The Quick Gear Test That Saves Your Trip

You wouldn't start a hike without boots ….

So why skip testing your gear?

That shiny new stove.
The GPS app you have just downloaded.
A fresh out of the box water filter.

We want to believe they’ll just work.

But here’s the thing: the trail is the worst place to find out they don’t.

🤦‍♂️ Trail Reality Check:

• GPS app? Dead weight with no offline maps (Ask me how I know!).

• Camp stove? No flame, no dinner.

• Backup Battery? Brand new and won’t charge my device. Tough news on day 6 of an extended hike.

These fails can turn a dream hike into a frustrating mess - fast.

🛠️ The Fix? Fail at Home:

Do this quick gear check before you leave your house:

✅ Fire up your stove in the backyard.
✅ Download offline GPS maps and test them in airplane mode.
✅ Do a mock pack/unpack in your living room.
✅ Check that all your electronics work BEFORE you depart.
✅ Practice locating yourself on your map—before you actually need to.

Adventure rewards the prepared, not the lucky.
Test your gear at home, fail safely, and hike confidently.

🎥 Watch This:

👉 Want to dodge even more trail screw-ups?
Check out my video:
5 Brutal Hiking Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

Trust me—your future hiking self will thank you.

THAT’S ALL FOR THIS WEEK

Thank you for reading Mowser’s Musings. I hope you found it helpful.

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Until next week.

Stay well,

Mowser

Helping hiking enthusiasts explore the great outdoors