Israel Camping And Hiking Equipment

Good camping equipment is both sturdy and light. North American suppliers tend to offer the most competitive prices.

Sleeping bags: Temperature ratings can be misleading; err on the side of being too warm by choosing a bag for the highest altitude and the coldest night of your trip. Bags are made of down (durable, warm, and light, but expensive, and miserable when wet) or of synthetic material (heavy, durable, and warm when wet). Prices range from US$70-200 for a summer synthetic to US$200-400 for a good down winter bag. Sleeping bag pads include foam pads (US$30-80), air mattresses (US$30-90), and self-inflating mats (US$60-120). Bring a stuff sack to store your bag and keep it dry.
Tents: The best tents are freestanding (with their own frames and suspension systems), set up quickly, and only require staking in high winds. A-frame and dome tents are the best all around. Worthy 2-person tents start at US$150, 4-person tents at US$200. Make sure yours has a rain fly and seal its seams with waterproofer. Other useful accessories include a battery-operated lantern, a plastic ground cloth, and a nylon tarp.
Backpacks: Internal-frame packs mold well to your back, keep a lower center of gravity, and flex adequately to allow you to hike difficult trails, while external-frame packs are more comfortable for long hikes over even terrain, as they carry weight higher and distribute it more evenly. Make sure your pack has a strong, padded hip belt to transfer weight to your legs. There are models designed specifically for women. Any serious backpacking requires a pack of at least 4000 cu. in. (16,000cc), plus 500 cu. in. for sleeping bags in internal-frame packs. Sturdy backpacks cost anywhere from US$125 to US$420—your pack is an area where it doesn’t pay to economize. On your hunt for the perfect pack, fill up prospective models with something heavy, strap it on correctly, and walk around the store to get a sense of how the model distributes weight. Either buy a rain cover (US$10-20) or store all of your belongings in plastic bags inside your pack.
Boots: Be sure to wear hiking boots with good ankle support. They should fit snugly and comfortably over 1-2 pairs of wool socks and a pair of thin liner socks. Break in boots over several weeks before you go to spare yourself blisters.
Other necessities: Synthetic layers, like those made of polypropylene or polyester, will keep you warm even when wet. A space blanket (US$5-15) will help you to retain body heat and doubles as a ground cloth. Water bottles are vital; look for metal ones that are shatter- and leak-resistant. Carry water-purification tablets for when you can’t boil water. Although most campgrounds provide campfire sites, you may want to bring a small metal grate or grill. For those places that forbid fires, you’ll need a camp stove (starts at US$50) and a propane-filled fuel bottle to operate it. Also bring a first-aid kit, pocketknife, insect repellent, and waterproof matches or a lighter.