The Best Guide To The 10 Hiking Essentials: What To Pack For Hiking

What are the ten-day hiking essentials? That is a question that I asked myself when I first started hiking. Since I did not grow up hiking, backpacking, or camping, I had no idea what the ten essentials were for a long time.

The thing is, hiking safety is very important, especially when you are first starting. Even I get lost occasionally, and I have been hiking for years! It happens, and it is better to be prepared with a few extra pieces of equipment than to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, cold and lost. That is why I created this post. I wanted to help my fellow beginner hikers with exactly what to pack on their hikes. I want you to feel confident and safe when you begin your hiking journey. So keep reading to find out what I pack on all my day hikes! 🙂

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

FREE Printable Day Hiking Gear Checklist

What To Bring On A Hike

A Thing About Your Hiking Day Pack

Day Packs are not officially part of the ten essentials hiking list, but it is needed. You need it to carry all the gear I listed below. I highly recommend getting a backpack specifically made for hiking. Usually, packs made for hiking have many compartments that help you organize your equipment better. Some backpacks also have frames to help carry the heavy loads.

The most popular hiking backpack on the market is the Osprey backpack. REI Co-op also has a backpack line that is good for beginner hikers because it is less expensive. Either one of the two brands is a great choice. >Buy The Osprey Backpack Here >Buy My REI Backpack Here

Read More: The 10 Best Day Packs For Women

The 10 Day Hiking Essentials List

The 10 essentials for hiking are all listed below, and then I go into detail on each one below.

I also want to talk about trash. Please never leave any trash on the trails or take or deface any of the landscape while hiking. Let’s leave this place beautiful so everyone can enjoy it for years to come.

Read More: The 7 Principles Of Leave No Trace

Navigation

Make sure to bring a topography map and compass with you on hikes in case you get lost. I buy my maps on Amazon and at REI. Study the map and compass before setting out on your hike and read trip reports, so you are not going into the hike blindly. You can learn all about navigation in this blog post here.

You can also use AllTrails to help you with navigation. I pay a yearly fee to use the maps on my phone even if I have no service (which happens a lot when hiking). The map can still tell me exactly where I am, and it tells me where I need to go.

Read More: 16 Best Hiking Apps You Need To Download

Sun Protection

When packing for a hike, make sure to think about sun protection. Having proper sun protection is vital for your survival if you get lost. Especially hiking in the desert with hot conditions. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a brimmed hat, and SPF chapstick are always a good idea. >Buy Sunscreen Here >These Are My Sunglasses >Buy Some Sunscreen Lip Balm >Check Out This Cute Hat

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit was one of the things I bought when I first started hiking. I bought the largest one they offered at REI, and recently I have purchased a smaller size. The size of the first aid kit depends on the number of people and how many days you are hiking/backpacking.

You can also make your own kit. A first aid kit should include:

You might need to refill the kit in the future, so make sure you check the kit’s contents every year.  >Buy The Health Day Hike First Aid Kit Here

Read More: How To Prevent And Treat Blisters When Hiking

Fire Starter

Starting a fire is essential to surviving the night out if you get lost. Carrying matches or a lighter is a great way to stay safe. These are usually lightweight and inexpensive, so why not just throw them in your backpack? I like to have stormproof matches just in case the matches get wet. But I have luckily never had to use them while hiking. >Buy The Fire Starter Here

Hiking Tools

I always bring a knife with me. I go on solo hiking at times, so I feel better carrying it, and it is a great idea to have in case of an emergency.

I also carry duct tape, which we have used a few times to mend together things that have broken. Another great option is a swiss army knife. 

Pack Extra Water/Water Filter

When packing for a day hike, always bring water. Even if you feel like a trail is very easy, you should still bring water. There have been many instances where I have not and have regretted it because I get so thirsty.

I usually carry my water in a 3L reservoir, and the hose is clipped onto my day pack. This prevents me from getting dehydrated as I always have access to water. When you have a water bottle, you tend to fumble or stop to drink some water. You don’t have to stop on the trail with reservoirs as much, and they are pretty lightweight. >Buy my reservoir here

I also bring a water bottle when I know the trail will be quick and easy. >Buy My Water Bottle Here

Water filter straws or water filter tablets are great to have in your backpack in case you run out of water. Let me warn you that the pills taste terrible. It has a chemical taste, so if I ever run out of water, I will use the straw first before I use the tablets. >Buy A Filter Straw Here >Buy The Life-Saving Tablets Here

Read More: The 10 Best Outdoor Water Filters In The Market

Extra Food

When I go hiking, I usually bring lunch and many snacks. I bring enough to sustain me for a whole day and night. You tend to burn a ton of calories while hiking, so you will feel hungrier on the trail. I tend to bring a lot of energy bars, jerky, trail mix, dried fruits (pineapples are my fav), and sandwiches. >Check Out This Energy Bar >I Love These As Well

Emergency Shelter

If you are backpacking, you usually have an emergency shelter (your tent). But if you are day hiking, you probably don’t want to carry a whole tent with you. There is a solution to this as there are emergency blankets that sell for $7 and are incredibly lightweight. Having one of these in your backpack can save your life if you ever get lost at night. >Buy This Blanket Here

Headlamp

I always carry a headlamp with me and extra batteries on my hikes. There was a time when I didn’t know how long a hike would take, and I had to hike in the dark. Keep in mind that this was on one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park, and I still felt unsafe. Ever since then, I have always carried a headlamp with me. 

Headlamps are usually tiny and weigh almost nothing, so pack one just in case. Black Diamonds are known to have some of the best headlamps on the market. >Buy My Fav Headlamp Here

Read More: The 10 Best Headlamps In The Market

Extra Clothes

I know it can seem like a pain, but I try to bring extra clothing. I tend to bring three jackets, pants, and a sweat-wicking shirt. I know three jackets can seem excessive but let me explain my reasoning.

I usually wear a sports bra and a sweat-wicking shirt while hiking up a mountain. Moisture-wicking is essential when hiking so you don’t get too cold. The fabric is supposed to help you regulate your body temperature efficiently.

Usually, when I get to the viewpoint, I put on a warm insulated jacket to trap in the heat from the climb up. I typically run cold, so you don’t need to do this if you are always hot or if you are hiking in the Grand Canyon in the middle of the summer.

If it is ever raining, I put on my rain jacket. My mid-layer is usually a fleece jacket. I will talk more about these items below.

I recommend bringing all of this regardless of the weather. You never know how the weather will turn. Plus, the wilderness is vastly different at night than during the day. Even in a hot desert, temperatures can drop significantly at night. >Check Out My Insulated Jacket >Here Is My Light Jacket >Here Is My Rain Jacket >Here Are My Hiking Pants

Read More: What To Wear Hiking In All Seasons

Hiking Essentials Clothing

Hiking Boots

Shoes made specifically for hiking is the best way to enjoy your hike. Why? Because hiking shoes are usually waterproof/water-repellent, they prevent you from stubbing your toes and sliding down rocks.

I don’t know about you, but I am an extremely clumsy person, and if I didn’t have hiking shoes to protect my feet, all of my toenails would have fallen off by now. 

Also, hiking with squishy wet socks when it rains or when you have to cross a creek is not fun. You can easily get blisters.  

Getting hiking shoes is not essential, but it does determine how enjoyable your hike will be. Hiking shoes or hiking boots are an excellent investment. >Here Is One Of My Fav Hiking Boots 

Read More: The 10 Best Hiking Boots For Women

Sweat Wicking Shirt

Cotton kills is a very well-known phrase in the outdoor world. Cotton tends to soak up your sweat and stays wet while hiking. It then can cause hypothermia. It is best to wear breathable shirts like workout clothing. >Buy A Breathable Shirt Here

Base Layers

Base layers are great in the Spring, Fall, and Winter. They help with keeping you warm, and if you get wool, they are very breathable and do not smell. >Buy My Top Base Layer Here >Buy My Bottom Base Layer Here

Rain Jacket

I always carry my rain jacket, especially because I live in the Pacific Northwest. Hiking in the rain can be pretty dangerous. >I love this Rain Jacket Here

Read More: The 10 Best Rain Jackets For Women

Insulated Jacket

I run pretty cold, so carrying a warm yet compressible jacket is important. Jackets made with down feathers are usually better quality compared to synthetic. When buying a jacket for hiking, it is important to look at the filling. 800 filled down is more expensive but will keep you warm. 600 filled down is less expensive but will keep you less warm. >Here is my fav jacket

Read More: The 10 Best Hiking Jackets For Women

Sweater

A mid-layer is a good idea during the Fall and Spring time. >I Like This Sweater

Hiking Pants and Leggings

I love to wear leggings when hiking, but I will wear hiking pants if a hike is strenuous. The main negative about hiking pants is that they are pretty expensive, and most women have leggings already, so I tell most beginner hikers to hike with what they have and spend their money on the hiking essentials. >Check Out These Leggings

Read More: The Best Hiking Leggings For Women

Sports Bra and Underwear

Wearing breathable underwear and a sports bra can help with chaffing. >Check Out This Bra

Read More: Best Hiking Underwear For Women

Wool Socks

Wool socks are the way to go when hiking (yes, even in the summer). They are breathable, and they help prevent blisters. >Buy My Socks Here

Hat And Sunglasses

Sun hats or sunglasses are great for keeping the sun out of your eyes when hiking. >Buy My Hat Here >Buy My Sunglasses Here

Other Things To Pack For A Hike

Trekking Poles

I get asked a ton of questions about trekking poles. People are not sure if they should invest in some or not. Good quality trekking poles can be expensive, so most people are hesitant about giving trekking poles a chance. I used to be one of those people. 

There is no right answer, but if you are a beginner hiker, I would hold off on buying them. It would be best to make sure hiking is something you want to keep on regularly doing. I also don’t recommend it for casual hikers that only hike a few times a year. 

I highly recommend buying them if you see yourself backpacking in the future or if you are continually hiking more than 4 miles. 

I also recommend them if you have bad knees. One of my knees tends to hurt when I hike regularly, so trekking poles help relieve the pressure. I only bring them on moderate to strenuous hikes, though. >Buy My Trekking Poles Here

Read More: The 10 Best Trekking Poles In The Market

Hiking Permits

Many hiking trails around the world need permits. It is always wise to read up on the hike beforehand to ensure you don’t need a permit for the trail. If you need a permit, print out a copy of it before you leave your house. Depending on screenshots on your phone is not the best way to go because they might not accept it, or your phone might die.

Shovel

You never know if you will need to go to the bathroom on the trail. Bringing a shovel is a good idea. >Buy A Shovel Here

Trash Bags

You don’t need to carry a huge bag, but a small one will do to carry all of your old food and wrappers.

Bear Deterrent

Since I hike in Washington State, I always bring bear spray due to black bears roaming around. 

I do want to note that I sometimes solo hike, so I like having the bear spray even if there are no bears in case I get attacked by a human. Even though I have solo hiked many times, I still am wary about my surroundings and dangers. >Buy Bear Deterrent Here

Read More: Tips And Trips On Hiking Solo

Bug Protection

There was a time when I went hiking on a trail called Mount McCausland, and it was such a stunning trail. The problem was that there were mosquitos like I had never experienced before. They swarmed us. Luckily we had jackets and pants on to cover ourselves. Bug spray was necessary to enjoy the views, and we sadly didn’t bring any. We had to leave the area almost immediately when we arrived. So don’t forget your bug spray! >Buy This Small Bug Spray Here

Toilet Paper Or Kula Cloth

Sometimes you just got to go! Bringing toilet paper is a great idea but remember to pack it all out! For women, there is a choice to use a reusable cloth for peeing. >Read more about it here

Read More: Ultimate Guide To Camping and Hiking Hygiene

Backpack Cover

Not all backpacks come with a rain cover. I carry a cover with me when I hike because I have expensive camera gear. >Buy One Here If Your Backpack Does Not Have One

Hand Sanitizer

Many of the trailhead restrooms do not have sinks or hand sanitizers. And they are usually pretty disgusting. Always carry hand sanitizer with you. >Check Some Out Here

Winter Hike Gear

Gloves

When hiking in the snow, you definitely need some gloves. Your hands are one of the first things to get cold while hiking. >Buy These Gloves

Winter Hat

Winter hats make a huge difference when hiking in the cold. You lose some of your body heat from your head, so it is best to cover it up. And I love how it looks on me. >Check out this cute beanie here

Gaitors

Gaitors help with preventing snow from getting into your shoes while hiking. This can occur even more so when the snow is deep. >Buy Some Gaitors Here

Microspikes

There are many times when I get the itch to hike in the winter. The problem is that there are many times when the trails are pretty icy. To prevent falls, I use crampons because it has a better grip on the slippery ice. There are tiny spikes on the bottom of your shoes. Try not to wear them on non-icy trails because it can ruin them.  >Buy My Microspikes

Neck Gaiter

A neck gaiter can help on those extra windy, cold days. It covers your nose, mouth, and neck. >Buy One Here

Read More: Winter Hiking Gear and Clothes

Luxury Item Equipment For Hiking

Chair

A chair isn’t needed, but it is nice to be able to get to your destination and sit comfortably. I love the new REI Flexlite Chair as it is only 1lb! >Check Out This Awesome Chair

Read More: Best Backpacking Chairs In The Market

Power Bank

If you feel uncomfortable with your phone dying, having a power bank will give you peace of mind. Especially if you use apps to guide you and it drains your battery. >Buy my favorite one here

Personal Locator Beacon

A PLB can help you feel safe on all your hikes. This satellite communicator can help save your life when in danger as you can exchange text messages beyond cellular range. The problem with these beacons is that they are usually costly. You also have to pay a monthly service to communicate when out of service. It is expensive, but it might save your life. I recommend this to women who solo hike a lot in the backcountry. >Buy A PLB Here 

Camera

A good-quality camera is a great way to capture your memories. I can go on and on about photography, but I have written a blog post all about it here. You can also buy my favorite camera for beginners here.

Hammock

If you love lounging with beautiful views, then bring a hammock! Just make sure the trail has trees for you to hang it. >Buy One Here

Final Thoughts On Essentials For A Hike

Alright, so now you know my day hike packing list. I know many things on this list seem like overkill, but I hear a lot about people having to get rescued while hiking. It can happen to anyone so pack smart. Make sure to check out some of my other blog posts on gear guides, and let me know if you have any questions:

• 30 Best Gifts For Hikers
• Hiking In The Rain
• Hiking For Beginners

Also, follow me on Instagram, where I discuss all things hiking, camping, and backpacking. You can get ready for your next outdoor adventure!  Follow Me Here.

Pin For Later: Hiking Packing List