Hiking is an exhilarating sport since you can’t get much closer to nature with many others. It is slow-paced so you’re able to really observe and take it all in. At the same time, it is very physical and works a lot of muscles which keeps you in very good shape. It is a generally safe sport but there are a lot of ways that injuries can happen.
You can easily slip on some uneven ground and sprain a muscle or even break a bone if you’re unlucky. You can even get caught in the elements when the weather changes quickly. It is always a good idea to make sure that you have some safety measures in place. In this article, we will go over several of the gadgets you should bring along to allow technology to keep you safe on the trail.
1 – Fall detection
Fall detection isn’t a specific gadget but it is a feature that many do have. It’s a way to make sure that the emergency services are alerted when you are incapacitated due to a fall. Some safety alerts require you to use voice activation or even press a button to alert the authorities that you are in trouble.
This feature is often found in fitness trackers and even the best hearing aids have the same technology for seniors to stay safe. When you’re on a trail there is a high probability that if you were to fall you will not be able to call for help.
Find the device that is going to work with your type of hiking andwhere you plan to be. Most people these days have fitness trackers so look for a version that has fall detection.
2 – Satellite communication device
Fall detection isn’t going to work for the trekker who gets far off the beaten path. There are many mountain ranges and even trails that are not covered by any cellular signal. Your phone or fitness tracker isn’t going to help you in this situation.
For times like that you’ll need a satellite communications device. They are very advanced these days and are not just satellite phones that will make calls for you. Many of them will automatically report your waypoints when you’ve reached them so people can track you from somewhere else. If you don’t make it to a waypoint when you were supposed to, they can look online and find out where you are. They can also send out SOS signals for you that will be picked up by emergency services monitoring the band.
3 – Power station
It doesn’t matter how high tech and sophisticated your gadgets are that you hope will help if they run out of power. Many of them don’t have batteries that can be swapped out for others so if they run out then they are now dead weight in your bag with no function.
Bringing along a portable power station is going to help you keep your devices charged and working. They are small these days and won’t take up much space or weigh you down.
If you will be out on the road for a while then you can get the kind that have some foldable solar panels so you can recharge it when you are far off grid.
4 – Solar GPS watch
Navigating around is not done with topographical maps and a compass any longer. Instead you need to use something more technologically advanced. Your watch could be just the thing to have if you get a GPS one that is charged with solar power.
These watches don’t just give you the coordinates of where you are. They can help you figure out how far you are from waypoints, what the altitude is, where you are and even the weather forecast.
Many of them will also measure your health stats so you can make sure that you are also staying healthy and not pushing yourself too hard.
5 – Drone
A drone isn’t just for making cool Instagram stories. It can really help you out when you are out on a long hike. If you get into trouble you can do a surveillance of the area and see what is going on beyond your sight. You may even find help if you are in a particular jam with the drone.
Many are as small as a wallet and can easily be stowed in your backpack. They are usually less than a pound in weight and won’t weigh you down.
