Day Hike Packing List: What to Pack for Day Hiking
One of the most important things to understand is what to pack for day hiking. No matter how long you are hiking, it’s crucial to have the appropriate gear and items to ensure you are prepared for what the day may throw at you. Anything can happen while hiking, even on a short and easy trail, so understanding what to pack for day hiking will help you stay prepared. What you pack will depend on the weather, trail length, and hike difficulty. This day hike packing list is a great starting point to understanding what you should bring on a day hike!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Free Day Hike Packing List
I have a free downloadable day hike packing list! If you are looking for a comprehensive list of what to pack for day hiking, this list is perfect for you. It includes everything you could need depending on the weather, trail length, and hike difficulty. This packing list is a great starting place to understand what you need for day hikes, and you can adjust the items when necessary for your trip!
Day Hike Packing List
Here is a snapshot of what to pack for day hiking. We will go into each category in more detail!
Hiking Gear
Clothing & Footwear
Navigation
Food & Water
Hiking Extras
*The Ten Essentials are included in each of these categories.
Hiking Gear
One of the most important pieces of hiking gear is a hiking backpack. Your hiking backpack is where you will store all of your hiking gear, so it is crucial to have a supportive hiking backpack! For short day hikes, a 10-30 liter backpack will work well. Longer day hikes will require a larger hiking backpack to carry your extra gear, food, and water.
If you like hiking with trekking poles, you should look for a lightweight and easy-to-store pair. Trekking poles are great to support you on inclines, declines, and river crossings.
Additional resources:
Clothing & Footwear
The hiking clothes and footwear you pack and wear will depend on the weather and season you are hiking. You will want to make sure your hiking shoes or boots are comfortable, supportive, breathable, and water-resistant. For colder months, it’s crucial to wear and pack warm layers that will help insulate you. For warmer months, your hiking clothes should be breathable and lightweight. It’s also important to always pack layers and jackets no matter what time of year you are hiking since the weather can be unpredictable in the mountains.
Additional resources:
Emergency Items
Emergency items are part of the Ten Essentials and are crucial to have, so you are prepared for anything. These items typically include a first aid kit, whistle, fire starter, emergency shelter, knife, and repair kit. Although you may not need to use these emergency items many times, it’s crucial to make sure you pack them for your day hikes for unplanned situations that may arise.
Navigation
Navigation is one of the most important things on your day hike packing list, and it is part of the Ten Essentials. Forms of navigation include a map, compass, personal locator beacon, and satellite messenger.
Food & Water
Food and water are some of the most important things on your day hike packing list because it fuels you throughout your hike. Your food should be filled with nutrients, carbs, fats, and protein and easy to eat on the trail, like bars, trail mix, and sandwiches. How much water you bring will depend on the weather, trail length, and difficulty of the hike. The general rule of thumb is to pack a half-liter of water for every hour of hiking, but you should bring more if the weather is hot and the trail is long and strenuous. I also always recommend packing extra food and water for those just in case scenarios.
Additional resources:
Hiking Extras
These hiking extras are just as important as the rest of the gear listed on your day hike packing list. It is crucial to always pack a headlamp with extra batteries and sunscreen. A headlamp is important when hiking for sunrise or sunset, and you will be in the dark. Sunscreen and UPF clothing will help protect you from harmful UV rays and should be worn year-round. You can also pack insect repellent, a buff, toilet paper, and bags for trash.
Additional Resources:
If you are looking for what to pack for day hiking, this day hike packing list is a perfect place to start! It has everything you need to understand what’s important to have on a day hike.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
Pin it for later!
