Image: 5 Great Gadgets for walking when you are visiting your holiday home
Wherever you have your UK holiday home, a walk is a wonderful way to make the most of it.
We’re going to skip boots and socks (if you see what we mean) because they are pretty much essential for any serious walking, and there’s so much choice we could make a separate subject of them. We could have included so many of the other ideas and suggestions available for walkers now; things like head torches, sports watches, and First Aid kits are getting better and more accessible all the time. We’ve picked just 5 things that we think are interesting and useful. They’re things that add fun too. It’s our choice - so here goes!
Image: 5 Great Gadgets for walking when you are visiting your holiday home
Holiday homes by the sea are a great starting point for a stroll. Pump up your performance with Hiking Poles
Hiking Poles might, as a first impression, seem a bit less than essential for a stroll. Some might see them as more suitable for serious long-distance hiking. But, they are seriously worth considering because they do have lots of benefits. Stability is an obvious point. Sometimes, even on a simple walk, you can encounter a difficult section of path, or a rocky outcrop, and hiking poles will really help you navigate obstacles. They ease the stress on your joints too, making a walk less demanding on your hips and knees. And experts agree that hiking poles help you establish a rhythm in your walking.
Hiking Poles come in many styles and types, but it’s a good idea, certainly for starters, to look for the lighter-weight ones. They are less heavy to carry (obvs!) but they’re easier to use too. And modern technology means that lightweight does not mean less durable. These poles are made to last. Look for a good ergonomic design - something that’s easy and comfortable to handle. There are lots of brands to choose from but the more we looked the more we came up with TrekBud as a name worth checking out.
Image: 5 Great Gadgets for walking when you are visiting your holiday home
By the Waveney River Centre, or wherever you walk, you’ll want the right backpack
It’s not that you to need to take tons of stuff with you, it’s just that it’s easier, safer and more comfortable to take what you do need stowed in a pack on your back. Nowadays there is an advantage of course. A back pack is totally acceptable as an alternative to a briefcase for business, and ideal as a shopping bag for the supermarket. So you get loads of multiple uses out of them. As to what to look for when choosing a back pack we place comfort high on the list. Go for good padding and adjustable straps. Try it on. It’s important. Next, look for a pack that has the right number of pockets and compartments. It’s so annoying when you can’t find something in there. Isn’t it? You know it is! And check out the weight. Most modern packs are sensible in this department but lightweight is good. We kind of hate to mention this but waterproof material is a good idea too. It’s not that we’re saying it’s going to rain throughout your holiday, but it can happen. Keep your kit dry. Brands to look out for include Montaine, Craghoppers and Gregory Katmai.
Image: 5 Great Gadgets for walking when you are visiting your holiday home
Great Yarmouth golf course or woodland walks; hydration is essential so a water bottle is a must
A must for your backpack. A water bottle. We’re more aware of the need for hydration nowadays and we really have learned that it’s vital when you’re out walking. It sounds simple, but a water bottle can offer more features than you might think. CrazyCap for example now have a water purifier and self cleaning insulated water bottle. We’re talking ultraviolet rays that stop bacteria from breeding in your water. No, really. It’s a thing. In fact, water bottle design has moved on so much that there are quite a few issues to address when it comes to choosing. Which material? Aluminum? Stainless steel? Or Tritan? That’s the new, safe, very lightweight plastic. Look at the top of a water bottle too. Screw top is classic but there are other ‘mechanisms’ if you need something that’s easier to manage. Think as well about volume. How much water do you need to carry?
Over and above your hydration there’s one other great benefit of a water bottle for walking and hiking. They save the planet from single use bottles. Brands to look for? Klean Kanteen. GSI Outdoors Microlite. Ocean Bottle. And there are loads more. Quench your thirst for knowledge by diving in to a search engine of air choice.
Image: 5 Great Gadgets for walking when you are visiting your holiday home
UK holidays offer so much to see. See it all better with a Monocular
Having a means of magnifying the view is always a great addition to a walk. Obviously, there is still a vast choice of binoculars and telescopes on the market. They range in price and quality from relatively cheap entry-level kit to seriously impressive devices for the dedicated bird watcher or rambler. Well worth considering for every day, holiday, walking and strolling, is a Monocular. The Gosky High Definition devices are great but at a more basic level try something like the Prime Optixs Pro HD 10x Monocular. It’s a great companion for walking, as it’s easy to carry and fits nicely in your hand. Waterproof and lightweight it’s a great accessory. There is a lot of choices out there. Take a closer look.
Image: 5 Great Gadgets for walking when you are visiting your holiday home
Suffolk cottages by the sea and Lincolnshire caravans are great walking locations. A Personal Locator Beacon is a great walking idea
Don’t panic. This is not a suggestion that you need an emergency kit because you are destined to get lost in dangerous circumstances. But, if you did need help then a locator beacon makes a lot of sense. There’s more to it than that though. Devices from brands like Garmin allow you to upload maps and even weather forecasts. It’s brilliant for planning your walk. Just double-check that satellite devices are allowed in the area you’re walking through. Check out similar gadgets; you’ll find masses of information online.
Walking was always a great thing to do. Gadgets are the go-to ideas to make it better still.
