Reel Adventure Awaits

The 10 essentials for day hiking is really important for your safety. It is gear that you should have on you at all times while hiking. Ensuring that the ten essentials are packed whenever you hit the trails will benefit you in several ways. This list was will help prevent emergencies and how to respond to one if a situation were to occur. Included, I have provided safety measures that equip you to spend a night (or more) outside.

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Table of Contents

1. Navigation: map, compass, electronic navigation system 
2. First Aid Kit: supplies to treat an injury or sickness 
3. Nutrition: Extra food 
4. Illumination: Headlamp and flashlight 
5. Sun Protection: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm
6. Hydration: Water and filtration system 
7. Fire: Fire starter, lighter, and matches 
8. Insulation: Extra clothes, windbreaker/raincoat
9. Emergency Shelter: tarp, tent, jumbo garbage bag 
10. Knife, Multi tool, Repair Kit
11. Conclusion

Navigation

First up on 10 essentials for day hiking is navigation. Navigation has never been more accessible for hikers to use. It can be as easy as adding an app to your phone or GPS device. NEVER rely solely on your electronic devices. Technology could fail or you could drop the device down a cliff or into a river. Always make sure to have a physical topographic map and compass (and know how to use them). You can tailor these essentials for each trip. For example, on a long hike you may take all your navigational gear but on a short hike, you may just bring your map and compass. As you plan what to bring, consider weather, trail difficulty, and how long you will be out in the back country.

First Aid Kit

Practicing safety while on any adventure is the best way to prevent most injuries. When any ailment occurs you want to make sure you are equipped to handle the situation with a first aid kit. Your first aid kit is only as good as your ability to use it. Know what is in your kit, how to use it, when items expire, and be sure to replenish after each use. Items susceptible to water should be protected by a waterproof bag or container. Training in wilderness first aid is worthwhile because most first aid courses are geared towards urban settings. Remember, an emergency response team can take hours or even days to get to you in the back country. Basic first aid kits should contain but is not limited to:

• Bandages: assorted, butterfly, adhesive wound closure strips
• Gauze pads and dressings: various sizes 
• Elastic wrap and roller bandages
• Nitrile Gloves 
• Tweezers 
• Rehydration salts 
• Antiseptic towelettes 
• Athletic tape
• Blister treatments (moleskin) 
• Antidiarrheal pills
• Antihistamine tablets 
• Needle 
• Ibuprofen
• Antibiotic ointments

Nutrition

Next, on 10 essentials for day hiking is nutrition. Extra food should be packed in case of something that would slow your trip in the back country down like bad weather or an injury. An extra day worth of food should be carried beyond what you plan to consume. Some items that you could pack are: 

• Beef Jerky
• Granola bars
• Trail mix
• Chips
• Tuna
• Peanut Butter 
• Chocolate 
• Dehydration food 

Make sure to pack food that you enjoy. Dehydrated food can be pricey so it would be worth your time to pre-make some dehydrated food for the trails. It’s also great because it is super lightweight to carry.

Illumination

Even on a day hike you want to make sure you have a headlamp and flashlight packed (extra batteries too). These will come in handy for those hikes that you went a little further than expected, lost track of time, or lost the trail.  Remember, headlamps or flashlights that are easily turned on are dangerous because they may be activated in your pocket or pack, during the day, without you knowing. Either purchase something that isn’t turned on easily or leave the batteries out until needed.

Sun Protection

Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and lip balm help protect against sunburn and/or snow blindness. As a matter of fact, SPF lip balm  is an item I learned the hard way to never forget. Whether it is a sunny day, overcast, or a winter hike you will need to protect yourself from damaging rays and brightness from the sun, water, and snow.

Hydration

Always carry enough water on you for your adventure but also bring a method for treating water. This can be a filtration system, tablets, or drops to treat water before drinking. Electrolyte chew tablets are great for hot days to keep you going. The electrolyte chews are incredible! They have helped me tremendously on hikes especially hot sunny days when no matter how much water you drink it’s not enough. The one downside to carrying water is the weight. Keep this in mind if you are traveling long distances and try to plan your routes from water source to source if possible, refilling via filtration methods.

Recommendations

I use three different products when it comes to hydration. For my water bottles I use Yeti and Hydroflasks. The filter system I use is … a straw that filters as you drink.

Fire

Pack supplies to start and maintain a  fire in an emergency. Fire starters are essential in igniting wet wood promptly. Butane lighters are a great tool but make sure you have waterproof matches as well. If you will be hiking above treeline where wood is not available, you will need to have a stove packed. 

Insulation

Weather conditions can change at anytime when hiking. It can be wet, cold, and windy very quickly so it’s necessary to pack extra clothes beyond what you expect on every adventure. Stay away from cotton because it will not dry once wet. Wool and polypropylene are great options. Items to consider adding to your pack are:

• Gloves
• Insulated hat
• Socks
• Base layer top and bottoms 
• Raincoat
• Windbreaker

Emergency Shelter

You will need something to protect you from the elements. That can range from an emergency blanket to an ultralight tent. What you bring will be based on the kind and duration of an adventure you are planning. Some examples include:

• Tarp and nylon cord
• Emergency blanket
• Space blanket 
• Ultralight tent 
• Jumbo trash bag

Knife, Multi Tool, Repair Kit

Knife: can help in many situations that arise in the back country. They can be used in first aid, preparing food, and repairing equipment malfunctions.

Multi-tool: Multi-tools are great too because of how many functions it can help with compared to just having a knife on hand. You want your multi-tool that can be a pliers, screwdriver, and scissors at the very least.

Repair Kit: Having a repair kit can save your trip if things go array. Some items to put in the repair kit are:

• Duct tape
• Cord
• Zip tie
• Needle and thread

Conclusion

Any adventure into the wild you need to carry essential gear. No one plans to get lost or injured while in the back country. Having these 10 essentials for day hiking can help ensure you and fellow hikers reach safety and even save your life.

Adventure Awaits, Let’s go find it!