Must-Have Camping Gear for Your Norwegian Outdoor Adventure

Good Gear Jack

Jake was 3 days into his solo backpacking trip across western Norway when the blue skies suddenly darkened. Having spent years saving up for this adventure, he made sure to spare no expense on the right gear, even if it meant extra weight in his pack.

As fat raindrops began pelting his rain jacket, Jake quickened his pace. The winds violently whipped up the rain into a blurry haze. Pulling his hood tightly around his face, Jake leaned into the powerful gusts. His waterproof pants swished with each labored step but kept him dry underneath.

Just as Jake crested a hill, a blinding lightning bolt struck a nearby tree, splitting it down the middle with a deafening crack. Adrenaline flooded his veins as he staggered backwards, avoiding the tree's collapse by mere inches.

With rain stinging his eyes, Jake struggled to get his bearings. He needed to get to lower ground immediately. Gripping his trekking poles, he pressed forward using their stability to stay upright amidst the building mudslides. Rocks and debris washed across the trail, but Jake’s grippy hiking boots held their traction.

Bad Gear Jack

Jake was eager to start his solo backpacking trip across Norway. But with a tight budget, he could only afford basic gear from the thrift store instead of high-end equipment.

The first few days of the trip were perfect with sunny skies. But on the fourth day, menacing storm clouds rolled in. As Jake pitched his discounted tent in a rush, the first raindrops started falling. Overnight, the drizzle turned into a torrential downpour with howling winds.

Jake emerged from his tent in the morning shivering, the thin nylon exterior providing little protection from the elements. He pulled on his cheap vinyl rain jacket, but the plastic material was already ripping at the seams. As he packed up, fierce winds tore the tent from its stakes, whipping it down the hillside.

With visibility near zero in the blinding rain, Jake tried orienting himself using his compass. But it spun in circles, too broken to offer any direction. Gripping his flimsy folding umbrella, Jake pressed forward hoping to find shelter from the unrelenting weather.

Finally, Jake spotted a rocky overhang in the distance that could provide shelter to wait out the storm. He made a beeline for it, fighting against the wind threatening to knock him over at any moment. Diving under its cover, Jake caught his breath and said a silent thank you for the top-of-the-line gear that had prevented this storm from turning deadly. He hunkered down, listening to the rain drum overhead, grateful to be dry and safe.

The trail soon turned into a muddy river, carrying debris and rocks in its wake. Jake’s worn sneakers had no traction, and he slipped repeatedly on the slick terrain. A bolt of lightning struck just feet away, the deafening thunderclap leaving Jake’s ears ringing.

Panicking, he tried to run but each step in the mud threatened to pull off his shoes. A small avalanche of rock cascaded down the hillside, and without any poles to balance, Jake was knocked off his feet. He tumbled down into a ravine, sticks and stones bruising his body through his drenched clothing.

Laying battered at the bottom, Jake realized just how foolish it had been to gamble with unsuitable gear. As the storm raged on, he knew this misjudgment could now cost him his life.