Greg Englesbe learned many things while hiking in the many natural
areas in and around South Jersey. Since he moved there in 2010, his days
of taking strenuous hikes for miles are likely on hold for the moment.
Still, he has found that these three items are extremely useful for him
and hikers like him:
- Headlamps. Most hikers who go for a day hike forget these often essential items because they don’t think the sun will go down on them while they are on the trail. But Greg Englesbe has learned that carrying a few lightweight headlamps in the event that a short hike turns into a long one is an extremely helpful use of space in the day pack.
- Sunscreen. Even in shady forests, the sun at its most powerful can still hurt your skin. You may be in the sun for more time than you originally thought, so packing a tube of sunscreen is a great way to ensure you won’t get burnt on the trail at any point, as Greg Englesbe has.
- Sandals. More of a comfort item than a survival one, packing an extra pair of flip-flops can make it easy to wade for a moment in the river during a break in the hike than stripping off your boots to go in barefoot. They also prevent injury when you want to wade in the water.
