Take a hike!

The summer has gone. Yippee!
At last, we can have the hike without the heatstroke. But hiking isn't just about getting out and about. It's also about getting out and collecting the clobber.

Surprisingly hiking is quite popular, everywhere. Maybe because it is an activity so close to walking -— although we don't hike to Starbucks, hike to the train station, or hike across the road. A lot of Canadians, for example, have backpacks, and almost everyone wears shoes made specifically for walking.

The difference between walking and hiking may be all the shops that are dedicated to hiking, not walking. Walking doesn't have as many cool accessories as hiking, which wouldn't look that cool if you used them and were actually only walking.

A pack on your back is the most fun to pack, especially the Gregory G Pack. It has rather snappily named straps, and when you tug on them, the Wraptor Stabilzers will suck the pack in until it moulds into your lower back for long-time hiking support. It also has deep mesh pouches, super-simple tool attachments, and snack pockets on the hip-belt. www.gregorypacks.com. You could put your Marathon bars in them! www.snickers.com.

Another top contender for backpacking fun is the EMS Summit TL Rucksack. Its secret weapon would have to be the thin, yet firm, foam hip-belt, which contours closely around your hips. Its width is also to not sag during long sessions out in the bush land. There's a handy stiff “shove-it in” panel for anything you may want to shove in, a fleece-lined sunnies case, and the list goes on. Shove on. www.ems.com.

On your feet you will need some Salomon GCS Pro low-tops. They are hot to trot with a Ground Control system that protects feet with a cushion that repositions itself with four floating springs during direct and indirect impacts, from below or the side. The sole is full of grip and the one-pull lace system keeps your feet snug and secure, and pretty cool. www.salomonsports.com.

Teko socks are friendly to the environment to an almost obsessive extent. The by-product of the washing process is something called pure oxygen. The plant that manufactures them buys renewable energy from wind power plants. Every sock gets environmentally tested in Europe, and passes. The packaging is friendly to the environment. And, they are warm, soft, and don't slip. From $10, they're a bargain for you and the world. Well done, Teko. www.tekosocks.com.

One day you're gonna get caught with your pants down, and after a day or five of hiking that's not a welcome sight what with all the scratchiness, smelliness, and dampness going on. Patagonia have made a name for themselves since the mid-80s through their introduc- tion of Capilene, a material that's sweat free, quick to dry and durable. And now they have T-shirts. www.patagonia.com.

Smith Sliders are the name of some hot sunnies that will absorb sweat, survive huge falls, resist scratching, and come with three different lens colours. They'll protect you from wind and dirt, and by the sounds of it, are much more resilient than you when it comes to hiking. www.smithoptics.com.

Something else that can protect you from the elements is a two-person tent that MSR has released. It's roomy, lightweight, and sees you through three seasons. The interior is 30 square-feet which is roomy enough to stop you and your buddy bumping heads, unless it's a beautiful night. It has two doors and when you open them no rain will drip despite the mesh canopy, which gives you lots of ventilation. Best of all, it's called Hubba Hubba. www.msrgear.com.

If the night is indeed beautiful, you could go for a spot of boating. Grab a paddle and open a whole new world of backcountry exploration. Alpacka rafts are lightweight and nimble in wet situations, sturdy and quite comfortable. You can drag them over rocks or pop them into the river for some backwater fishing. It's also fun. www.alpackaraft.com.

Everyone knows the joy of a stick that won't bend or break, even after arduous hours of trekking or mastering rocky terrain. A snapped stick is a useless stick. So many hikey-people rely on the Makalu series. A slow heating process makes the shaft practically unbreakable, and the sticky concave tips and grips make this pole a comfort even after all-day use. www.leki.com.

For more advice, check out:
• www.rei.com for cookware • www.humanedgetech.com for technology
• www.climbhigh.com for shoes • www.orgear.com for sombreros
• www.thenorthface.com for everything

Text: Jared Olthof