make sure you download an offline version from a hiking app, such as AllTrails.
Portable charger
Don't lie, we all take a hundred photos of our dogs (and the scenery) when out exploring, and that can sometimes drain our battery.
On top of ensuring your phone is fully charged before you head out, pack a portable charger as well to ensure you never run out and find yourself in a spot of trouble.
Torch or headlamp
Even if you aren't prepping for a night hike, it's safe to keep a headlamp or torch in your hiking bag in the event you ever misjudge a walk and end up needing to hike back in the dark.
Comfortable, fast-drying clothing
Whether you're out on a hike during the winter months, or have a day of water activities planned, we advise wearing fast-drying or sweat-wicking clothes on your adventures. If you're coasteering, we advise some leggings as opposed to loose clothing or shorts, to avoid snagging on rocks, and to provide protection against potential scraps and abrasions. The biggest issue with improper clothing whilst out adventuring is chaffing when wet, and then sitting in wet clothing in the taxi ride home - which brings us to our next point....
Spare clothes and a towel
If like us, you never know where your adventures may take you, it's always a good idea to pack a spare change of clothes and a towel so that you and the dog aren't sat shivering in the car ride home. Even if you don't think you and the pup will end up getting into any water, it's still a good idea to have a small towel to hand just so you can pat yourselves down or mop away sweat.
Life Vest or other Safety Device
Last, but definitely not least - if you're out coasteering or know you may potentially need to swim in open water, we highly recommend you get yourself a life vest or safety device to make you sure you are visible in the water, and have that extra layer of safety, in the event you get tired. We don't care if you used to swim for your high school, college - or heck, even the country - accidents happen all the time, and with so many external factors at play whenever you're out adventuring, it's just always better to be safe than sorry. Decathlon has this great compact life vest for only $319, and it clips onto your dry bag easily, so you don't have to worry about carrying it when you're done.
Seasonal
Sunscreen and hat
Chances are it's a warm day (- let's face it, when is it not warm in Hong Kong?)
Even if you've planned a day by the water or a walk with some shade, those UV rays can be a killer so it's always best to come prepared with a little protection - If you'll be getting into the water lots, try to grab some organic stuff so none of those nasty chemicals wash off into the water.
Mosquito Repellent
Mosquitoes aren't much of an issue during the cooler months, however, for three-quarters of the year they can pose quite a problem, which is why we recommend keeping a can of mozzie spray or some other form of mosquito repellent in your hiking bag, to keep the mozzies at bay.
Raincoat
During the summer months, the rain can be a bit more unpredictable so we like to keep a lightweight, portable raincoat in our backpack for emergencies.
Gloves
If out on a trek that requires scrambling or coasteering, you'll often need to resort to using your hands on hot, rocky surfaces, so a pair of gloves could save your hands from abrasions. But this is down to personal preference, so only do so if the gloves fit (pun intended).
Not sure what to pack for your dog?
We have an article for that too! Click on the image below for more!
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