15 Essential Items You NEED to carry on a hike
There is an old “The 10 hiking essentials” list that has been a part of hiking culture since the beginning of time I am guessing. I am astounded every single time I go on a hike at how many idiots are out there hiking with just a tiny water bottle and a cell phone and not much else. from what I have observed, a MAJORIITY of day hikers are not even close to carrying the 10 essentials. Here is the list.
Navigation: map, compass, altimeter, GPS device, personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger
Headlamp: plus extra batteries
Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes and sunscreen
First aid: including foot care and insect repellent (as needed)
Knife: plus a gear repair kit
Fire: matches, lighter, tinder and/or stove
Shelter: carried at all times (can be a light emergency bivy)
Extra food: Beyond the minimum expectation
Extra water: Beyond the minimum expectation
Extra clothes: Beyond the minimum expectation
I like this list, but I add 5 more items to it and am much more specific with some of these general items (for example, First Aid, you can have a pocket first aid kit with some band-aids and some aspirin and that’s about it or a full field medic kit, which should you carry?). Because, if you actually get lost. No, I mean seriously effing lost, and you are fighting for your survival, those 10 items may or may not go far. Are you rolling your eyes? Welp, guess what? I know from EXPERIENCE that those 10 items wouldn’t go far because I was one of those people who got really effing lost and I carry WAY MORE than those 10 items and can tell you with certainty that some of those extra items I carried came in handy.
And sure, keep telling yourself, “It won’t ever happen to me”, and all sorts of other magical thinking. I am sure that the hundreds of hikers, climbers, skiers, snow shoers, and outdoor enthusiasts who end up getting seriously injured, maimed, lost and or dead each year told themselves the same. That didn’t magically prevent something bad from happening, and it’s just best to have the training, experience and equipment to make the BEST CASE SCENARIO happen when something goes terribly wrong. Like what happened with me.
I have probably hiked over a thousand of times in my lifetime. I have done hikes up to 10 days in length. I do day hikes, multiday hikes, tent camping, solo hikes, and partner hikes. I am extremely well versed in map reading, orienting, and navigating. And still, bad things happen. Anything could happen. Maybe instead of getting lost that day, I could have fallen and broken my ankle. Or, terrible weather could have come in and I got stuck by lightning. Or, a poisonous snake bit me. Or I fell and hit my head. Or, or, or. So many hundreds of potential things could go wrong. I prefer to have the training and equipment for as many of these scenarios as possible for that “just in case”. And it’s 1000% times worth the extra weight to carry because the equipment I carry has so far saved 3 lives. Myself, a friend I was hiking with who got dangerously dehydrated on a hike, and some strangers I happened upon who were completely lost and without any equipment, water, or clue on how to recover themselves. I say "*uck traveling light”, carry heavy, get fitter and be ready to save a life.
Here is my list of 15 ESSENTIAL ITEMS to carry on a day hike
Navigation: a paper-printed waterproof map, compass, cellphone, some way of getting weather updates (usually satellite beacon apps can do this or more advanced watches have altimeters), GPS device, and a personal locator beacon (PLB), or satellite messenger. Chargers for all these electronic devices, and a portable solar charger device to keep these devices charged.
Headlamp and 2 camp lamps: plus extra batteries (I prefer to use rechargeable/solar chargeable devices because batteries can freeze). The camp lamps are to mark your camping area and bear canister/food consumption areas. Ever lose your way just by going out of your tent at night for a piss in the pitch dark? Yes, this is why you have a camp lamp. you can get turned around real quick when you are sleepy and it’s very dark.
Sun protection: sunglasses, neck gaiter/buff, a floppy hat, a long-sleeved quick-dry shirt, and sunscreen
Rain Protection: a backpack rain cover, waterproof dry bags for everything in your pack, a raincoat with a hood on it, rain pants, a small tarp with some rope.
Bug and other animal repellents: Bug spray, a critter-proof container to put your food in (like a Tupperware container), and bear spray if you are in an area with bears.
First aid: You need a first aid kit that has more than just aspirin and bandaids. I carry a medium-sized kit with some items I have added. Make sure your First aid kit has over the counter pain killers/anti-inflammatories, electrolyte powder, and salt tablets, Benadryl, antiseptic wipes, antibacterial cream, cream for bug bites, many sizes of sterile gauze and bandages, moleskin for blisters and hot spots, many sizes of bandaids, a pair of shearing scissors, a needle, quick clot pads for deep cuts and arterial bleeding, a mouth guard for cpr, a cpr/first aid guide, an emergency blanket, and a tourniquet.
Gear repair and handy stuff to have: a knife, a roll of duct tape, a couple of trashbags, rope, quick ties, a small field shovel, a couple of trash bags, a few large zip lock bags (for carrying out your trash), wet-wipes/butt wipes, crampons (if you are hiking in snow or mud), and hiking poles.
Fire: waterproof matches, lighter, pre-soaked tinder or quick-fire starter bricks, an emergency magnesium fire starter kit, see the previous item for a small field shovel you will need this to safely put a fire out. I don’t care if it’s 100 degrees when you plan to hike. ALWAYS be prepared to start a fire. You can use it to signal for help, even if you never need the warmth.
Shelter: a light emergency bivy, see item 4 also for a small tarp with ropes. And see item #6 for an emergency blanket.
Food: Bring enough food to get you by for 3 days of being lost. Focus on nutrient-dense foods that require no cooking like salted nuts, jerky, and protein bars. Carry plenty of electrolyte powders. Starvation won’t kill you if you are lost, dehydration will.
Water: Carry a FULL 3 Liter Hydration bladder and a separate bottle for consuming electrolyte powder in water (you cant put the powder in the hydration bladder, it will eventually mold). Have a rechargeable UV light water purifier or a chargeable one with batteries or one of those life straw filtration systems. Carry emergency water purification tablets for the worst-case scenarios.
Extra clothes: I don’t care if it’s 100 degrees, carry a fleece, a beanie, and a pair of gloves. You can get hypothermia in 80-degree weather. Carry two pairs of extra socks. See #3 for sun protective clothing. With all of this, all you need is an extra pair of pants (you never know). Make sure ALL CLOTHING ITEMS are stores in waterproof bags.
ID and safety items: Don’t go out without any identification on you. I take my driver’s license with me and tuck it into my fanny pack in the front pocket. Just in case you need to be identified or you are disoriented, you have that handy and not buried in your pack, it’s on your person. If you have any medical conditions, please get a medical alert bracelet and wear it. Also, HAVE a few days of your needed medications on your person. NOT IN YOUR PACK, ON YOUR PERSON. Don’t EVER go out on a hike without telling 2 people where you are going, what time you expect to hit the trail, and what time you expect to get off-trail. I always send a screenshot of the trail map and the name of the trail I am going on. I always text my two contacts via phone if there is a signal, via my satellite beacon if there is not, the time I start my hike, a halfway check-in, and an “I am off-trail and safe” check-out message. Always carry a small amount of cash and a paper and pen (in a zip lock bag) for leaving notes if you need to. Also a small emergency mirror and whistle.
Bring the fanny pack back: I know fanny packs are not popular, but I always wear one when hiking. Here is why. What if you get separated from your pack? It happens. A stream crossing, you fall, the current is taking you, your sinking, you have to drop your pack to save your life (yes, it’s happened many times to many backpackers). Now guess what? All that handy shit you brought is gone. Carry just the essentials in your fanny pack, that way, at least you have those should your pack get lost. Here is what needs to be in the fanny pack:
Your ID and money
Your car keys (if you drove to the trail)
Your map and compass in a zip lock bag
Your cell phone in a zip-lock bag
Your emergency beacon
Emergency water purification tablets
A foldup cup
Several hydration powder packets
An emergency blanket
Your knife
An emergency whistle
An emergency mirror
Waterproof matches or magnesium emergency fire starter kit
Pre-soaked kindling
A few days of your needed medications
15. Region-specific items: Of course, depending on if you are headed out on a full-day backcountry snowshoe hike or a 2 mile, just the local nature trail, there may be additional things you need for your day hike. I recently went on a day hike that had many bouldering sections, so obviously, I had to pack my climbing shoes, my climbing gloves, and a helmet. So I reserved #15 for hike/region-specific equipment that may be required.
Again, I know this list seems like a lot, but really, all of this doesn’t weigh more than about 15 pounds (minus water). If you carry the amount of water I recommend, it’s only another 5 pounds. Your pack with the frame, won’t weigh more than about 25 pounds. That is really not a lot to carry. Even better, if you have a hiking partner, you can split up the weight/carry of much of the gear that can be shared. I personally like carrying the extra weight because I know it’s making me fitter.
Again, this list is just for a DAY HIKE. If you plan on doing an overnight or several night trip, you will need to bring additional gear. But if your day hike turns into a few nights hike on accident, like mine did, then you will be fully prepared to boondock safely and semi-comfortably.
Want to hear more about my story and what I was carrying when I got lost? This list is based on that experience! I added several things I wish I would have had out there! Go on over to the Fire Team Whiskey Facebook page and watch my video where just a couple of days after my rescue, I take you through all of my gear and tell my story!