As an adventurous hiker you will eventually need quite a lot of gear – camping equipment, hiking equipment, backpacking equipment and more. However you don’t need everything at once, you don’t always need to pay top dollar and you don’t want to spend good money on gear that you will later regret! So which ones do I go to and what for, you may ask! There are 10 essentials recommended by hiking groups. The list has been modified slightly for short day hikes, but the message is that for safety, you must be prepared before heading out into the wilderness!

• Clothing Layers: Use TechWear clothing that is wicking & light. It will keep you dry without being heavy. REI, Capilene, & Patagonia have good selections for both upper & lower body garments including underwear & socks.
• Drinking Water: For hikes of less than 1 hour, plain water should be fine. But for more than 1 hour or in very hot conditions, take a sport drink with electrolytes like Gatorade or equivalent. If you want electrolytes without the sweetness of sport drinks, get Vitamin & Mineral Drink Mix Booster which comes in individual serving packets. For longer hikes, take extra drink powder.
• Food: Take sport nutrition food like energy bars, gel packets, along with mixed nuts, peanut butter & jelly, bananas, and apples. Tip! Take Performance Food that will help your hike—avoid junk foods, of course.
• Multi-Tool/Knife: A great item to have along. Many models contain a knife, scissors, tweezers, saw blade, pliers, & more.
• Sunglasses: Opt for an all-around lens that is not too dark for shadows. If you have a “dark” lens, you won’t see very well when you’re under a tree canopy or in low-light conditions.
• Sunscreen: The sun is VERY intense at higher altitudes! Snow, water, & desert sand can intensify reflection burns. Use generous amounts of sunscreen & reapply often.
• Flashlight: If there is even a remote possibility of getting stuck in darkness, take some light. Do consider a LED flashlight. Go for the best flashlight that is durable and reliable, that won’t fail you when you are in the dark during an emergency!
• Map/Directions: Know where you are going! Depending upon trip complexity, you will need anything from a simple hand note, webpage, or even a topographic map with GPS.
• Whistle: This is a MUST HAVE tool. It will help people to locate you if you go down!

However, there is no right or wrong way to pack or be prepared for a hiking trip and there may be some other items that you find to be a better choice. Feel free to use what you think is of value and form your own opinions.