Day hiking is something that a lot of people do and definitely is a great option for a lot of people. However, when you go on a day hike do you know what you should be bringing with you? The lack of information on what to bring with you on a day hike is a common question that we see being asked in various hiking groups, but also when we run into people hiking on some of the trails. To help clear that up we decided to put together a list of the 5 must have items for day hiking.
Hiking Sticks
This almost goes without being said that you need to have a good quality hiking stick. Now, the hiking sticks make it to the top of the list as the must have day hiking items to guarantee that you are able to hike on almost all the trails, but for the harder to hike on trails provides you with a good stable stick to plant in the ground.
When you are picking out a hiking stick the most important thing to do is make sure you find the one that is suited for your size. This is a combination of factors including the height of the hiking stick, but also the weight limit as well. Once you have found the walking stick best suited size wise then you need to move onto the brand and type or style of walking stick that you want to bring with you.
Water
Water is one item that people need to have to survive. If you start to get dehydrated you could start to have some problems walking or concentrating. While you may not need to bring water with you on every hike, at least on the trail, you need to have it available for you to drink when you get back to your camping site or vehicle.
Now, one thing that you need to realize is if you are going out hiking on a hot, humid day or hitting a longer trail, then you need to bring your water with you. Now, a favorite of mine is the canteen which is nice and provides water, but does require you to wear a belt to attach the holder to. The other option that I have found that works out really well is to have a Camelpak backpack, which gives you a water bladder to fill up and sip out of with the straw that typically is over your shoulder.
Communication Device
Sadly with the way that the world is anymore you need to make sure you have a way to communicate with others. Yes, that typically means you have to bring along your cell phone on the trail, but it does not have to ruin your hike as you can easily keep it inside of your pocket.
Now, if you are not wanting to bring your cell phone with you, then you may want to consider looking at a different walkie talkies or something like that. The negative with the walkie talkies is you may find that the channel you are using is not monitored and if it is not monitored then the chances are good that you could end up talking to yourself on the trail if you need any help.
First Aid Kits
A problem that a lot of people have is getting injured in some way while hiking. The first aid kit size really depends on how long you are going to be hiking and where you plan on hiking at. For example, if you are going hiking only a couple of miles then you may need a simple kit with a few bandaids and maybe a wash.
If you are taking a day hike that will have you in the harder terrain and going to take longer time period, then you need to prepare properly. This may be something as simple as getting a splint or two as well, but more complex as getting a fully stocked first aid kit and bag that you can carry with you on your shoulder.
Cameras
A camera may not be the one thing that you are going to need to bring with you on your day hike, but a camera definitely is among the top items I bring with me. Yes, I love seeing the beauty of a trail and the plants, but also I like showing them off later on to my friends and family. As an artist, though, I also enjoy recording the images from the trails that I see on the trails and paint them or sketch later on.
What else a camera does is it allows you to create a family memory as well. This memory is one that allows your family to enjoy your trip as much as you did. Not to mention when your kids get older they will have pictures that they can show to their kids about the adventures you had with your kids.
A day hike is a great way to get away from your home for a day, without going on a vacation. At the same time, though, a day hike gives you a chance to reconnect with nature like you never do when you are sitting at your home. No matter what, knowing what to bring with you on a day trip hike definitely makes the hikes more enjoyable and a lot better than having nothing at all.
Leave a Reply