Camping

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Those Hiking Trails Can Get Mighty Blustery

 “Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.” -
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 

Hikers have to put up with all types of weather . . . but not always at the same time. When you’re at home the weather is often of no more importance than “do I need a jacket to run to the car” or “turn up the heating a bit honey, it’s gonna’ get chilly tonight” . . . but when you’re on the hiking trail you’re surrounded by weather for 24 hours a day. This means that you have to be prepared for all types of weather . . . . seasonally adjusted of course.

Weather – we’re all obsessed with it really aren’t we . . . a great conversation opener, gives us something to talk about when you’ve run out of gossip or who’s up for eviction in X-Factor. Which weather do hikers dread the most? I know it’s a personal choice type thing, but hikers love to walk in the sunshine (of course, it brightens up your day, makes the sky blue, makes the birds sing, allows you to strip off a few layers), many hikers quite like walking in the rain (well, it makes everything fresh and as long as you’re wrapped up in a waterproof jacket there’s no problem . . . it’s good splashing in puddles and squelching in mud too . . . a kind of remnant from childhood fun), but what about the wind? The wind isn’t really good for anything is it . . . sorry but I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that way . . . a cold wind can add a real nip in the air of an otherwise okay day (it’s called the wind chill factor). A warm wind is horrible too . . . feels a bit creepy if you ask me, a cool breeze on a summers day is acceptable, but the howling winds which often whip up on the hiking trails are just too much trouble, especially if you’re trying to pitch your tent! The wind blows things at you too doesn’t it, picking up leaves, dust and anything else ready to whip into your face.

I don’t care who you are . . . how old you are . . . how sophisticated you (think) you are . . . I bet you smiled!

Hiking wind shell jackets are designed to stop the wind from cutting through you and chilling you to your bones. Of course, sometimes you have to put up with wind and rain on a cold day, sometimes it gets really windy but it’s not particularly cold and it’s not wet . . . these things just don’t really follow a pattern do they. So what do you need to look for in a hiking wind shell jacket;

• water resistance, as well as a good wind blocker . . . let’s face it, the two often come hand in hand.
• hood and drawchord hem . . . for when you’ve got to really batten down the hatches – around your body.
• elastic cuffs . . . you don’t want any wind sneaking up your sleeves and freezing your arms do you?
• mesh pits and vents . . . for breathability.
• windflap behind the front zipper so that no wind can sneak through that way either.

Hiking wind shell jackets are not designed to keep you particularly warm, but as long as you buy one which is large enough to pop over your other layers . . . fleece, sweater etc, then it’ll fit in very nicely with the rest of your hiking gear.

Oh, did I mention that wind shells are extremely lightweight and often come with their very own stuff sack for easy packing, another reason why backpackers love ‘em.

Nice jacket, and did you notice how small it was in it’s own pocket, there isn’t even a stuff sack to lose!  Brilliant for hikers and backpackers!