Many of us enjoy spending some alone time in the woods or travelling up mountain trails with friends. The climb can be tough but the view from the summit is always worth it. Trekking is more than just an activity – it brings thrill to most and peace to some. However, this thrilling/peaceful activity can be hindered if your gears are not appropriate. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in the right products from trusted brands that provide you quality without burning a hole in your pockets. We know the hunt can be arduous, so to save you all the time and effort, here’s everything you need to know about hiking essentials and how much to spend on trekking kits. 

Top Brands To Opt For Trekking Essentials In India

Quechua

Quechua will cater to all your needs if you are looking for safe and innovative trekking tools. The brand offers durable backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, shoes and other essentials. The brand curates its products with a deep understanding of outdoor activities and a sense of responsibility. In addition, most of its products are environmentally friendly. You can easily find Quechua products online or even in sports stores such as Decathlon. 

Wildcraft

Wildcraft is a renowned outdoor sports brand that is known for its tough and durable backpacks and rucksacks. The brand creates almost everything that you may need for an adventure sport. It also has a GPS tracker system that can keep you connected to your loved ones throughout your expedition. You can win some bargains on trekking gear by Wildcraft online, or can also visit their physical store. 

The North Face

The North Face is a renowned name for adventure essentials. You can find everything from backpacks to trekking shoes and hiking jackets to hats and gloves. All of this can be found under one umbrella. You may not find a physical store in India easily, but you can order the products online and have them delivered to your doorstep. 

WoodLand

Trekking and hiking mean that you need to have the perfect shoes that not only fit right, but are also durable and comfortable. WoodLand shoes will make you will they are meant for you. Apart from that, you can also find solar chargers, trekking poles, hydration bags and more. There are countless WoodLand outlets throughout India. You will surely find one near you.

Black Diamond

If you wish to go backpacking in the Himalayas or other snow-clad mountains, Black Diamond is the ideal brand for you to shop for essentials. You will find almost everything that you might need to survive in snowy weather.  

What Are Trekking Essentials One Should Spend On?

Cheap trekking gears can be tempting, but they cannot be relied on and are not recommended. Your safety should be your priority and that’s why you should invest in good and durable trekking kits. However, this doesn’t mean that you spend blindly on unnecessary items and expensive trekking kits. Below is a list of absolute trekking essentials that you must have and should not compromise on, it will also help you with the right cost of trekking gears and how much to spend. 

Sleeping Bag:

If you are going on longer treks where you might have to spend nights in the woods or the mountains, a sleeping bag is a must. It will keep you warm and give you a relatably comfortable surface to sleep on. Spending more than INR 4000 on sleeping bags is not recommended.

Rain Jackets:

For a monsoon trek, rain jackets must be of premium quality. You must not trek drenched in the rain, because that can lead to some serious health issues and discomfort. Do not spend more than INR 1500-2000 on these

Shoes:

This goes without saying that you need good and comfortable shoes for trekking. You should know that depending on the type of trek and your path – whether it’s snowy, rocky or requires climbing – you must invest in the right shoes. You can spend around INR 2500-3500 on good shoes.

Socks:

This may not strike you as an essential, but it sure is. Socks are as important as shoes as they prevent feet-based problems in the wilderness along with discomfort from shoe bites and sores. You will get good quality socks under INR 800-1000.    

Backpacks:

Of course you need a good and durable backpack that can hold your things. The bag should also be comfortable as it will be hanging on your shoulders most of the time. Ensure that it has enough space and comfortable padding on the shoulder straps and back. You can spend around INR 3000-3500 on backpacks.

Headlamps:

Headlamps make night trekking easy and are an essential if you do not plan on getting lost on the trail late at night. The quality of the headlamp matters because it needs to have enough power to illuminate the path in front of you, and should live for at least a few weeks until you return from your trip. Therefore, investing in good headlamps is important. Spending a maximum of INR 1000-1200 is more than enough. 

Some of the other essentials that you must invest your hard-earned money in include – flashlight, pocket knife, hydration bag, first-aid kit and tent.       

Here’s something interesting for you to check out too : Travel Jargon: 15 words you should use to look like a true wanderer!

How To Select The Best Trekking Gear?

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There are several brands that provide different trekking kits which can be confusing. Therefore, to help you make easy choices, here’s a simple table. 

	Quechua	Wildcraft	WoodLand	The North Face	Black Diamond
Sleeping Bag	✅ Affordable	✅Recommended	N/A	✅Alternates Available	✅Alternates Available
Rain Jackets	✅Recommended	✅Recommended	✅Preferable	✅Alternates Available	✅Alternates Available
Shoes	✅Alternates Available	✅Preferable	✅Recommended	✅Alternates Available	✅Recommended
Socks	N/A	N/A	✅ Recommended	✅Preferable	N/A
Backpacks	✅Recommended	✅Recommended	✅Preferable	✅Preferable	✅Preferable
Headlamps	✅Recommended	✅Preferable	N/A	N/A	✅Preferable

Hope this helps you with shopping for your next big trip where you can embrace serenity and make wonderful memories.

Also follow India Chalk on Instagram for more amazing travel content. You can share your travel story with us. Reach out to us on email at contact[at]ndiachalk[dot]com. This blog is curated by India Chalk and written by Sushmita Guria.