10 Hiking Essentials and Your Complete Day Hike Checklist
Whether it’s your first or 100th hike, hiking essentials will get you there and back. Use this checklist to prepare for your next hike. Whether traveling for a hiking trip or staying local, you don’t want to hit the trails without these items!
Day hikes can range anywhere from an hour to up to 10 hours. When it comes to packing and preparation, your hiking gear will vary based on the distance, temperature, weather conditions, and more. Use our checklist of hiking essentials as your comprehensive guideline and tailor it to your trip based on your needs. Items like food and water should always be on your checklist, as well as navigation. After 15 years of hiking in various conditions on diverse landscapes and terrain, we’ve compiled a list of our hiking essentials when we travel. Although you may find a hiking gear store on your trip, it pays to be prepared while traveling!
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Essential Hiking Clothing and Footwear
First, let’s get you dressed in my hiking essentials for a comfortable hike.
- Bottom Layer: Depending on the time of year, you’ll be grateful for layers. To stay comfortable for your hike, a lightweight, moisture-wicking shirt is an essential bottom layer. It can get cold quickly after you’ve worked up a sweat and stopped moving, so that’s why this layer is super important.
- Mid Layer: Next, a light, insulated vest is in my backpack 3 out of 4 seasons. This Columbia vest is still my go-to after over a decade of traveling and hiking. Even though you might warm up after a mile or two, I like to start with a warm fleece layer in colder months. Billabong’s Adventure Division Fleece is my favorite layer for its comfort, water resistance, and versatility. Plus, the patterns fit my style!
- Hiking Pants: Moisture-wicking bottoms will keep you comfortable during any season of hiking. Loose joggers are best for layering and comfort. In colder months, I always hike in a Smartwool bottom layer or fleece-lined leggings.
- Hiking Boots: We’ve made the mistake of hiking in sneakers, and while it can be done just fine, hiking boots make all the difference. The sole and the grip will allow you to seamlessly scale rocks and boulders when sneakers just won’t cut it. A rocky terrain makes for miles of opportunities to roll your ankle, so we suggest a hiking boot with good ankle support. If you’re buying a new pair of hiking boots for your trip, make sure to break them in first to avoid blisters.
- Wool Socks: People often overlook socks, but they’re just as important as good hiking boots! Merino wool socks by Smartwool and Darn Tough hiking socks are always on our list of hiking essentials. Their built-in temperature and moisture control reduce your risk of blisters and make for a much more pleasant hiking experience.
10 Hiking Essentials Checklist
- Raincoat
- Sunscreen
- Bugspray
- Navigation
- Reusable water bottle
- Food
- First Aid Kit
- Portable charger
- Disposable waste bags
- Wipes
Raincoat: Of course, we always check the weather forecast before venturing onto a long hike, but elevation changes bring unpredicted weather patterns. And nothing is worse than being cold and wet on a hike. Pack a lightweight raincoat to roll up in your bag, and it won’t take up a ton of room!
Sunscreen: Most people don’t think of sunscreen as one of their hiking essentials, but high elevations and rocky deserts make for some of our favorite hiking terrain. Even in colder temperatures, that sun follows you everywhere. Take it from a fair-skinned girl: throw on that sunscreen!
Bug spray: While prepping your skin, don’t forget your bug spray. Nothing can ruin a hike like getting eaten alive by mosquitos, getting gnats in your eyes or mouth, or feeling the tickle of a tick crawling on your skin. I always carry a travel size of all-natural tick and bug repellent in my hiking pack.
Hat: For hikes with a lot of sun exposure, I always pack a brimmed hat for sun protection. Get one that is easy to pack, or pack or hangs around your neck. Once the temperature drops below 50°, I’m always packing a beanie. They’re easy to pack and stuff in your backpack if you get too warm.
Navigation: If you are new to hiking or unfamiliar with a trail, navigational tools are always on our list of hiking essentials! Download a smartphone app like AllTrails, Gaia, or Strava. However, the free versions do not work offline, and there is often spotty or no cell service on the trails. You may want to consider purchasing a handheld GPS.
Sunglasses: Because the view you spent all day hiking to see looks way better without the blur of squinty eyes. I prefer polarized sunglasses, but my favorite sunglasses to travel with are also compact. Sometimes, when you’re hiking, they’re off, they’re on, they’re off again. It becomes frustrating continuously getting them out of your day pack. Ray-bans foldable Wayfarer sunglasses are the most convenient sunglasses for traveling!
Reusable water bottle: Water should be on everyone’s list of hiking essentials. I never travel anywhere without my Hydroflask. It keeps my water cold and my tea hot, and it’s also my emotional support water bottle. Plus, I’ve dropped it dozens of times, and it’s still intact! Even in the colder months, it’s important to stay hydrated on the trails. For longer hikes, I always pack extra water. To save room in your backpack I recommend a hydration bladder that’s easy to sip without taking water breaks, leakproof, and easy to fill.
Travel Tip: I always pack Liquid I.V. when I travel. It gives me the electrolytes I need to regain my energy while hiking and is a great hangover remedy!
Food: We love to eat in this family. No list of hiking essentials would be complete without food! When you reach the vista or summit of your hike, you deserve a reward! Fuel your body with whatever type of snack your heart desires, but It shouldn’t be something that could melt or get soggy. We load up on snacks like fruit, nuts, RX bars, and Cliff Bars.
First Aid Kit: You never think it will happen to you until it does. 8 out of 10 times, you won’t need it, but a first aid kit has come in handy for us enough times that it made this list of hiking essentials. I always pack a travel-sized first-aid kit when we travel. In the words of my mother, “Ya neva know!”
Portable charger: Between using our cameras and our AllTrails maps, our phone batteries get low throughout a day of hiking. The size and shape of the Anker Power Bank fits perfectly in any bag without taking up room. Our go-to charger is fast charging and compatible with all our devices.
Disposable waste bags and wipes: Because sometimes nature calls! Let’s be real: bathroom emergencies happen. Holding it in can ruin the rest of your hike, so become one with nature with our recommended solution. We started using waste bags years ago on our camping trips. They seal shut and come filled with a biodegradable powder that turns liquid into gel and absorbs (most of) the smell. We always travel with biodegradable wipes. Whether we have a bathroom emergency or we want to freshen up, they always come in handy! And remember that being biodegradable doesn’t mean you should leave it near the trail. Consider packing a multi-use tool, and please practice Leave No Trace Principles. You may not think of these as hiking essentials, but you’ll be glad you had them when needed!
Optional Items
Although not essential, it is worth mentioning items like trekking poles to alleviate pressure on your knees and microspikes for traction on winter hikes. While healing from an injury, trekking poles gave me the support and efficiency I needed to complete a bucket list hike.
🥾 Shop our hiking essentials in our Rock Porch locker & check out more gear & apparel in our lockers!
Final Thoughts
Effective packing can make or break a day of hiking. Pack the night before to distribute weight evenly and pack heavier items against your back for better balance. Pack items like snacks and water in the outer pockets for easy access!
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner hiker, this list of hiking essentials will keep you safe and comfortable for a day hike. Now get out there and enjoy the fresh air, beautiful scenery, and your travels!
New to backpacking? We have an in-depth guide and full packing list from our experience backpacking and hiking to Havasu Falls!
Save this for your packing checklist on your next hiking trip! Don’t forget to share your hiking essentials in the comments!
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