These are the most important items in your pack. Applicable to both dayhikes and backpacking trips, these will improve your safety, comfort and quality of your outdoor adventure.

First recommendation is to obtain a map of the area that you will be hiking. You don’t want to become lost, so pick up a map at the visitor center, ranger station or download one at www.usgs.gov. If you suffer an injury, you can use the map to aid rescuers in locating you.

A map reading compass will help you find your bearings and keep you from getting lost. Using the map and compass together will keep you correctly oriented to know which direction you’re heading.

Staying hydrated is crucial. You can survive about a month with no food, but only a few days without water. You can become dehydrated quickly by exertion, perspiration, heat and exposure. It’s a good idea to have 2 one liter bottles of water. Also, carry some water purification means with you. I use a liquid water treatment drops.

Take a bit more food than you think you will need, to get you through an extra day if need be. This can easily be accomplished by having a few whole food bars with you, each of which constitute a complete meal replacement. Important for maintaining energy output.

A few more layers of clothing for comfort and safety. Temperatures can drop unexpectedly or at nightfall. If you hike through rain or fall into a creek, having only one layer of wet clothes when it starts getting colder can spell disaster. Make sure to wear synthetics as they are more insulative when wet and dry quickly.

Pack some sort of light source like a headlamp or flashlight. If you are forced to make camp or hike out in the dark, you will be able to see trail debris an obstacles that could cause danger.

Having an accident or injury in the backcountry is no fun. Bring a small first aid kit with you. You can create one out of household supplies but don’t forget hiking needs like moleskin or blister treatment. I recommend taking a basic wilderness medicine course.

On rare occasion one must light a fire in the backcountry as a matter of survival. I’ve been on a kayak trip where someone overturned and they were soaked just as the temperature started to drop. Do not light a fire unless absolutely necessary. Bring matches and a lighter in a waterproof case and use caution to avoid wildfires.

A folding camp knife will serve many a purpose. Be sure that the one you choose has a blade that locks when open. I’ve seen knives that don’t lock take off finger tips.

Ultraviolet protection is really important. The suns rays can be damaging to eyes and skin, so bring a good pair of sunglasses, a small tube of sunblock and perhaps a wide brimmed hat.

James Warner is a mountain guide and wilderness emt who believes that outdoor adventure can improve one’s life mentally, physically and spiritually. If you are new to hiking or backpacking and would like to learn more, check out: beginner hiking and backpacking guide

Many of you choosing to read this article are more often than not people who run for exercise, and are hoping to improve the experience or ease the burden. A few of these running tips probably seem like common sense, but we could all use reminding once in a while. A great device to consider is the SkyCaddie Golf GPS.

Never forget to stretch and warm up prior to setting out. Skipping some method of physical preparation before beginning your run might cause more harmful strain and many more microscopic injuries. On top of that, you could stumble or otherwise injure something because of stiffness or sleepiness.

An important running tip you should not forget is to have some water or some other hydrating substance with you. Your body relies on water to function. Water is used in practically every metabolic function in a person?s body. When you do something strenuous, you sweat and lose water from your body. Too much loss can result in fuzzy thinking, muscle cramps, fainting, and organ damage if you are dehydrated too long. Water is not sufficient for marathon-length runs, though. On extended runs, you need a kind of electrolyte replenishment. Nearly all sports drinks are made to satisfy that requirement. If you enjoy golfing, then the SkyCaddie Golf GPS will really help you.

Wear clothes designed not to chafe. Chafing is the result when a person?s skin is rubbed too long by an abrasive item. Wool is absolutely unacceptable. Attempt to take advantage of synthetic fabrics which are soft and smooth and breathable. Fine cotton will suit that purpose, too. Take the time to pick your running clothes thoughtfully, since running involves quick movements which intensify the results of friction.

Select clothes for a combination of comfort and freedom of movement. Preferred clothes for accomplished runners are items like form-fitting shorts and sleeveless tops as they provide a great deal of freedom of movement. Slower runners may opt for something with slightly more material, if they wish. Pieces of clothing which bind or pinch are not recommended since they may rip under that kind of strain. Particularly loose clothes might compromise your freedom of movement and hook yourself on rocks or more harmful obstacles.

Women should use bras with firm support. Sports bras with maximum control remain your best choice. These keep breasts from swinging about when a female runner is in mid-stride, and prevents breast pain and tissue damage as well as possible embarrassment. Women with large breasts especially should pay attention to this.

Anytime that you can, lower your exposure to the sun. Running outdoors results in extreme exposure to the sun, which will lead to darkening of a runner?s skin. If you would rather not experience this, you might adhere to sensible guidelines like running indoors or at dawn or twilight. Use sunscreen and sunglasses when in the sun. Of course, if you would prefer to get a darker complexion, then suit yourself and run in the sun. Only remember to use sunscreen or suntan lotion, or else you could get sunburned, a condition that hurts even more than chafing.

You may carry an MP3 player or comparable electronic device to pass the time with music. If there are many people, though, try to look out for the things around you. You don?t want to accidentally cut in front of someone and hurt yourself or someone else. Be sure to stop and look both ways before crossing streets! And if you’re into golfing, then take a look at the SkyCaddie Golf GPS.

These were only some simple running advice. If you are looking for tips that could advance your running performance, you should probably consult a professional trainer. Enjoy the run!

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‘Drive for show, but putt for dough’ is the phrase we’ve all seen and learned from watching professional golfers in every tournament and championship either live or on TV.

The masters of golf can drive a ball from here to eternity, but it all boils down to how many strikes of the ball it takes to put the ball in the hole. The long accurate drives don’t amount to anything if you’re unable to putt the ball accurately.

The choice of putter is very important, but knowing how to use that putter consistently, is even more important. For example, I’ve had the same putter for fifteen years, so I know what it feels like in my hand, I know it’s weight and I know how all that plays into my putts.

Putting takes a great deal of practice. For example, typically, we drive the ball eighteen times during a game, but putt at least twice that amount. So doesn’t it make sense that we should practice our putting at least twice as much as our driving? So, if you can’t get to the practice green often enough, just practice on your carpet at home.

Bear in mind that the ball can not make it to the hole, if it doesn’t have enough power behind it to get it in there. So, take the time to get down on your knees and look at the path from your ball to the hole. Does it slope one way or the other? Does it run uphill or downhill?

The stance is: stand with your feet spread for balance and line up the putt. Keep you hands, arms and shoulders completely still. Imagine that you are a “bobble head” and that you move from just below the chest. Keep your head directly over the ball; pull your club back; keep your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders steady – the movement comes from your chest; hit the ball, following through with your club.

Learn from each putt and remember the lesson. Practice, practice, practice!

Are you new to golf? We have some great tips for the beginner golfer at Golfing Tips for Beginners Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

If you are a big adventure seeker and you just enjoy doing outdoorsy things, then you should also have the proper gear that will aid you during such activities. However, while you are busy shopping for camping equipment and other things, you should also take notice of the kind of clothes that you are going to wear.

All these are very important in ensuring that you will be able to make the most out of your time in the wild. Yes, even wearing the right clothes is important as you surely won’t want to

Why? Well how will you be able to enjoy your big adventure in the wild if you are forever getting stuck in the mud because you wore the wrong kind of shoes or you find yourself not being able to walk around comfortably because you brought the wrong kind of clothes? You need to be very particular about these as well to ensure that you will be able to make the most out of your trip.

Aside from packing the right clothes, you also need to have a good pair of hiking shoes so that it would be much easier for you to roam around in the wild and rough it out. Given the harsh terrain that can be found in such conditions, you need something that will be able to really carry you through your journey.

That said, shopping for a nice pair of hiking shoes should be on top of your priority list while you are preparing for your big adventure in the wild.

But where will you be able to find such shoes? Loads of camping and sports shoes actually carry this particular type of shoes. While these do not really come cheap, a good pair of hiking shoes will certainly last you good, long while. If you are currently on a tight budget, don’t rush into buying a pair of shoes that you might just end regretting of buying in the end.

When you’re already shopping for shoes always consider the quality of the shoes above all else. Aside from the style, some people actually tend to focus more on the brand of the shoes rather than on its fit and how durable it will prove to be once you’ve set out into the wild.

Always remember that what’s important here is that you get yourself a pair of hiking shoes that will last and not just something that is ?in? this season.

A GPS handheld makes a great match to go with you and your hiking shoes on your next weekend trek.