A desert can be defined as an area that receives less than 9 inches of rainfall annually. It can only support a small amount of vegetation if not at all.

The desert can be such a harsh environment but can be beautiful as well with striking landscapes and its own special beauty like cacti flowering after a desert storm and wild flowers blooming in the spring.

You need more than just a high factor sunscreen, backpack, tent, some clothing and some food and water. Special gear is required when you're backpacking in the desert because of the terrain itself.  Another problem is the huge changes in temperature. It can be unbearably hot in the day and freezing at night.

In addition to a high factor sunscreen you also need full-body sun protection. You need clothing that is light and airy yet protects you from the harmful rays of the sun. Long sleeved and loose shirts made of highly breathable material are ideal.

Lightweight, full-length trousers shade the skin from the blazing sun. Use a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and face from the sun. You can also use a desert hat, which is a combination of a baseball with a cloth extension at the back to protect the neck. Also consider a windbreaker jacket or a wind shirt and rain jacket or poncho. Sunglasses that have UVA and UVB filters protects your eyes from the sun but even so, don't looking directly into the sun.

For the socks, we recommend the lightweight merino wool blend not just because they're regarded as the finest and softest wool of any sheep, but also that they do a good job of drawing moisture away from the feet and preventing blisters.

The recommended footwear are trail running running shoes because they're light and cool. A pair of gaiters would be useful to keep the sand out of your shoes.

There will also be a dramatic change in temperature between day and night so be prepared with warm clothing for the night. I always carry a balaclava but you can also carry a fleece beanie to protect your head from losing too much heat at night.

There are a few options for shelter on the desert. You can use a proper tent, a tarp tent, poncho or a combination of a tarp tent and bivy sack. Rainfall is possible even though not very likely.

What you're more likely to encounter is sand storms and speaking of sands, the normal pin stakes won't work on sand because it's too soft to be able to hold anything (a T-stake would work better) and on rocky ground, it's too hard to penetrate.

When the wind is not too strong, you can tie the guy lines to the middle of the pegs, lay them flat, and pile up some heavy rocks on it to prevent it from sliding towards the tent. It may be better to use strong sticks instead of tent pegs because they have more friction and are less likely to slip.

This method works better than tying the guy lines on the rocks itself. Even better still if you can find a branch where you tie the lines on.

Where rocks and woods are scant, you can can bury flat panels of fabric with strategic loops for the lines to keep your tent upright. There are a number of variations for staking. The ones that would work best for you depends on your situation.

A tent in the desert is not just for sleeping at night. It is also used as a shelter from the sun during rest stops. But a shelter with all four walls will be too hot in the desert during the day unless it's winter.

That's why I like to use a combination of tarp and bivy sack for the desert. Most times I don't even bother setting up the tarp for the night. The tarp is used as a roof for the day.

If the terrain is rocky instead of sandy, you'll normally need a comfortable camping mattress to sleep on. A self-inflating pad or a backpacking air mattress is favorable but there is a danger that the vegetation might poke a hole on your inflatable so remember to take the repair kit or least duct tape.

On sand, you can have a good night's sleep with just a foam mat to protect you from the cold ground at night. This is a better option especially when you don't need to worry about punctures.

Since vegetation is scarce, so is fuel for cooking. That's why you need a camp stove. You can either a canister stove or a liquid fuel stove for the best cooking performance but if you want to go lightweight and sacrifice cooking performance, go for solid fuel stoves or alcohol stoves.

You also need some camping cookware and utensils such cooking pot, spoon and fork (or spork), pot support and windscreen. You also need chlorine dioxide for water treatment, water bottles to store water and food storage.

The amount of food and water you should carry depends on how much you eat and drink in the given condition and the number of days you're traveling without a refill. You'll obviously drink more in the hot and dry desert. You probably already know this but as a guide the average is about 20 ounces per day of food and 3 quarts of water.

Trekking poles are not necessary but they can be very useful. Using trekking poles for hiking will increase hiking efficiency and puts less strain on the knees. They can also be used to keep your balance, establish a walking rhythm and as a tent pole among others.

Insect repellent and mosquito nets are essential in the desert as there can be a lot of insects that can really sting. You also need to have your personal hygiene kit which includes, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, baking soda, alcohol hand gel and more depending on your needs.

Don't leave behind the first aid kit because you may never if you might need it. You'll also need some light during the night time so remember the flashlight or headlamp.

Other essentials include a map and compass and firestarting kit.