What to Bring on a Day Hike!
For a looong time, I had no idea what to bring on a day hike, but we are going to get. you. packed today, my friend! This is a topic I now love to talk about. Just over a year ago, Tim and I decided that we would attempt to visit allllll 63 US National Parks. At the time we made that call, I would’ve placed us in the “inconsistent, but enthusiastic” hiker category, and man, did we have a LOT. TO. LEARN.
Things, however, escalated quickly, and here we are, 18 months later, much more experienced and with some advice to share!
After several misadventures, including not having the right gear or enough water, etc, etc, we feel like we’ve finally dialed in our packing list and figured out how to navigate ambitious day hikes in a variety of terrains and climates. We wanted to share our must-haves with you today! Hope you find this helpful as you plan your next adventure!
Day-Hike gear recommendations!
to WEAR on a day hike:
hoka anacapa mid-rise hiking boots
A good pair of hiking boots is an investment, and these have been worth every penny. I chronically turn my ankles which I have yet to do in these. Super lightweight, yet superior grip. Love em. My version, seen and linked here, is currently on same for less than $160. The NEW style looks awesome also, and I’ve linked them HERE.
Patagonia Line Logo Ridge LoPro Trucker Hat
The LoPro trucker hat is my favorite. It sits perfectly on my head, the mesh is breathable, and the design is unbeatable. Highly recommend for a stylish adventurer.
pocket leggings
My buddy recommended these to me and I love them. The compression waist is flattering and the pockets constantly come in handy for all the things I’m moving around and need access to out on the trails. Plus, they dry quickly and still protect my legs! Less than $30 on Amazon!
Is it warm where you’re headed? I’ve also had my eye on THESE biker shorts with pockets!
dickies hiking socks
From Death Valley to Mount Rainier, I’ve worn these socks all over and they’ve performed every. time. At a very reasonable price from Amazon, I haven’t had a need to upgrade yet!
hoka speedgoat 5
If you’re looking for less weight and more traction, Hoka’s are the way to go. Tim opted for these low-height trailrunners, and if asked, he will go on and on about how much he loves them. Would make a great gift! Snazzy lil thangs, too. Comes in extended widths.
sunglasses
Don’t forget your sunnies! These are the sunglasses I got for Tim for his birthday this year and he. loves. them. so.
to carry on a day hike:
emergency whistles
I would recommend having a whistle as a good safety measure in the case of emergency. I haven’t used them for that yet, fortunately, but when we’ve encountered bears, we have blown them some as we go over ridges as not to surprise the animals. Less than $10.
a map of where you’re headed
I highly recommend taking a map of the area you’re hiking in, for several reasons: .1. Your phone could die. 2. Your phone could lose signal and that trusty phone map you thought would be accessible suddenly isn’t (unless you’ve paid for the premium AllTrails subscription that lets you download them, which I finally did after a couple of similar snafus). These National Geographic maps are my go-to and they are less than $15 and arrive quickly from Amazon!
Trekking poles
I avoided these weirdly for soooo long, but when I finally decided to try them, I was blown away by how helpful they were, just to allow you to propel yourself more easily, help you balance, and allow your arms to do some of the work!
35L Backpack-
When we chose our packs, we had no idea how many liters in size we might need, and fortunately, this pack turned out to be a perfect choice. With waist and chest straps, as well as many pockets, soft cushioning, and lots of loops to tie or hang things on, we have been very happy with our selection here. Of course, you could spend more money and get a name-brand pack, but this one will definitely do the trick (for less than $50). I’ve also used it for other travel, long days out with the kids, and any time I need to carry more than a purse, honestly!
3L water storage
Some longer hikes just require more water than even your camelback will carry. If that’s the case, this is a great option. BONUS, it’s compatible with the water filter below, so you can fill it with running water on the trails, put the filter on and then, viola, enjoy 3L of delicious fresh, filtered water out of this puppy.
water filter
We got this filter for some of our longer, hotter, hikes, and we HAVE been in situations when we’ve needed to use it and it’s worked perfectly. You don’t want to carry all of the water you’ll need if you don’t have to, right? Drinking stream water made me nervous at first, but this filters out 99.9999% of things that will make you sick. The only issue is that the bag it comes with is small (only .6L), so that’s why we got the above 3L compatible water storage. Hopefully that makes sense!
portable charger
This is the newest (and arguably one of the most important) gadgets we’ve added to our packing list. This lil fella will charge both your iPhone AND Apple Watch while out on the trails. Over long days, we’ve had every one of our devices die without it, and now we can be stress free knowing that we’ll have access to online maps and calls if necessary (and if there’s signal, of course). Other uses: Disney, days at the fair, etc.
sunscreen
Don’t forget the sunscreen! Seriously.
Multitool
It’s a great idea to have a multitool in the event something goes wonky or you need to make some adjustments! This one has so many options that you should be able to find what you need!
lip balm
Keep those lips hydrated on the trails! This is our favorite lip balm.
camelbak hydration pack
You’ll definitely want a hydration pack in your bag! The nozzle comes in super handy so you can drink while on the go. This is one I’ve loved most recently. The wider mouth makes it easy to fill (and even add ice!)
Osprey poco plus child carrier backpack
If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then you already know that we have a 5 year year old WHO STILL RIDES IN THIS THING sometimes. It’s pricey, but for us, it was a very generous gift, and we have since gifted them to others because they are just so worth it. It’s a luxury carrier that is so comfy and highly adjustable. Everything you need is in it.
snacks!
Definitely don’t leave home without some snacks in your bag!! Beef jerky, Aussie bites from Costco, dried fruit, and Cliff bars like these are among my favorite hiking snacks!
Electrolytes
We buy these packets to throw in our water – it took us a while to determine the right balance of plain water and water + electrolytes to consume on our hikes, but these packets have been a game-changer for sure!
headlamp
It’s a great idea to have one of these packed away in the event something holds you up on the trail and it’s dark upon your return. Lost in the woods after dark is a scary thing without light!
Other items you may want to bring on a day hike:
- EMERGENCY KIT. Safety first! An emergency kit is always a good idea. Here’s a small, simple option that I just purchased myself: EMERGENCY KIT
- RAIN OR COLD WEATHER GEAR. What’s the weather like where you’re headed? You may need to carry a rain jacket, rain pants, hat, gloves (ESPECIALLY if there are scrambling sections!), or heavier jacket in order to be comfortable at your destination!
- HAIR TIES! Small but easy to forget, and annoying not to have: I love Gimme hair ties.
- A TRIPOD! Do you want to take pictures on the trail? It can be extremely time consuming to find a place to prop your phone, so I’d highly recommend bringing along a tripod like THIS.
- Snowshoes will be necessary if you’re trying to reach a very snowy destination up top. We have these!
- Microspikes are a good idea if you need extra grip through patchy snow or slippery terrain. These have been perfect for us!
I hope this gives you some great ideas on what to bring on a day hike (will help you avoid some of the mistakes we’ve made in the past by being unprepared!!!) I wish the very happiest of adventures to you!
To follow along with our travels, subscribe HERE! Also, check out our latest adventures and see how far we’ve gotten on our National Parks goal by visiting TRAVEL HOME.
Can’t wait to see more of you. Let me know where you’re headed next!
hugs and Blessings,
ann marie 🖤
Hi, there!
I’m Ann Marie, a blogging mama of 3 lil’ gals, a wife to a busy Orthopedic Surgeon, and a firm believer that you can never have too many chickens.
I’m so, so glad you’re here, where we discuss all things modern farmhouse, garden, motherhood, medical marriage, faith, travel, and more. I’m passionate about inspiring you to move forward in your transformative journey. In fact, I happen to be on one of those myself. Let’s do it together. ❤️
For inspiration between blog posts, find me on Instagram or Facebook. I truly can’t wait to see you there, friend. 💋
To connect, shoot me an email at seedsandspirit@gmail.com ❤️
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