If you’re new to the world of trailblazing, welcome! You’re about to discover a new hobby that will expand your horizons both literally and figuratively. From breathtaking views to interesting wildlife, once you start hiking, you won’t want to stop.
But finding a trail is only the beginning. Without the proper equipment, you could wind up lost, hungry, and cold – or worse. Preparedness is critical when it comes to hiking, but so is packing light. It’s all about balance.
So, what exactly do you need for hiking, and what should you leave behind?
Whether you’re planning a quick walk in the woods or an all-day adventure, this hiking checklist is designed to prepare you for anything while you’re on the trail. From hydration to first aid, you’ll find recommendations for all the gear you need and more. So, without further ado, here is our list of essentials for hiking – beyond the boots.
1. Hydration Backpack
The very first piece of equipment you’ll need for hiking is a good-quality hydration pack. Not only do these backpacks provide a way to carry all the other gear on this list, but they’re also designed to carry a 2-3 liter water reservoir, which is essentially a bag of water with a tube and drinking valve that lets you sip on the go.
While a hydration pack from your local Walmart will work fine if you’re trying to keep costs down or only need it for a few hours, a higher quality bag will be far more comfortable and feature more bells and whistles like a ventilated mesh backing, extra compartments, and different fits for different body types, all of which make for a better experience.
CamelBak, Osprey, and Gregory are some of our favorite brands for backpacks of any kind, and they range in price from $60-200 depending on how fancy you want to get. Just make sure to choose one large enough to carry the amount of water you’ll need. A good rule of thumb is to carry around half a liter per hour that you’ll be out, though it might vary depending on the climate, temperature, and your personal needs.
2. Snacks
Whether you’re exploring a short, 2-mile trail or embarking on an all-day hiking excursion, you’ll want to pack some extra food for the trip. A moderate hike will have you burning somewhere around 300-400 calories per hour, according to Backpacker’s Pantry, and a more challenging hike will burn even more. So, you’ll want to throw some quality nutrition in your pack.
But now is not the time to munch on a bag of potato chips. Your body will be working hard, so bring food to help replenish the calories you’re burning. In addition to packing a lunch (if you’ll be out that long), hardy snacks like nuts, jerky, and protein bars are great options, as well as some lighter options like dried fruit, seeds, or carrot sticks.
For longer trails where you’ll need an extra boost, energy gels or chews like Gu Packs or Clif Bloks can supply you with some bonus carbs, electrolytes, amino acids, and even caffeine to keep you going all day.
Oh, and remember to bring a small bag to pack out all of your trash in – leave no trace!
3. Sun Protection
Any time you’re exposed to the elements for a long period, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. Not only does having a sunburn suck, but the more exposure you have to the sun the more energy and electrolytes you’ll lose throughout the day.
It goes without saying that you should start every hike with a lather of sunscreen, and that you should reapply as needed. But the most effective way to keep the sun off is actually to wear protective clothing that covers your arms and legs. Long yet lightweight shirts and pants like those sold by Columbia, Marmot, and Eddie Bauer can keep the sun off while still keeping you cool.
A good hat is also a must-have. While a regular baseball cap will do just fine, there are more effective options you can choose. Although they are a little goofy-looking, a UV-blocking hat with a brim will protect not only your face, but your ears and neck also. And don’t forget to round it out with a good pair of polarized no-slip sunglasses like these ones from goodr.
4. Navigation
Of all the things to pack for hiking, this is by far one of the most important. No matter how good your internal compass may be, it’s always smart to have some sort of navigational device on hand when you head into the outdoors. Even experienced hikers can find themselves feeling a bit turned around if they wander off the trail for a while or accidentally take a wrong turn.
Whether you go old school with a physical map and compass or more high-tech with a GPS or downloaded map is up to you, just so long as you have something to help guide your way. If you do plan to use your phone or another digital device, make sure you also have a portable power bank on hand to charge it up in case you’re out there for a while.
Portable chargers like this one from BioLite work great because they’re compact and lightweight so they don’t weigh you down. But if you really want to be prepared for anything, a solar-charged power bank is even better.
5. Headlamp
We’ve all been there – a hike takes a bit longer than expected, and suddenly you find yourself walking in the dark. This can be a dangerous scenario without a light source, for obvious reasons. Not only are you more likely to lose your way if you can’t see the path, but you also won’t be able to see the rocks and tree roots waiting to trip you up. And the last thing you need is to be injured and stumbling in the dark.
Fortunately, this is an easy situation to avoid. Headlamps are small and lightweight and are absolutely worth toting around for the day. Even if you don’t find yourself out after nightfall, you never know when you’ll find an interesting cave you want to check out.
Any headlamp will work for this purpose, as long as it’s comfortable to wear and has an adequate beam. Black Diamond has a great selection of rechargeable headlamps designed for hiking, as does Petzl. If you’re on a budget, a Coleman LED headlamp will also get the job done.
Oh, and don’t forget to toss a couple of extra batteries in your backpack, just in case.
6. Emergency Survival Gear
Any time you’re out in nature, it’s wise to be prepared for as many different scenarios as possible. Although it’s unlikely that your day hiking trip will turn into a multi-night survival scenario, crazier things have happened. Plus, it’s good to have gear on hand for smaller issues like scraped knees, animal encounters, and unexpected weather, too.
The first thing that should go on your emergency hiking list is a first aid kit. You don’t need to go too crazy with this, but a well-rounded lightweight medical kit with bandages, ointment, pain killers, tape, and a few other emergency supplies just might come in handy on the trail.
One of the other essential things needed for hiking is a quality pocket knife or multitool. Gerber and Leatherman make really great gear, or you can stick with the classics and go with a Swiss Army Knife. Just make sure you have something sharp to work with if you need it.
Some other survival gear that’s good to have on hand, especially for more intense hikes, include toilet paper, an emergency blanket, matches or a flint, water purification tablets, bug spray, rope, a portable shelter, a whistle, and bear spray. It’s also a good idea to think about the specifics of where you’re going and the risks involved, and be prepared with the proper gear for dealing with that.
7. GeoGrit Wallet
Some would argue that your wallet is an item that’s best left in the glove compartment of your car. After all, why would you need a credit card out in the woods? You can’t bribe a bear with cash, and there aren’t exactly snack shacks around every bend.
But there are plenty of reasons to keep your wallet on you while out hiking. First, it’s recommended that you have some sort of identification on you while participating in risky activities, especially if you’re hitting the trail by yourself. Second, a wallet is a great place to keep things like park entrance receipts and parking tickets depending on where you’re going. Finally, it never hurts to have at least a little bit of cash on you in case of an emergency. Besides, if you leave your wallet in the parking lot, you’re running the risk of having your car broken into and your wallet stolen, leaving you without gas money for the drive home. It’s just not worth the risk.
But why carry a wallet, you ask, if packing light is the golden rule of hiking? Doesn’t that go against all we believe in? Not to worry. We’re not suggesting that you throw your clunky, overstuffed billfold into your pack (that’s just asking for back pain!). A lightweight carbon fiber or aluminum wallet is by far the best way to go when heading outdoors. Not only do these wallets weigh a mere 1.6 ounces and measure the size of a credit card, but they’re also designed to be ultra durable making them the perfect choice for a hiking wallet.
At GeoGrit, we offer a variety of vertical minimalist wallets designed for everyday carry and outdoor activities. With your choice of cash strap or money clip and one of a variety of colors, there’s a wallet for every type of adventurer.
Summary
A successful day outdoors starts with the right gear. This day hiking checklist was designed to help you gather all the right equipment for a day on the trail. For more outdoor content like this, follow the GeoGrit blog so you never miss an article!
If you’re interested in carrying a lightweight minimalist wallet with RFID protection, check out our entire collection at GeoGrit.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with our latest gear and offerings.
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