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Packing for an one day hiking trip to a week long backpacking trip can be both fun and intimidating. Both offer an excuse to go out and buy the latest and greatest backing packing toys while at the same time forcing decisions between what's essential and what's not. But as the Boy Scouts always say, it's better to "Be Prepared"!

When packing for a trip to the outdoors it is imperative to bring your 10 Essentials, no matter if its a brief stroll through the woods or a trek through the Appalachians. These essentials are what you bring along with all the other items that you need for your trip (so it doesn't include a tent or sleeping bag), they are intended to be items that should you get lost in wilderness, are the 10 items that you would need to survive.

The 10 Essentials are:

1) Pocketknife/ Multitool. A pocketknife is useful because allows you to make tinder for a fire in the case that you get lost and wet. In addition it's great for cutting rope down to size in the even that you need to tie knots or throw something together. If you are interested in looking for a good multitool (knifes that also have pliers, scissors, and a variety of other useful things) I suggest looking into places like REI and Cabelas. These sites offer reputable brands such as Leatherman and Gerber.

2) First Aid Kit. While having a first aid kit is essential the knowledge of what to do with it and how to use it is infinitely more useful. Before embarking upon a trip make sure that you know how to use the things and are familiar with administering first aid. Things that you should have in your first aid kit should include Band-Aids, Neosporin (or some other disinfectant),Tylenol, Ace bandages, and if you have space a Sam Splint.

3) Extra Clothing. Should you get by a freak rain storm or all into a river during that river crossing, extra clothing is both useful and necessary. Instead of getting chilled by the wet clothes next to your body, the extra clothes allow you to switch out from wet to dry, preventing hypothermia and making you a happier, warmer person in general.

4) Flashlight / Extra Batteries. A good headlamp or flashlight can go a long way when the sun sinks behind the mountains. Illuminating the path in front of you can help avoid hazards and keep you safer as you plod your way into the night. In general I prefer headlamps to handheld flashlights as they are one less thing to hold in your hand and risk dropping, in addition they online shine in the direction that you are looking,

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