How do mountain bike gloves protect your hand?

Posted by on January 22, 2018 in Cycling, Mountain activities

Mountain bike gloves

Cycling is an activity liked by many of us because it is not only conducive to good health but also enjoyable. People of different age groups start cycling for a variety of reasons. Some cycle to keep themselves in good shape, while others as part of their aerobic exercises to improve health, and some for the purpose of recreation and sports. Whatever the reason is, there are some requirements of cycling, that is – bike clothing, cycling shoes, a helmet, gloves, a waterproof jacket, a backpack, pumps, spares and tools, eyewear, and you can add up to the list.

How do mountain bike gloves protect your hand?

In this article, the focus will specifically be on how mountain bike gloves can protect your hands. When it comes to mountain biking, the gloves are not the first thing that comes to mind, but it is an essential that every biker wants to have it in their cycling gears. There are a lot of reasons why a mountain biker should wear gloves, but I will try to talk about the important ones in detail. They are the following:

  1. Protection

It is a well-known fact that mountain bikers are susceptible to falls while riding. Of course, no one wants to have a crash but accidents do happen regardless of how cautious you are. Imagine you hit a rock or have a crash, the very first thing you would do, as a natural reaction, is using your hands to hold something, to catch yourself. While doing so, you are likely to hurt your hands in the shape of getting cuts, scrapes, or abrasions. Also, sliding across the paving or rocks can tear up the palms. The gloves are an absolute life-saver in such situations. They save your hands from skidding across gravel and dirt, and also protecting them from high-speed brushes against trees and plants along the trail. In short, the gloves protect the hands in an event of a crash and ensure the safety of hands when the biker is going at high speed through whipping trees branches.

  1. Enhanced Grip and Control

Enhanced Grip and Control

Sweat is something that we don’t like but the palms can get sweaty, especially if the weather is warm and humid while riding. When the palms are sweaty, the biker can easily lose his grip and has less control on the handlebars, which increases the likelihood of an accident to occur. When the palms are sweaty, the biker is likely to have their hands slipped off the handlebars and make an avoidable mistake. Moreover, sweaty palms make it somewhat difficult to change shifts. Sweaty palms are also irritating. The gloves soak up the sweat, keep the hands dry and thereby help in improving the grip which in turns enhances the biker’s grip and control, ensuring protection against accidents.

  1. Comfort

Mountain biking is not easy. It requires a strenuous effort. If you have ever ridden a mountain bike for a couple of hours, you must have realized that it can be very hard on hands. Since mountain biking is all about riding in rough terrain – biking up and down, hitting bumps and taking small drops. It does take a toll on the body, and it doesn’t take long for blisters to develop. The hands feel beat up after a ride. The bike gloves make your ride enjoyable by keeping your hands comfortable, and also, protect your skin from developing blisters. Having no fear of such small injuries, you are set to ride your bike freely.

  1. Warmth

In cold weather conditions, one can’t ride a bike without the hands being properly covered up. The biker wants to keep his hands warm in order to work the brakes and gear shifter like normal. There are gloves specifically designed for cool weathers that are well insulated and padded that not only keep the hands warm but also offer dexterity on the bike, making it easier for the biker to ride more freely. For summer, the gloves are designed to keep the hands cool and offer good grip. Fingerless gloves are also an option for summer for those who have a problem with full gloves.

  1. Absorption of Shocks

Absorption of Shocks

Mountain biking is an activity full of shocks. Unlike road cycling, riding trails are very rough. The biker has to go uphill and downhill, braking and jumping bumps, which means there will be a lot of shocks.  Imagine when you are riding a man-made or natural trail and you hit a bump or a rock, which causes harsh land landings, the shocks produced are transferred to your body. Later on, you have achy hands and shoulders due to the direct absorption of the impact. The gloves serve a very useful function of absorbing shocks. The bike gloves have padding and built-in gel that absorbs most of the impact of the shock before it gets into the body and saves you from potential hands and shoulder aches.

  1. Reducing Vibration and Friction

The gloves also dampen the vibration coming out of handlebars that causes hands/fingers numbness or discomfort. Also, they reduce the constant friction between your hands and the handlebars which could otherwise cause blisters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, biking gloves are an important part of the biker’s gear because they serve several important functions. A biker with mountain biking experience wouldn’t ride the bike without them as they ensure good grip and protection. The gloves are durable enough to withstand any impacts encountered while riding. Without the gloves, the biker is at more risks of accidents. Since mountain biking is about riding dirt trails, the hands’ discomfort/numbness caused while riding is greatly eliminated by gloves. Thus, if you plan on a mountain bike, you shouldn’t forget adding the protective gloves to your gear.

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What should you notice about rock climbing for kids?

Posted by on January 22, 2018 in Mountain activities, Rock climbing

rock climbing for kids

Rock climbing will give you the special fun when you are good at it. If you are a beginner or you want to teach your kids’ rock climbing, then you need to have the necessary information and safety tips for climbing. In this advanced age of science and technology, children are addicted to indoor games as well as junk food. It leaves a bad effect on their mental as well as physical health. In old ages, children used to play outside and spend time in running, playing as well as climbing and they used to be active and smart. While these days, parents are always worried about the fitness of their children and their sedentary lifestyles. Climbing is best for such kids. Parents should encourage their kids to do this activity to make them active.

This article is dedicated to parents and beginners. Before you step out and give your children a chance to play rock climbing, read this article to know about the important information about rock climbing for children.

Some Safety Tips for Rock Climbing for Kids

You are happy that your kid is climbing the rock and he is learning new thing which adds something to his experience, but nothing is more important than the life and security of your child.

  • Make sure that your children are able to understand instructions and knows well how to start climbing. This will help them take care of themselves and stay away from any injury.
  • Your kids are starting his new adventure, and you are very cautious. You should protect them by preparing a padded mat below.
  • Kids are always careless, and they don’t know about the safety gears. But you are adult and you know it so well that you have to save your child from accidents and slips during climbing. You should equip safety gears like helmet, rope, shoes for your kids.
  • The climbing harness is essential during climbing. It will prevent your children from slipping and falling. But keep in mind that harness should not be too tight.
  • Always make it sure that your children are always under proper instructions and supervision. No matter how much practice he has, you should not take the risk. There should be someone with them, to guide them and take care of them.

Some Techniques for Rock Climbing

  1. Warm Up and Stretch:

Warm Up and Stretch

Ask your kids to warm himself up by stretching and walking. Stretching helps them increase blood circulation and it also helps in the flexibility of body which helps in climbing. Your children must learn the basic warm up and stretch exercises which will help him in having a smooth climbing and avoid injuries.

  1. Better use of Grip:

While climbing, the most important thing is gripping. While climbing, try to have a relax grip and don’t panic. Some people go for over-gripping and which cause imbalance and slipping. Let your child practice to have the proper grip and use of hands. You can do it in your home too by faking rocks and help your children climb on it until they are good at it. The more your kid is good at gripping and climbing, the safer and happier your kid will be.

  1. Good balance:

Along with good grip, the good balance is also important. How can someone climb a rock without balance? If someone is not having the balance, he will surely slip or fall. Good balance is one the important climbing techniques. Balance depends on how to use your use your feet and weight of your body. It doesn’t matter whether you are smart or fat, you can get the balance if you know the basic method. You might open or close your feet but remember that the center of the balance is the mass of your body. It means your main focus should be your body.

Your child is naive, and he has no idea of how to have a good balance. You are the one to teach your child knows about balancing, so he can climb smoothly and effortlessly. The best way to improve the balance of your kid is to ask him to get over the wall with his feet and hands only. At the start, he would have some difficulty but with the passage of time, he will be expert in it.

  1. Smooth Movement:

Smooth Movement

Teach your kid to be aware of his feet and hands to help him have the smooth climbing. If he is not aware of his movements, he might fall or slip. Tell him to be calm and tranquil. He should not panic and stress if he loses his balance, rather he should be stable and relaxed and gain his balance again.

  1. Performing a Good Control:

You have taught everything to your child and now he has started climbing and you feel he is good at it. But what if he falls? What if he slips? He is good at it, yet he is not an expert. More than basic skills, don’t forget to teach your kids to have the basic mental control. Let him face every situation and he should know how to act and recover in such situations.

  1. Observing and Learning:

Your kid has not learned climbing yet and you are teaching him. But you are not satisfied, and you feel that he must learn it again. The best way to do it is to take him out and let him observe the climbing of others. Let him sit there and watch how people climb. After that ask him to practice everything he observes and learns.

Conclusion

Children are like the flowers of a garden. When they smile, it feels as if the whole world is smiling. You want to teach them every new thing, but you should be very careful. Because safety is the real concern for our children when they are climbing the rock, or anything related. At first, you must aware your kids about the cautions and things that need to take care of.

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What are the main factors to have a safe camping trip?

Posted by on January 11, 2018 in Camping, Mountain activities

safe camping trip

Everyone wants to enjoy life and spend some time in the lap of nature. It’s the habit as well as nature of humans being to explore new worlds and get one with the universe. People like to go out with their family and friends. Camping is one of the things which are most preferred by people. Camping is a fun way to get family and friends together to enjoy the outdoors. Before going out, one should keep in mind that it’s not easy to go out and stay safe there. One should keep all these things in mind to have a safe camping trip.

15 things you should remember to have a safe camping trip

1. First of all, the most important thing while going out is Vaccination. Immunizations can help secure against specific ailments and conditions while outdoors. Check with your specialist or medical caretaker to check whether you’ve had the greater part of the suggested antibodies. He or she may prescribe lockjaw, pertussis (whooping hack), meningitis, as well as hepatitis A, contingent upon your restorative history, goal, and different elements.

2. Secondly, everyone should keep safe and hygienic food while having a camping trip. Contaminated food and water can cause certain infectious diseases so one should be very careful.keep safe and hygienic food
Follow these steps to keep your food and water safe:
• Pack food in tight, waterproof sacks or holders. Keep them in a protected cooler.
• Wash hands and surfaces frequently. Utilize hand sanitizer if water isn’t accessible.
• Separate crude nourishments from cooked sustenance.
• Cook food to appropriate temperatures (for example, ground hamburger ought to be cooked to an inside temperature of no less than 160 degrees).

3. The most important thing is to figure out your necessary gears. You have an idea that how long you will stay there so it’s better to make a list of all the possible gadgets you will need there. If you want to go for hiking and climbing then there is no need to take extra weight rather you must the one which you can carry easily. Don’t take fancy extras, they will only bother you and won’t give you any comfort.

4. While camping, you would like to explore the wild world and communicate with animals. But don’t forget that they could be harmful. They may look well disposed and charming yet they are exceptionally unusual and defensive. You should be ready and mindful of your encompassing while at the same time strolling around. The most imperative thing to be remembered is that there is no compelling reason to encourage them. A large portion of the wounds will happen when you attempt to sustain them.

5. Camping is not only for elders. Children are also part of camping. It’s not easy to take care of children during camping so you should supervise them wisely. Ask them to stay around and don’t try to mess with something dangerous. There should be a fixed meeting place where everyone should gather at the end of a joyful day. It will prevent you from unnecessary worry and headache of finding and calling your children. Don’t forget to keep a picture of your children in case they get lost.Children camping

6. You are supposed to take care of your eyes as well as skin. Keep sunscreen and sunglasses in your bag. If the weather is hot, you can get skin burn. Shield your eyes from the scorching heat of the sun as well as the glare of the water and snow. Sunburn can destroy your trip as well as pictures.

7. Its okay to walk alone when you are near your home. But there is no need to climb and hike alone when you are camping. Walk with a companion and don’t forget to inform others about your plans. You should take a lot of food, matches, and lamp. There should be a map and compass in your bag. Keep yourself updated about climate.

8. You wear your favorite dress and you are ready for a wonderful trip but you forgot to wear socks and use insect repellent which can cause you a big problem. While roaming around, don’t forget to use insect repellent. Avoid high grass as well as tick trees. Avoid insects and ticks. If a tick attack doesn’t panic just pull it out carefully. Don’t crush or squeeze it. You may get some skin allergy. After that, wash your hands with soap and disinfect the specific area.

9. Pay special attention to endangered animals. Be careful while strolling around and touching different things. While picking up a stick or sitting randomly somewhere, be very careful and cautious. Snakes are not brave. If they feel debilitated they may make some sudden attack, leaving you speechless. Remain silent and move slowly away from them.

10. You are having purified water in your car but still, if you forget to take water with yourself, you must know the system of water purification in case of using natural water somewhere around your camp.

11. Everyone likes to play with water but water can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. While sitting on the bank of a river or stream, must watch your movements as well as of your children. Don’t overplay with water and be within your limits. If someone is not good at swimming then there is no need to try either.

12. Pay attention to the weather forecast. It can change in the blink of an eye. You should be prepared for it.Pay attention to the weather forecast

13. One should be extremely cautious with gas canisters. Keep upright frequently. Keep them outside of the ventilated area. Regularly check them for leakage and don’t forget to put cleanser fluid on all links. Turn it off when you are not using it.

14. Be careful not to spill fuel. Use a funnel to fill the tank.

15. Practice good fire safety.
The above-mentioned things are important to be read if you are going out for camping. Keep all these things in your mind and have a joyful and memorable camping with your friends.

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Top 5 trekking shoes you should choose

Posted by on January 8, 2018 in Hiking, Mountain activities

Trekking shoes

Camping is an outdoor activity that is preferred and enjoyed by everyone. People think that camping is expensive and complex while in reality, it is something very cheap and fun. Anyone having time and energy can easily go out and enjoy camping with friends and relatives. For camping, one should not have supposed to have experience, as experience comes with time and observation.  If you are starting out with camping, you should not forget to have all necessary equipment to be safe and sound outdoors. The most important thing in camping is to have the comfortable shoes which will help you walk and keep your feet healthy and strong.

Camp shoes play an important role in your camping as they keep your feet healthy and don’t let you get tired easily. If you are not having proper shoes you will feel exhausted easily and soon you will be fed up with your camping. Before talking about shoes, we must talk about the health and importance of feet.

First of all, one should let his feet breath. Because in camping, people like to go out, enjoying hiking and walking to see the beauty of nature and to have solace in the lap of Mother Nature. After hiking and having a long walk, your feet will be so tired and steamy and most probably blistered up, so you should take care of them instead of ignoring it. While going to sleep, don’t forget to wash your feet and wear socks.

Things to look for while choosing trekking shoes

One should follow these steps while choosing the shoes.

  • Your shoes must be hike-able because you will do some walking and running around the camp while enjoying with your friends. You might love to sit near some stream or have a walk near a hill, so your shoes must be comfortable, allowing you to have a free walk and prevent any slip and slide.
  • When we think about camping, the first thing which comes to our mind is water and walking by river or stream. A camp without the company of water seems so boring. Therefore, one should not forget to keep waterproof shoes. If you are not having waterproof shoes, it means you will have to suffer from soggy shoes and uneasiness while going on.
  • The most important thing while choosing trekking shoes is to see whether they are lightweight or not. You are going out and you are having necessary stuff. So, you won’t like to take some extra burden. Therefore, shoes must be lightweight, so they must save you from unnecessary burden and tiredness. Nothing over 16 oz (1 lb). Around 6-12 oz is ideal.
  • Another thing while choosing your shoes is to select a pair without laces. It would be better if your selection is a pair with a slip or simple strap. Something, which you can use with one hand or within seconds without any difficulty and wastage of time.

Trekking shoes you should choose

1. Water Shoes

There are several shoes which are made of water. For example, water shoes, canoe shoes, kayak shoes, boat shoes etc. They are specifically made for water and could be found in any mart with cheap price. They are not expensive. While buying them, don’t forget to buy them with well-vented fabric which will keep your feet dry.

2. CrocsCrocs

Crocs are considered to be the king of camp shoes. It is the best thing to be kept with you while camping. They are not waterproof, but they are good for trekking.  It has a belt strap and it is very durable during camping and trekking. Along with these benefits, they have one shortcoming and that is extra weight. They weight a lot typically at least 12 oz.

3. Vivo barefoot

Many advanced shoes do not have a natural foot shape and they damage feet. But on the other hand, if we give space to feet for relaxation and playing then there is a chance of feet strengthen and re-aligning. Vivo barefoot is an example of such shoes. They allow you to have your space and feel comfortable. In contrast to Crocs, they are very lightweight and at the same time water resistance. The average pair weighs in around 8.5 oz. They are sustainable and not expensive either.

4. Minimalist SandalsMinimalist Sandals

These shoes are preferred by most of the hikers as they are ultra-light and durable. They are very good for a long walk and hiking.

5. Tough Sock

These shoes are new yet very popular. They came to this modern world recently. This is basically a shoe in the shape of a sock with some sole. This is also known as “Glove for feet.”

They are very light dense. They are not much wide, so you need to wash your feet regularly and take great care of it.

Conclusion

Enjoy a happy camping with the best pair of shoes. Don’t spoil your time by choosing an uncomfortable pair. In a nutshell, keep in the mind the following things while choosing your pair.

  • It should be lightweight to be easily kept in your bag.
  • Easy to wear and carry.
  • It should be stable and enough good to help you in hiking if you lose your boots.
  • It should be water-resistant to help you crossing rivers and doing good while playing with water.
  • Comfortable and airy to give your tired feet a break.

It’s human nature to enjoy and explore the natural world and take pleasure while doing so. It’s good if you are going out with your family and friends but don’t forget to take the necessary equipment with you. Take the best care of yourself as well as of your loved ones by providing them the best pair of shoes while having camping and climbing.

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Top 10 most important gears for a camping backpack

Posted by on January 8, 2018 in Camping, Mountain activities

Important gears for a camping backpack

You were waiting for spring and your holidays. Now spring is in its full swing, so you should take holidays and start acting on your plan. You have planned to go camping and now it’s the time to pack your bag and step out to embrace the soothing company of nature. First of all, you should make a list of all the necessary gears you want to take with yourself.  If you are finding any difficulty, you just look at the list below and it will help you a lot. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner, we have got you covered.

What gears you should take depend on the nature of your trip. If it’s a one day trip near some hill or river then you should bring few things with yourself.  But if you are going far away from populated base camp and you want to spend some days in the comforting arms of scenery then you must keep all essential things in your bag. Spending days away from your home means keeping all those things which can provide a comfortable environment there. Obviously, you can’t make a home there but you can make something comforting like home.

While buying gears for camping and back camping, the most important thing to be considered is weight and packability. You are not taking a number of bags with you rather you want to take only one bag so that you can go freely anywhere. You should not listen to others rather you should make your own list of gears; things you feel important for your trip. Most of the times, the list of essentials is the same for all.

Let’s start with the basic camping gears.  Take a page and pen and start noting it down.

  1. Tents, Tarps, and Stakes:

 How do you think of a camp without sleep? The most important essential thing other than food is sleep. No matter how much you enjoy during camping, you will surely have the need of a proper sleep. Therefore, a tent or a sleeping bag should be at the top of your priority list. There are different types of tents. They come in all sizes and types. But you should get the one with lightweight. Ultralight tents are very easy to carry and use.

  1. Hiking Boots or Shoes:

You are going out on a trip or camping. You are imagining taking pictures while hiking and sliding.  While thinking about fun and memories, you should not forget about your partner. Obviously, a pair of shoes.  The selection of boots depends on the nature of your camping.  First, you will get for sneakers. It’s okay if you are having a simple camping. But if you are planning to have a long backpacking trip then don’t forget to pick up the durable and dedicated shoes.  A pair of comfortable shoes will be your best partner as they will support you in every condition.

  1. First Aid KitFirst Aid Kit

Camping is fun, no doubt, but at the same time, one should not shut eyes to the open atmosphere and damage that could happen while enjoying the scenery of nature. During camping, none sit idle and lazy. Everyone wants to enjoy as much as one can, taking part in hiking, games and roaming here and there. This camping trip can cause burns, scratches as well as cuts. So, one should not forget to keep first aid kit as an important equipment during camping.  Don’t arrive at your camp without it, and be sure to take it on your excursions, as well.

  1. Pack of Matches

During camping, the most important thing other than water is fire. Just imagine a camping without the bone fire? Without the dizzy light of the fire at night while singing songs and sitting in a circle around the fire. It means you should keep a pack of matches with you. It is a small yet an important thing. Without fire, you would have limited food as you won’t like to eat, and you would surely crave for cooked food.

  1. Paper Maps

Another significant thing necessary for camping is maps. It doesn’t matter if you are camping or backpacking, you will surely have the need of a map. Most of the people think that in this advanced age of mobile and internet they can have access to the digital map, but one should not forget that while camping, there could be a signal problem.  So, while going out don’t forget to keep a map with yourself. It will help you and won’t let you get sidetracked. You can find a map from any shop and you can also download it online.

  1. Alternate Weather Wear

You are going for camping, you have kept all necessary equipment, yet you forgot to keep extra clothes with you. You were expecting a shiny smiling sun but you are subjected to the thundering and cool breeze. You will have to bear the cold as you won’t have necessary clothes. Therefore, you should keep an extra set of clothes with you, in case you face some weather change. The weather can change at the drop of the dime, so you should not spoil your trip.

  1. Lantern, Flashlight or HeadlampFlashlight

While camping, don’t forget to keep a light with you. During a day, you will be accompanied by the sweet company of sunlight but when night falls you will have to look for some light. You might have to go to the washroom or you might crave a midnight walk along with your companion. So, it’s better to keep a flashlight or lantern in your box. Most important, keep your light in some places which are easily reachable.

  1. Pocket KnifePocket Knife

Another camping essential is the pocket knife. It’s so ultra light and takes no space in your bag. You can also keep it in your pocket. Along with knife, you should keep scissors too. These are small yet essential for camping.

  1. Rope

Rope is important as if it has many uses during your camping. It will help you a lot if you are fond of hiking and climbing. At the same time, it is useful for tying your things. Secondly, when the weather is good, and you wash your clothes, it will help in making a clothesline. You can also hang your coolers from a branch at night. So you should not go on camping without a rope.

  1. Sunscreen

Don’t forget to keep a bottle of sunscreen in your bag. You are out and your face will be open to every damage of the atmosphere. You need a protection so sunscreen will take the best care of you. They are lightweight and easily available. You don’t have to worry about price.

In a nutshell, it’s not difficult to have camping. You just need to have an idea of all the necessary things you have to keep with yourself.  If you pack a good bag, you won’t suffer during your camping rather you will enjoy and share memories with your family and friends.

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