15 Hiking Must Haves: Packing List for a Day Hike
Hiking has become an important part of my life over the past few years. There are endless reasons why you should go hiking – if you haven’t already! Hiking will help you and transform you both physically and mentally. Plus, it’s a great way to fill in the time when you’re not travelling. But there are a few hiking must-haves that you should always bring with you on a day hike to ensure you have the best hike! So, I’ve put together a list of my top 15 hiking must-haves, plus a handy printable summer day hike packing list.
This list of hiking gear is perfect for beginners as well as those looking to get more serious about upping their day hiking game. Plus, I discuss specific items you’ll need to add to your hiking gear list for each season. And getting your hiking gear in order before you start hiking is in line with number one on my list of tips for day hikes – plan ahead! So, let’s start planning your next hike by ensuring you’ve got the proper hiking equipment you need!
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Hiking Must Haves
If you’re just starting out hiking you may be asking, what kind of gear should I take on a day hike? Below are my top 15 things you should pack for a day hike. And while there are tons of gadgets that you could get, these first few are your hiking essentials and include hiking boots, day pack, water bottle, and a first aid kit.
Hiking Boots
The number one thing you need when it comes to hiking gear is hiking boots. But there are so many options to choose from, where do you begin? Depending on the trails you’re hiking, trail runners are suitable for most flat and easy terrain. But for rugged trails, like the Bruce Trail, you going to want to buy a pair of good hiking shoes or boots. What makes a hiking boot great? They are supportive of your ankles – which is key for hiking over uneven terrain and through rocky sections. There are a lot of great brands like Merrell, Salomon, and North Face. But my favourite hiking shoes are Keens.
Day Pack
The next thing that should be at the top of your gear list is a solid day pack. Even if you’re hiking trip is only an hour or two, I recommend bring a pack. If you want something lightweight try a waist pack. Many are perfect for short hikes and give you easy access to your phone, water bottle, and have room for some other essentials. Here are a few great options for waist packs.
For most hikers, you’re going to want to invest in a good day pack. Mine is from my travel backpacking bag. It can be zipped to the larger bag or used on its own. These are great if you plan on doing multi-day hikes or backcountry camping. But there are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a day pack for hiking. Is your water bottle easily accessible, like on a side pocket of the bag? Does it come with a rain bag to cover it? And for those with back and neck problems or suffer from migraines, make sure your day pack is lightweight and has waist straps to help better distribute the weight.
Related Post: Top Hiking Trails in Canada
Water Bottles
A water bottle is a must-have no matter where and what you’re doing. There’s no need for plastic bottles of water now. But a great water bottle is a must-have for hiking. And depending on the time of year or how long you’re hiking for could determine what type of water bottle is best. In the summer and on longer hikes I recommend either a hydration pack, which gives you quick and easy access to fluids, or at least a 32 ounce bottle, which is almost a litre. And try and have another one ready in your car too!
First Aid Kit
It’s always best to plan for an emergency then to be left helpless on the trails. So, be sure to always pack a small first aid kit. You can purchase pre-made kits from different retailers or create your own. A few things that should be in your day hiking first aid kit are; bandages of various sizes, gaze, a safety pin, alcohol swaps, duct tape, and some kind of pain relief like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Another important safety tip for hiking – Always tell someone where you’re going and approximately how long you’ll be gone, especially when hiking solo.
Related Post: Top Hiking Trails in the United States
Summer Day Hiking Essentials
For many of us who live in a multi-season climate, like Canada, you’re going to need different hiking gear for different seasons. While the gear I mentioned above is your standard gear to pack for every day hike the following are some of the hiking must haves for summer. You’ll definitely need sun protection, bug repellent, and a few other handy items to keep you cool and safe.
Sun Protection
It’s important to wear some sort of sun protection any time of year, but especially in the summer. So, be sure to have a good SPF lotion for your body as well as a SPF lip-balm. I always have a large container of lotion in my car and apply before I hit the trails. But I also carry a smaller bottle with me to reapply. Other things to help protect you from the sun that you should have are proper sunglasses (not just those cheap fashion ones), a hat, and a buff.
Buffs are great at any time of year but some even come with UV protection. And Atmosphere has a ton of fun ones, from colourful prints to full on Canadian-inspired buffs. If you want to support Parks Canada they have some fun Canadian buffs – they call them Tuber’z though lol. And you can never have enough buffs so they are a must addition to any list of gifts for hikers.
Bug Spray
I’m sure if you ask any hiker what the worst thing about hiking is they’ll say BUGS!! They can be downright unbuggable, sorry, I mean unbearable. But there are ways to help reduce the bugs. My favourite is OFF Botanicals Insect Repellent Lotion. This is perfect for rubbing on your arms, legs, and face. The active ingredient in it that repels bugs is lemon eucalyptus oil, which is a natural alternative to DEET. It’s not greasy, it smells nice, and works really well for up to 2 hours. And it works on ticks, mosquitos, and black flies. Muskol also makes a popular insect repellent lotion but it has DEET. I also recommend using a bug and tick spray on top of the lotion, especially for your legs.
Tick Remover
With people getting Lyme disease on the rise it is important to also be aware of ticks. What are ticks? They are a type of arachnid that live off of the blood of animals and are usually 3 – 5 mm in length. But the real threat to people is that they can carry Lyme disease. So, it’s important to know where hot spots are, how to avoid them, and what to do when you find them. Parks Canada has a great guide to answer all of your tick questions.
So, one piece of hiking gear that is a must is a tick remover. While there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to remove them with various items like Q-Tips and pocket knives, there are also a bunch of different and effective items that are strictly for tick removal. Atmosphere has a tick remover that’s a unique tweezer with a LED light to pick them off. And Sport Chek has a completely different kind of tick remover.
Related Post: Top 10 Hiking Trails in Europe
Tick & Mosquito Repellent Clothing
If you’re looking for more ways to avoid bugs like ticks and mosquitos then considering investing in some bug repellent clothing. Mark’s has a whole line of bug repellent clothing for both men and women that include; shirts, pants, jackets, and even hats, and cooling cloths. How does it work? They use No Fly Zone® technology that repels ticks and mosquitoes for up to 70 washes.
Clothing hiking tip – If you’re hiking on narrow trails where the brush is going to be touching you, or if you just want an extra couple of layers between you and ticks, make sure you wear full length pants or tights and pull white socks up over your pant bottoms. You may not be winning all the likes on Instagram but the layers help protect you plus the white socks help you see the ticks better if they do end up on you.
Cooling Cloth
If you’re anything like me and tend to overheat in the summer then I highly recommend getting a cooling cloth. Cooling cloths are like a towel that when you add water and apply to the skin it helps cool you down. Especially when placed in certain areas like the back of the neck, under your arms, or on your inner wrist. Afterward, all you have to do is rinse out the water and return to the container to use again. And if you’re looking for fun gifts for hikers that you know a cooling cloth is a great option. They’re not overly expensive and you’re friend could always use another if they have one already.
Winter Hiking Gear
Hiking in the winter is a completely different bag of tricks. I even wrote a whole post on winter hiking tips! So, if you’re going to be hitting the trails in the snow and ice I always recommend you add a few things to your day pack to keep you safe when winter hiking. Along with the appropriate layered clothing, water repellent boots, hats, gloves, and even a lighter, here are a couple more winter hiking must-haves.
Spikes/Ice Cleats
If you plan on hiking in the winter without snowshoes then you’ll definitely need a pair of ice cleats or spikes to wrap around your hiking boots. Spikes and ice cleats attached to your boots and help you gain traction on slippery surfaces like hard-packed snow or ice. If you don’t have trekking poles then a pair of spikes or ice cleats are a must to help keep you upright.
Related Post: Top 10 Hiking Trails Across the Globe
Hand Warmers
Whether it’s a frigid day or you get stuck and need some extra warmth you should always bring a couple of hand warmers with you when hiking in the winter. They can be used in your gloves or your boots and even in your pockets to help keep you warm. You can get them from almost any outdoor retail shop but I like this 10 pack. They start heating up within minutes of you opening the package and stay warm for over seven hours.
More Things to Pack for a Day Hike
There are a whole host of things to bring on a day hike. Like your camera, a map, snacks to keep your energy up, binoculars, hand sanitizer, and more. For solo hikers, I also recommend you bring a whistle and maybe a multi-purpose tool. And for nature lovers looking to do their part, I recommend bringing a small garbage bag to pick up litter along the trail. But there are a few other things to add to your hiking gear.
Gaiters
Another great piece of hiking equipment to add to your day pack is a pair of gaiters. Gaiters are designed to cover from your foot to your mid-calf and protect you from the elements, whether its snow, wet grass, or other brush. They also help to avoid getting all the dirt and rocks up into your shoes. Plus if you wear them during bug season they add an extra layer of protection between you and bugs.
Power Bank
One thing that is always in my bag, whether it’s for a day trip into the city or out hiking, is a power bank. Power banks are a portable power source and are small and compact to fit into any pocket. I always power mine up the night before so it’s full of juice. Even if you aren’t taking a ton of photos or using your cell phone a lot, they are a must-have hiking item for times of emergency. Like if you get lost in the woods and your cell phone battery is low, simply plug it into your power bank and charge it on the go.
Dry Bag
Along with a great waterproof or water repellent rain jacket, you should also consider purchasing a dry bag. You don’t need a large one for just day hiking but a small one is great to have on hand if you get an unexpected rain shower and are carrying camera gear. Simply throw it into your dry bag and put back into your day pack and you’re good to go. Or if you want something to protect your whole day pack you can purchase a rain cover to put over your pack to protect everything in it from getting wet.
Get the App
Some other must-haves for hiking include some handy apps to use when you’re out on the trails. If you’re not bringing a proper map then you should have access to an online trail map, which can be obtained through the All Trails App and the Bruce Trail App. These apps help you navigate along the trail and are extremely useful if you somehow manage to find yourself off the trail or can’t find the next trail blaze. Another great app, especially for the directionally challenged, is the compass app. This will help you navigate whether you have a proper map or not, plus it’s just an extra thing to help you along the way.
Do you have any hiking must haves that I haven’t listed? What would you add?
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