If you are forever broke, love to hike, but never find sturdy, reliable and cheap hiking gear to hike in Europe, this blog post will be your holy grail to hiking glory! Afterall, Europe is a treasure trove for mountain lovers. From the Scottish Highlands in the east to the Caucasus Mountains in the far west, every corner of Europe is populated with heaps and heaps of hills and valleys.
Being an avid nature lover, I am of the opinion that a trip to Europe is never complete without climbing a peak or two! Unfortunately, hiking equipment in Europe is expensive! Not everyone (especially if you are a hiking newbie or a budget backpacker) would have the money to invest in them! If you fall under this category, you have come to the right place to uncover all the quintessential, perfect and cheap hiking gear to take along on your European mountain adventures!
Contents
- Cheap Hiking Gear (with expensive alternatives)
- Sturdy Shoes
- Light Backpack
- Hiking Poles
- Headlamp
- Hiking Jacket, preferably wind and waterproof
- Optional Add – Ons for a Perfect Adventure
- Smart Snacks
- Sun Protection
- GPS Device
- Get fit!
Must – Have Cheap Hiking Gear (With Expensive Alternatives)
Sturdy Shoes
My first ever hike in Europe was in the middle of winter. I wore extremely heavy winter boots and set off to climb almost 1000 vertical meters (too ambitious for a first hike). This was one of the worst ideas I have ever had because what I didn’t know was that every gram adds on to the weight you carry when you ascend. Further, the grip of the shoe is extremely important! This is because in winter, the snow can melt, turn to ice and you will be in danger of slipping. Similarly, in summer, occasional rain can make the rocks extremely slippery and the mud nasty! Therefore, it is extremely important to invest in a light, sturdy pair of hiking shoes!
Normally in Germany, reputed hiking brands sell their premium hiking shoes suitable for intermediate hikes at around 150 – 200 EUR (or upwards). Since I was unsure if I would stick to hiking as a hobby, I wasn’t ready for such a huge investment and went for a cheap pair from Decathlon, called MH100 Wanderschuhe, priced at roughly a quarter of that price.
Irrespective of the brand you buy, make sure that the shoes are tall enough to cover your angles! A mid – height boot will cushion your angles, provide sufficient ankle support and help in keeping ankle sprains at bay.
Although the shoes I bought from Decathlon were dirt cheap, they worked amazingly well. The shoes are still waterproof after more than two years of use, provide great traction on rocky surfaces and with the right socks, they keep my toes quite warm! Thus, if you are looking for cheap hiking gear, I highly recommend these!
If money is not a problem, the following are some of the brands producing quality hiking shoes,
There are a lot more brands like Jack Wolfskin, Adidas, Columbia etc. However, this list should give you a good overview regarding the different options out there!
Hiking Tip: If the shoes aren’t waterproof after a few months, a cheap hiking gear trick is to buy waterproofing sprays! They are available in Amazon and a generous coat of this spray will make them waterproof again, thus saving you the hassle of buying another pair!
Hiking Backpack
If you are a backpacker, you will know that a backpack can make or break your trip (and your backbone)! The golden rule when it comes to backpacks is to invest in a well-padded one with hip support so that the weight is evenly distributed between your shoulders and your hips. I almost killed my shoulders in my first year of traveling by regularly carrying a backpack that weighed more than ten kilos week after week. Therefore, learn from my mistakes and invest in a decent backpack!
For day hikes, the ideal backpack size would be between 20 and 30 litres! Currently, I have a 30 litre backpack from Jack Wolfskin that I got on sale for less than 50 EUR! Unlike shoes, I do not recommend backpacks from Decathlon. The small 10-liter ones are quite good but the big ones are not very durable and tear much faster! Therefore, if you are looking for a budget option, your best bet would be to seal the deal when the expensive brands are on sale!
The one I have is currently not available anymore, but other brands selling durable bags are listed below,
Hiking Tip: Get a bag which has a built-in rain cover! This way, your bag and the contents inside will stay waterproof in the event of unexpected rain or snowfall.
Hiking Poles
Initially when I started hiking, I never used hiking poles. Somehow, I associated them with old age and weakness! God bless my delusional mind ‘cause hiking poles are a HIKER’S BEST FRIEND.
If you are someone who is planning to hike occasionally, you should know that sustained downhill trekking is a nightmare for your knees. This is because when you hike downhill, your knees are under a significantly higher amount of stress (around 7 – 8 times your body weight according to recent medical research!). In such cases, a hiking pole can assist greatly in redistributing the weight to your arms and shoulders. Further, with the right posture, they assist in pulling yourself up while climbing up a mountain. Therefore, it is a must have when I am hiking.
For a long time, I used a pair of really cheap hiking poles (Wanderstock A200) that I got from Decathlon. Although, it was extremely useful and I used it for roughly two years, it was quite heavy! If you have the required budget, it would be a wise idea to invest in hiking poles made of lighter materials like carbon or aluminium. I have heard great things about Leki’s Micro Vario Carbon Antishock Poles and I am currently on the lookout for an affordable second hand one from Ebay.
Hiking Tip: For downhill hikes, the length of the poles must be adjusted to a longer setting when compared to an uphill hike for ensuring proper balance and distributing the weight optimally across your four limbs!
Headlamp or Flashlight
Once upon a sunny November, I went on a rather long hike and conveniently forgot that the sunset was at 5! To add to my misery, up in the mountains, the light disappears much faster due to the altitude. Hiking back down was a race against time! Fortunately, I had a bit of charge on my phone so I could turn on the flashlight and use it! If there was one thing that I learnt from this experience, it was to ALWAYS carry a fully charged flashlight or a headlamp when I go on a hike. It is really unsafe to navigate rocky terrain in pitch black conditions!
I have a headlamp from a brand called Omeril that I bought off Amazon for 10 EUR! I have used it several times and have had absolutely no problems! It even doubles up as a camping light in your tent if you go camping. If you are looking for a slightly more expensive option, the headlamp from Petzl is amazing! It has a really cool low light feature that I absolutely love!
Waterproof/Windproof Hiking Jacket
While hiking, weather changes from valley to valley in the blink of an eye! Irrespective of what the weather app says, you MUST always carry a jacket for unexpected rain or snow fall (yup! I had that too in the middle of summer. Thank you, Global Warming, for the crazy climate change!). For a long time, I just used my lightweight down jacket as a hiking jacket. Although, it is not meant for that purpose, simply having a jacket saved me multiple times!
I recently invested in a windbreaker jacket from North Face and it has been a lifesaver! However, these summer hiking jackets are NOT going to keep you warm once the temperature drops below 10 degrees. I got mine for 40 EUR from Kleiderkreisel which is an online portal for selling and buying second-hand clothes! A new Northface jacket can easily cost at least more than 150 EUR. So, unless you have the budget for it, it is better to get these second hand (bonus, you save the environment!) Another option for buying secondhand clothes online in Germany is Ebay Kleinanzeigen.
However, if you would rather buy a new one, Decathlon has great affordable options like this one! Some other brands selling quality hiking jackets are listed below,
These brands are all very durable but quite expensive! So, if you aren’t serious about hiking as a hobby, this can wait!
Optional Add – Ons for the Perfect European Hike
Smart Snacks
Food is fuel! Hiking burns a lot of calories, so it is extremely important to carry sufficient food and water. Although most alpine hikes have mountain huts along the way, you will always find apples and snicker bars in my hiking backpack in case I need an energy boost! If the hike is a bit longer, I carry bread, ham and cheese so I will have at least one meal covered.
If you are someone who is susceptible to muscle cramps while hiking, it is probably a good idea to carry some salty snacks, trail mixes, electrolytes with magnesium, and lots of water to prevent it! Hydration is really key and if you need a reminder to drink water, you can purchase a hydration pack and put it in your bag!
Sun Protection
European summer is quite harsh! On a bright day with clear skies, the rays can toast you in no time. Therefore, carrying a good sunscreen (SPF 40 or upwards) is always recommended. Moreover, the heat can make you sweat a LOT! Most hiking clothes are breathable but if this causes you discomfort, it is better to carry an extra t-shirt and a pair of socks!
If you are hiking in winter, sunglasses with proper UV protection are also necessary to protect your eyes. Snow reflects nearly 80% of the sun’s rays. This means that on a clear winter day, your eyes will be subjected to 80% more light when compared to snowless terrain.
GPS Device
Almost all official beginner hikes in the Alps are signposted using a yellow board! Therefore, if you are a beginner, a GPS device is not an absolute necessity! However, it is good to know that the trails don’t always have network connections and you will truly be in the wilderness! Investing in a GPS device is thus not a bad idea but I personally don’t have one yet! As an alternative, I always have offline maps in my phone and a fully charged, extra powerbank to make sure my phone doesn’t die on me!
Get Fit!
If you come from an Indian household like I do, you would already know that Indian mothers and pampering go hand in hand. Thus, When I moved to Europe, I was in the worst shape of my life. I could barely climb a few meters without huffing and panting. During my first ever hike here, four years ago, there was an old lady as old as my grandma much fitter than I was. That was my wake-up call to get fit!
Approximately a year later, I felt strong enough to embark on a hiking adventure again and this time, I fell in love with hiking as a sport! Ever since then, I truly enjoy the whole process of climbing up the mountain and look forward to conquering peaks!
Staying active is a blessing and the benefits it can draw to your mind and soul are priceless. Find an activity you enjoy doing (E.g., running, walking, HIIT training, boxing, resistance training, yoga, cycling, pilates…) and try to do it for 30 minutes a day, 3 – 4 times a week.
Lastly, always carry a mini-medical kit whenever you are hiking (and traveling in general!)! You never know when that weird, thorny shrub might prick you. Or when you might trip over that ugly root formation and fall! As the old proverb goes, it is better to be safe than sorry!
Hiking is my all-time favorite sport and the joy I get from it is like no other! I hope this guide helps you find the perfect gear, embark on your hiking journey and fall in love with it like I did! If you would like to plan your first hike in Europe, check out my travel guide on Olpererhütte! It is a relatively easy hike and you will be rewarded with the best views!
If you have any more questions regarding cheap hiking gear, hiking for beginners, places to hike in the Alps or anything else drop them in the comments below, I will be glad to answer them!
A lot of the photos featured in this blog are taken by my friend, @doyouflash.
Super useful! I am not from Europe but your helpful tips will aid hikers around the globe 😊