Figuring out what to bring on day hikes can be overwhelming at first. Maybe you’re worried about bringing too much and struggling to carry your pack, or bringing too little and not having what you need in an emergency.
If this is you, don’t worry!
After over a decade of hiking and with hundreds of trail miles under my belt, I’ve nailed down my core kit. A few things change slightly depending on the weather, but everything else stays consistent.
In this guide, I’m sharing all the day hiking essentials I bring on every day hike. While every hiker’s pack contents might look slightly different, hopefully you can use this guide as a good starting point for figuring out what to bring day hiking!
Day Hiking Essentials: What I Bring on Every Day Hike
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Proper Layers, Footwear, and Accessories
When you think of day hiking essentials, you may think of things that go inside your pack. But what you wear matters just as much!
Wearing the appropriate clothes, footwear, and accessories on trail, and packing the proper layers and accessories, is essential to having a successful hike.
Since what you wear (and layers/accessories that you bring) will vary based on the weather and conditions, I wrote an entire comprehensive guide on what to wear hiking for all types of weather, where I break it all down head to toe.
Here are some of my recommendations:
- Base layer – Something moisture-wicking and breathable. A sun hoodie is my go-to for warm hikes, while a long-sleeve tee or thermal is my preferred top for cool or cold-weather hikes.
- Mid-layer – Something insulating to keep you warm. Fleece or insulated jackets are perfect for cool or cold-weather hikes, but I always pack one, even in warm weather, just in case conditions change.
- Outer layer – Something to keep the rain and wind out. I like windbreakers on slightly cool, windy hikes, and a rain jacket for cool/cold, rainy hikes, but I pack a rain jacket even on dry hikes just in case the weather turns.
- Pants/Leggings/Shorts – You’ll usually find me in pants or leggings for cool and cold-weather hikes, and shorts for warm-weather hikes.
- Footwear – Boots, shoes, trail runners, or sandals. I prefer boots for cool and cold-weather hikes, while I often hike in sandals in warm weather. My wife prefers trail runners.
- Socks – Always, always, always wear merino wool socks, no matter the weather!
- Accessories – Packing gloves, ear wrap or beanie, and a neck chute for cool or cold weather is always a good idea. And sunglasses for sunny hikes!
Sun Protection
We hikers sometimes don’t realize just how important sun protection really is. Being outdoors for hours, even on cloudy days, can expose us to harmful levels of UV rays, cause dehydration, and even lead to heat exhaustion.
To combat this, we can armour ourselves against the sun by wearing/using one (or more) of the following:
- Sun hoodie – to cover your arms, neck, and ears; my go-to hiking top
- Sun hat – to cover your head, face, and ears; you usually don’t need both a sun hat and a sun hoodie, so it’s okay to pick just one
- Sunglasses – to cover your eyes and avoid squinting
- Sunscreen – to lather on any exposed skin
- Ultralight umbrella – a total game-changer for sunny (and rainy) hikes; standing underneath one lowers the temperature by 5-10 degrees
- SPF lip balm – to prevent sunburnt and blistered lips
Water
Of course, you need water anytime you’re hiking! As a good rule of thumb, bring a half-liter of water per hour of hiking. Sometimes you’ll need a little less in cold weather or on easy hikes, or a little more in hot weather or on strenuous hikes, but that’s a good starting point.
I prefer water bottles over water bladders so I can track how much water I’m drinking, but you can bring either.
For hot-weather and/or strenuous hikes, I mix one packet of LMNT electrolytes into a liter of water to replace the valuable salt I’m losing while hiking/sweating.
For longer or hot-weather hikes where I’m going to be drinking more water, I bring a water filter to filter water on trail. (Only if there’s a water source on trail, of course. Otherwise, I have to bring in all the water I think I’m going to need).
Snacks
Since you burn a ton of calories when hiking, you need fuel to keep your energy up! And a good way to do that is by snacking often.
How many snacks/meals you bring will vary depending on how long you plan to be out on trail. Whatever you bring, make sure it’s loaded with nutrition and has a good amount of carbs and calories. And some sugar wouldn’t hurt, especially for hard climbs!
Remember: Bring more than you usually eat at home. You’ll be burning a lot more calories from all of the physical activity, so it’s better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need than not enough.
My favorite hiking snacks are homemade trail mix, protein bars, freeze-dried fruit, mixed nuts, chips, crackers and cheese, jerky, and sugary candy for climbs.
If I anticipate being on the trail somewhere between 11 AM and 1 PM, I bring lunch in my backpack, too! Easy trail lunches are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tuna and crushed Doritos wraps, or cold-soaked pasta salad.
Map
While I always recommend having multiple forms of navigation (a downloaded electronic map, a paper map, and a compass) on a backpacking trip, on an unmarked trail, or in a more remote area in the backcountry, a downloaded electronic map is usually sufficient enough for a day hike.
I use AllTrails and Gaia GPS interchangeably, depending on the trail/area.
For day hikes, I’ll typically use AllTrails. AllTrails is super user-friendly and includes all the basic trail details (like length, elevation gain, difficulty, type of trail, whether or not it’s dog-friendly, etc.), along with current photos and reviews from other hikers who’ve recently been on the trail.
And with a paid AllTrails + subscription, you can download offline maps to use on the trail without cell service. That way, you avoid getting lost! This is the biggest perk of the paid subscription.
Psssst: Get 30% off AllTrails + with my code alexysabroad30.
For backpacking trips, unmarked trails, and remote backcountry areas, I’ll use Gaia GPS. Gaia GPS is more advanced, allowing you to download an entire area (not just one trail), build routes, and apply overlays.
Since you’re going to be relying on your phone for navigation, make sure to download the map for offline use ahead of time and put a power bank in your backpack so you can recharge your phone if needed.
Emergency Supplies
Unexpected things can happen on trail, and if/when something minor or major does, you want to be prepared.
These are the supplies I keep in my backpack in case an emergency arises:
- First aid kit – fill it only with things you’ll need and know how to use (here’s everything that’s in mine)
- Emergency blanket – to keep warm in case you unexpectedly have to stay on trail overnight
- Headlamp – to see in the dark
- Lighter and kindling – to be able to start a fire
- Knife – handy for cutting blister tape and opening snacks, but also can be used for personal protection
- Bear spray – only when you’re in bear country
- Satellite phone – to message loved ones and call for emergency assistance without cell service
- Power bank – to keep your phone charged (especially if you’re relying on it for maps)
These eight simple emergency supplies/tools can help you do everything from tackle blisters and prevent hypothermia to see in the dark, start a fire, call for help, and protect yourself against bears. And so much more!
Trekking Poles
I almost always hike with trekking poles because they are great for knee support, stability, and balance. They provide extra points of contact, which helps prevent tripping and falling, and take the stress off your knees and joints.
I’ve tried many different pairs of trekking poles, but the best by far are the ultralight Fizan Compact 3 Poles. They each weigh only 5.6 ounces and are the sturdiest and lightest poles I’ve ever owned!
Pee Cloth & Poop Kit
Everyone needs to go to the bathroom…yep, even on trail! But since there are (rarely) facilities on trail, you’ll need to bring your own supplies.
At the very least, I’ll bring a pee cloth. I simply clip a Kula cloth onto the outside of my backpack, so when nature calls, I can easily grab it. Then clip it back onto my bag and let it air-dry!
But for longer day hikes, I’ll bring a poop kit as well. My poop kit is just a small zippered bag filled with a few sheets of toilet paper, a trowel, and hand sanitizer.
If you’ll be hiking in the desert or somewhere where you can’t dig catholes, bring a WAG bag to poop in!
Day Pack
Finally, you need something to store all your day hiking essentials in: a backpack!
You’ll want something between a 20 and 30 liter pack. I find that a 24L day pack is the sweet spot for day hikes.
Here are the features to look for in a hiking day pack:
- Padded hip belts – to carry the load on your hips instead of just your shoulders
- Sternum strap – to keep your pack from moving around
- Load lifter straps – to help pull the load closer to your body
- Interior pocket – to store a water bladder (if you plan to use one)
- Exterior and water bottle side pockets – to keep things organized and easily accessible
- Included rain cover – to cover your pack in wet weather; otherwise, you’ll have to buy one separately
My 24L Osprey Sirrus backpack checks all the boxes!
Miscellaneous
A few other things I may have in/on my pack:
- Camera – I slip my lightweight Canon R8 on a Peak Design Capture Clip
- Head net or bug spray – when the bugs are really bad
New to Hiking? Start Here!
I’ve got many guides on the blog that will help get you outside and onto the trails!
- Hiking for Beginners: 5 Easy Steps to Start Hiking
- What to Wear Hiking: A Women’s Guide For All Types of Weather
- Trail Etiquette 101: Basic Rules of Hiking
- How to Practice the Leave No Trace Principles
- Is Hiking Safe? 9 Simple Ways to Stay Safe on the Trail
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