Ten Essential Items for Hiking

Hiking can be a fun way to experience the great outdoors and get closer to nature. With many parks boasting free admission for low-impact activities like hiking and nature walks, it can also be a low-cost activity for a weekend family outing. If you are going to spend a couple of hours with nature, you can greatly increase your level of comfort by including 10 essential items in your pack.

  1. Navigational Aid

    • For a hike of any significant distance, a navigational aid is absolute key. Most parks will have maps at the trailhead, and each hiker should carry a copy.

    Bottled Water

    • It is best to carry a few bottles of water with you, and avoid drinking from creeks and streams except in an emergency, and only after the water has been purified by boiling.

    Lightweight Calories

    • Traipsing through the great outdoors can burn calories fast. Stay energized on the hike by packing a good source of complex carbohydrates; granola is great for this, as is trail mix and even a candy bar or two.

    Cutting Instrument

    • It is always a good idea to carry a good pocketknife on your hike. Opt for a folding knife rather than one with a straight blade. It will take up less space, and they tend to come with a variety of tools that may be useful on the trail.

    Length of Rope

    • Rope is lightweight and can be compressed or wrapped to take up very little room. As with the knife, in all likelihood you will never have an occasion to use a length of rope on your hike, but if you should be in need of one, you will be glad you brought it.

    Extra Socks

    • An extra pair of socks is one of those items that you don't realize you need until you need them. A misplaced step into a puddle or mud hole will leave your shoes and socks soaked and make you uncomfortable for the rest of the trip. Carrying an extra pair of socks takes up virtually no space in your pack, and can greatly increase your comfort should your feet get wet.

    First Aid Kit

    • It is absolutely imperative that you pack a first aid kit on any hike. It should be a fixture of your pack. Include in it several bandages of varying sizes, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic ointment and anything necessary for safe hiking in your region.

    Duct Tape

    • It may sound like a silly thing to pack, but a roll or at least a few lengths doubled over on itself can really get you out of a host of jams. Use a half-used roll, or roll a length around a used toilet paper tube to save weight and space.

    Plastic Bags

    • Packing plastic bags for the hike can come in handy if you need something to hold your trash, or even to act as a barrier between your socks and shoes should your feet get wet. They are lightweight and easily stuffed into your pack to be forgotten about until they are needed.

    Good Backpack

    • A good backpack makes or breaks your hike. Realistically, any hike of any significant length is going to need all these 10 items. You need a pack that comfortably fits all of the items you want to bring with you, without overstuffing, and without having it ride low on your back. Ideally opt for a pack made specifically for hiking.