Walking Gear and Paraphernalia
Here is a list of walking gear and paraphernalia that you may have the occasion to use during your walking career, depending upon where and when you walk.
Lip Balm - When you are out in the elements dry air, cold temperatures, and wind can draw moisture away from the body and have a drying effect on your lips. Lip balm seals moisture in the lips and protects them from external exposure. Some lip balms also contain sunscreens to minimize sun damage.
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Water Bottles - Whenever you exercise it is a good idea to keep yourself hydrated, particularly during warm weather. Carrying a water bottle with you while walking will enable you to drink as you go. Any small plastic bottle will do, but many varieties are available, including some that clip to your belt.
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Gatorade - Even walking at a moderate speed in an extremely hot and/or humid environment can cause you to sweat profusely. Drinking Gatorade or another similar sports drink during or after your walk can replace most or all of the potassium and electrolytes lost through perspiration.
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Walking Shoes or Hiking Boots - Unless you're always walking on grass or a sandy beach, you're going to need comfortable and sturdy footwear. For casual or occasional walking almost any pair of everyday shoes will suffice, but as your walking regimen becomes more regular and strenuous it is advisable to invest in footwear designed for the job and weather conditions. There are many good quality walking shoes and hiking boots vying for your consumer dollar; don't obsess over finding the "best" ones, look for a pair that is comfortable, provides adequate support, withstands the rigors it will be subjected to, and that is within your budget.
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Walking Clothes - The important thing to consider when selecting walking clothes is comfort. Depending upon the situation, what is comfortable can include being loose, flexible, cool, or warm. So what you wear to be comfortable could encompass thermal underwear, sweatpants, hiking shorts, tank tops, cotton socks, etc.
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Sweatbands - Sweatbands are cloth bands worn around the forehead to absorb sweat and keep it from reaching the eyes. They are particularly useful when walking in hot, humid conditions. Sweatbands are often made of terrycloth, which allows accumulated sweat to be easily squeezed out when the sweatband becomes saturated. Folded bandanas can also serve this purpose.
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Sunscreen - The American Cancer Society recommends using sunscreen because it prevents squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. It absorbs or reflects ultraviolet (UV) radiation on skin exposed to sunlight, which helps protect against sunburn. Research has shown that the best protection is achieved by applying it 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun, followed by one reapplication 15-30 minutes after exposure to the sun begins. Additional applications are only necessary following swimming, sweating, and rubbing or wiping the skin.
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Sunglasses - Just like any other time when you're out in the sun, it's good to wear sunglasses when you're walking in order to protect your eyes from glare and UV.
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Walking Sticks - Some walkers and hikers like to use walking sticks, primarily for maintaining balance, maneuvering, and reducing stress on the back, knees, legs, and feet. Depending upon the size of the user, walking sticks range between four and six feet long. Often they are made for a single journey, fashioned out of a scavenged fallen tree branch. Walking sticks are available commercially from many sporting goods stores and wood carvers.
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Sun Hats - Those who are fair-skinned or susceptible to skin cancer are well advised to use sun hats if they walk outdoors when the sun is out. There are some sun hats on the market that do a better job of providing UV protection than others, but regardless of which one you choose you should also apply sunscreen, particularly on your chin and cheeks, for complete protection against reflected UV that can bounce up under the brim of your hat.
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Cold Weather Hats - Since a lot of body heat is lost through your head, you need to wear a warm hat when you walk in cold weather in order to stay warm and, in extreme cases, avoid hypothermia. There are no shortage of them on the market in most areas.
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Fanny Packs - If you wear loose-fitting clothes without pockets when you walk, a fanny pack (a small fabric or leather pouch secured with a zipper and worn at the waist by a strap around the hips) can come in handy for carrying such things as ID, cell phones, lip balm, sunscreen, energy bars, water, etc.
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Pedometers - When exploring new paths and routes, pedometers can be useful for gauging the distance traveled. They are devices that count your steps and/or mileage. Pedometers come with a variety of features. Some of them will even calculate calories burned. The most sophisticated versions utilize GPS systems.
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Heart Rate Monitors - If you're the type of person who likes gadgets and tracking data, you may want to invest in a heart rate monitor. They are a high-tech way to measure exertion. There are even Wireless types comprised of a belt worn around the chest and a wristwatch display.
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