HIKING'S TOP 10

The Mountaineers, an outdoors and recreation club based in Seattle, has created a list of basic essentials to keep in mind when headed out for a hike.

The following list is made up of items that everyone who ventures onto a trail or into the backcountry should have.

1 Navigation (map and compass)

2 Sun protection

3 Insulation (extra clothing)

4 Illumination (flashlight/headlamp)

5 First-aid supplies

6 Fire starter

7 Repair kit and tools

8 Nutrition (extra food)

9 Hydration (extra water)

10 Emergency shelter

Source: www.mountaineers.org

GOTTA-GET GEAR

• Lowe Alpine Appalachian 65

• Cost: $149

• Why you need it: Carry a llama-like load without spending a fortune or getting spit at. The Appalachian swallows a week's worth of supplies, and the two big side pockets keep snacks, camera gear and layers handy. A bungee cord and sleeping bag straps handle overflow. The rigid frame comfortably hauls 40 pounds, and the wide, embracing hipbelt is cushy. The frame adjusts in a flash, and two positions for the load-lifter straps (plus a women's model) assure a wide fit range. Bummer: A lack of compression straps reduces versatility for small loads, and a wide profile makes it cumbersome for bushwhacking.

• Where to get it: 1-800-891-7908, www.lowealpine.com.

Source: Dennis Lewon, equipment editor of Backpacker magazine. For more bargain all-purpose packs see the June issue of Backpacker magazine.

AN IDEA THAT WAS ALL WET

That cool sleeve of water strapped to your back, the one piece of equipment you can't live without, the one that slakes the thirst in your outdoors-lovin', thrill-seeking soul, was born 17 years ago as an idea and an IV bag.

The CamelBak was invented in 1987 by a firefighter named Michael Eidson, who hatched the idea during a crowded 100-mile cycling event.

Finding himself too scared to reach for his water bottle amid the pack, Eidson had the thought, "You don't sweat in big gulps. . . . It would be way better to replace moisture with a drip."

Eidson's first "camelback" was created when he sewed a pocket into the back of a T-shirt and slid an IV bag with a delivery tube inside. He further developed the concept into the CamelBak, which today has become a $500 million business.

Source: Mountain Bike magazine

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