The Most Important Hiking Essentials That Every Hiker Needs
Hiking is one of my favorite activities to do in both the winter and summer seasons. For me, hiking is such a healing process, especially when you get to the peaks. Once I see all the nature and sunlight around me, I feel completely at peace. I hope, if you are interested in hiking, this is how you will feel as well. Now, I will say, climbing to the top is always a struggle, but the views are usually worth it, and that is where I find my peace.
Now, if you are new to hiking, then you might be unsure of what the best gear to wear is when hiking. No worries, because you are in the great place to find out. I have been an avid hiker since high school and a couple years ago finished my Adirondack 46er Challenge. Over the years, I have learned what works and what doesn’t, when it comes to gear.
Thus, in this article, you will learn about the most important hiking essentials, hiking essentials clothing, hiking essentials for beginners, have a hiking essentials list, day hiking essentials, and much more, so let’s get started.
This post is all about the most important hiking essentials.
Hiking Essentials:
Before we start, I made this quiz, as a fun way to see what hiking essential you embody most. So, whatever hiking essential you receive, is the essential that I would look into buying first. This is meant to be a fun way to see what essential you need most and to learn more about hiking. So, if you want to take the quiz, just click, take the quiz, below.
1. Hiking Essentials Clothing
Okay, to start off this hiking essentials list, just like anything, clothing is pretty important when you hike. It’s not as important in the summer time verses the winter, but can still be tricky to decide what to wear when the mornings are cool and the afternoons are hot. So, I always suggest LAYER! I will always start with underwear, then my base layers. I wear a thin short or long sleeve shirt (depending on the temperature that day), and then usually a long pair of leggings or hiking pants.
When hiking, I rarely wear shorts, to avoid cuts from branches and dirt getting on my legs. Although, on really hot summer days, I will bring a thin pair of biker shorts to put on if it gets really hot in the afternoons or I will wear those instead of my leggings. Then, after my base layer I will start to layer. I always bring my puffy. This IS an ESSENTIAL hiking item in my opinion for summer and winter, especially during the fall time. Puffies are great, because they will keep you warm and you can EASILY scrunch them up in your bag. So, for clothing, here are my essentials:
- Base shirt, long or short (depending on the temperature, and NOT cotton)
- Thin or thick pair of leggings (again depending on the temperature and NOT cotton) or Hiking Pants
- A pair of biker shorts (I only wear these if it’s going to be super hot or bring an extra pair in my pack, again for super hot and sweaty days) and an extra shirt (good for the way back, if your original shirt gets too sweaty)
- Hat, gloves, neck warmer (for the cold mornings)
Now, when you hike in the winter, this article will also give you more information about how to dress. Basically, I just add more layers, along with my base layers. For my arms, I will wear a sweater. Then, my puffy or outer shell coat. If it’s really cold, I will wear my snow pants over my base layers, while I hike. Again, ALWAYS look at weather reports, and prepare for the base of the mountain to be about 10-30° warmer than the summit. The summits are ALWAYS 10-30° colder than the bases.
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2. A GOOD Pair of Hiking Boots/Shoes
You MUST have good traction when it comes to hiking. The more aggressive trails that you start to hike, the more important having good traction will become, TRUST me. You can get away with little traction on your shoes with beginner trails, but for intermediate and advanced/difficult rated trails you will want to have a pair of hiking boots with GOOD traction. Also, I recommend getting some hiking boots with decent ankle support. Also, invest in some QUALITY hiking socks.
I would have two pairs of hiking boots, one for the summer and fall, and then another pair for winter, if you enjoy winter hiking. Some of my favorite hiking boot brands are Salomon, Keen footwear, Oboz, Merrell, and Lowa. Here are some boots I would recommend for summer/fall hiking and here are some I would recommend for winter hiking. Now, I know a lot of people that wear trail runners (like these) to hike instead of boots. The trail runners dry a lot faster and allow your feet to breath a lot more verses boots. However, I have always worn hiking boots and I’ve never had any issues.
3. A GOOD Hiking Bag : Osprey
The next hiking essential I recommend getting is a GOOD hiking bag. Again, this isn’t super important when you are a beginner, because most of your hikes won’t be longer than a couple miles, but once you start going on hikes that are 5 miles plus, and then 10-20 miles in a day, you DEFINITELY want a GOOD hiking bag. I highly recommend getting an Osprey bag. They are pricey but they LAST. I’ve had my Osprey for 3 years now and I love it, I have no complaints.
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4. A CamelPak & Water Filter
A CamelPak or a water bladder is another hiking essential I recommend investing in. Again, if you are a beginner, you will be fine with just water bottles. However, on longer hikes, a CamelPak is SUPER helpful. Here, is what I mean by a CamelPak. Now, you don’t have to buy a CamelPak specifically, there are many different water reservoirs or “bladders” that you can choose from. Also, many hiking bags have places to put your water bladders.
Now, again, as a beginner hiker, you DON’T need a water filter. However, when you go on hikes that are 10-20 miles long and in the HEAT, you will WANT a water filter. This is the water filter I use and the HydraPak that goes along with it. How I pack my bag is, I fill up my 3 liter water bladder, then put it in my hiking bag, then I bring a separate Nalgene water bottle and clip it on my pack until I need to replenish my water supply. Once my water bladder is empty, I just refill the HydraPak with spring water, found on the trail, then put the water filter on it, then pour that into my Nalgene.
5. What Food to Bring
Okay, this is a hot topic, what food to bring when hiking. Now, this is all going to depend on how LONG and how much ELEVATION gain your hike has. On hikes less than 3 miles, you really only need one or two standard water bottles (depending on how hot it is) and maybe one or two granola bars. On hikes 5-10 miles, I would bring a CamelPak and a granola bar or banana and a lunch.
Now, on hikes 10-20 miles or longer, I bring a LOT of food. I bring a couple different granola bars, I like Clif Bars. Then, I a lot of Gu Packets (I HIGHLY recommend these). When I’m hiking I really don’t like to eat a lot, but I need to you, to keep my energy up, so the Gu Packets are perfect. They give you the energy you need but don’t make you feel full. In addition, I will bring a HUGE bag of trail mix and a peanut butter sandwich. And sometimes Gatorade packets that I mix into my water bottle for the really hot days.
6. Hiking Poles
This is not a hiking essential for beginners that I recommend. I still don’t use hiking poles unless I’m winter hiking. In the summer and fall I think poles are actually annoying, because on the rougher trails, you do a lot of climbing and the poles just get in your way. However, in the winter, the poles are helpful because you actually have somewhere to dig your poles into, the snow.
Again, I really don’t recommend poles unless you have bad knees or ankles, because on the way down, you can take some of the pressure off your joints by using the poles. However, in the winter I find poles helpful, so I would recommend them. I recommend some from eastern mountain sports or a HIGH quality but expensive pair from black diamond equipment that will last you close to forever.
7. A Med Kit
Now, again, as a beginner you don’t really need this, but on longer hikes, it’s a good idea to have a mini med kit. I have a mini med kit that I keep in my hiking bag, I think I’ve only used it once or twice. Once, was for a minor cut and then the other time I needed some Advil for a slight headache. That being said, I recommend always bringing a small thing of Advil. In addition, I use these bandages to help my ankles when I get blisters and I really like them. I always keep a pack of them in my bag, just in case.
8. Other Miscellaneous
Okay, finally, here are the last pieces of hiking essentials that I recommend. Always, bring CHAPSTICK. This little guy always seems to be misplaced, but I promise you, once you forget it once, you will NEVER forget it again. Also, sunscreen is the same way. In the summer, NEVER forget your sunscreen. Also, another essential is a poop shovel. This might be tmi, but again, trust me, on the longer hikes, you will probably need this. And to follow the Leave No Trace Rules, you have to dig a little spot before you go to the bathroom, unless it’s number one, then just go.
Also, if you are going to be hiking in the dark, you will want a headlamp. Even if you don’t plan on hiking in the dark sometimes you do, so I would always bring one just in case. Also, make sure you carry extra batteries with you, again just in case. Also, a hat/baseball cap is a good idea to have, again, for the warmer/sunnier days. And lastly, bring some sunglasses too for the sunny days.
To sum everything up, on your very first hike, make sure you have good hiking shoes, water, food, a backpack, long pants and socks, a t-shirt (depending on temperature), and some sort of jacket for the summit (in case it’s breezy up there). Also, for your very first hike, I would go in the summer time and only hike a trail that is at most 3-4 miles, depending on your activity level. Then, if you like it, I would slowly get more gear, hike harder trails, and think about getting into winter hiking.
And that concludes our list of the most crucial hiking essentials. I hope this helped you and you learned more about what you need and can expect when hiking. Thank you so much for reading, take care and get hiking!
