10 Proven Essentials: Make Your Next Hiking Trip Awesome!
The foundation of any good hiking trip into the wilderness is to be prepared with the essentials. The great outdoors, with all its beauty and natural ruggedness, can sometimes be unforgiving. Having a standard baseline of essential supplies helps ensure we are prepared for most situations.
These 10 Essential items should be the minimum gear for a day hike, rafting trip, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, alpine touring, etc.
Going on an adventure can quickly turn from great to disastrous if care is not taken to have the correct gear.
To illustrate this, it’s sadly all too common that we come across hikers every year who find themselves many miles away from the trailhead—and often in minimal or the wrong clothing and just armed with disposable water bottles.
It’s a reminder that no one is immune to ensuring you are fully equipped and prepared before heading out into potentially challenging conditions; we all need to be mindful of it before setting off into the wild.
The best way to ensure I have these is to keep them in my day pack should I decide to go on a last-minute trip. Of course, we want to adjust and modify based on the trip. For example, taking an emergency shelter may not be necessary if we are hiking close to town on a known trail.
Preparing for the unexpected is an essential part of any outdoor excursion. One of the best ways to ensure I’m ready for whatever Mother Nature throws my way is to keep certain practical items in a day pack.
These items can make a big difference during a last-minute trip and should be tailored to the specific terrain and conditions you might encounter.
For instance, if you’re taking a day hike on an established trail close to town, it may not be necessary to pack an emergency shelter or carry extra food. Still, if you’re venturing away from civilization, those pieces of preparedness become much more critical.
Keeping my day pack stocked with the right equipment, such as navigation aids and first aid supplies, is my go-to strategy for ensuring I’m ready when adventure calls.
When discussing what type of bag to choose for your adventures, it’s important to consider where you are going and what weather conditions you may experience.
If you frequent locations that involve snow or water, a waterproof day pack is a great option. The bi-weave fabric ensures protection from wet elements and comes in handy in protecting belongings without adding too much weight.
Another option for keeping your gear dry and protected is a dry bag. They keep your items safe from water, dust, or sand. It features a roll-top closure system to keep every item inside so nothing gets wet.
If you’re using a larger backpacking pack for camping trips, packing cubes can efficiently organize items within the space. They keep things secure and provide an easy way to grab the items you need quickly without digging around.
So, depending on the kind of adventure and location, the optimal bag type will vary.
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What are the 10 Essentials for Hiking?
- Emergency Shelter
- Pocketknife
- First-aid kit
- Extra clothing, including rain gear
- Extra Water, water filter, or filtration straw
- Headlamp or Flashlight
- Extra trail food/snacks
- Matches, lighter, fire starters, or stove
- Sun protection- hat, sunscreen, bug spray (deet-free), bug spray (deet) and protective clothing
- Navigation- Map, compass, and know how to read/use it
Printable Checklist
Additional Information
If you happen to be a beginner, we suggest reading our post Beginners Guide to Day Hiking or Beginners Guide to Backpacking.
