| 1 Nutritional food buying emphasizes the “Basic Four”. 2 Backpacking also has its basic four, these being, in order of importance, hiking shoes, the backpack, sleeping gear, and shelter. |
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| 3 Selection of hiking shoes should be your first concern. 4 Even a one-day hike can be misery without comfortable shoes. |
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| 5 Today’s hikers prefer a shoe that is six inches high, is made of leather, and thick sturdy composition soles. 6 Break the shoes in thoroughly on short walks before going on any extended hike. |
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| 7 When purchasing a backpack, you will find an almost bewildering array of makes! styles, and materiels to choose from. 8 The backpacking frame must have both shoulder straps and a waist strap. The latter strap being of such design as to permit much of the weight of the pack to rest on the sturdy hip bones rather than on the more fragile shoulder bones. |
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| 9 The sleeping bag and its two accessories (ground cloth and mattress) are next on the list of basics. |
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| 10 The fourth and last of the basic four is the tent or other emergency shelter. 11 An inexpensive shelter is the plastic tube tent. |
