Hiking Equipment for Hawaii
Expounding on the information shared with you on the tips page, the following are staff recommendations based on personal experience with the rugged terrain and muddy trails on Oahu. You'll note there are only a few items. That's because, in our opinion, you really need nothing more than good traction and lots of water in addition to common sense planning. Everything else is up to you and your personal needs and preferences (i.e. first aid kits, gaiters, sun screen, trail pants).
Please take a moment to consider what we're endorsing here. We wouldn't unless they worked for us!
Aloha!
...and thank you for visiting Backyard Oahu's equipment recommendations page! Please note that, like our
Bookstore page,
all proceeds from purchases made through the links on this page go directly
to this website's operating expenses. As such, thank you in advance for buying terrific equipment for yourself
while keeping Backyard Oahu a free, non-commercial hiking resource for the public!
Please note: Backyard Oahu does not receive credit unless you use the links
supplied on this page. In other words, please come back to this page if you want to order a different item or
purchase at a later date.
Mahalo!
Other items purchased by Backyard Oahu visitors:
Nike Land Shark III |
Nope, these are obviously not your typical hiking shoes!
These cleated shoes are actually meant for the football field. They are, nonetheless, absolutely superb on the typical Koolau mountain trail. The non-metallic cleats help dig into the wet mushy/grassy ups and downs yet they aren't as harsh to the trail as metal spikes (like on golf shoes). They don't offer ankle support like high-top hiking boots but this is an advantage since you need some ankle flexibility when you maneuver up and down walls of mud. Furthermore, the spacey cleats and light shoe design together do not clump and pick up heavy water-logged mud - thus, lighter feet equals faster feet. And, they're perfect for walking right through streams - no need to rock-hop to keep your hiking boots from getting bogged down full of water. These drain as quickly as they get wet.
Taking the advice from a fellow hiker in the 1990s, I've used Nike Sharks for years and now absolutely refuse to wear regular hiking boots on virtually all of Oahu's trails. They're equally great on the football/ soccer field when you're not hiking.
The catalog description says it all: "Features performance leather and defense mesh uppers for enhanced breathability and support. The rubber shark outsole features bi-level cleats for enhanced traction on even the worst field conditions. Aggressive multipurpose cleat design. One of the all-time great shoes for outdoor field sports..."
The best part is, these football shoes are cheaper than those fancy $150 hiking boots! The models have changed over the years (now model version III) but the price range has remained steady. It varies between off-season ($19.99) and peak-season ($39.99).
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| Camelbak Blowfish Hydration System |
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BackcountryStore.com offers various colors, versions, and FREE SHIPPING |
Believe it or not, I started hiking Oahu's mountains with reused glass Snapple bottles. Then, as I got smarter (huh!), I switched to recycling soda bottles. But, I was always annoyed at stopping to take off my pack, pulling out a bottle for a swig, repacking said bottle, and continuing on. I ended up not drinking enough!
At the same time, I was dragging a ridiculous orange, external-frame backpack - a hand-me-down from my old Boy Scout days. It, combined with the heavy glass bottles, made for an exhaustive push through vegetated trails and muddy rollercoastering.
So, I learned the hard way...
When I discovered hydration packs, talk about WOW - what a godsend! This miraculous backpack stays fixed to your body - no flopping about as you hop rocks or climb cliffs. It stays streamlined and narrow enough for all the ducking and diving through branches and fronds you'll do. It holds all your water, feeds you that water on-demand through a spiffy water tube/bite valve combination, and can carry just enough supplies for your day hiking needs.
The model shown here is the exact one I use! The Camelbak brand has proven its durability for me. (My first brand was a Platypus and became disappointed in its construction - the bladder leaked and the backpack was easily torn).
No product or liability warranty, either expressed or implied, is to be inferred from this website.
Purchase and use of recommended products is done at your own risk.
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