FITNESS & OUTDOORS

Escape the bustle by embarking on a day hike, decked out in the latest hiking gear picked by outdoors journalist Damian Hall

Get active indoors and out with the best new hiking kit and sweat-wicking gear

Good hiking kit starts with proper boots. So no, your flyknits won’t cut it. Instead, stride into the hills wearing Salomon’s Quest 4D 3 GTX boots ($429.95, salomon.com/ au), designed with fatigue-reducing tech to keep you light-footed throughout your hike. The boot is cushioned in all the right places, and there’s a rubber toe cap protecting your pinkies from any loose rocks.

Heading to the hills means you’re at the mercy of the weather, so it’s sensible to pack a spare waterproof layer. At a mere 108g the inov-8 Ultrashell Waterproof Jacket ($189, inov-8.com) is practically unnoticeable in your pack, yet provides excellent protection when the heavens do inevitably open.

Hydration is important not just on hot days. Sadly, water bottles add significant weight to backpacks. The slimline LifeStraw Go ($39.95, lifestraw.com) is different. It can be topped up only when needed, direct from a river or stream; the bottle uses two stages of filtration to remove waterborne bacteria, chlorine and organic chemical matter, so you can sip safely from the source.

Though you should always carry a map, Garmin’s Fenix 5 Plus ($1,299, garmin.com/ en-AU) helps you dodge topographical befuddlement. The outdoor-loving watch boasts routable maps, plus Garmin Pay for a post-hike tea or frothy lemonade without you having to bring your wallet on the hike.