What to Pack for a Hike: The Ten Essentials + Extras
This guide includes an extensive list of what to pack for a hike during the spring/summer season. This includes the ten essentials plus any extras needed. A packing list is included.
There are many things to consider before you head out on a hike, especially if you’re new to the activity.
The easiest place to start is with the gear in your pack, and my friend, let me help you out.
To be honest, when I started hiking, I just packed my old Jansport bag with some snacks, some water and an extra charger and off I went.
It took a few injuries for me to start bringing a first-aid kit.
I got lost more times than I can count on trails, which made me start taking navigation more seriously. If you wear glasses like me, the switchbacks in BC will mess you up if you’re not careful.
My advice from my experience is to take safety seriously from the beginning.
Invest in your kit, learn to use all of it, and do your best to learn about wildlife safety in your area.
Save yourself and your loved ones the worry by being prepared!
This post contains the ultimate hiking packing list, including the Ten Essentials plus all the extras you need to be properly prepped for your trek!
This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you that helps me maintain this blog. Thank you for reading!
Before exploring the great outdoors, please review the Leave No Trace principles. To help protect the natural beauty of our wilderness areas, it's our responsibility to ensure we have as little impact on the areas we visit as possible. Remember to plan ahead and prepare, hike and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, respect wildlife, stay on designated trails, and be considerate of other visitors. Let's all do our part to protect the great outdoors and make Leave No Trace a priority on every hike.
Who Knows Best?
When I started hiking, I frequented many outdoor stores (MEC, REI, Decathalon, and Valhalla) and their websites to not only find the right gear but also get the best advice.
Not to mention tons of adventure and hiking blogs from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts and hikers.
As a beginner hiker, you will feel overwhelmed by the multitude of wilderness/outdoor advice, guidance, and rules out there.
Start by researching your surrounding area for hiking locations. Find local bloggers, guides, and community/city boards for information regarding hiking in your area.
Reading about summiting Mt. Everest is super inspiring and is possible, but not completely realistic if you’re a newbie hiking in North America.
Both REI and MEC have insightful blogs on their websites created and maintained by outdoor professionals.
One of REI’s most popular blog posts is about The Ten Essentials, a list of types of gear you should bring on a hiking trip.
What are the Ten Essentials?
In 1974, a group of expert climbers from Seattle, Washinton, called The Mountaineers officially formalized the Ten Essentials list.
They created the list to help hikers and climbers be better prepared for emergency situations and spend nights outside more safely.
This list was first published in the third edition of “Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills.” The book is currently in its 9th edition and is still the best reference for anyone looking to get into hiking, mountaineering, or alpine climbing.
Flash forward to TODAY, and the Ten Essentials have been updated to reflect changes in the manufacturing of outdoor equipment, technology in the world, and outdoor recreation.
Goodbye, wood, leather, and cotton. Hello GoreTex, polyester, and plastic. Hooray for waterproofing!
The Ten Essentials List:
- First Aid Kit
- Extra Food
- Extra Water
- Navigation
- Illumination
- Sun protection
- Extra Clothing
- Firestarter
- Knife/Multi-use tool
- Emergency shelter
Remember, the Ten Essentials are just a starting point – you can adjust this list based on your individual needs and the conditions of your hike.
You need to consider things like the difficulty of the hike, duration of your trip, weather conditions, and distance from emergency services when deciding what to or what not to bring.
Below I will share with you what’s in my hiking kit currently including my Ten Essentials and extras I always bring!
First Aid Kit
For day hikes, you can pick up a small first aid kit from Amazon, or MEC for a fairly cheap. If you’re going on longer hikes into the backcountry look at 100pc kits like this one from Amazon or this one from MEC.
The most important thing about any first aid kit is knowing how to use it!
So take time before your trip to learn how each item works and practice with them so that you know what to do when an injury occurs.
Extra Food
You must take food on a hike, even if you think you won’t be hungry, take something! I always have a CLIF Bar in my pack no matter what, I usually buy a box at the store or for a cheaper price online here.
Food = energy and you cannot climb a mountain without energy.
Eat before you go, and fill your pack with as many snacks that won’t weigh you down and are easy to carry.
They should also be high in nutrients like protein and carbohydrates.
Check out these articles about vegan snacks to take hiking:
If you’re going for a longer trek be prepared to bring meals, and potentially cooking instruments/dishes.
Extra Water
Hiking isn’t very fun when you’re dehydrated.
Always bring a water bottle like a Nalgene, Hydro Flask ,or S’well bottle, or use a water reservoir (aka hydration bladder, like the Osprey or Gregory bladders or generic ones from Amazon) that attaches to the inside of your backpack.
You don’t want to find yourself desperately thirsty if there’s no nearby source of fresh water because you didn’t plan ahead!
If you’re grabbing water from a nearby source, make sure to treat all sources of surface water before drinking it. Water filters like the LifeStraw or the BeeFree bag from Amazon are great to have in your pack, as they are easy to carry and very reliable.
I currently use AllTrails+ as my main source of navigation. It’s a great app for finding geographic information and condition reports on trails within your area and beyond.
I will also always grab a paper map if it is available at the trailhead or a printable version online.
If you do opt for paper maps, make sure the map is up-to-date and check online for any changes on the trail.
Consider investing in GPS transponders like the Garmin inReach Mini or the Garmin GPSMAP 64x, as an emergency satellite communication device.
Sun Protection
I am an authority on sunscreen. I take my sunscreen seriously and nag my partner every chance I get to put it on.
I’ve spent a lot of time outside in direct sunlight year-round to know its benefits and its drawbacks.
I say wear sunscreen every day BUT ESPECIALLY when you’re hiking for long periods of time outside. I love this Sun Bum sunscreen as it’s vegan, reef-friendly, smells great and doesn’t leave a whitewash on your skin.
Hats and sunglasses will also help make you feel most comfortable outside in the sun. I bought a wide-brim sun hat in Hood River and love wearing it on hikes, it’s similar to this one found on Amazon.
Extra Clothing
When you begin a hike, you’re meant to “start cold”, meaning wearing the least amount of clothing that’ll keep you warm at the current temperature. After the first couple kilometres or so you adjust your clothing to how you’re body temperature has changed.
This is meant to help avoid your body from producing more moisture than necessary. Aka over-sweating.
Remember, moisture and cold kill.
I always start in a base layer shirt like this one from Decathlon and hiking pants from MEC like these.
In addition, I pack a quarter-zip pullover as a mid-layer option, I usually bring this one from Decathlon. Also if I’ve checked the weather and noticed an incoming system (most days in Vancouver), I’ll pack my rain jacket and rain pants.
I’ve been using my old golf rain suit (which isn’t great btw), but if you’re looking for an affordable option try these suits on Decathlon. If you’re looking to invest in rain gear, you cannot go wrong with GoreTex, Helly Hanson, or Patagonia.
Illumination
I bring a LED headlight that I got at Mountain Warehouse, like this one here. A headlamp is the easiest light source to bring, as it’s small, hands-free and battery-powered. Cheaper options here on Amazon and Decathlon are just as good.
It’s great for those early morning sunrise hikes or those hikes that “accidentally” go past sunset.
If your light source is battery-powered, make sure you bring extra batteries. If it’s rechargeable, make sure it’s fully charged before your trek.
Firestarter
I usually have a couple of stormproof matches, and a BIC lighter with me to use as a possible firestarter just in case. This is typically not the highest priority essential to bring, but it can really come in handy during an emergency in the mountains.
Knife/Multi-Use Tool
I pack my Swiss Army Knife with me everywhere I go, it’s always in my purse or pack. I’ve used this tool more in everyday uses than I have in the wilderness but it still counts as a useful essential.
A multi-use tool is good to have in case you need to cut or break anything, whether you’re administering first aid, building shelter, cooking, starting a fire etc. This affordable pair on Amazon will do the trick.
Emergency Shelter
The emergency blanket I take is included in my first aid kit and is sufficient to take as an emergency shelter for a day hike. They are usually lightweight and inexpensive, you can usually purchase them in packs like these ones on Amazon.
Mylar blankets can be flimsy, however, so if you’re looking for something higher quality check out the SOL emergency blanket here.
Hiking Boots
If you’re going to invest in any piece of gear it’s got to be your hiking boots.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT hike in regular running shoes. Your feet, ankles, and calves will thank me later.
Hiking boots are sturdy, durable shoes that will protect your feet from rocks and water while providing good traction and stability on the trail. Hence very important!
Don’t cheap out on your footwear! While there are many high-end brands of hiking boots, there are many affordable options for those that just need a pair to use on the weekends.
I love my Merrell boots for their comfort, however, they lack traction on wet surfaces (still a decent boot, you can find them here). Other affordable boot brands include Columbia and Mountain Warehouse.
Hiking Backpack
When I first started hiking I just used my old high school Jansport backpack, not a supportive bag in the slightest but it was spacious and did the job.
After several uncomfortable trips out, I caved and bought a nice fancy Osprey Tempest bag at the first sale I saw, and I hate to admit it but I was instantly in love.
The feeling of putting on a comfortable backpack outweighs any dollar amount coming out of your pocket. It’s worth it, trust me and my sore back.
To choose a pack, look for a bag with an adjustable waist belt (to help distribute weight), load-lifters (straps on either side of the shoulders that aid in stabilizing heavy loads), padded shoulders and back panel, hip pads or padding around the waistband area.
If you’re going to be out in the wilderness for a while, try buying a pack that has at least 10L, one large compartment and several smaller pockets on the inside. This will help keep your gear organized and make it easier to find what you need when you need it.
Before buying one new or used online make sure it fits properly by trying it out first in person, if possible since there could be slight variations between brands even within similar styles of backpacks.
You can also go to your local outdoor gear store like MEC or REI and get measured for a backpack by an expert.
Bear Spray and Bear Bell
Bear spray is another must-have item if you’re hiking in BC. Bear spray can be used to protect yourself and your food from bears.
It’s non-lethal, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally killing a bear and being charged with murder by the law (although there are certain US states where this could happen).
Bear spray will also offer an extra sense of security if you’re hiking alone in the wilderness and may come across some aggressive wildlife.
Consider also investing in a bear bell like this one, these are also available at Dollarama for cheap and are easily attached to the outside of packs.
The bell lets the animals know you’re nearby, even though you might not be able to hear another hiker’s bell, the animals heard it.
During a hike along the Credit Valley River in Ontario, I almost got hit by a sprinting deer! The deer missed me by a metre and I was in complete shock. To my surprise, the deer stopped further up and turned back to look at me.
Phew! Injury was avoided on both our parts. Off I went to get a bell.
Be Bear Aware. BC Parks has lots of information on Wildlife safety online which you can read here.
Bug Spray
We’ve all been there. You’re hiking through the woods and you feel something crawling on your skin.
Bugs can be a huge problem for hikers, especially if you are not prepared for them.
That is why it is important to apply bug spray on your skin before going out into the wilderness. I prefer to bring bug spray that is odourless or plant-based like this one from OFF!
To avoid getting bug bites, try wearing long sleeves, and pants when outdoors, especially during dusk or nighttime hours.
Bathroom Bag
This bag contains everything I need to do my business in the wilderness. If you know that there are bathrooms at the trailhead you can plan ahead, but if you’re venturing a bit further out you may need to plan for your business somewhere else.
I got this awesome tip to carry a bathroom bag from awesome Adventure Bloggers like HappiestOutdoors.ca, and Bearfoottheory.com! I use a small pouch like this one to carry everything I need in my pack.
My bathroom bag includes some disposable plastic bags for packing out toilet paper/trash, a tube of hand sanitizer, some toilet paper, wet wipes, a small hand towel for drying my hands, and a small trowel.
Remember to Leave No Trace and pack out everything you bring in!
Well, that’s everything in my pack folks. I’m sure I will add to this list in the future but for now, these are what I consider the Ten Essentials + Extras that you need to bring on an average day hike in the spring/summer season.
Is there something missing from this list that you think is essential? Let me know in the comments.
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