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When setting out on a hiking adventure, being prepared and having the right equipment is essential to ensure safety and comfort. From navigation aids and quality hiking shoes to first aid supplies, each item helps ensure a smooth journey, whether on a short day hike or a multi-day excursion.
In this guide, we’ll explore the 10 essential items every hiker should consider for their backpack. With these essentials, you’ll be ready for diverse terrains and changing weather conditions, allowing you to focus on the journey ahead.
Let’s get going.
First, Ask Yourself These Questions:
Before you start packing your gear, ask yourself the following questions since they will determine your essentials. Then, what you can actually pack will depend on the available space in your backpack and how much weight you want to carry.
1. How Long Is the Hike?
While essential equipment doesn’t vary much between a half-day and full-day hike, other than needing more food and water for a full day, this is different with overnight or multi-day adventures.
Multi-day adventures require much different preparation and additional items such as sleeping bags, cooking utensils, portable power stations for camping, warmer clothes for nighttime, and other camp essentials.
2. What is the Climate and Weather Like?
This is critical for determining what kind of clothes you need to wear and bring with you. If you are in a climate with rain in the forecast, you will want to bring a raincoat and good waterproof or water-resistant hiking shoes. Bring a light cotton long-sleeve shirt to protect you from the sun if it is sunny.
If you’re dealing with cold weather, layers are essential. You can always remove a layer if you get hot, but you cannot add layers you did not bring. Finally, for multi-day trips, you must ensure your sleeping bag and tent are appropriate for the climate.
3. How Difficult Is the Hike?
One factor that significantly affects what you should bring is how challenging the hike is. When you are hiking on particularly difficult terrain, especially steep hills, it is essential to pack light.
Every extra kilogram of weight you bring means more energy you have to spend carrying it. Easy hikes on flat or only mildly hilly terrain are easier on the body, so you can pack more gear with you.
4. What Will I Be Eating?
This is an important consideration since it will determine how many cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc., you must pack. When backpacking, think of simple meals that can all be cooked in a single pot with a single burner to reduce your weight and volume of supplies.
Other good options are dried snacks and freeze-dried meals since they are nutrient-dense and lightweight.
If you will be out for less than 40 hours, you can keep an EcoFlow GLACIER Portable Refrigerator in your car with more supplies that you can return to. Depending on where you are, there are often multiple hiking trails. In that case, you can stock up at your car from your fridge, including a few cold packs from your freezer, and head out again.
Which 10 Pieces of Equipment Are Essential for Hiking?
Think ahead, prepare for your journey, and consider all your essential supplies. You don’t want to be far off the beaten path and discover you forgot your tent or other vital equipment and must turn back.
1. Hiking Backpack
Be sure to choose a quality backpack with plenty of room for all your gear. Try it on and make sure it is comfortable. Look for one with many straps, pockets, and areas to attach carabiners on the outside for attaching extra gear if your backpack gets overloaded or if you just want to attach a water bottle or something else you want to keep accessible.
Also, if you are doing anything more than a couple of hours, your gear can get heavy, so choosing a backpack with at least a waist strap is ideal since it helps secure the load and distribute the weight better. A chest strap and optional rain covers are also a good option.
2. Quality Hiking Shoes
Invest in some good-quality hiking shoes. Quality, well-fitting shoes are essential to prevent blisters, sprains, and breaks. They should extend up to the ankles to provide additional ankle support.
3. Navigation Aids
You can use your smartphone with apps, but be sure to download offline maps if you go to areas without service. Alternatively, you can bring a compass, GPS, or GPS watch or use old-fashioned paper maps stored in a waterproof bag.
4. First Aid Supplies
A first aid kit should include a small first aid kit with gauze, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and antiseptic ointment. Be sure it also includes tensor bandages and a triangle bandage in case of sprains or breaks. You should also have an emergency blanket and a multitool with a knife.
5. Food
If you’re just going on day hikes, granola bars, protein bars, and trail mix are always good options. But if you are staying overnight, pack food you can cook at night in camp.
6. Water
Pack enough water with you to last you all day. Hydration packs are an excellent option. They hold water in a bag in your pack, and a tube that you hang out of your pack to drink out of, like a straw, allows for quick access to water without having to stop to get your bottle out.
If you’re on a multi-day trip, you will need access to water to top up what you can carry. However, this means that you must have gear to boil your water for at least 5 minutes or bring a water purifier (filter) system or some water purification tablets to ensure safe drinking water.
7. Clothing
Choose clothing appropriate for the weather and pack layers so you can remove them if you get too warm, but put them back on if you get cold. If you’re staying overnight, make sure you pack warmer clothes for nighttime. Also, don’t forget a pair of sunglasses for bright days and a hat to keep your head warm or protect it from the sun.
8. Flashlight or headlight
Even if you don’t plan to go for more than a day, bringing a light source is still a good idea. You could get back late or get hurt on the way and have to wait the night for help. You can use the lights for navigation as well as for signalling help.
9. Tent, Sleeping Bag, and Camping Pad
On overnight trips, you will need a small, compact tent, sleeping bag, and camping mat. The camping mat is easy to attach to the outside of your backpack, so it takes up less room, but you will want your sleeping bag inside your pack so it stays dry. To save space, you can fold up a sweatshirt or jacket to use as a pillow, so you don’t have to pack a pillow.
10. Portable Power Station
An EcoFlow Portable Power Station is the perfect travel companion for those needing to recharge their camera batteries or devices or just want some music or other entertainment. You will want a compact, lightweight model that fits in your backpack. Which solar generator is best depends on how long and how far you will be hiking. Here are a few options to consider with some different use scenarios.
The EcoFlow River 2 Max, with 512Wh of power and weighing just 6.1kg (13.4lbs), is the perfect power companion for day hikes and overnight hikes.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro is for those who need a bit more power. With 768Wh of capacity and weighing 7.8kg (17.2lbs), it’s still light enough to carry with you but has more power for those going on a weekend adventure.
The EcoFlow RIVER Pro Solar Generator (PV160W) is for those who need even more power on a hike, especially a multi-day journey. Rather than packing a bigger battery, you can bring your portable solar panel for backpacking to recharge it while you stop for lunch or catch the rays later in the afternoon when you stop for the day.
These portable power stations also make great camping gifts for adventurous loved ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
A new hiker should bring plenty of water; you might be surprised how much you drink. Navigation aids are also essential: a smartphone with offline maps, paper maps, a GPS, or a compass will help you find your way. Finally, a small first aid kit should always be in your backpack.
Final Thoughts
Preparing with the right hiking essentials ensures safety while providing comfort and peace of mind. To get started, choose a good-quality backpack and hiking shoes, then fill your pack with first aid supplies and navigation aids to keep you safe and on track.
Be sure to pack appropriate clothing, plenty of water or water purification devices, and enough lightweight, easy-to-cook food. If you are unprepared, these issues will quickly cut your trip short.
If you are going overnight, you will need sleeping gear and a power source to recharge devices and run your lights. The EcoFlow River 2 Pro Portable Power Station packs plenty of power in a compact unit that can be carried in a backpack. With the right gear, you can confidently set out on any trail, knowing you’re prepared for the adventure ahead.