Hiking used to be one of life's simple pleasures. There was a time when spending time on the great outdoors required nothing more than a sturdy stick and the ability to rough it out for a couple of nights.

With new technological advances this previously uncomplicated sport has become bewilderingly complicated. For the amateur hiker it's simply not enough to just go out to the woods and enjoy nature. You have to go out there with the right gear. Here are a few tips to help you understand the difference between a technical hat and an ordinary one.

Gear guide: Going technical with your boots, backpack and tent.

Back packs are no longer the simple sack you sling over your back. There is now a science to the design of the perfect backpack for hikers everywhere. Good quality back packs uses materials that are strong even after years of normal use. Comfort is the number one consideration in buying a back pack.

Adding a hip belt will transfer the weight from your frail shoulders to the hips. Transferring the weight is a result of using one or more aluminum stays that extend from the top of the pack to the hip belt. Look for one that cups over your hipbones and with a composite of hard and soft foams. For the shoulder straps avoid too much soft foam.

Boots. Finding the right shoes are harder than simply deciding if they fit or not. The trail to finding good hiking boots starts with considering the appropriateness of the boots. Boots made from leather are great for mountaineering while lightweight boots that are made of nylons are more appropriate for hiking and backpacking. Another thing to consider is the soles of the shoes. The thicker the sole the more traction your boot will give. A stiffer mid sole layer will make the boot stronger but it will be less pliable and comfortable.

Day hikers don't need the steel or plastic mid soles that a mountaineer would need. Welts are stitching systems that join the boot to sole. A better welt means that your boot is more water tight. You should also find the best fit to your boot. Wear the socks you will use on the hike when fitting boots in the store.

Price is also a consideration to buying boots. Some boots are so expensive that you would be better off not even taking it to the field for fear of damaging it. On the day of the hike install fresh laces to your boots, you don't want to be looking through the mountainside looking for your laces do you? Treat your boots with care. Leather boots need oil or waxed based conditioners after every hike.

Camping Tent. The tent you buy depends on where, when and how many people you are going to camp with. While there are tents for every conceivable condition out there you wouldn't need to spend a fortune on a tent that was tested for Mount Everest if you're just going camping in the summer.

Try investing in a single tent that can serve broad needs. Consider the season you will use the tent in. There are tents that are suited to three different seasons while there are the wonderfully expensive ones that can withstand the toughest conditions.

Manufacturers love to advertise their products as being 'technical'. There are technical clothes, technical packs, etc. Newbies may be drawn to this all the time wondering what the term technical means. To be blunt it means a higher price and a better design. But if you were being precise with it gear that is labeled technical is better engineered and made for extreme conditions the likes of which amateur hikers are unlikely to encounter.

So the bottom line is if you're just hiking for recreation then buying technical gear is a just another way to throw away your money. On the other hand if you must look cool then feel free to buy a technical hat.