Things You Really Need to Take on a Day Hike

I went on a five mile hike with a group of people last week, and it was my first hike in well over a year. I brought some things I didn’t really need and needed some things I didn’t bring, so here is a list of things you should take with you on a day hike.

The most important thing you need when you are hiking, aside from water maybe, is comfortable, light-weight shoes. Hiking boots aren’t bad, they are just heavy and can wear you out faster than a much lighter pair of running shoes or cross trainers. I just bought a new pair of running shoes that week, and I did NOT wear those shoes. You should never wear new shoes on a hike because they can cause blisters and rub your feet the wrong way — besides, they will definitely get dirty. I wore my old cross trainers and didn’t have to give them another thought.

Socks are another important item you want to get right. Most experienced hikers will tell you not to wear cotton socks (or underwear) because they absorb moisture and can chafe your skin. They recommend polyester or wool socks and clothing. I wore cotton and didn’t have a problem, but they fit well and didn’t rub at all. You really need to be careful though because you don’t want to be stuck on your day hike with sore feet, it is miserable.

As for the rest of your clothes, I recommend pants and dressing in layers for hiking. The pants will protect you from bugs and scrapes and scratches and the layers will let you stay cool or stay warm as the weather may change during the day.

I also highly recommend a hat and sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes. Squinting for five miles is tiring. You will also want sunscreen, bug spray and band-aids (or moleskin) in case you get blisters or cuts on your day hike.

Water and snacks are a must-have. I needed more water than I took with me on my hike. Lucky for me, there was a place to refill our water bottles, but if there hadn’t been I would have been struggling by the end. It was a hot day, and I drink a lot of water normally. It is always better to have too much rather than not enough, even on a day hike. I would recommend taking at least a liter of water, two would be better.

As for snacks, granola bars and trail mix are good to have. Some hikers recommend bringing a sandwich. My favorite snack that I brought with me was an apple. The granola bar and trail mix were sweeter than I wanted by the time I was hungry on my day hike and the apple was perfect.

You should take a small backpack with you to comfortable carry all of this. All I had was a bandanna that I tied around a carabineer and clipped to my belt loop. It was a pain to get into and tie back up and it didn’t fit my water bottle so I had to carry that all day. A little backpack that fits well and won’t rub your shoulders or be too heavy is ideal.

Be sure to wear a watch or bring something that keeps time like a cell phone. Time passes more quickly than you think, so it is good to pay attention to how long you have been gone on your hike and when you need to be back.

I happened to have someone with me that knew where we were going and had hiked the trail before. I prefer it this way. If you don’t have a guide it is important to bring a map of the trail and a compass if you know how to use one. Be sure you know where you are and how you got there, getting lost is not only annoying but also very dangerous even on a day hike.

So here is a quick glance list for your day hike essentials.

• Comfortable shoes and socks
• Pants and layered clothing
• Hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen, bug spray and band-aids
• Water
• Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, sandwich or an apple)
• Small backpack
• Watch
• Guide or map and compass

It is also smart to bring a few things in case of accident or emergency. If you end up spending the night on the mountain you will want to have these lightweight items:  A space blanket (looks kind of like tin foil, a flashlight, rain poncho and cell phone — you may have service you may not, but it is good to have to option to call for help if you need it.

Happy hiking.

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