Become familiar with these items and know how to use them. Happy feet make for pleasant hiking. Think about traction, support, and protection when selecting well-fitting shoes or boots. Pack calorie-dense foods to help fuel your hike, and carry an extra portion in case you are out longer than expected. The weatherman is not always right. Dress in layers to adjust to changing weather and activity levels. Wear moisture-wicking items and carry a warm hat. Have means to start an emergency fire , signal for help, and see the trail and your map in the dark.
Supplies to treat illness or injury are only as helpful as your knowledge of how to use them. Take a class to gain the skills needed to administer first aid and CPR. With countless uses, a multi-tool can help with gear repair and first aid. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing should be used in every season regardless of temperature or cloud cover.
Protection from the elements in the event you are injured or stranded is necessary. A lightweight, inexpensive space blanket is a great option. Pack this 11th essential to making sure that the trails you love stay beautiful for generations to come.
Listed below are the uber-important survival items that day hikers should consider packing before every trip. The list is purposely exhaustive and is meant to cover any and all items you might need on a given day hike. The length, weather, and difficulty of your upcoming hike should dictate which items you choose to bring along and which items you leave behind.
Use your best judgment and always err on the side of caution. Study your hike thoroughly, check the forecast, and use the following item checklist to gather all the essential gear you need before your upcoming day hike. No need to get fancy, as a lightweight daypack between 10 and 30 liters should get the job done. Want to hike without a day pack? An intelligently stocked hip pack with slots for water bottles might just be all the storage you need. Bring a waterproof pack cover or pack liner to keep all the gear inside your backpack safe and dry.
These materials will pull sweat and moisture away from your body to the outer layer of the garment, keeping you dry and warm. I usually don a long-sleeved shirt for my day hikes. It gives me great protection against the sun, blocks wind, and helps keeps me warm when temperatures drop. Avoid jeans or bulky slacks and instead wear breathable hiking bottoms that allow for a wide range of movement. Hiking boots that enclose your ankles provide the most support, whereas shorter hiking shoes, trail runners I wear these , and minimalist hiking sandals are less restrictive but also less protective.
Pick a lightweight, breathable, and snug pair of athletic underwear that will wick moisture away and prevent chafing. For me, those socks are the Darn Tough Hikers , which are made from high-quality Merino wool and offer an unconditional lifetime guarantee. HAT — A good hat will keep the sun out of your eyes, protect your skin from harsh UV rays, and tame your sweaty hiker hair.
I wear a mesh-back trucker hat and will use my Buff underneath to create earflaps if I need extra sun protection. Bringing a lightweight and sturdy set of sticks will give you two more points of contact with the ground and help ease the pressure off of your knees.
Study the forecast, research typical conditions, and pack your bag accordingly. You can layer this with your hiking top, rain jacket, and down jacket to stay comfortable as temperatures drop. Getting stuck in the wilderness with no protection from rain can leave you vulnerable and at the mercy of the elements.
The layers of insulation in your jacket will help trap body heat and keep you warm when things turn nasty. Conserving heat in your legs will regulate your body temperature and allow you to push on as temperatures plummet. Pack a warm winter hat to help stabilize your body temperature, and you will expend less energy trying to stay warm. It can also lead to hypothermia or frostbite in extreme cases.
FACEWEAR — Constant exposure to the elements — wind, dust, rain, snow, and sun — can do a number on your face, so bring along some proper protection for your next day hike. Multifunctional facewear can be used in a myriad of ways and will shield your face from almost anything nature throws its way.
Proper gaiters will block water and debris from entering the opening of your shoe, keeping your feet dry and undisturbed in the process. An effective set of crampons will penetrate ice and grip frozen trails, preventing slips and falls that could derail your adventure.
Food and water are your hiking fuels, so kick start your day hike with plenty of calories. A strenuous, full-day hike can easily burn 3, calories. Some of those calories can be consumed right before you hit the trail, and the rest should be close at hand in your day pack. SNACKS — Snacks will be the day hiking fuel that keeps you going, so be sure to pack enough calories to sustain yourself for a long day of hiking.
Bring calorie-dense, ready-to-eat foods like nuts, jerky, and meal bars that will keep you going all day on the trail. Another crucial piece of preparing for a hike is wearing the right clothing.
When it comes to what to take on a hike, you want to dress in breathable, durable, comfortable clothes. I recommend avoiding fabrics like denim and cotton as they are heavy and absorb sweat and water, making them heavier. While the only truly essential items for a hiking trip are a backpack, the 10 essentials, and the right clothing, I recommend packing a few extras. These items will go a long way towards making your hike more enjoyable. This last section covers the non-essential things to take hiking.
You should pack a hiking backpack, the 10 hiking essentials, extra clothing layers, durable hiking shoes, and a few non-essentials like a trowel, portable charger, and smartphone.
You should not take valuable items, like jewelry or nice clothes. Beginner hikers should always carry the 10 essentials and a hiking backpack. The 10 essentials include potentially lifesaving gear like navigation, headlamps, first aid kit, and extra water. Be sure to pack extra layers and snacks too! The 10 essentials for survival in hiking are navigation, illumination, sun protection, first aid kit, repair kit and multi-tool, fire starter, emergency shelter, extra food, extra water, and extra clothing layers.
You should wear lightweight, breathable, quick-drying clothes for a day hike. Look for materials like merino wool for base layers, fleece or down jackets, and hiking pants.
While this list covers 44 of the best day hiking gear, at the end of the day, you just need the essentials. Want to share your thoughts, tips, and advice with me and other readers?
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