How can you be sure that you’re buying the best adventure travel gear? If you’re shelling out your hard-earned cash, you want to know that you’re buying great outdoor kit that works, is comfortable and can stand the test of time. So, you go on the internet to read opinions.
This explains the proliferation of online top 10s, lists that give us a run-down of the best options in any given category. We’ve all used them, and here at Adventure Sports Holidays we’ve created a fair few of our own over the years.
In fact, putting equipment through its paces is one of our favourite things to do. And we think it gives you a better idea of what it’s worth spending your money on.
Best adventure travel gear
The top gear for adventure travellers covers a huge area, from sturdy footwear to luggage to gadgets. Rather than compile one narrow top ten, we’ve scoured the web to find excellent top 10 lists of the best adventure travel gear from around the world.
Best hiking boots
This list of the best hiking boots available to buy in the UK in 2018 featured on outdooractivities.co.uk. It was pitched at looking at the most important piece of adventure travel equipment. And they’re not far wrong. A good pair of quality hiking boots is an essential party of any adventurer’s kitbag.
As they point out, pretty much everything else you can borrow, but a pair of hiking boots is personal to you. Get the wrong boots and your adventure will end quickly amid a flurry of painful blisters and hastily applied plasters.
Good boots should provide sole and ankle support over long distances on rugged terrain. To be considered great outdoor kit boots need to be durable, lightweight, waterproof and comfortable.
After extensive research they found that the best multi-purpose boot was the Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX. The best budget option was the Merrell Moab 2 Mid, and the best for cold conditions was the La Sportiva Karakorum.
Best waterproof jackets
Almost as essential as a good boot is staying dry when conditions take a turn for the worse. If you’re heading out on an adventure in the UK at any time of year, you know that rain can come from nowhere. This list from t3.com looks at the best waterproofs to take with you.
A waterproof is a top layer designed to keep you dry. It’s generally worn occasionally and so needs to be lightweight and portable.
With this in mind, t3’s top choice is the North Face Apex Flex GTX 2.0, which was soft and impossibly dry. In second place was the Canada Goose Riverhead and third was Columbia Outdry Extreme Platinum.
Great outdoor kit begins with underwear!
Now didn’t your mother always tell you to wear clean pants in case anything should happen to you? Well on an adventure as you never know. And it always pays to wear comfortable undergarments when testing your endurance.
This list from our very own site looks at the best active underwear on the market. We tested over 30 pairs, wearing each one at least five times for a fair comparison over a range of activities. Scoring the pants in a variety of categories including ruckage, restriction, material, price and style (never let it be said that we’re not thorough).
The top three was the Saxx Kinetic in first, with BawBags Cool de Sacs second and Jockey Performance Boxer trunk in third. Of the best adventure travel gear we have tested a good pair of undies it near the top of our list of priorities.
Best daypacks for travel and adventure
On any adventure you’ll need to carry some stuff with you, which means bringing a bag. And over time and distance you need a pack that is comfortable, minimally intrusive and that doesn’t cause any unnecessary problems.
This list from www.independent.co.uk looked at capacity, water resistance and versatility. They tested a range of bags for different uses, from commuting to hiking to travelling so it’s perfect for this list of the best adventure travel gear.
They found that the Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 litre bag came out on top. In second was the Osprey Tempest 30 litre and third the Thule Capstone 32 litre.
Best cabin luggage
Of course, not all adventure happens out of a backpack. Sometimes you have to travel a little further to find excitement. And when you do, you need cabin luggage that can accommodate the great outdoor kit you are taking with you.
Cabin bags most importantly need to be the right size to pass those annoying airport bag testers and fit snuggly in the overhead bin. They also need to have space for all your most essential adventure gear.
This list from 7best.co.uk found that the Aerolite AER09613 two-wheeler ticked all the relevant boxes. Close behind were the Samsonite 34 litre four-wheel spinner and the Cabin Max Backpack.
Best travel gadgets
Life on the road, on the mountain or in the wild can be tough. Anything you can bring that makes your life easier and doesn’t take up too much room can be a real plus. These gadgets often sell themselves as a must have but usually end up being anything but. It’s very easy to overdo it with the tech and gadgets!
Really useful gadgets are those that save you time and space, or that perform an essential function you couldn’t do without. And that’s the level this list from www.geekyexplorer.com was working on. Top of the pile was the document organiser, helping to keep all your important info safe and to hand when you needed it – perfect for travelling abroad.
Packing cubes were found to be a real space and time saver, helping you to compartmentalise your kit. And a money belt helped to keep your cash and valuables safe. Also on the list were power adapters, bank chargers and a USB charger.
Best pocket knife
Of course, there is one gadget that transcends all of those in the list above. A USB charger is very useful, for sure, but not so good when you’re starving in the woods. That’s when having a can opener can be a genuine life saver.
Which is why a penknife or multitool is essential outdoor kit for any adventurer. This list, again from our own site, looked at the best penknive and multi-tool brands.
No surprises that Victorinox/Wenger – the makers of the original Swiss Army Knife – were the number one. But hot on its heels were Leatherman and Gerber, with multiple functions that could get you out of all sorts of trouble.
We hope this list of the 7 best adventure travel gear top 10s helps you buy great outdoor kit! When planning your next trip be sure to check out our adventure discounts as you could save a fortune.
