Germany Camping And Hiking Equipment

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

Sleeping Bags: Most sleeping bags are rated by season: “summer” is designed for nightime temperatures of 30-40°F (around 0°C); “4-season” or “winter” often means below 0°F (-17°C). Bags are made of down (warm and light, but expensive, and miserable when wet) or of synthetic material (heavy, durable, and warm when wet). Prices range US$50-250 for a summer synthetic to US$200-300 for a good down winter bag. Sleeping bag pads include foam pads (US$10-30), air mattresses (US$15-50), and self-inflating mats (US$30-120). 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. Low-profile dome tents are the best all around. Worthy 2-person tents start at US$100, 4-person tents at US$160. Make sure your tent 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 merits 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. 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), bring a heavy duty trash bag, 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, and a pile jacket 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. Plastic water bottles are vital; look for shatter- and leak-resistant models. 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 (including virtually every organized campground in Europe) that forbid fires or the gathering of firewood, you’ll need a camp stove (starts at US$50) and a propane fuel bottle to operate it. Also bring a first-aid kit, pocketknife, insect repellent, and waterproof matches or a lighter.