The hiking boots, shirt and essentials you need when heading out to the countryside this autumn.

It’s always a delight to get away and experience The Great Outdoors™. Take in some fresh air and enjoy the freedom of clear, open skies and green, rolling hills. What could be better? You take some time out to go camping or hiking for a long weekend, maybe even a week, and all your worries fade away. The cobwebs get well and truly cleared. And, more importantly, you reconnect with nature – forgetting for a few stolen moments the hustle and bustle of the busy metropolis. Bliss.

Bliss, that is, until something goes wrong – like torrential rain or you realising that you have forgotten an extra pair of socks. And even if everything goes to plan, whatever happens, eating out of a mess tin and having to make special arrangements to go to the toilet wears thin after a while. So the best thing one can do before embarking on a trip away from sweet, precious, lovely civilisation is to prepare. And prepare well. A pack of wet wipes and a flask of coffee won’t see you through. The below kit, however, absolutely will.

The most important thing to remember when you’re heading to more bucolic surrounds (apart from a flask of good quality whiskey) is that footwear is absolutely key. You can’t go trekking up mountains in your New Balance. A good pair of shoes will keep you on your feet (good grip is key) and, perhaps more importantly, keep them dry (trench foot is never fun). And if they’re heavy-duty enough – like this pair by Red Wing Shoes – they’ll provide ample protection for your ankles, too. (Do make sure to break them in.) But good shoes are nothing without good socks. The super thin or nylon variety could give you sores, so plump for these nice cotton-blend ones by Japanese brand Anonymous Ism.

If you’re heading for the countryside, you may want to look as if there might be an outside chance that you belong there. You will, of course, stick out like a sore thumb (there’s no fooling the locals at the only pub in the village) – but there’s no harm in trying to look a little more rugged and ready than usual. This RRL shirt, a piece of classic workwear – which nods to the American West – is a safe bet. As is this backpack, by Patagonia – one of the most respected outdoor brands around.

It’s always the little things that make all the difference when you’re packing for a trip away. But the little things are also the easiest things to forget. It may seem like a contradiction to pack a woolly hat and some sunglasses – but you’ll be thankful when that sun hits your face on the side of the chilly mountain you’ve just climbed. The fact that this hat was made in Scotland tells us it is built to face any amount of inclement weather. And it’s also pleasingly flecked with colour, meaning you’ll be easy to find should things get a bit foggy.