When hiking in hot weather you are either hiking in the rainforest or in the desert. Both are complete opposites of each other so your camping and hiking gear would be different also.

Hiking in the Desert.

Deserts are areas that receive less than 9 inches of rainfall annually. Water is scarce and you need to carry all your water.

The prospect of hiking in the desert may not seem appealing. Who wants to walk for long distances in a barren desolate, hot and dry landscape?

Yet the desert can be surprisingly beautiful in its own special way. You can see cacti flowering after a desert storm, wild flowers in spring and some interesting wildlife. Even the landscape in itself is beautiful.

There is usually a brief rainy season in many deserts in which sudden storms produce much of the annual rainfall. Flash floods are likely during this time particularly in canyons and steep-sided dry river beds. You have a better chance of finding water after a wet season.

Special Gear

Besides super strength sunscreen you also need a full body sun protection. Cover your whole body to protect from the sun and wear a hat that protects your head and face.

Carrying a water containers and a good water filter is a must as water found in the desert are is often polluted.

You might not need a tent especially in the dry season but a tarp can be useful in providing you shelter from the sun and wind. A poncho is useful in the desert for both sun and wind protection.

Even though the desert is hot, it can get very cold at night and the temperature difference is quite dramatic so make sure you also bring warm clothing and a good sleeping bag.Remember also to bring insect repellent as there can be some nasty insects in the desert.

Tropical Rainforest and Jungles

By contrast, jungles and rainforests are teeming with vegetation and a variety of wildlife, and has a wet and humid climate. They can also be quite cool.

The difference between jungles and rainforests is that jungles have a tangle of dense vegetation and rainforest don't have that much undergrowth. You can find different species of flora and fauna that you've probably never seen before and it could be an eye opening experience.

Tropical rainforests and jungles are found in the tropics and subtropics near the equator in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Temperate Rainforests

Temperate rain forests are found in places such as New Zealand, Tasmania,Chile, Norway and the Pacific Coast of North America and are home to some of the largest trees in the world. Annual rainfall is high and evaporation is low and it is almost impossible to travel off-trail because the floor is a carpet of soft, decomposing stumps and new vegetation growth from fallen trees.

Sometimes wooden boardwalks are necessary to protect fragile plant from hikers and hiker from the mud.

Special Gear

A good rain gear is essential in the rainforest and also might want to consider a tent with a full flysheet coverage. There will also be a lot of insects in jungles and rain forests so remember to bring insect repellent and mosquito netting.

To get you through deep jungle mud you might need to wear rubber jungle boots. Zip-lock bags and waterproof bags are particularly useful in these areas to protect any electrical equipment, clothes and maps.