Being prepared on the trail is of the utmost importance for hiking. You never know when you might go the wrong way at a trail junction, take longer than you expect ending up caught in the dark, or twist an ankle on a inconspicious root. Bringing the 10 essentials is paramount to hiking safety, and ensures that you are prepared for many unforseen complications that may arise while you’re enjoying the wilderness. Bringing the 10 essentials is important even on the the shortest of hikes, and I never leave the trailhead without them! Here they are, and I’ve included some links to the specific equipment I carry.

If you’re looking to do a lot of solo hiking, are nervous about the idea of wandering into the woods, or have family members who worry about you, the Garmin InReach is the GPS unit for you. This allows you to have accurate topographic maps everywhere you go with messaging and tracking even when you have no cell service. There’s an SOS button so that you’re always able to get help if you need it. It’s pricey, but priceless for more serious hikers.

A lot of people ask me if their phone GPS is good enough, but it’s really not! Even if it’s completely charged and you have an external charger, phones can die in cold weather (yes even in the summer if it’s chilly at a summit). Even if you have offline maps, it’s still not enough to be your only form of navigation in case of an emergency situation. This being said, offline maps are great for quickly checking your directions while you’re hiking and I highly recommend having the GaiaGPS app with maps downloaded on your phone!

2. Illumination: Always, always, always, bring a headlamp! Even if you don’t plan on being out after dark, sometimes unforeseen events occur making hikes longer you longer than you anticipate. This is a item thing that could save your life when the sun goes down. Also, remember that batteries drain in cold weather so if you’re hiking in the winter keep your headlamp/batteries in an inside coat pocket. I love this Petzl headlamp and I always carry extra batteries in case of emergency!

4. Knife: I bring two knives with me when I hike. The first is a multi tool Swiss army knife, the Victorinox Tinker, with a little screwdriver, scissors, and many other functions. I love this because having a little screwdriver is super convenient for adjusting trekking poles and scissors are good for cutting duct tape and moleskin for blisters. The other is a Spyderco folding knife because it’s easy to open with gloves on and when your hands are freezing hands in the winter.

5. Fire: I just bring a little Bic lighter. It’s light and easy!

6. Emergency Shelter: On summer day hikes I bring a small emergency Sol bivvy sack since it’s lightweight and hopefully I’ll never have to use it. It’s just for emergencies and in winter I bring a bigger, more durable bivvy but I talk more about that in my winter gear list! But if you think you’d like to do some winter adventuring I’d recommend this larger bivvy sack.

7. Hydration: Water bottle or hydration bladder you might ask? Here’s why I carry both! I always have my 2.5 liter hydration bladder with me because I find that if I only carry water bottles I forget to stop and drink leading to dehydration. The bladder makes it easy and convenient to hydrate on the go. I love this one because it’s easy to refill without spilling and it has a magnetic attachment for easy access on my chest strap. The downside is that it can be difficult to strategize your water intake with a bladder since you can’t visualize how much you have left. I also usually carry a Nalgene bottle with an electrolyte solution in it for longer hikes to hydrate more effeciently. And if Lucy is hiking with me she gets a water bottle too since drinking out of my bladder can be difficult for her!

I almost always bring my MSR Trailshot water filtration system. I love it because it is super lightweight and easy to use. What makes it stand out from similar systems is that it doesn’t require a dirty vesicle. It can filter water from even a tiny puddle if you’re desperate because the tube directly goes into the source instead of needing to fill a bottle and squeeze the water through a bottle top filter. You can get away with carrying all of your water for some day hikes, but bringing a filter gives me piece of mind just in case I run out. There are other systems like UV lights or chemicals, but since I sometimes have silty water sources so those aren’t ideal (the water will be safe to drink but still muddy). Many hikers swear by the Sawyer system, so I’ll do a more specific comparison on both soon. Stay tuned!

8. Extra Layers: I always carry a rain jacket, a midweight fleece, extra socks, gloves, and a hat. At the top of mountains it can be chilly even in the summer! Also a raincoat is always necessary just in case the weather turns which can happen quickly and without warning. In the picture below, it was early June and we experienced beautiful sunny weather, extreme winds, rain, and pea sized hail. I also add in a puffy down jacket if I plan on spending any time above treeline because it can get chilly and it would keep me warm under the emergency blanket. For shorter day hikes it can be overkill, but I’d rather be safe than sorry when I’m above treeline.

9. Extra Food: High calorie snacks are so important for hiking! Always err on the side of caution with how much food you’re bringing. I usually do enough to last me at least double how long I think the hike will take. You burn a lot of calories hiking, so bring more than you think you need! I’ll do a separate post for snacks and backpacking food later so stay tuned!

10. Sun Protection: This is the only one of the 10 essentials that I sometimes slack on. I don’t really get sun burned, so I usually just put on lotion in the morning that has SPF in it. Definitely bring sunscreen or other protection if you tend to get sunburns though. You’ll definitely be in the sun a lot, especially if you’re above treeline.

In addition I usually also bring:

• Baby wipes: These are multi-purpose wipes that are eco-friendly, tiny, and lightweight!
• Hand sanitizer
• Carabiners: For attaching things to my pack.
• Sunglasses
• Buff: I absolutely love Buffs because they can be used so many different ways! Great as a headband, a face shield, or a sweat band. I usually use this one with UV protection and bug repellent properties.
• Bug spray or lotion
• Bag for trash that I find on the trail
• Stuff sacks to organize my pack

Another extremely important piece of equipment is footwear. When you’re climbing mountains in rugged terrain, a durable shoe with reliable traction is paramount. I’m partial to trail runners in the summer and I have a wide, flat foot, so most boots just aren’t comfortable. After trying countless different footwear options, I’ve settled on the Altra Lone Peak 4 RSM Waterproof trail runners. I know they’re not the most fashionable but they truly get the job done with the amazing traction and surprising amount of support.

Pack: Having a comfortable pack that can support the weight of the gear your carrying can mean the difference between an enjoyable outdoor experience and a long, painful walk in the woods. On my first big hike I had a regular school backpack, and by the end of the day my back and shoulders were aching, so I’ve experienced first hand how a good pack can completely change the hiking experience.

One thing I always recommend for people buying a new pack is going to a store and trying it out. Almost all outdoor stores have an area with packs and weights that you can put in them to test them out. I highly recommend putting about 10lbs in any daypack you want to try and going up and down stairs with it! It will give you a good idea how the pack will fit when you’re on the trail. Also, having someone fit you for your pack is a great idea as well because you may not be the size you expect! The staff at most outdoor stores are great at this!

Trekking poles are usually along for the ride as well because they’ve saved me from my own clumsiness countless times. They really reduce the impact on my knees and ankles when I’m descending. I previously had fancy REI poles which I loved, but I lost one when I was hiking in the Great Gulf so I replaced them with the cheaper ones linked above. They’re a little heavier, but a fraction of the price!

So that’s my three season day hiking gear haul! I try to keep it to only the necessities so that there’s not too much extra weight. Here are a few other gear lists for what I bring for Lucy’s day hikes, Lucy’s winter gear list, what I bring for day hiking in the winter, and layering for winter outings. I hope this helps you prepare for your next outing!