Durability
While we would have liked a truly waterproof case, the water-resistant nylon outer shell does serve to protect the contents fairly well. Just be aware that if you tie it to the outside of your pack during a rainstorm, some water may leak in through the zippers.

Safety Hazards
While it’s not practical to list everything that this first aid kit provides, we can tell you that if you get injured, and you can’t find what you need in this case, chances are you need much more attention than any first aid kit can provide. There are a total of 120 different items ranging from stainless steel trauma shears to Band-Aids and everything in between. Staying safe while you’re hiking not only takes the presence of mind and overall skill. Staying safe also means having the right equipment at the right time to treat injuries as they occur. This comprehensive first aid kit by Swiss Safe lets you do just that.

Comfort
While the 120 piece first aid kit has nearly everything you need, it can be a hassle taking it out of your backpack each time someone has a minor injury. This is where the much smaller 32 piece mini-pack comes in so nicely. The smaller pack can be easily tied to your belt, a ring on the backpack, or something of that nature, and has most everything you need for everyday injuries like lacerations. With more and more people having allergic reactions, especially to latex materials, it’s important that items used in medical emergencies reduce the exposure to these allergens as much as possible. Everything in this kit is latex free and is also free of many of the most common things that cause allergic reactions.

Adjustability
The package for the first aid kit is relatively compact, measuring approximately 9 x 3 x 6 inches, so it’s relatively easy to fit into a backpack. Plus it weighs just over one pound, so it’s fairly lightweight. You won’t have to worry about adding too much unnecessary bulk to the things you bring hiking.

Durability
When it comes to transporting your equipment and materials during a hiking excursion, having the best hiking bag for your needs goes a long way. While having an internal frame might not be everything to everyone, this example is a great place to start.

Safety Hazards
While this may be one of the smaller internal frame backpacks that we’ve seen, the 55-liter storage space is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. It can easily fit provisions, sleeping items, an extra pair of clothes, or anything else you need with you while you’re hiking through the wilderness. This backpack is safe to carry as it is still lightweight and has an internal frame to keep your back from being sore.

Comfort
Framed backpacks are divided into two basic categories: internal and external frames. As the name suggests, internal frame backpacks have a ridged frame within the lining of the backpack that allows for more even weight distribution over the back and prevents the backpack from shifting or slouching into an uncomfortable position. While it does make the pack slightly heavier, the aid is weight distribution is more than worth it. Empty, the bag weighs just less than four and a half pounds, so it’s relatively easy and lightweight to carry.

Adjustability
When you’re enjoying the woods, the last thing you want is to be constantly adjusting and readjusting your backpack. You want to be able to throw all your stuff inside the pack, throw the backpack on, and be ready to go without hesitation. Thankfully, the shoulder and hip straps are fully adjustable, and the chest or sternum strap is very prepared as well. Even with the overall rigidity of the internal frame, this backpack is fairly easy to adjust for comfort and overall control. Also, the length of the project can be adjusted to allow for different torso lengths, so kids, as well as adults, can potentially use this backpack.

Durability
In truth, what you wear on your feet can mean the difference between an enjoyable hike, and a painful one. If you chose to wear shoes, the Merrell Men's Moab 2 Vent Hiking shoe is a great choice. The synthetic soles and combination of suede, nylon and textile materials in the upper portion of the shoe work together nicely to maintain the overall durability of the shoe, even in inclement weather. So don’t be afraid of jumping the puddles or traveling through the mud in these shoes as they are known for being very durable and breathable.

Safety Hazards
These shoes are designed to be waterproof, but unfortunately only allow for good water resistance. While your shoes dry nicely they also absorb shock with their air cushion heel to keep you stable while hiking. Making sure you are staying safe at all times is important and these shoes will absolutely make sure you have a grip while climbing.

Comfort
These shoes may look like normal athletic shoes, but they offer more support, cushioning, and materials that allow for a high energy spring in your step while in use. Plus, they are relatively lightweight, which means that you can walk for hours on end. They also come in several different sizes to make sure your feet stay comfortable and you have a great fit.

Adjustability
The longer your shoes last, the more hiking that you can do. And that’s a grand thing, right? The Merrell brand is well known not only for providing comfortable clothes and shoes but also for making shoes that last. When you’re hiking over rocks and roots, the last thing you need is an ill-fitting shoe causing you problems, pain, and potentially blisters. So having a shoe that is true to size is a good trait to consider. Thankfully, these shoes are true to the size and come in sizes including 7 until 15 US as well as half sizes and even wide feet options.

Durability
When the weather is bad, and your visibility is low, chances are you don’t have the inclination or the time to deal with a map that can’t easily be read. Also, you want to make sure that the distortion of the map caused by the clear case material is minimal at best. Thankfully, this map case performs beautifully. The case features a black background piece that adds great contrast to the map, and the clear top cover allows for superior visibility.

Safety Hazards
Along with a compass, your map is one of the essential parts of making sure your hike is a successful one and to help you return back in one piece. So protecting your map during the trip is important. This entry on our list helps you do just that. One of the requirements of a quality map case is that it protects the contents within it from the weather. The last thing a hiker needs is to be trying to read a rain-soaked map that has been smudged beyond recognition. Thankfully, this map case excels at keeping your map nice and dry. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a torrential downpour, or the map case gets accidentally dunked in the river. Simply pull it out, wipe it off, and you’ll be ready to go.

Comfort
While it may be a bit bulky to carry around when it is in full extension, this map case can be easily rolled up and attached to hooks on the backpack or belt loops through the use of two sturdy plastic molded clips. While the case is designed for maps of many different shapes and sizes it can also be used to store other valuable items during the hike. Things such as another pair of dry socks, a sandwich, or even your GPS locator can be kept in this pouch for extra protection.

Adjustability
Measuring 0.79 x 11.81.x 17.72 inches, and weighing just under a ¼ of a pound, this map case is not only large enough to hold many of the most common maps that hikers use, but it’s light enough to easily carry in your backpack or even looped through a belt loop.

Durability
Overall, if you need a little something extra to boost your hiking trip to the next level, this knife will do just that, and to boot, it is very reasonably priced.

Safety Hazards
This army knife has a protected switch button in order for you to make sure the knife securely stays safe.

Comfort
Along with all of its great features, this knife is made of stainless steel and can easily be taken care of. Victorinox offers an oil that you can use to keep its knives running smoothly. This knife is also 85mm, so it is big enough to be substantial, but definitely small enough to fit in the side pocket of your hiking pack. It is a comfort use with a comfortable grip.

Adjustability
When you are hiking or camping, space is a premium, and you most likely want to utilize it as smartly as possible. That's where having a Swiss Army knife comes in handy. This particular EvoGrip knife has a lot of handy tools to keep you prepared. It touts 11 tools that have 15 features, such as a screwdriver, scissors, tweezers, and toothpick.

Durability
While this compass may not be as damage resistant as some of the compasses that are designed for use in harsher environments, this one is still pretty solidly built. It has built-in protections for the liquid filled center area to resist damage from moisture, scratches, and dirt. Plus, it can easily survive being dropped on the ground while hiking. If a compass is magnetic, which most of them are, they use the earth’s magnetic field to determine the overall geographical and directional relationship to the magnetic poles. However, the magnetic field that they use changes depending on its location. The best compasses, like the Silva 515 take those changes into account through both the declination and the overall zone balance. This is done by the weight of the needle accounting for the vertical component of the magnetic wave. This allows for increased accuracy.

Safety Hazards
The Silva Company is well known among outdoor enthusiast for their commitment to precision and accuracy in their equipment, and this compass is no exception. This compass easily measures 360 degrees and has easy to read two-minute graduations, so finding your bearing with precision is not a problem at all. Plus, the built-in clinometer allows you to keep track of the elevation changes you encounter as well.

Comfort
There are many compasses out there that are simply not feasible to use because of their size. They’re either too bulky, too small to read, or just too cumbersome to really use. Thankfully, you don’t have that problem with the Silva 515. Measuring just 0.7 x 5.1 x 7.8 inches and weighing just under a ¼ of a pound, this compass can easily fit in your hand while in use, or slip easily into a jacket pocket for storage.

Adjustability
Losing you in the great outdoors shouldn’t involve actually getting lost. The Silva 515 compass offers you a way to lose your worries and inhibitions without losing your way. The last thing that you want while you’re hiking is a complicated compass to deal with. After all, you’re out there to enjoy the forest, right? This is where the Silva compass really shines. After just a few minutes with the instruction manual, you’ll be good to go. The classic bezel rotates easily to help you set your bearing, and the lid and mirror make sighting your target a simple task. Plus the map magnifier makes it easy to correspond what you see in the field with your map to get a true sense of where you are in the world.

Durability
The Marmont brand is well known for creating clothing that can withstand the wilderness and all that comes with it, including hikers with an adventurous spirit. The materials used to make this particular jacket are designed to withstand rain, sleet, mud and the occasional tear without too much of an issue. If you’re looking for an outer shell to your hiking outfit that is relatively lightweight and versatile, this is a great choice. While we wouldn’t recommend it during the winter months without significantly more layers, overall it does a nice job.

Safety Hazards
This jacket is clearly designed for use in an outdoor environment, and to protect you from any type of weather or elements that you may encounter. There is an adjustable hood, and the front is easily ventilated through a series of well-placed zippered vents that allow cool air to enter when needed. Or, the whole jacket can be sealed up tight to prevent rain or colder temperatures from getting in.

Comfort
Made from 100% Gore-Tex material, which is well known for its ability to repel water, dirt, and grime, this jacket excels at keeping your dry and relatively clean during your outdoor excursions. While we would have liked to see a little more interior lining for comfort, overall it serves its purpose of protection very well. This jacket can be used in a wide array of situations as a general weather protective shell. It can easily be used in the spring, summer, and autumn as the outermost layer, but lacks a bit of the warmth needed during a harsh winter. While it certainly will keep you comfortable most of the time, we would suggest extra layers during the colder months.

Adjustability
This jacket has been shown to be true to the designated size an astounding 88% of the time. For most customers, the jacket is extremely well fitting and comfortable.

Durability
One of the biggest problems with most water bottles today is that they are hard to carry while hiking. They either have to be held or put into a sleeve on the backpack that they easily fall out of during more strenuous climbs. That’s where the shoulder strap that is firmly attached to this canteen comes in handy. Simply throw it across your shoulder and you’re good to go.

Safety Hazards
Let’s face it. You are going to drop your canteen at some point during a hiking or camping trip. There are some water bottles out there that simply won’t survive. However, unless you plan on deliberately smashing this canteen against a rock, chances are the durable materials will survive an occasionally fall quite easily.

Comfort
While we would have preferred that food-grade stainless steel be used for this canteen, the polyethylene bottle is BPA free and can easily keep your water cool during a hike during the day. The purpose of a good canteen is to allow you to drink water when you need to, right? This canteen is not only easy to carry; it’s also easy to hold. Also, the tight-fitting screw top lid makes it a cinch to not only keep the water where it belongs until you want it but also get to it while you’re taking a much-needed break.

Adjustability
This canteen holds approximately 34 ounces of water or just under one liter. It may not sound like a lot, and there are other water bottles out there that hold more, but on a hike, weight is at a premium. In most cases, a liter of water is more than enough for a good hike through the woods for the individual. There are quite a few canteens out there that are great for hiking. However, the Laken Pluma is one of our favorites based on its sturdiness, overall capacity, and ease of use.

Durability
With a thread count of nearly 100 threads per square inch, this is one of the toughest fleeces available on the market today. While it is definitely not as strong as some other fabrics, it is still quite capable of resisting tears and holes with the best of them.

Safety Hazards
In order to be effective, this layer needs to be both relatively lightweight and insulating. You don’t want a material that will weigh you down too much, but you also need to make sure that heat and warmth are trapped easily for use later when you’re tired or hungry. Thankfully, this fleece is made from a soft fleece material that is great for adding a layer of warmth without too much bulk or weight.

Comfort
The overall cut of this ¾ zipper pullover is not only well suited for an athletic body, but it also has plenty of length in the sleeves and room in the neck area to allow for a significant amount of movement.

Adjustability
Another nice thing about this pullover fleece is that it is fairly easy to care for. Just treat it like you would any other sweatshirt-like material. Just wash, dry and go. The nice thing about this mid-weight layer is that it comes in a wide array of colors, so it’s fairly easy to find one that suits your personality. It may not get the press that the other clothing layers get in today’s world, the middle insulation layer is still very important to make sure that you stay warm during your hiking excursion. This pullover fleece not only keeps you warm and comfortable, but it is also easy to care for and comes in a wide array of colors.

Durability
Since it is made from polypropylene material and consists of three durable layers of fabric, there are very few things in the wilderness area that will harm you. While we wouldn’t suggest taking on a bear or a cliff with nothing but this shirt on, insects, small branches, and poison ivy are not a problem.

Safety Hazards
While this shirt can be easily used as a base layer during a long hike, that’s not the only thing that it can accomplish. Many people use it for a quick extra layer of insulation on their skiing runs or as their made shirt during aerobic exercise. This hiking shirt can keep you safe and warm in colder temperatures.

Comfort
When a piece of clothing is right next to your skin, and under a number of layers, it needs to be comfortable. Just ask any of us with highly sensitive skin. This particular shirt is made with material that is not only allergen neutral, but it is also extremely lightweight and easily can wick moisture away from the skin.

Adjustability
In order to function well, the base layer that you use during a hiking trip needs to fit snugly against your skin. So finding the right fit for your body is essential. Thankfully, this shirt is true to the listed size over ¾ of the time. The other nice thing about this shirt is how easy it is to care for. Just simply wash in your normal wash cycle and use a gentle detergent when needed. What could be simpler than that? While it may seem silly to think of fashion for a base layer while hiking since these shirts can be used for more than just the great outdoors, how they look can be a factor when buying, Thankfully, this shirt is flattering in its cut the stripes on the sides provide a nice accent. What you wear next to your skin is very important when it comes to keeping you warm and dry during a hike outdoors. This shirt from Helly Hanson goes a very long way to do just that.