What To Pack On Mens Adventure Weekend

Adventure weekends can be incredibly fun and memorable but quickly ruined if you lack the right gear. Here is everything you need to pack for your next adventure weekend with your friends.

Essential Clothing

The first thing you need to do is pack the right clothing. You need a few T-shirts, shorts and long trousers, clothing to layer with, multiple pairs of socks and underwear, a hat, and a towel or desert scarf that you can use to protect your neck, cool you down, etc. 

You also need to be aware of the activities you will doing; if you are going fishing, you need men’s fishing shorts, and if you are going to be trekking through a forest, you need long pants to protect you against dangerous plants, bug bites, etc. 

Weatherproof Clothing

You will also need to pack weatherproof clothing, and the types you take will depend on the weather. This is fairly self-explanatory, but a raincoat is also useful, and make sure that any other weatherproof clothing you take is easy to store and carry and is made of a material that can keep you warm but also dries out quickly. 

Hygiene

For hygiene, a toothbrush and toothpaste is a must. If you are going to be cleaning yourself regularly, it is important to get a soap that is made from natural ingredients so that you don’t poison any rivers or streams you may bathe in. 

While going two or three nights without bathing is doable, it isn’t recommended, as remaining unclean can lead to infections or general discomfort, especially in warm weather. 

Shoes

You need three different types of shoes for an adventure weekend: walking shoes, hiking boots, and a sandal of some kind so you can walk safely in a stream, river, or lake. Your walking and hiking shoes can be the same pair; just ensure they protect your ankles and are very comfortable to wear for extended periods. 

For sandals, anything from a pair of Crocs to cheap flip-flops will work; all they need to do is protect your soles, and you don’t want to waterlog your walking shoes or hiking boots. 

Water Cleaning Kit

You can’t carry all the water you are going to need, and you may not find a clean source of water therefore you need the gear to clean it. A Lifestraw is compact and effective at cleaning water, but there are also alternatives if you can’t find a Lifestraw. 

Camping Essentials

Your camping gear can be minimal, but at the very least, you need a tent and a sleeping bag. In the Winter, both will keep you warm and protected from the elements, while in Summer, you can protect yourself against insects and critters, especially mosquitos, spiders, snakes, etc. 

A hammock can also work and is sometimes more compact, but you can’t fully enclose yourself with a tent or cover of some kind.  

Cooking Kit 

For a weekend away, you only need the basic cooking gear, and that’s only if you are going to cook at all. A camping stove and camping pot are brilliant, as you can cook everything from meat to MREs and boil water for tea coffee, or to clean it. 

You should also have a knife and spork, as you don’t want to be eating with dirty hands if you have been handling raw meat or haven’t been able to wash properly. 

First Aid Kit

You most certainly need a basic first-aid kit. To start, you should have a selection of bandages and plasters, especially bandages for burns. You also need an antiseptic of some kind or alcohol wipes to clean any wounds. 

You should also have a burn relief gel or cream, sunscreen, and an ointment to treat insect bites. For medications, you need pills for headaches, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as anything else you need or use regularly, such as an asthma inhaler, allergy medicine, etc. 

You should also keep a lighter in your first-aid kit, as well as one on your person and in your backpack. You want to have multiple lighters in case one doesn’t work, gets lost, is damaged, etc.

Adventure Gear/Tech

You don’t need much in the way of tech beyond your camera or phone, but a backup compass can be exceptionally useful, as well as a satellite phone, if you are going to be going somewhere off-grid. 

On a more basic level, have a map of the area you are going to be traveling to on hand, and mark out paths, useful buildings, landmarks, etc. In the event you get lost, you don’t have to guess where to go. 

Snacks/Food

For snacks and food, MREs are always brilliant as they are shelf-stable and are complete meals. You also want to have a few items that are high in calories, especially if you are going to be walking or hiking a lot. 

Self-Protection

Finally, it is always important to have some sort of self-protection. Wild animals are always a threat, and having a knife, pepper spray, or even a walking stick can all be useful in the event of an attack.