Heading out for a day hike but wondering what to pack for a short excursion? You`re in luck! Below is a selection of must-have items to bring on a day hike so you`re prepared for conditions and ready to make the most of your hiking adventure.
Spending the day exploring places near one`s home or destinations while traveling is something we truly enjoy both where we live in Marin County, California as well as locations like Canada, New Zealand, and Colombia.
We`ve participated in everything from brief boardwalk strolls to strenuous 10 mile climbs gaining 4,000 feet of elevation, and much in between.
A particularly memorable experience saw us inadvertently complete a grueling 20 mile day hike in Yosemite National Park (mistakenly believing it a 10 mile roundtrip excursion), woefully underprepared in retrospect – though an enlightening lesson reinforcing preparation importance when venturing into nature`s breathtaking expanses.
Note that this isn`t a guide to hiking essentials for a backpacking trip – it`s a guide to what to pack for a day hike. You won`t find tents, sleeping bags or camp kitchen gear in this guide.
What you will find is what to bring for a day hike, with some specific product recommendations based on our experience and extensive research.
Read More on Hiking and Adventure Travel:
- The Best Hikes in Banff National Park
- A 14 Day Itinerary for New Zealand’s South Island
- A Complete 10 Day Itinerary for the Canadian Rockies Road Trip
- Gluten Free Camping: Eating Well in the Great Outdoors
Notification: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional expense to you, I make a small amount of money if you click through and purchase. That being said, I would never recommend something to you that I don’t fully support.
The initial item one should pack for a day hike is a first aid kit, containing supplies like bandages, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, and blister pads. One can procure a pre-assembled first aid kit or compile one independently – the choice is yours. But it is something you must always bring, irrespective of the hike`s brevity.
Ready to learn about the rest? Read on to gain awareness about 6 items you should consistently pack for your day hiking excursions.
Day Hiking Gear: Must-have Things to Bring on a Day Hike
Depending on factors like the distance and duration of the hike, hikers may need to carry varying amounts of food, water, and layers of clothing. For longer hikes, a larger pack and more supportive shoes would be required to accommodate more provisions.
Taking a walk for only a couple miles on local trails? You likely just need a water bottle and a small snack.
Here`s a list of suggested items for a day hike, whether a local stroll or a more extensive trail experience.
A Comfortable Daypack
Preparing properly for hiking is important. A comfortable day pack is essential for carrying necessities like water, food, and layers conveniently. Without somewhere to stash extra clothing when temperatures rise, starting a morning mountain hike bundled and later needing to shed layers would prove inconvenient.
Additionally, truthfully carrying your water bottle by hand can become tiresome.
As someone whose slogan is now “the more snacks and water one has the better” after an unintentional 20 mile day hike in Yosemite where we didn’t carry enough of either, you’re going to want a backpack to transport your provisions.
How many liters? Depending on how lightly you like to carry your belongings, you’ll want one that’s around 20L for a brief straightforward day hike. For a longer day hike where you’ll need to bring more provisions, like your lunch, aim for 28-30L.
If you have an interchangeable focal length camera like me, you’re going to want to aim for 30L. And DEFINITELY consider obtaining a Peak Design Capture Clip, which is my #1 recommendation for photographers who love to hike. Instead of having to either take your backpack off everytime you want to take a picture or have the camera bouncing off your hip all day, clip it to the chest strap of your backpack! It’s ingenious.
Features to seek: A pack with dual mesh water bottle pockets, a cushioned waist belt to bear the weight, plus a chest strap.
Recommended day hiking backpacks
Most Appropriate Men’s 20L Backpack: Osprey Stratos 24. My preferred smaller daypack that I hike with on brief excursions around home. Click here to examine pricing and consumer reviews.
Best Overall Women’s 20L:Osprey Tempest 20.Alysha regularly relies on her Osprey daypack, which suitably holds everything required with extra room to spare. During a recent trip where she brought a less durable day pack instead, she realized how much she missed having her Osprey pack for nearly every hike.” Click here to examine prices and reviews.
Best Overall Men’s 30L:Osprey Talon 33.Click here to check prices and read reviews.
On the morning of the Acatenango volcano overnight hike, you`ll meet at 6 am at the office of OX, where you`ll have the option to rent any necessary gear and pack your backpacks for backpacking if choosing to borrow one.
Low Cost Option: REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack. No padded waist strap, yet for the price it incorporates everything required in a lightweight day bag. Click to examine cost at REI.
Sturdy Footwear
This is the #2 priority in terms of gear for hiking. Get yourself a comfortable day pack and some durable shoes or boots, and you’re 90% of the way there.
If you’re going on a short hike without too much elevation gain, your regular running shoes will probably do just fine. But once you start getting into the longer day hikes that have more elevation gain, you’re going to want something more sturdy, comfortable, and ideally, waterproof.
Hiking shoes vs. hiking boots. I personally own two types of trail footwear, hiking shoes and hiking boots, that I interchangeably use based on the hiking activity. I tend to prefer the boots for longer hikes and routes involving significant uphill climbing or downhill sections, as they deliver enhanced ankle support. Yet boots can feel heavier and bulkier to wear compared to shoes. For lightweight comfort while hiking, you really can`t beat shoes designed for the activity. They have the feel of tennis shoes but provide tougher, more waterproof construction if obtained with features like gore-tex.”
Do they need to be waterproof? When your hike involves stream crossings, or if you’re hiking in the Pacific Northwest and it’s a little damp, you’re going to want hiking shoes or boots that are waterproof. However, it’s worth noting that they will be less breathable. I still hike in my waterproof shoes and boots in the summer, and it’s totally possible. Just something to be aware of. I’d get the waterproof version because they’re more flexible.
Suggested hiking boots: Keen Targhee. These are my go-to hiking boots. They’re a quality product from a company committed to protecting the natural areas we love exploring. See below for a picture of my boots and I in New Zealand after a 5 mile climb. Click here to view pricing for men’s version / Click here to view pricing for women’s version
Suggested water-resistant hiking boots: Salomon Ultra X 3.Click here to review pricing for men’s version / Click here to review pricing for women’s version
Suggested lightweight hiking shoes: Brooks Cascadia. They are technically designated as trail running shoes, however they will adequately fulfill the task and fulfill it well. I own a pair myself and would propose them. Click here to view pricing options for the men`s version / Click here to view pricing options for the women`s version.
(worth noting, they also have a gore-tex version for both men and women that is waterproof, but heavier and less breathable).
Trekking Poles
Trekking poles are somewhat like a ski pole, except for hiking. They are great for steep ascents and descents, particularly if you’ve got a heavy backpack on.
Previously, I was very skeptical of individuals who regularly hike using trekking poles. Usually they were older adults, and I felt that as a young person I did not need to worry about using them.
As I got older, my knees started becoming stiff especially when hiking downhill, and I thought perhaps I`d try them.
Now, I consistently bring them along whenever hiking. I even purchased a collapsible pair to bring while trekking in New Zealand. Not necessarily because they shield my knees, though I believe they likely assist, but also because hiking up and downhill is undeniably simpler with them than without. Or at the very least it seems simpler, which is really all that matters.
What features to focus on: Prioritize aluminum or carbon fiber materials for sturdiness or lightness respectively. Also examine the grip style for comfort and fit adaptability. Adjustability often means one size suits all.
Suggested Hiking Supports: Dark Stone makes some excellent trekking poles. For a great lightweight choice, look at their Range FLZ Trekking Supports.
Click here to review pricing on the men’s version / Click here to review pricing on the women’s version.
Sun Protection
When hiking, you`ll likely spend significant time in the sun, even on cloudy days. That`s why proper sun protection is undoubtedly one of the top things to bring on a day hike, without question.
For myself, this implies a quality pair of polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. Alysha is unable to hike without SPF lip balm, which aids her in avoiding the cracked lips that occasionally afflict me after a long hike. You will want to make certain you are prepared for the intense sun, particularly if you are doing a day hike at higher altitudes.
A good water bottle (or two)
After our unintended 20 mile day hike in Yosemite, which we thought was a 10 mile round trip but ended up being 10 miles in one direction, we always carry more water than we likely need, just in case. So when we’re packing for a day hike, one of the things we make certain to have is several filled water bottles.
Obviously, water bottles seem ubiquitous, but I actually think it`s worth considering what characteristics you want in your water bottle.
If someone, like Alysha, enjoys opening their water bottle and drinking some cold water during a long, hot hike, an insulated water bottle is perfect. I favor Miir because their products are exceptional (I own a insulated 23oz bottle, an insulated 42oz wide-mouth bottle, and a camp cup, and they’re all remarkable), also because on every item bottom there is a “Give Code”, where you can enter it on their site and see precisely what impact your purchase is making globally.
I also possess a couple Platypus packable water bottles that prove highly practical – fill up, drink, then compactly roll and stash back in your pack. No excess weight!
Layers
Having multiple layers of clothing is another great preparation for a hike, particularly when starting early while temperatures are cold and finishing near midday when it becomes blisteringly hot. We enjoy beginning our hikes very early for the best light and to avoid crowds, so it`s usually frigid upon departure and around noon at our return.
That means our clothing needs are going to vary hugely between leaving the car and coming back.
Here are three key clothing layers that should accompany any hike where the weather may change throughout the day.
A Rain Jacket: You never need to prepare for unexpected rain when in the mountains, so be sure to pack a jacket for rain protection at the bottom of your backpack.
Suggested Rain Jacket: Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Rainshell. Completely outfitted, and surprisingly affordable, this is the rain jacket I’d propose. Click here to examine costs on the men’s version / Click here to examine costs on the women’s version.
A Packable Down Jacket: I rely heavily on my Patagonia down jacket, because it provides significant warmth and can compress into a small ball that fits easily into my daypack. It has accompanied me all over from Vancouver Island to New Zealand to Colombia over several years, and is still in excellent condition. Clicking here shows pricing options for the men’s version / Clicking here shows pricing options for the women’s version.
A Fleece Pull-Over: This is a basic additional clothing item that I have a couple of old fleece half zip sweatshirts that I alternate between wearing. It`s the first thing I remove when temperatures start to increase, and I store it in my daypack.
The equipment required for hiking will differ depending on the region and time of year. In California, a fleece pullover may suffice most of the time. However, in the Pacific Northwest, a fleece pullover and rain jacket will likely be needed, and perhaps a down jacket in late fall or early spring.
Snacks
Ah, the food. My favorite part!
I have a whole post on excellent hiking snacks, so if you’re serious about trail snacks (like myself), check that out.
Snacks are one of the essential elements for a day hike. Whatever you select, it needs to be nutritious, calorie-dense, and portable, meaning it maintains well in hot conditions and can be packed into your backpack.
Here are 5 snacks to bring on a short hike to sustain you.
- Energy Bars: I have Celiac Disease, which means I need to eat gluten free, so I can’t eat things like certain protein bars, which are a top choice for energy bars for hiking (fun fact: I used to work at a company developing new flavors, though as someone with Celiac Disease, I was unable to sample any of the products – I had to bring alternative tasters!). If avoiding gluten is necessary, like for me, then the Gluten Free Bar is my preferred gluten free protein bar for hiking. They taste great and provide 10-12g of protein. More details on the Gluten Free Bar here.
- Nut Butter: Yumbutter packets are always in my bag for a day hike – they offer more convenience than other packets available as they have a twist off cap, meaning contents won`t spill when opening or resealing, and it’s resealable. I really like the protein almond butter.
- Jerky: A great high protein snack to provide a boost when hiking and it’ll keep you feeling fuller for longer. Plus, chewing gives your mouth something to do and stops it from getting too dry. The downside is the cost. I once worked for a beef jerky company, and it turns out when you take meat, which is already expensive, and dry it out so it weighs 50% less, the price increases significantly. Worth it on occasion, if you ask me. Country Archer is my preferred brand nowadays – their Mango Habanero is the best jerky I’ve tasted.
- Plantain Chips: I rediscovered plantain chips as a hiking snack in Colombia, where they could be found all over, and was enthralled once more. Salty and crunchy is the perfect combination for a hiking snack. Inka Chips and Barnana are the top plantain chips available in the US.
- Half Pops: Speaking of crunchy and salty… Half Pops are amazing. They’re half-popped kernels of popcorn, so they’re a little more crunchy than regular popcorn, and they have all sorts of great flavors ranging from savory to sweet. I love the Aged White Cheddar and Kettle Corn. They come in great little 1.5oz packets that are the perfect size for a hiking snack.
Final Thoughts on What to Bring on a Short Hike
There exists the summary – six items to pack for a day hike. Obviously this is not an exhaustive list of everything needed, but taking care of these 6 things (plus the first aid kit), you’ll be essentially all set to make the most of any day hiking adventure.
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