Hiking & Camping

What equipment is needed for hiking and backpacking?

Hiking and camping are leisure activities accessible to anyone. They allow to breath fresh air, be in nature, marvel at nature and admire landscapes. While not a lot of equipment is required to have fun, a minimum in still necessary. Obviously, when going on 2 or 3h hikes, one does not need the same things as for a multi-day backpacking trip. Therefore, Glisshop has selected various types of gear corresponding to the needs of everyone, ranging from hiking shoes to hiking backpacks and trekking poles, tents, sleeping bags and everything needed to cook while camping. Everything to satisfy those you enjoy hiking, camping, nature and adventure!

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camping and trekking equipment buying guide

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camping and trekking equipment buying guide

What is the required equipment for trekking?

For hiking, the most essential item is a good pair of hiking boots. Well yes, when hiking our feet are put to the test, therefore it is important not to overlook this fundamental piece of kit. Low or high tops, leather or synthetic materials, ventilated or closed: several possibilities are available to you. Once the appropriate shoes have been found, think about the rest of the equipment. Do you have hiking clothes ensuring the required freedom of movement and comfort? Do you need a pair of trekking poles to offer more confidence and support? Do you have a comfortable and ergonomic backpack with enough capacity for your intended usage? Have you thought about all the minor hassles that could occur? Anticipate accidents by packing the required items in terms of health and hygiene .

How to organize your camp?

Sleeping under a tent suited to my needs

Before choosing my tent, I have to answer a few questions. What is my budget, should I favour lightweight equipment, how many persons have to sleep under the tent, do I need one particularly fast to set up? All these questions will help to better define my needs. Discover all our camping tents.

A sleeping bag adapted to the temperatures

Manufacturers offer sleeping bags with various insulation levels, enabling you to be comfortable no matter the weather conditions you will be camping in. For each bag, manufacturers generally give a comfort temperature rating along with a minimum temperature rating. Pick the most suitable bag, to spend a good night but above all to avoid being in danger (in the advent of a night in really cold temperatures). Discover our sleeping bags.

In addition to the sleeping bag, several sleeping accessories can be selected to benefit from an even more restorative sleep: an inflatable mat (the famous Karrimat), a liner, an inflatable pillow.

What kind of food for camping?

The pleasure of camping is also, being able to improvise a nice meal on a stove or around a campfire. If you have prepared it beforehand, peacefully at home, it is even more practical. The meal should be light to carry on your back all day and easy to set up once the camp is installed. Some ingredients and recipes are particularly suited to bivouacs: dehydrated soups or mashed potatoes, rice or even couscous for the meal, cereal bars or dried fruits as a snack, muesli for breakfast, etc. You will find on the internet numerous recipes and a lots of advice to prepare meals for your camp.

To summarize, here is a list of the essential equipment for camping

You are new to camping and are wondering what equipment and accessories you will need to camp? What are the important elements to check in your equipment before departure? Here is a list of the essential items that will constitute your camping equipment:

A shelter: generally, a tent.
Something to sleep: at least a sleeping bag, can be completed by a sleeping mat, a liner, etc.
Some lighting: a fully charged headlamp is the bare minimum!
Something to stay clean: from the humble toilet paper roll to the solar shower, with the soap/water bottle combination in between, hygiene options for your needs are yours to pick.
Drinking and eating: water, a stove, a lighter, utensils and some ingredients. The minimum for a well deserved feast.
Medical supplies: sterile gloves, disinfectant, gauze, plasters, scissors, tic removal tool, sunscreen, etc. Make sure to pack at least what is needed to tend to small wounds.
Navigation: a map of the area, a compas, a GPS, … Be prepared and have on you something to locate yourself once there.
Clothing: take the appropriate shoes and clothes depending on the expected weather conditions.
Something to call in case of emergency: a fully charged phone is a safety item which it would be foolish to do without.
Something to carry all this equipment: a good backpack with an ergonomic design and a capacity suited to your gear.

This list is not exhaustive, it is a minimum. Depending on your wishes, your needs, your experience, the duration of your adventure, you can make additions to this equipment. A survival blanket, water filters, a more comprehensive first aid kit, a solar charger, binoculars, a camera, it’s up to you!

How to bivouac in France?

The proper bivouac, is the one done in the middle of nature. Unfortunately (or fortunately, to avoid further degradations of wild areas), the French law does not allow to set up your tent anywhere. Here is the list of places where wild camping is forbidden:

On the coast,
in listed, classified or pending classification sites,
in protected areas,
in the field of view of a classified building or within 500 meters of a classified building.*

*buildings classified as historic monuments, parks classified or listed and which have been the subject of a preservation perimeter, as well as in areas of architectural and heritage promotion or, where they are still existent, in areas of architectural, urban and landscape heritage preservation. According to article R111-33 of decree n° 2015-1783 of 28 December 2015.

With these rules the real question is not “where is it possible to wild camp or bivouac?” But rather “where is it forbidden to wild camp or bivouac?”

What is the difference between wild camping and bivouacking?

Be aware that some sites make the distinction between wild camping and bivouacking.

Bivouac is used by hikers to find shelter and rest during the night before leaving once the day comes. It is generally done with a light tent and requires a minimal setup. Wild camping is different, as it can involve coming with a car, camping van or motorhome, a more substantial installation and therefore a possible alteration of the site ensuing the stay of the campers.

Taking this distinction into account, some places forbid wild camps but allow bivouacs. It is for example the case of numerous French national and regional parks. Find more about the local laws before setting off for your adventure!

Advice, rules and tips for a successful bivouac

To succeed in your bivouac (or wild camp), find the right spot and adopt the appropriate behaviour!

Before going:

Find out about the rules applying in the area in question.
Check the weather reports to avoid being under a heavy rain or thunderstorm.
Check your equipment.

The appropriate behaviour:

Try to be as little intrusive as possible: pick a discreet location, ask for permission from the landowner if you are on privately own grounds, arrive late and leave early, stay only one night at the same place.
Minimize your installation to minimize your impact.
Before going to sleep, make sure that nothing that could be carried by the wind is left. To avoid attracting animals, clean up and store your kitchen equipment, and hide your food securely.
Before leaving, eliminate all traces of your passage, leaving the place cleaner than before your arrival if need be.

The good spot:

Choose safety over beauty.
Is sheltered from wind. Is far from any cultivated area (avoiding the visit from a combine harvester at 5 am), far from a water stream (avoiding mosquitoes), not a place where animals come (avoiding excrements and tics).
Is located on a flat surface, a comfortable ground, without any branches and rocks.

Glisshop, your shop for hiking and camping equipment

All the products talked about above are available at Glisshop. You can order them online, but you can also come visit us in our store in Clermont-Ferrand. You will benefit from the advice of our experts and be able to make your choice while seeing the products in person.