Outdoor gear on a budget: the essentials and how to borrow or rent

You do not need expensive kit to enjoy the outdoors safely. You need the right few items, in good working order, and the sense to borrow or rent before you buy.

The Ten Essentials

• The US National Park Service's Ten Essentials are: navigation, sun protection, extra clothing, illumination, first aid supplies, fire, a repair kit and tools, extra food, water (and a way to treat it) and emergency shelter.
• For illumination, the NPS recommends a headlamp because it is hands-free, plus spare batteries.
• For shelter, light options include a tarp, a bivvy bag or an emergency space blanket.
• Pack extra food that needs no cooking, such as nuts or cereal bars, in case you are delayed (NPS).
• Most of these items are cheap, and many families already own them.

Adjusting the list for the UAE

• Water is the heaviest and most important item: at least 3 litres each for a Jebel Jais hike, plus rehydration drinks (Visit Jebel Jais).
• Ras Al Khaimah Police add a whistle, a fully charged phone and power bank, a hiking pole and bright neon-coloured clothing so you can be seen.
• For desert trips, the vehicle needs its own kit: tow rope, shovel, spare tyre, tyre gauge and deflators (Khaleej Times). That is the driver's job, but you can help check it.
• For desert camping, Khaleej Times suggests a tent with long sand pegs, lighting, a cool box, a first aid kit and rubbish bags.

Clothes and footwear

• Closed, sturdy shoes, ideally ankle-high, protect against hot sand, rocks, snakes and scorpions (Khaleej Times; RAK Police).
• Light-coloured loose clothing for hot days, and thermal layers and a warm hat for cold desert nights.
• If you study abroad and walk in UK or European hills, the BMC kit list adds waterproof jacket and trousers, insulating layers, gloves and spare socks.
• The BMC notes dry air gets about 1 degree colder for every 100 metres of height, and summit winds can be two to three times stronger than at sea level, so pack for colder weather than you see at the bottom.

Borrow, rent or buy

• Start by borrowing from family, friends or a school or university outdoor club: it costs nothing and you learn what you actually like.
• Eagle Creek notes renting has a much lower upfront cost (a tent can cost many times more to buy than to rent for a day), saves storage space and lets beginners try gear before buying.
• Buying makes more sense if you camp often, because the cost is spread across many trips (Eagle Creek).
• Buy the items that affect safety and comfort most first: good shoes, a headlamp, a water carrier and a basic first aid kit.
• Guided hikes, such as those run from Jebel Jais, include a safety briefing, first aid and radio contact, which is a good way to start without owning much kit (Visit Jebel Jais).

Checking and caring for gear

• Test new equipment at home before the trip, as an experienced UAE camper told Khaleej Times.
• Check the first aid kit's expiry dates and add any regular medicines you need (NPS).
• Charge every battery and power bank the night before and pack spares.
• After each trip, dry the tent fully, shake out sand, restock the first aid kit and refill anything you used.