What I love about day hiking is it doesn’t require a huge upfront investment in gear. A backpack, some good hiking shoes, extra layers, food, water, and a few safety items are really all you need.
Maybe you’ve heard of the Ten Essentials for Hiking? This is a list of recommended items you bring on every hike that was invented waaaayyyy back in the 1930s. Obviously, the hiking world (and gear) has changed a lot since then, so what you’ll find here is my practical, modern version of the Ten Essentials for Hiking.
I suggest you take this day hiking packing list and adjust it based on how far you are hiking, how remote the trail is, and the weather conditions. For more beginner hiking tips, check out my Hiking 101 Article.
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1. A Daypack
The first thing you’ll need for your day hike is a good hiking daypack. You can get away with using an old JanSport from your closet if you’re not going too far, but if you are serious about hiking and want to be comfortable on the trail, you’ll want something a little more robust.
For size, a typical day hiking pack ranges from 20-35 liters. This is enough to hold my extra layers and all of the other day hiking essentials that I talk about below.
Other features I look for when choosing a day pack are:
Daypack Recommendation
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2. Proper Hiking Layers
Some of the most important day hiking gear is the kind that you wear! No matter what season you’re hiking in, bringing layers along on the trail is important for both comfort and safety reasons. I’ll share some details below, but for more recommendations, check out these posts:
Layer Recommendations
For all of your layers, I suggest wearing synethic materials (my preference) or wool. Both are designed to wick sweat, dry quickly, and regulate your temperature.
3. Sun Protection
Too much sun exposure can lead to sun burns, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. With summer temps getting hotter every year, adequate sun protection is a important day hiking essential.
To shield your skin from the sun while you’re hiking, bring:
Learn more tips for protecting your skin from the sun with my guide to sun protection for hikers.
4. Map / Navigational Tools
Back when the Ten Essentials list was invented, smart phones didn’t exist, so the recommendation was to carry a paper map and compass. While I highly recommend that for backpacking trips and more remote areas, a hiking or navigation app on your phone is usually enough to suffice on most day hikes where the trail is well-defined.
The two apps I use most are AllTrails (for finding trails) and Gaia (for navigation). Both of these offer paid plans that allow you to download the trail map to your phone so you can use it when you don’t have service. If you sign up for Gaia at this link, you get 20% off your first year.
If you are going to rely on your phone, it’s critical that you have a full battery when you leave the trailhead. If you’re worried about your phone running out of battery, consider bringing a lightweight, portable power bank.
5. Plenty of Water
The number of people I’ve seen hiking lately without any water has been shocking. Your body needs water to function at its very best, and running out is a quick way to end up in an emergency situation.
I hike with a 3 liter hydration reservoir in my backpack, and I make a good habit of filling it up before I leave my house, even if the hike is short. That way I have extra in case I’m out there longer than expected or someone else in my group runs out.
If the trail is longer than 8-10 miles or it’s extremely hot out, I’ll also bring my water filter so I can refill on the trail if needed.
6. Energizing Snacks
It’s important to bring enough food for the day to stay full and keep your energy up. The best hiking snacks are packed with nutrients, so grab some energy bars, nuts, trail mix, and dried fruit. I love these Bobo’s Oat Bars for a quick breakfast on the go and Honeystinger Waffles and energy chews for treats.
Sturdy fruits and veggies like apples, oranges, or carrots that won’t get squished in your bag are also great options. Or you can always pack one of the classic trail snacks: a good ol’ peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
It’s important always to make sure you have enough food, but the point of having extra is really in case of an emergency. It’s better to bring a little extra rather than not have enough. Plus you’ll be burning more calories than you might be used to, so don’t skimp on snacks and nutrition.
7. Emergency / Safety Supplies
While an emergency is unlikely on a day hike, things can and do happen, so you want to be prepared. What being prepared looks like depends on the type of trail you are hiking.
If you are hiking on a shorter, well-marked trail where there is cell service and a ton of people, you may not need some of these supplies. But if you are headed to a remote area that doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic and the trailhead is far from help, then you’ll need a more robust emergency kit.
Here are the emergency supplies I throw in my day pack for challenging, remote hikes:
8. Trekking Poles
Trekking poles aren’t on the list of the Ten Essentials, but I consider them a must on my day hikes.
Trekking poles take the pressure off your knees on the downhills, give you more power on the ups, and help maintain a rhythm while you’re hiking. They also provide stability when crossing streams.
9. Bathroom Kit or Pee Rag
This also is not on the original Ten Essentials list, but with how many people are getting outside today, having the right supplies to go to the bathroom while following Leave No Trace is important for protecting the environment. It also helps maintain proper backcountry hygiene.
First, brush up on Leave No Trace principles and make sure you know how to properly poop outside – just in case!
10. A Multi-Tool / Knife
I’ll admit I don’t typically bring a multi-tool on day hikes, but this is on the Ten Essentials list, so I wanted to include it here. A multi-tool with a knife can come in handy for making lunch, repairing your trekking poles, cutting blister pads, or pulling out splinters. With that said, I think they are more useful on overnight backpacking trips.
Other Considerations
If you are hiking with kids or bringing your dogs on the hiking trail, this list is going to look different.
For babies/toddlers, you will need things like a baby carrier, diapers, snacks that they can consume while in the backpack, extra water, and a change of clothes in case they have an accident.
For dogs, don’t forget a collapsible water bowl, some treats, poop bags, and a leash/harness.
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