What is the most important stuff when you go hiking?

What is the most important stuff when you go hiking?

A proper answer would be: It depends...

The first thing to consider, especially if you're carrying a lot of items, is the weight. There's a balance between being well-equipped and carrying too much. You need to decide which items are essential for your trip.

For the same purpose, choose lighter and less bulky items over heavier ones.

Regardless, preparation is key. You need to plan your trip thoroughly. Answering questions like where, when, how, and for how long is crucial before setting out. Only after you know the details of your hike can you decide what to bring.

 

Additionally, you need to be proficient in using the gear you're taking. This means testing and training with your equipment to ensure you can handle various potential situations. Knowing your gear inside and out should become second nature, especially in adverse conditions, since these are likely the situations you'll face if you get stranded – or they might even be the reason you end up stranded.

For a short hike, extensive preparation might not be necessary, but wearing the right shoes is crucial. Regular running shoes often lack adequate protection, particularly in adverse weather conditions. To prevent slips on wet roots, leaves, and dusty trails, and to avoid injuries, choose high-quality hiking shoes with good grip. Choose between trail shoes which are lighter, and hiking boots, that provide more support. The shoes should offer excellent torsional rigidity and be well broken in to ensure comfort for your feet and ankles. You might also consider using trekking poles, as they offer various benefits. 

You might be used to running every day, but remember that steep terrain can affect your performance. Overestimating your capabilities can indeed lead to serious health risks such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

In summary, thorough preparation is essential before heading out. It's not just about knowing the theory; you need to be confident in your skills.

So, when going hiking, it’s crucial to be well-prepared to ensure safety, comfort, and enjoyment. What are the most important items and considerations?

On a well-traveled trail, you may require only hiking boots, a proper hat, enough water, some energy bars, a map, some matches or a lighter, a pocket knife, some first aid and a flash light. But, you must attend to your needs when away from civilization. Customize your item list based on the environment and season. An emergency sleeping bag bivy can quickly become your savior when stranded overnight in adverse weather conditions.

Just because you have experience, trusting yourself in the face of risk might be dangerous. If you embark on a day-long excursion in the wilderness, you might need many of the items in the Items list below. 

Essential Items

1. Navigation Tools
• Map and Compass: Essential for longer or less well-marked trails.
• GPS Device or Smartphone: Can be useful but should not replace traditional tools.
2. Appropriate Clothing
• Layered Clothing: Helps manage varying temperatures. Base layers, insulating layers, and waterproof outer layers are ideal.
• Hat and Gloves: Important for both sun and cold protection.
• Hiking Boots or Shoes: Comfortable and suitable for the terrain.
3. Food and Water
• Plenty of Water: Hydration is critical; consider a hydration system or water bottles.
• High-Energy Snacks: Trail mix, energy bars, nuts, and dried fruit.
4. First Aid Kit
• Includes bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, tweezers for splinter removal, insect repellents, antihistamines for insect bites and any personal medications.  A sewing kit containing heavy-duty nylon thread for stitching wounds.
5. Sun Protection
• Sunscreen, Sunglasses, and Lip Balm: To protect from UV rays.
6. Light Source
• Headlamp or Flashlight: Essential for early starts, late finishes, or emergencies.
7. Emergency Shelter
• Emergency Blanket or Bivvy Sack: Useful if you get stranded.
8. Multi-tool or Knife
• Handy for a variety of situations and repairs.
9. Fire-Starting Tools
• Matches, Lighter, or Firestarter: For warmth and signaling.
10. Backpack
• Comfortable and Adequate Size: To carry all your gear without straining your back.

Comments:

A trip plan should be meticulously prepared, including the route and possible alternative plans (some sort of a Plan B), and the expected return time and it should be left with a responsible person. Exercise caution; thoroughly research your route and refrain from straying from your known path without due consideration. Know the main routes and the landmarks. Gather comprehensive information about your planned route, including revised weather forecasts (noaa.gov), difficulty levels based on guidebooks, the terrain's characteristics and the facilities available. Practice navigating your way back if you get lost. Avoid hiking in extreme weather conditions like thunderstorms or blizzards. Always check the weather forecast before setting out.

Regarding 1.) :

• Learn to primarily rely on a (tyvek topographical) map and compass for orientation; GPS should serve as a supplementary tool due to its limited reliability for several reasons, like poor signal and battery issues.

• Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged, and consider the value of a solar phone charger or power bank. 
• Have backup navigation and communication options, such as offline maps for the region, a secondary phone with a different network, or satellite phones/messengers.
• Bring spare batteries in case of battery usage

Checkout this fantastic Garmin Lightweight and Compact Satellite Communicator -  perfect for finding your way back  (paid ad)

Regarding 3.) :

• Pack slightly more than you anticipate needing, at least for one additional day more
• A good rule of thumb is to care for 1 liter of water every 4 hours. For every five degrees Celsius above 15 degrees Celsius, add an extra 0.5 liters

 

• Familiarize yourself with the water sources along the route you intend to take.
• Estimate the time required to travel from one water source to the next by considering elevation changes and walking distance. Use the guideline of one hour for every 2000 feet of elevation gain and one hour for every two miles of walking.
• Purification pumps and tablets are excellent options to ensure clean water.
• Hydration bladders enable you to maintain sufficient water intake to stay hydrated, a critical concern during hikes where dehydration can become serious.
• Water bottles compel you to ration water because you can visually monitor the remaining amount.
• Throughout the day, opt for high-nutrient, energy-dense bars, gels, meat sticks, dried fruit snacks and nuts. Less processed foods are preferable as they release energy more steadily. It's preferable to use lightweight, non-perishable snacks.

• Only bring food you know you enjoy eating.
• Use a metal bottle if you want to store hot water.
• Use a SVEA stove (with (R) or without cleaning needle) for multi day hikes, combine a lightweight 750 ml or 1100 ml Titanium pot with such a stove.
• Count three meals a day and a snack
• Reserve a hearty, satisfying meal for the evening to boost morale.

Regarding 4.) :

• First Aid Kit: Include basic supplies like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, some antibiotics and any personal medications. Hand sanitizer

• Your medication kit should include a pain reliever and fever reducer like Tylenol, an anti-inflammatory drug such as Advil or Aspirin, an antidiarrheal like Loperamide to prevent dehydration, and Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for acute allergic reactions. A tube of triple-antibiotic ointment or cream, such as Neosporin or Mycitracin, is useful for healing cuts and scrapes. For less severe cuts, burns, scrapes, and insect bites, use lidocaine ointment (like Xylocaine) to reduce pain. Aloe vera gel can soothe sunburn or frostbite.
• At a inconspicuous site with deep organic soil, use an ultralight hiking trowel to dig a hole about eight inches deep,  eight inches wide and more than ten inches long, located 200 feet away from any water sources, trails, and campsites. Bury your waste completely, allowing it to naturally compost into the earth. Used toilet paper should be transported in a sealed Ziploc bag.

 

Regarding 2.) and 5.) :

• Protection is crucial not only against the sun but also against wind, water, and cold.
• Your trip plan and your local climate is crucial for determining what items to bring along.
• If you have no plan, a good starting point would be to pack sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat for the face and the neck (alternative is a safari cap), sunglasses, a rain jacket, and insulation as a sufficient summer alternative.

• Use a scarf/headscarf to shield yourself from sand and dust when it's windy.
• Wear windproof and waterproof clothes. In the mountains the weather quickly can turn cold. So bring some extra clothing.
• A light jacket is ideal for a chilly hike, or consider a thermal base layer.
• For a robust solution, bring a base layer, wind layer, and insulation layer. A good alternative for insulation is a puffy vest.
• Opt for synthetic materials, cotton/polyester blends, or Merino wool. These breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics pull sweat and moisture away from your body, keeping you dry and warm.

• A set of crampons will penetrate ice and provide necessary traction on frozen trails.
• Are there rattlesnakes, wasps, bees, or ticks in the area? Protect your skin from bites by wearing comfortable, unrestrictive long pants, breathable long sleeves, socks, and closed-toe shoes without holes.
• Consider using a (thinner, more stretchable and more comfortable) PU rain jacket.
• Bring sealable plastic bags for your clothing, papers, and electronics.
• Pack a garbage bag for your trash, and consider bringing disposable gloves for handling litter.

Regarding 6.) :

• Essential for early mornings, late evenings, or unexpected situations where you will find yourself stranded overnight and in definite need of illumination.
• It is essential for seeing the trail and your map at night.
• Bring some spare batteries.

Regarding 7.) :

• Bring a lightweight (summer) sleeping bag, a sleeping bag liner and a sleeping pad.
• You can use a hammock.

• Where exposure is a serious concern (such as cold climates, rapidly changing weather, or erratic temperatures) you have to bring some form of shelter. A good quality reflective space blanket for less than 10 Dollars provides excellent warmth, serves as a tarp, and is super lightweight. 
• An emergency (survival) blanket is the simplest overnight lifesaver. Bring two and use adhesive tape to join them together to create a bivy bag.
• Avoid using such a blanket inside the sleeping bag, as it can cause significant condensation, which poses a serious threat of heat loss. Similarly, use a sleeping bag that is waterproof. Wet goose down becomes heavy and loses its insulating properties.
• An emergency sleeping bag bivy is an alternative that fits into the palm of your hand.
• A sil tarp combines the strength and durability of nylon with the waterproof and lightweight properties of a silicone coating.
• Choosing between a tarp, tent, or bivy is a matter of personal preference. Volume and weight might be an issue.

• A tube tent presents another option
• A small closed-cell foam pad can be used for sitting.
• Use a small waterproof tarp, around 36x36 inches, to protect your clothes from the ground when you sit to rest or eat.

Regarding 8.) :

• Bear spray is effective against bears and mountain lions, even though cougars are adept stealth hunters and highly agile. It's advisable to hike with a companion if you're unsure.
• Bring bear cans to prevent bears and other wildlife from accessing your food and garbage 
• Additional items: a piece of rope, empty plastic bags for separating wet clothes, clips for hanging clothes, spare slippers, a towel, chemicals free toilet paper, napkins, and some soap. Use wilderness waste pouches if the trail requires you to carry out all your waste. Remember, in most cases, you are neither the first nor the last to take that particular trail.
• Ideally, the knife should have a 4-inch blade. However, it won't protect you if you are confronted by a grizzly.

Regarding 9.) :

• Note that fire making tools may be prohibited in certain National Parks and ineffective in rocky alpine terrain.
• Bring some Lighter fluid, some small Bic lighters, a ferro rod, a butane torch, and some matches.
• a pocket saw to cut wood.
• A Ziplock bag containing fire starter, two fatwood sticks, dry grass, and shaved wood. Separated fibers of cedar bark are also effective.
• On making a fire progress from small to larger twigs to build your fire. For cooking with lots of coals, use the parallel log method and spread the coals evenly. For heat, light, and signaling, use the teepee method. Avoid having burning fat drip onto coals, as it can produce harmful residues on your food and pose a cancer risk.

• Don't forget an emergency whistle; it can attract rescuers even from miles away. Blowing three long blasts with the whistle signals trouble.
• Take a light and durable titanium cooker and tableware.
• Fire serves as a morale booster, an effective method for water disinfection, and a signaling tool.

Regarding 10.): 

• A daypack of between 15 to 25 liters is ideal for a day hike.
• A two or three day hike requires a medium backpack between 25 and 35 litres, while camping makes 40 litres or more necessary
• A hip pack provides easy access to snacks and water and can be a good alternative to a daypack.
• Pick a backpack that feels good. If you experience discomfort in your back, it's likely due to how you wear the backpack rather than the backpack itself. The straps of the backpack serve a crucial role in ensuring a pain-free back and a more enjoyable adventure. Properly distributing weight is crucial for hiking.
• Bring a waterproof pack cover or liner to ensure all the gear inside your backpack stays safe and dry.

• Keep your personal ID, medical profile, allergy card and emergency contact information in a waterproof pouch. Bring a weatherproof hiking journal and a reliable pen for leaving notes in case of emergencies.
• Bring also food containers to prevent your food from spilling.

To repeat some basic objectives:

• Hiking Plan: Inform someone about your route and expected return time.
• Trail Knowledge: Research the trail's difficulty, length, and conditions.
• Weather Check: Be aware of the forecast and prepare for sudden changes.
• Leave No Trace Principles: Follow guidelines to protect the environment.

Safety and Comfort

• Buddy System: Hiking with a partner can enhance safety.
• Trekking Poles: Can improve balance and reduce strain on joints.
• Gaiters: Useful in wet, snowy, or muddy conditions.

1. Navigation: map, altimeter, compass, GPS device, personal locator beacon
2. Headlamp: with LED bulb and spare batteries
3. Sun protection: sunglasses, sun protective clothing, sunscreen
4. First aid: a first aid kit, wrapped in waterproof packaging
5. Knife: hikers on a short trip may also carry a multi-tool, strong adhesive tape and cordage; on a longer trip, further small tools may be useful
6. Fire: the means to both start and sustain a fire; either a butane lighter or matches, or other fire making device. Firestarters for igniting even wet wood, and in areas where no firewood will be available, a stove is highly advisable.
7. Shelter: plastic tube tent, jumbo plastic trash bag or bivy sack
8. Extra food: at least one day's food for a short hike, that should require no cooking.
9. Extra water: drinking water and the skills and tools to purify water
10. Extra clothes: additional items may be needed if spending the night in the emergency shelter

The first five items are intended to prevent and respond to emergencies, the second five to safely spend one or more nights outdoors.