If you love hiking but you’re tired of always packing items you don’t use that usually end up weighing you down on your trip, then welcome. You’ve safely made it home.
This guide contains all the day hike essentials you’ll need to pack to have a successful trip.
As a seasoned hiker or beginner, you may have found yourself packing the wrong hiking gear and tools for your adventure.
Don’t worry, at least with this ultimate day hiking packing list, this won’t be an issue anymore, and you’ll be fully prepared for any outdoor hiking adventure.
Day Hiking Essentials: Everything You Need To Bring
1. Travel Documents Essentials
Before you start packing your day hike checklist, you must let someone know about your hiking plans – where you are going and when, especially if you’re hiking alone.
You’ll also need to give someone your itinerary, or you can drop a copy of it and all your emergency contacts under your car seat in the car park.
For safety reasons, some essential travel documents must be on your day hiking packing list.
You can keep them in a waterproof pouch or ziplock bag so they don’t get damaged by rain, sweat, or river crossings. The documents you’ll be needing are:
2. Daypack
Once you’re done arranging your day hiking essentials, you’ll need a proper backpack to fit everything inside.
So, choosing this backpack is very important if you want to have a successful hiking trip.
The backpack has to be lightweight, strong, waterproof, have various features, and be big enough to carry everything on your hiking essentials list.
As a man, your backpack should weigh about 40-50 liters, but if you’re a woman, you should be going for a capacity of about 30-40 liters.
Regardless, if you’re going for a short, easy hike under predictable weather conditions, your daypack should carry between 20-40 litres.
Here’s the type of daypacks you’ll need:
3. Hiking Gear & Tools
Your day hiking essentials cannot possibly be complete without your hiking gear and tools, cos what else will keep you safe and prepared for your hike?
These hiking tools and gear will help you with extra security, comfort, and convenience on this trip.
And if you’re hiking into challenging terrain or remote areas, you’ll then appreciate the importance of having these tools with you.
So, hiking tools to add to your hiking essentials list are:
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4. Navigation & GPS Devices
As a hiker, it’s easy to be amazed by nature and step off your hiking trail. And for this, you’ll need tools like this travel distance calculator that can estimate your hiking time and distance.
But the problem lies in finding your way back, and if you’re not very good at navigation or direction, this may lead to a major issue.
This is why navigation and GPS devices should always be on your day-hike packing list.
If you prefer to use your phone, then you’ll need to download the trail apps, maps, and directions before you start your trip.
So, the navigation items you’ll need during your day hike are:
5. Emergency & First Aid Kit
For your hiking trip, you’ll need to come out with emergency and first aid items just in case of any unexpected accident or weather breakdown.
You use the portable first aid kit to treat minor injuries sustained during the hike until you get to the hospital.
And even if you don’t want to buy the first aid kit, you can make your emergency and first aid day hike packing list using these items:
6. Food & Water
If there’s anything you lose fast during hiking, it’s your energy. Especially when you’re hiking through challenging and uneven terrains, you won’t even realize until you’re hungry and dehydrated.
So, some day hiking essentials to pack if you don’t want to faint from hunger and dehydration are food, hiking snacks, and water.
It’s best to bring lightweight, nonperishable foods with lots of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fat. You’ll need to pack:
7. Clothing & Footwear
If you’re having issues finding what clothes to pack for a day hike, then you should remember two things: Comfort and safety.
Your hiking clothes and footwear must be comfortable and must keep you safe from the environment, sunburn, etc.
So, always check the forecast before you start your hike and dress according to the weather conditions.
It’s always a good rule to dress in comfortable layers, even during the summer, cos the temperature can quickly switch up on you. Your day hike checklist for your clothes and footwear should include:
8. Toiletries
Your toiletries should make it to your day hike packing list, cos you just don’t know if you may end up spending the night outdoors.
You’ll need to pack earth-friendly mini-sized toiletries. You can pack them into a ziplock bag and safely keep them in your daypack. Your toiletries should include:
9. Day Hiking Packing List Extras
If you want to add any extra items to your day hiking packing list, then it will depend on how long your hike is and what you want to use them for.
Just remember to keep your daypack light enough so the weight won’t cause your back any issues.
Regardless, since this is the ultimate day hiking packing list, you can pack extra items like:
10. Overnight Sleeping Essentials
If you already have plans of sleeping overnight before you start your hike, then you’ll need to add some overnight essentials to your day hike checklist.
This includes everything you’ll need to sleep, where to sleep, what to eat, and what to wear.
You’ll need to choose camping gear that is specifically designed for backpacking so it can be lightweight, compact, and portable.
Items you’ll need are:
4 Tips for Your Day Hiking Packing List
1. Don’t carry excess items
Your hiking essentials list should only contain items you’ll need. And these items should be lightweight, compact, and portable, so you don’t end up weighed down by unnecessary items.
Remember, the goal of using a day hike packing list is so your load is manageable and comfortable.
2. Research and prepare accordingly
Before you start your hike, you’ll need to do lots of research on where you are going, what trail, the weather, the distance, and any potential hazards.
This will help you know what food, water, toiletries, travel documents, GPS devices, and other specific items you’ll need to bring along.
3. Prepare for emergencies
You’re going on a day hike in the wild outdoors, so it’s very easy for accidents to happen. For this, you can carry a basic first aid kit, a whistle, and a multi-tool knife.
If you’re hiking in extremely remote areas, you’ll also need to pack an emergency shelter and fire starter.
Don’t forget to let someone know your hiking route, plans, and when to expect you back home.
4. Leave no trace
The Leave No Trace principle requires that you clean up after yourself, so bring along a trash bag to pack up your trash.
This includes every disposable item on your day hiking checklist, like food wrappers, empty bottles, and tissues. Also, avoid causing any damage to the environment.
Conclusion
Hiking is a very fun adventure, but it comes with a few risks, and to fully prepare, you’ll need to have arranged your day hike checklist.
Depending on your skill and experience, your checklist might differ slightly from another person’s, but that’s okay.
The important things like food, water, toiletries, and travel documents are all the same for everybody.
And with this day hike packing list, you’ll only pack the right gear you’ll use during your trip.
So, to be better prepared for your next trip, take time out to check this hiking packing list.