As urban Malaysians living in the Klang Valley we are blessed with many beautiful day trip hikes and treks located at the outer rims of the city. Famous trails like Bukit Gasing, Bukit Tabur, Bukit Kutu, Chilling Falls, Gunung Datuk and Gunung Nuang are often a welcoming sight for weekend warriors looking to spend a day away from the concrete hustle and bustle.

Contrary to popular belief, day trips require a lot more preparation than most think. From adequate estimation of hike completion time to packing for just-in-case scenarios, experienced hikers all agree that one should not allocate just enough time and equipment for the intended day trip.

We will be releasing articles sharing some information on what are required, in terms of equipment and knowledge, for day trips. This first one will focus on two important items for the head: the headwear and the headlamp.

The Headwear

Not all hikes are filled with tall trees shading hikers from direct sunlight. Bukit Tabur, for example, is surrounded by mostly shrubs and the morning sun can get a little intense against the rocky quartz ground. Having proper headwear can be the difference between thoroughly enjoying a trail and  coming home with dehydration.

Ideally we would want to look for a headwear made of microfiber or other quick drying and breathable material, preferably coated with a UV protection layer . This way, your head is allowed to breathe, your headwear absorbs and wicks out sweat, and your scalp will not get sun-burnt (yes, the last does happen). Some headwear come with brim and mullet to shade the neck and eyes, and others take the form of a tube and can be used more than 10 different ways. It is also important to note that a tube-shaped headwear like the Original BUFFwear can double as bandage and sling in case of accidents.

The Headlamp

At this point you are probably saying: No I don’t need a headlamp. I will be out before the sun is down.

Trails like Bukit Kutu and Gunung Nuang are set in dense jungles, which means the trees can block out quite a lot of sunlight. What might be a nice cloudy afternoon outside can look like 7.30pm in the trails. And believe us, hiking in the dark is infinitely more difficult than the day. In the event a heavy storm hits the vicinity or a simple 3-hour hike turns to a 6-hour one due to certain unforeseen circumstances (the latter will be share in later posts), a decent waterproof headlamp can save lives. A good one won’t cost a lot anyway.

Corezone Director, Sharon Tan, has shared some of her thoughts on choosing a proper headwear and headlamp in the video below. If you want to know more about headwear and headlamps, head on down to our store in SS2, PJ to check with our staff.