Bivouac and Hiking – 5 mistakes to avoid!

For movie buffs who know it, we all remember the tragic ending of the feature film "Into The Wild". The film tells the true story of a student who leaves everything to go alone in the wilderness. A single small mistake ends up costing him his life (if you have never seen this film, we can only recommend it to you!) All this to say that, when we go in bivouac, trek Or simple hike, it is essential to always remain vigilant.

Here are 5 preconceived ideas that you should definitely not follow in your adventures, at the risk of having some surprises!

Misconception No. 1

Hydrate by eating snow

Bad idea #1! Snow is mostly air and a little bit of water. Eating snow while you're treks is a bad idea for several reasons: it will cool your body, cause diarrhea. Even worse, consuming snow over several days could disrupt your body (ph, blood flow, etc.). Many mountaineers have encountered serious problems after consuming snow-based drinks for several days.

For your bivouacs And hiking, equip yourself with insulated bottles And water tanks ! In case of emergency, always boil the snow before consuming it.

Misconception No. 2

The bivouac and the attacks of wild animals…

Who has never had a few cold sweats during their nights in bivouac ? Indeed, the noises that can be heard in the middle of the night when sleeping in the forest can be rather impressive. However, you do not risk much. If our collective unconscious is inhabited by many stories of wild and bloodthirsty beasts that devour our children, the reality is fortunately very different. In France, there is no evidence of wolf, bear, lynx, etc. attacks on hikers. On the other hand, dog attacks are much more widespread, so be vigilant around inhabited areas. Your walking sticks can also be very useful to you in repelling them in an emergency.

So don't panic! As a precaution, however, use common sense and don't leave food or a cooking pot not washed around your bivouac tent. If you are lucky enough to see a wild boar with its piglets, do not bother them. Choose your tent pitch! Avoid setting up in the middle of a pasture path, this will prevent you from waking up in the middle of a herd!

Misconception No. 3

Fear of cold and back pain

In the mountains, forests and even in the middle of the desert, the nights can be cool or even cold at the place of bivouac camp. But don't panic, today there is a whole range of products that allow you to bivouac warm and comfortable.

For many years, specialist brands have been constantly striving to offer products that meet the many needs of bivouacs And hiking. For example, the teams at Millet have developed a whole range of sleeping bags suitable for very low temperatures. If you are sensitive to the cold or are going on an adventure in cool places, a sleeping bag like the Millet Light Down -10 will be your ideal companion.

And if you are worried about back pain or not sleeping well, a lot of progress has also been made on the mattress side. For example, we offer mattresses for rent Sea To Summit mattress which combine comfort and lightness. The models Comfort Plus Insulated And Comfort Light Insulated are references in the field.

As you will have understood, the time when sleeping in a tent was a real ordeal is long gone. Today it is possible to travel light and comfortably for all your escapades.

Misconception No. 4

You can drink cactus water

In movies, we often see thirsty adventurers hacking a cactus with a machete to drink their water in abundance. Be careful, in real life it's a completely different story. First of all, if the cactus does indeed contain water, it is in a solid state inside its cells. In addition, the sap of some cacti contains acids and alkalis that can be harmful to the body. In conclusion, you will be more likely to cause vomiting and accelerate your dehydration than anything else.

So leave the cactus "water" to the cowboys in the movies and take water tanks in your hiking backpacks..

Misconception No. 5

Equipping yourself for hiking and bivouacking is expensive!

Again, wrong!!! Indeed, quality equipment is expensive. But there is an ideal solution to obtain bivouac tents, hiking bags, sleeping bags and many other products… for a low price: O'rentees.

Renting a bivouac pack, hiking pack, bushcraft pack, bikepacking pack is the best way to enjoy outdoor equipment from major brands without breaking the bank.

And the longer you rent, the cheaper it is, so go for it!!!

To give you an idea, here are some of our summer packs: