How to Know What to Bring Hiking
Knowing what to bring on a day hike for beginners can cause stress. When hiking, it is important to have the necessary safety gear, as well as certain comfort items.
When embarking on day hikes, it is important to have the objective of:
- Bring all the necessary safety supplies for hiking, like a first aid kit and the essentials
- Pack some amenities, like a camera, comfy clothes, and sunglasses
- Keep your hiking day pack lightweight – you don’t want to carry around a lot of unnecessary weight
This guide will walk you through each of these objectives, and I have included links to my preferred hiking equipment.
Find the Best Hiking Day Pack
In order to go on a hike, it is necessary for you to acquire the appropriate gear. Amidst the abundance of hiking gear available, one item stands out as essential: a high-quality day pack designed specifically for hiking.
In order for your hiking pack to be suitable, it must be a backpack and not a crossbody or a messenger bag. By using a backpack, your hands will be free and the weight of your essentials will be evenly distributed while hiking.
The capacity of your backpack is determined by the duration of your hike and the amount of items you intend to bring. The volume of the backpack is measured in liters, which refers to the amount of space available in the bag.
For the majority of hikes, choosing a backpack that ranges from 15 to 30 liters should suffice. If you are carrying only the necessary items and lightweight outerwear, a backpack under 20 liters should be suitable.
If you’re someone similar to me and enjoy carrying a sufficient amount of snacks and a camera, it would be ideal to have a backpack that falls within the range of 20 to 35 liters.
When it comes to selecting a backpack suitable for outdoor activities, it is crucial to choose one of high quality. Among the leading brands in outdoor backpacks is Osprey, offering a wide range of options including daypacks and backcountry packs.
My recommendation for men is the Osprey Talon 22.
I suggest the Osprey Tempest 20 for women.
Both of these backpacks have been specifically designed for hikers, aiming to offer:
- Pockets in all the right places, including interior pockets and hip pockets
- Chest and waist straps to distribute weight away from your shoulders
- Mesh paneling along back for breathability while hiking
- Clips for bike helmets and trekking poles
- Sleeve for hydration reservoir (I recommend the Osprey reservoir too!)
Essential Things to Bring When Hiking
- Hiking First Aid Kit – Hiking can result in unexpected injuries and you should be prepared to handle common injuries. I recommend the Adventure Medical Kit since it’s made specifically for hiking-related injuries. A small first aid kit can be a life saver – I’ve had to use mine many times!
If you’re in a larger group, have multiple people carry first aid kits. If you’re hiking with a dog, bring a hiking first aid kit for your pup too.
- Emergency Shelter – Temperatures can drop dramatically overnight. That’s why you should always carry a compact shelter, called a bivvy, to protect you if you have to sleep outdoors. A bivvy is like a small heat-trapping sleeping bag that rolls up smaller than your fist. It’s lightweight and fits perfectly down in the bottom of the backpack, where hopefully you’ll never have to use it.
- Water – Without a doubt, the most crucial item on this day hiking essentials list is water. This is particularly true for strenuous hikes or hot, arid environments.
You should carry at least 0.5L (16.9 ounces) of water for every hour of hiking. Double that for strenuous, high heat hikes. Carry your water in a light-weight, reusable water bottle. Avoid dense, stainless steel water bottles on hikes as they add extra, unnecessary weight.
- Navigation – Even with a keen sense of direction, you should carry some sort of navigation on your hike. The most reliable navigation is a physical map. You can pick one of these up at the park headquarters or sometimes at the trailhead. If there’s a trail map at the start of the hike, I like to take a picture of that too.
While physical maps are most reliable, digital maps are more convenient. I like to use digital maps from AllTrails to track my progress on the hike. With AllTrails Pro, you can download hikes and make them available offline.
For more advanced hikers, consider investing in a Garmin InReach device. This GPS device helps you navigate and communicate in the wilderness, but it doesn’t come cheap. For a more budget solution on shorter hikes, pack an inexpensive compass and a whistle.
- Headlamp – Every hiker should carry some sort of illumination. And no, your cell phone flashlight doesn’t count. I prefer a headlamp over a flashlight to keep your hands-free while hiking. Black Diamond headlamps are the best for hikers, with lots of great features at a fairly low price.
Make sure your headlamp has fresh batteries before heading out for a hike.
- Extra Layers – Regardless of the time of year, you should have extra layers stored in your pack. Weather can change in a moment, so you should be prepared for colder temperatures and rain. I recommend packing either a lightweight pullover or a fleece jacket, depending on how hot it is. And don’t forget to pack a waterproof rain jacket (look for one with Goretex!).
- Sun Protection – As with any outdoor activity, it’s important to protect yourself from the sun. Sunscreen is an essential for any hike (don’t forget to reapply!). But your protection doesn’t stop at sunscreen. You should also carry a sun hat and sunglasses to protect your face, neck, and eyes.
When looking for a hiking hat, look for moisture-wicking, quick drying fabrics. Bonus if your hat is machine washable!
Day Hiking Footwear and Clothing
Hiking Shoes or Trail Runners
When selecting the right pair of shoes for day hiking, it is crucial to prioritize the health and comfort of your feet. The current trend in hiking footwear, especially for day hiking, focuses on lightweight models such as hiking shoes and trail runners. While hiking shoes offer adequate protection and support for day hiking, trail runners are even lighter, allowing for faster and more agile movement. For day hikers seeking a durable yet nimble shoe, the Salomon X Ultra 4 is the recommended choice due to its ideal combination of toughness and support without being too heavy. If speed is a priority and some extra features can be sacrificed, both the Altra Lone Peak and Hoka Speedgoat are well-crafted trail runners that offer excellent traction and stability on various terrains.
2. Hiking Socks
As we mentioned earlier, having happy feet is important for a happy hiker. Once you have chosen a pair of shoes or trail runners, it is crucial to find hiking-specific socks to complete your setup. We recommend wool socks over cotton or synthetic ones because wool has the ability to regulate temperature, stay warm when damp, and dry faster than cotton. Our preferred socks for keeping our feet comfortable are the Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion, which also come with a lifetime warranty. As for the height, most hikers prefer crew-cut socks for protection against low branches and debris. However, quarter-height and no-show designs are also popular as they have a lower profile and can be used with sneakers and trail runners.
3. Hiking Pants or Shorts
When it comes to choosing between hiking pants and shorts, many people prefer the former due to their ability to provide more protection from trail-side plants, boulders, the sun, and their versatility to be adjusted depending on the weather conditions. However, personal preference plays a significant role, and we completely understand if you prefer to hike in shorts on a hot and dry day. Nevertheless, hiking pants offer several features including ample pockets, freedom of movement, temperature regulating fabric, and a durable water repellent finish for protection. For lightweight and breathable options, prAna’s Stretch Zion II (and women’s Halle II) are highly recommended in various climates, while the Kuhl Renegade Convertible pants have the added advantage of being able to convert into shorts.
4. Hiking Shirt or Baselayer
For a wear-all-day hiking shirt, we suggest choosing a short-sleeve t-shirt or a lightweight long-sleeve baselayer that is made of synthetic fabric or merino wool. If you prefer better ventilation and sun protection on hot days, collared button-up hiking shirts are a good option. However, if you prefer less restrictive shirts that are easier to layer over, standard t-shirts are recommended. It is important to choose fabrics like polyester and wool instead of cotton as they are able to wick away sweat, dry quickly, and remain warm even when wet. The Smartwool Merino 150 Baselayer top, available in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve options, is a merino wool shirt that regulates temperature.
5. Rain Jacket and/or Windbreaker
A rain shell will keep you warm and dry throughout the day on the trail, whether it’s unexpected rainstorms or the typical all-day drizzle found in the Pacific Northwest. When hiking, it is important to have a rain shell that is both breathable and waterproof, as you will most likely be sweating while wearing it. For all-day rain, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L with its 3-layer design provides the highest level of protection and breathability. Alternatively, lightweight 2.5-layer designs such as the Marmot PreCip Eco and REI Co-op Rainier offer sufficient airflow and durability for most situations. Additionally, on days when the weather forecast indicates more wind than rain, a windbreaker like the Black Diamond Alpine Start is recommended for its lightweight protection and impressive water resistance when needed.
