# Ten Essentials for Hiking Kit - Why is this so hard to find? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697 "2021-04-09T19:38:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697/41 "2021-04-12T10:05:19Z")
I would never burn a map. As for a fire starter, try pocket fluff. Looking at the answers here, the essentials vary according to how remote the area that you are going to is, and what kind of terrain it is, and how long you will be there.These days there are a number of options that simply did not exist in the past, such as GPS, cell phones and radios, and they make life much easier. Another thing is that if it is a group then not everybody needs a phone, for example. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697/43 "2021-05-09T17:32:47Z")
> [@phxjcc](#): > > I DON’T want GPS, an altimeter watch, a t-bone steak dinner for 12… So just put you own kit together with what YOU want. It can be as small, as comprehensive, as customized as you want. Then start selling 'em! :~) eta: DIdn’t realize this was a month old thread, but really, Lancia’s list is worth reading again… ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697/44 "2021-05-09T18:10:21Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > I would never burn a map. As for a fire starter, try pocket fluff. I keep a box of all my paper roadmaps in my vehicle when I travel. Pretty sure if I’m going to Wisconsin I don’t need the New Hampshire map and wouldn’t hesitate to burn it in a true survival situation. It’s not the map I need for where I am/where I’m going. Of course, we were discussing hiking, not driving, which involves different levels of carrying stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697/45 "2021-05-09T18:35:46Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Again, if you are in flat geography where you can reliably get four or more satellite signals, a smartphone can navigate with reliable precision. Now, try doing that in an Arizona slot canyon or along the Lost Coast Trail. I recall hiking up Bright Angel a few years ago at Grand Canyon and all of these people frustrated and amazed that they couldn’t get cell signal or reliable GPS because they’re in a crack a mile below the mean surface level where half of the aspect of the horizon is covered by canyon wall. The notion that you need to be in “flat geography” for GPS to be effective is just not true. GPS satellite coverage is very good - you must literally be in a deep narrow _slot_ canyon to lose GPS. There’s nowhere like that on the Bright Angel trail, there’s nowhere like that in 99.9% of place people will be hiking. Just generally being in the mountains (or in most of the Grand Canyon a mile below the surrounding plateau) rarely causes any significant problem. Cite: among many other places, I have \>150 nights in the Grand Canyon backcountry, including some very remote places. Phone GPS chips are just as effective at resolving position as dedicated GPS devices, and the screen is better. Of course, you do need to understand how to use them. You need to optimize the settings for battery life without cell reception. And you need to use an app like Gaia and download maps for offline usage for the relevant area beforehand. Running GPS continuously depletes the battery quite fast, so a phone is not suitable for continuous tracking over multiple days unless you carry some means to recharge it. But I use my phone for an occasional position check only, for taking photos and for backup notes on route beta and pdf maps, and I get 7-10 days from a charge. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697/46 "2021-05-09T18:54:17Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Running GPS continuously depletes the battery quite fast, so a phone is not suitable for continuous tracking over multiple days unless you carry some means to recharge it. Seconded. I learned this (almost the hard way) whilst hiking with my phone and a trail app in New Mexico. I decided to take a different route down the mountain than up, less of a straight shot, more of a winding path (easier on the feet/ankles). Not only did I lose the trail as there was still accumulated snow on that side of the mountain, plus felled trees from a fire in a preceding year, my phone died some time after I decided to press on in spite of losing the trail visually. Fortunately, I had a compass and a general notion of the cardinal direction I needed to go to pick up other landmarks that would guide me back to my car. So, while I do now have an extra battery pack to recharge my phone, I always recommend a compass, coupled with a general comprehension of which direction is “safe.” I also have a whistle attached to my compass via a key chain if it should come to that. Haven’t had to use that yet… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-essentials-for-hiking-kit-why-is-this-so-hard-to-find/939697.md?page=2)