Your Day Hiking Essentials Packing List

When it comes to hiking, we spend most of our time and energy planning out our gear for multi-day hikes. But the truth is, the gear you carry with you on a single day hike is just as important. We like to keep our day hiking backpack stocked with essential items so we are always prepared when we decide to take a spontaneous hike. We’ll take you through our day hiking essentials and lay out a packing list that will keep you happy, safe and comfortable.

What are some of your day hiking essentials? Are there any luxury items you are willing to carry? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

Here is Your Day Hiking Gear Checklist:

Water

Water is key when hiking and has to be at the top of our day hiking essentials list.

Like many other seasoned hikers out there, our go-to water container is Camelbak . If you haven’t heard of Camelbak yet, you need to check them out. They are the leaders in hands free hydration. Their day packs allow you to easily carry 2.5 L of water – which is plenty for most day hikes. A tube extends from the bag and over your shoulder, making it quick and easy to sip as you walk.

We also think the Camelbak is the ultimate day hiking backpack because in addition to holding a day’s supply of water, there is extra storage space to carry all your other day hiking essentials. Check them out here ⬇️

Day Hiking Backpack

If you plan to pack more gear than a Camelbak can store, we think you will love the Icemule Cooler. These bags are great because they serve multiple purposes at once. They come in tons of sizes so you can carry as much gear as you need. Most bags have super padded straps so you can tote along your gear comfortably. They are also constructed in the same way as a dry bag, making sure everything you bring stays dry. And the best part, the bag is insulated to act as a cooler. If you are planning to hang out and have a picnic on your hike, this bag will allow you to keep your food and drinks cold all day.

Water Treatment

Packing lots of water is important on a day hike but it is smart to have a back up. This is a ‘worst case scenario’ type deal. Say you get detoured, lost, rained out, or simply the hike takes longer than you thought. You want to make sure you have a back up water source. To avoid any dire situations, throw a water treatment option in your bag.

Potable Aqua Germicidal Water Purification Tablets are small, lightweight and will purify water from any source. Although, they do take half an hour to be effective and leave behind a slight aftertaste.

You could also opt for a slightly larger option. A water filter allows you to drink from any water source, removes 99.99% of bacteria, you can drink the water instantly and it makes the water taste fresh and clean. Our absolute favourite water filter for hiking is the Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System. It is much smaller than other filters on the market so it’s easy to throw in your bag. It also attaches directly onto your water bottle making the drinking process super simple. And the water tastes fabulous!

Food

Of course, the second most important of day hiking essentials: food. Food is so important on any hiking trip. Not only do you want to bring the right snacks to fuel your day, but you want to bring a bit extra in case your hike takes you longer than anticipated. Pack along a little more than you think you will need, just in case.

We suggest packing high energy snacks to give you the best bang for your buck. Things like trail mix, mixed nuts, beef jerky, cheese sticks, tuna bags, and protein bars are perfect.

For a full outline of the best snacks and meals to pack on day hikes or multi-day backpacking trips (including recipes), check out our post ‘Healthy Food Ideas for Hiking Snacks and Meals’.

Dress in Layers

Depending on the area of the world you are hiking in, weather can change very suddenly. Hiking near mountains, in rainforests or at high altitudes may mean you need multiple types of clothing options.

Our advice is to dress in layers. This is the best day hiking attire you can choose. We typically wear a light, moisture-wicking tank or tee, covered in a thermal long sleeve shirt, and then a thermal fleece or jacket. This way you will be comfortable in all temperatures.

Pro Tip – We love clothing made from merino wool. This material is breathable and lightweight but will also keep you warm.

Comfortable Footwear

In order to stay comfortable and safe on a trail, you need the proper footwear. Don’t rely on basic runners, sandals or flats. You will not get the right support and end up with sore, painful feet. Worst case scenario, you may even end up injuring yourself.

Invest in some quality trail runners or hiking boots. We prefer trail runners for a day hike. They provide great support for your feet, while remaining lightweight and comfortable.

However, if you have any ankle instability, you should consider a high cut hiking boot.

We can tell just by looking at you that you are an outdoor lover, just like us! While you’re here, check out our other hiking and camping posts:

• ‘How to Get in Shape for Hiking’
• ‘The Essential Backpacking Packing List’
• ‘Hiking Food Ideas for Healthy Snacks and Meals’
• ‘The Ultimate Camping Packing List – With FREE Printable’
• ‘10 of the BEST Budget Sleeping Bags’

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles are definitely not necessary on every hike. The decision to bring hiking poles on a day hike will have to be made on an individual basis.

There are a 3 main reasons we would suggest hiking poles be on your day hiking essentials packing list:

1) If the trail is labeled as ‘difficult’ or ‘advanced’, has lots of elevation gain, or the ground is uneven.

2) If you have any instability or problems with your hips, knees or ankles. Hiking poles should be brought with you every time you hike.

3) If you are on a multi-day hike. The physical stress of carrying 40-50 lbs of weight on your back for multiple days puts a ton of pressure on your joints. Hiking poles relieves your joints and distributes that weight much more evenly. This means you will be less likely to get injured.

We use BAFX Hiking Poles. They are perfect for either day hiking or multi-day hiking because they are lightweight, collapsible and super durable.

Poncho

No matter what the weather says, there is always a chance of rain. A poncho is an easy, lightweight piece of gear to pack with you in order to keep you dry, comfortable and protect your valuables.

Hat and Sunglasses

Protect that beautiful face of yours!

Mineral Sunscreen

You’re mother was right. You always need to wear sunscreen. Even in overcast weather. Any time you plan to spend a few hours outdoors, you should be applying and reapplying sunscreen throughout the day.

Our favorite brand is Bare Republic. They have a huge range of mineral sunscreens that are safe for your skin (and the oceans!). They keep coming out with new innovative products like a tinted facial sunscreen, a shimmered body sunscreen and a smooth, whipped sunscreen. Check out their product line, they are a fantastic company!

Bug Spray

Don’t let the bugs get to you. Hiking is supposed to be enjoyable and bugs can completely ruin your experience. This is an easily overlooked piece of hiking gear and we think it’s one of the most important ones.

We love the eco-friendly, plant-based insect repellent REPEL Lemon Eucalyptus. It is completely DEET-free, uses natural lemon and eucalyptus oils, and smells amazing.

We just spent 5 months on the road, overlanding North America in our converted SUV camper van. And we think it is the best way to see the world! Full of fun, adventure, and budget savings. You can check out our vanlife posts here:

• ‘Why You Should Consider Overland Camper Travel’
• ‘The Most Essential Items You Need for Car Camping’
• ‘15 Ways to Travel Responsibly While Overlanding’
• ‘Which Camper Vehicle is Right for You?’

Camera

Unless you are a pro photographer, your smart phone is all you need to take photos on a hike. It is a lightweight camera option and also provides you with communication if things go awry.

Some food for thought. If you are bringing your phone on a hike, consider a waterproof solution. We have been caught in enough rain storms to learn to always bring a waterproof phone case. The Hiearcool Universal Waterproof Case takes the fear out of getting caught in the rain. Our favourite part is that you can still use your phone while it is in the case. So you can take those majestic, rainy day nature shots.

Animal Protection

We hike a lot in British Columbia, in mountainous and remote areas. There is always a risk of coming across bears, cougars and coyotes. It is important to respect these animals and the homes that they live in. But you also need to be smart, protect yourself and be prepared for any situation.

Our main tip is to research the area you are hiking in so you have a good idea of what animals you may come across and how to handle them if you do.

There is some animal protection gear that you can bring along on a hike. We always attach a bear bell to our bags. These bells provide a constant sound as you walk, keeping any skittish animals at bay. We also make sure to talk a lot and always make noise. A bit pricier of an option is to carry bear spray. If you do happen to come face to face with any of these animals, this is your best line of defense.

OutdoorLife.com gives a great overview of what to do when you encounter a variety of animals.

First Aid Kit

Pretty self explanatory. You want to be prepared for any situation you come across.

The First Aid Only kit has everything you would need for any situation. It comes in a compact and portable bag that is easy to throw in your day hiking backpack.

Navigation Tools

It is never the plan to get lost on a hike. But, it does happen (we’ve been there a few times 🙄). And in case it happens to you, you will want a solid means to find your way out. Having your phone is great, but you may not always have reception or battery life available.

Instead, carry a detailed map of the area and the trail you are on. If you can’t find a paper map, you can download the All Trails App on your phone. You will also want a compass to help navigate you in the right direction.

Headlamp or Flashlight

Another item you hope you will never need to use on a day hike. However, if some unforeseen circumstance gets you stuck on the trail past sunset, you are going to need a source of light. Carry along a small flashlight or a headlamp to keep you safe in the dark. And maybe pack some extra batteries too.

Multi-Tool

A good quality multi-tool is an important piece of hiking gear and makes our list for day hiking essentials. It really has limitless possibilities from repairing broken gear to first aid solutions.

Lighter

And in the worst case scenario, you may need to start a fire. Carrying a lighter with you could just be a life saving device.

✨ Bonus Tip ✨

Andy and I went on a three-day backpacking trip in Colorado this summer and it did not go as planned. We made about 1000 mistakes and ended up doing a hike twice as long as we had planned. Luckily, we had enough gear, food and water to get us through.

The biggest issue during this hike was that our families were not aware of where we were hiking. And because we were in the mountains, we had zero cell reception and no way of reaching the outside world. Not only was this completely unsafe, but it made our families extremly worried.

This was a HUGE lesson for us. We will be making a post all about hiking safety in the near future. And at the top of our list is this: Always tell someone exactly where you are going, how long you should be, and when they can expect you home.

Please stay safe out there!!!!

Okay what did we miss? Is there an item you always take with you on your hikes? Let us know in the comments below!

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