Want to know the best day hiking essentials every beginning hiker should have? These are your must have hiking essentials you need to know before going on a day hike.
If you are like us, when we were new to hiking, you want to be prepared going for that first day hike. That is why we are giving you our must-have day hiking essentials, every beginning hiker should have. Planning a day hike is our favorite thing to do, having these hiking essentials will make your day feel safe and you feel prepared.After reading our tips you will feel prepared to tackle Mount Everest…just kidding! However, you will feel prepared to take on a day hike like a pro.
This post is all about the 5 must-have day hiking essentials that every beginning hiker should know about.
Must-Have Hiking Essentials
1.Hiking Shoes
One of the most important hiking essentials is your hiking shoes! Do yourself a huge favor and invest in a pair of good hiking shoes. Your feet are your best friends while hiking, so you must take care of them! You will not enjoy a long day hike if your feet are unhappy! Paying a little extra for a comfortable pair of hiking shoes is worth the investment. Before you embark on that hike, go test out a few different brands. We suggest these below but you should really test out a few pair yourself!
2. Hiking Weather Appropriate Clothing
Now that you have the shoes, you will need the appropriate clothing to match your hikes climate. Did you check the weather? Making sure you check the weather before your hike will ensure you have packed or worn the correct protective clothing. Plan your clothing accordingly. Depending on the climate and the season, you will want to have your clothing match. Is there a chance for rain? You will want to pack some rain gear. A light pop over rain poncho is a great safe guard to keep in your back pack at all times. During warm weather, wear breathable materials and light weight clothing. Wear a hat to protect you from the harmful UV rays. Pants or Shorts? We prefer pants most of the time. You don’t need to go out and buy expensive hiking pants. Start out with comfortable pants or shorts. Comfort is most important. Stretchable, comfortable materials are always a good choice, For upper body, you can always chose layers. Start with more and peel the layers as the day warms up. This works for all seasons. These are a few of our favorite basics.
3. Hiking Backpack
The backpack is such a vital hiking essential. Some important basics your back pack should have are, comfortable over the shoulder straps, a chest strap, side pockets for your water bottles. different zippered compartments, to keep your various snacks, first aid kit, maps, keys, ids etc. packed away in. When doing a day hike your backpack should be lightweight and compact. Test out your backpack and adjust those straps to fit your body before your leave for the trails. Here are a few of our favorite backpacks.
4. Hiking App, Compass or Map
Before hitting the “Crunchy Roads” make sure you have your trail mapped out. We always use the app on our phones. “All Trails”. It is BY FAR the easiest app to use and it has a free version that works amazing. The “All Trails” app really changed our lives on how we travel. You can literally search any area you are would like to visit and it will provide you with trails nearby. The GPS works fabulous and it will provide actual hiker reviews, distance and many facts regarding the trail such as elevation gain and difficulty. There are few nice perks on the paid version but starting out with the free version will provide you with what you need if you do not want to purchase. There is always a chance your GPS will not work on your phone so a back up map and compass is always a good choice to have in your backpack as well. Many trails are well marked once you are on them but just incase have the compass or map as well if you are feeling unsure of your GPS service.
5. Hiking Snacks & Hydration
Our last hiking essential is our favorite! Food and drinks! What would a day hike be with out food! One of our favorite reasons for hiking is to eat the snacks on the way or stopping for a picnic. You will want portable grab and go snacks that will keep you fueled. Our suggestions: protein bars, granola bars, nuts and dried fruit, trail mix, jerky, pretzels and our favorite hiking snack the tried and true PB and J. We find that PB and J on a hearty multi grain bread or wrap travels well and won’t spoil in all weather. These are all light weight and fit easily in to a small lunch bag and that will fit perfectly into your backpack. Drinks are essential. We always bring Smart Water. It’s the perfect size for a backpack and contains essential electrolytes. You can simply bring reusable water bottles as well. If it is hot outside during your hike consider adding some electrolytes such as Liquid Hydration or Gatorade to keep you well hydrated. You can never bring too much water. The recommendation is 2 cups per hour you plan to hike but if its hotter out, drinking even more is recommended.
This post was all about the best hiking essentials to make sure you are prepared to have the best day hike!
