10 Essentials For Hiking: Keep This Checklist in Your Adventure Pack

Hitting the trail? Here are 10 essentials for hiking (and every adventure in between) to keep in your pack to ensure a safe and successful trip.

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1. Navigation

Tangible map

Your phone is probably going to die, so keep a tangible map in case you need to reference your location.

Compass

It's tiny, super light, and an incredibly powerful tool. This is a no-brainer, in-case-of-an-emergency item to carry with you ALWAYS. Keep it attached to your backpack and never take it off. Here's one that does it all.

Satellite messenger/personal locator beacon

This is a great tool to have in case of an emergency, but it's also expensive and heavy. If you're heading deep into the wilderness, definitely grab one of these, but if you're on a shorter, well-trodden trail, you'll be fine without one. Here's a good all-around, portable GPS!

2. Headlamp + Extra Batteries

While flashlights are great, headlamps give you hands-free light so you can easily stoke a fire, dig a hole for a midnight poop, put a pot of coffee on to watch sunrise, you get the gist! I love my Black Diamond Spot 350–it has 3 hours, 45 minutes of battery life, 350-lumen LED with a red-light option and can extend up to about 280'. Pack extra batteries just in case!

3. Sun Protection

Sunscreen

Save the skin! Higher altitudes mean less atmosphere, i.e., less of a barrier between you and the sun. Sleeping in a tent with a sun burn isn't fun. Wear the sunscreen. Your skin will thank you.

Sunglasses

Bring along a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from a full day of bright light and lake reflections.

I’m wearing Rheos Seabrooks, which are polarized sunglasses that FLOAT! How cool is that? Like where have these been all my life?

Goodr is also a great adventure sunglasses brand with product names that are just as fun as their colors. Check out I Pickled These Myself, See You at the Party, and Ninja Kick the Damn Rabbit.

4. First Aid

First Aid Kit

Snag a first-aid kit as a safety precaution. This one has everything you need to treat some of the most common backpacking injuries for up to four people.

5. Knife

There are SO many ways a knife and/or multitool could come in handy on the trail. This Swiss Army Knife has a good tool selection without being overkill.

6. Fire

Lighter

You'll likely need a lighter to light your stove or campfire. Just something small and light!

Waterproof Matches

If your lighter gets wet or lost, you'll want waterproof matches as a backup.

7. Shelter

Some sort of shelter is vital to protect you from exposure to the elements, and there are so many options depending on your adventure style! You could sleep in a tent, a hammock, or a lean-to. 

8. Extra Food

Sometimes you might need to spend another day on the trail, or a raccoon stole one of your camp meals. Pack backup just in case.

9. Extra Water

Always bring water purification tablets as backups in case something happens to your water filter. See my water filter rec in the Backcountry Kitchen section or ask me for specific recs for your trip!

10. Extra Clothes

Layers, layers, layers! Weather changes all the time, especially in the mountains. Pack more than what you think you might need, even if it adds a little extra weight.