Night Hiking - A Bright Idea?

Going hiking at night may sound like madness but night hiking is an activity which is blossoming in popularity all the time. And for good reason. Hitting the hiking trails during the day is all well and good but many are now seeking the additional exhilaration of pounding woodland trails during the dead of night. This pursuit is obviously something which needs to be pre-planned and carefully executed but, with the right hiking gear, night hiking can be one of the most enjoyable walking pursuits out there.

Hitting hiking trails under the cover of darkness is something which is not for the faint-hearted but it really will open your eyes - so to speak. Having the right equipment is crucial for any type of hike but it is obviously of heightened importance when undertaking night hiking. All sorts of new sights and sounds are likely to reveal themselves during night hiking activities which won't typically be witnessed during the day. For example, nocturnal animals will be heard, if perhaps not seen, and most night time hikers find that their senses are improved due to a reduction in visibility.

Being Prepared

It goes without saying that hiking equipment should be sorted before night hiking and gear like hiking boots and sticks are a must. As a result of the reduced levels of visibility when hiking at night, there are a few pieces of apparatus which you can't really do without which includes:

· GPS - Whilst global positioning systems may seem to fly in the face of the ideals of hiking, they really are a good idea for night hiking because it is much more likely you will lose your bearings when visual landmarks can't be used.

· Flashlight - An obvious thing, really - as it’s dark' you will need some form of artificial lighting. A resilient flashlight is an absolute must and you should carry spare batteries in case they run out at any point.

· First aid kit - It's clear that small injuries could be more likely to occur if you cannot see the path as clearly - but this is part of the fun of night hiking. A first aid kit should be carried to deal with any minor cuts and scrapes which occur.

Generally speaking, the one thing to get right when it comes to night hiking is the footwear that you choose because, without comfort, no hiking is enjoyable, night time or otherwise. An extremely popular variety of hiking boot amongst hikers of all capabilities is the V-Lite Mach 3 Wpi