Everything You Need to Start Hiking
And when I say hiking, I mean that and all the fun activities that come with it! Reading in your hammock, having campfires, going on backpacking trips, sight-seeing, hitting new trails, photographing landscapes, meeting all the wild critters, and so much more. In order to do all of these things, there’s some things you need! Granted, there’s a big difference going on a ‘hike’ on a paved trail through a state park versus getting off the beaten path and hiking that mountain. It doesn’t matter where you’re starting, just get out there and get to it and I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the feeling you get being in the fresh air and admiring nature. I put together this post to help anyone wanting to get out there and start hitting the trails, but isn’t sure where to start. It can be especially difficult if you don’t have anyone in your life that’s already adopted hiking as a hobby. Have no worries though, I’ve got you covered with everything you need to start having awesome day trips!
What You’ll Need:
A Backpack. There’s so many options you can choose from! I have several day trip bags that have lasted me for years. You don’t want just any old backpack from a boutique, you want a functional backpack that’s going to hold up in the weather and be comfortable on your shoulders. Here’s some of my favorites:
Columbia Atlas Explorer: this 26L hiking backpack is probably the most versatile and functional backpack. It has two water bottle pockets (sometimes I like to put water in one side and gatorade or a beer in the other), sternum strap and padded shoulder straps (you NEED this for a hiking backpack - trust me), and multiple sizes of functional pockets. It’s my favorite pack and the one I take on 9/10 of my day trips. I also use it as my personal item on flights!
Columbia Atlas Explorer: the 16L version of the one above. Still amazingly functional, but a little smaller. If you think you’ll only be using the backpack for short day trips a few hours or less, this one is cheaper and should have you covered!
The North Face Borealis: a 27L backpack that’s versatile, has bungee cord system, and double water bottle pockets. It’s a little more expensive, but is a great backpack if you want to use it for more than just hiking. It’s also a great pack to carry your laptop or school work, and has a fleece-lined pocket to carry sunglasses or other gentle items you don’t want scratched.
A Trusty Water Bottle. In fact you don’t just need one, you probably need a couple. If you remember nothing else on your hike, remember this! There’s nothing worse than being out on your hike trying to enjoy yourself but being insanely thirsty - not to mention, it’s dangerous and puts you at risk for getting dehydrated.
Camelbak: my favorite water bottle company to date. I love these water bottles! They’re spill-proof and have a straw system (everyone knows we all drink more water with a straw!) that’s washable. Plus, the bottle is made of 50% recycled material, won’t break if you drop it like glass water bottles would, and comes in cool colors. A lot of other companies have tried to make straw water bottles since Camelbak came out, but they’ll always be my favorite.
Hydroflask: a close second favorite of mine. Not only are Hydroflasks really popular in the outdoors community, they’re incredibly functional. They also come in tons of colors and work better to keep drinks hot or cold longer. Most of us cover them in stickers (I have four of them covered in stickers from various travels!). The one tiny downside that I find to them, although minor, is that the straw lids can be a little harder to clean than Camelbak bottles, and they’re more expensive. Overall, both are great water bottles, and I have several of both!
Navigation. Always a map! I use the All Trails App but to use it without internet service you have to download maps of your hikes first. Because of this, I always pack ole reliable, a compass. It seems small (literally) and they aren’t that expensive, but it can save your life. I have a clip-on one like this that lives on my backpack so I never forget it. If you want something a little more reliable than an app and compass, you can get an actual GPS system. This one is Amazon’s Choice for GPS and very affordable compared to other similar models.
Food. I tend to get low blood sugar, especially with hiking and exercise. It’s important to keep food packed (more than you think you’re going to need) that have both sugar and protein. My go-to snacks are apples, gummy bears, and trail mix/nuts. I’ll be writing a blog post soon on recipes to make snacks for the road and trails but for now, pick your favorites and make sure you have enough!
A Flashlight. Or a headlamp. You need some sort of light source in case you get trapped in an emergency, the dark, or bad weather. This one is cheap, highly rated, and small so it’s not too heavy to bring along. I keep one in my car and my backpack.
A Knife. Ohhh the things you can use a knife for. Not only is it helpful in an emergency for protection or if you need to hunt for food, but you can also use it to cut something too tight (I’ve managed to have fishing line wrapped around my leg before), fix things that might be broken, mark your tracks on trees if you’re lost, and so many more things. For the weight and price, I recommend this one. It’s a multipurpose tool that also has a screwdriver, bottle opener, pliers, etc.
Fire Starter. Let it be matches, a lighter, or an actual fire-starter, it’s an essential survival item if you get stuck outside longer than you expect to.
First Aid Kit.
A Compact Kit. This one is small and easily fits in your backpack without being too heavy. It’s perfect to take with you on the trails and has everything you need for an emergency hiking on the trails. It’s affordable and well-worth the buy.
A Car Kit. There are tons of good ones on Amazon, but I like this one because of some of the extras in it like the emergency multipurpose blanket, burn dressing, and instant ice pack. It’s quite a bit to carry with you on a day hike, but a great thing to leave in the car so anything your compact kit can’t take care of on the trail, this can cover for you or whoever needs it.
What You’ll Want:
The items above are absolute essential items, mostly for survival and safety when day hiking. However, there’s several other things I throw in my backpack that make my hikes much more enjoyable! You don’t need all of these, or even any of them if you don’t want to, but hopefully I can help you remember something that makes your hiking experience even better.
Sunscreen. I keep a little one on hand just in case! You can get sunburnt any time of year, especially in the middle of the summer or middle of winter. It’s small, light, cheap, and keeps the hiking days from being painful! Here’s a little one that I like and it’s water-resistant, vegan, and reef-friendly. Get it here.
Bug Spray. I hate the feel of all of the chemicals in DEET bug sprays. I’m actually working on making my own all-natural bug spray (stay tuned!), but for now, I really like ones from natural ingredients like this one. Such an easy and small item to bring, but it can really turn a hike around if you feel like you’re getting mauled by bugs.
Extra Socks. I’m a fan of these quarter socks as they’re just long enough to cover my ankles, but not so long that I get hot and sweaty. You can get my favorite Columbia ones here. During colder months, these wool quarter socks are also great but keep your toes a little warmer!
Hammock. I have this Eno DoubleNest hammock and it’s awesome. I can comfortably lay in it with another person or my golden retriever. It’s easy to set up and I’ve had it for years, and it’s still just as good as new! There’s a reason they’re one of the leaders in the hammock industry as the products are very well made and very respected in outdoor retail stores. They come in lots of colors to fit your style - mine’s dark green!
Clip-On Bluetooth Speaker. I have this JBL Clip-On Speaker that goes right on my backpack, is waterproof, and not too heavy. Although I typically enjoy the sounds of outdoors without technology, sometimes if I’m on a long hike alone, I enjoy listening to an outdoor podcast. It’s a great little addition to help you relax in nature and immerse yourself in a story while you hike.
I hope this list gives you some ideas about what you might want to bring, and make sure you don’t forget any of the essentials! Hiking is a great activity for anyone at any activity level, and now you know everything you need to get started. Enjoy the trails!
Brooke
