Hiking Gear Tips – 12 Essentials You Can’t Do Without

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When I’m not wandering the streets of a new city, I enjoy nothing more than taking to the trails for a day for exercise and travel inspiration. I’ve done difficult hikes, multi day hikes and gone further than I thought I would. But I couldn’t have done it without my hiking gear essentials. Don’t leave home without these items.

Why get into hiking?

Hiking became my way of enjoying where I live without the crowds. Downtown Vancouver and the usual fun tourist attractions I enjoy visiting are all well and good, but getting out into nature is just as important.

Hiking gives me access to some amazing views. After all, Canada really is beautiful, and a hiker’s paradise. As I started doing tougher trails, the easy day hikers became more limited and I find I have more of the wilderness to myself.

Hiking also became a great form of exercise for me. I love walking, and hate going to the gym. Hiking is therefore the perfect fit.

What hiking gear do I need?

The first hike I did involved nothing more than a bottle of water and a granola bar. It was an easy hike, but the summer heat and the signs of wild animals on the trail got me thinking. Maybe I need more.

The more difficult the hikes got, the more I added to my day hiking gear. That meant I had to start bringing a bag. And get better footwear. I shopped for better hiking essentials, stocked up my supply and now feel like no matter what hike I do, I’m covered.

Here are the best things I’ve found you should invest in if you are to become a hiker (either casually or on a more long term basis).

Hiking shoes/boots

The first couple of day hikes I did involved nothing more than my regular old runners. But a pair of Skechers are only going to get you so far on some of these trails. They don’t have the grip that you need for the wetter weather, or the comfort you need for anything more than a walk in the park.

Make sure to look for what suits you best. If you prefer ankle support then look at some hiking boots. If you want something more lightweight try some trail shoes. I got these hiking shoes as a starter pair. They were incrediblt comfortable from the get go. I didn’t even break mine in and they have served me well.

               

Rain pants

My lifesaver! The first multi-day hike I did, the rain began within 15 minutes of starting the trail. The rain pants meant my hiking pants stayed dry all day and added another layer of warmth. Bonus: when hiking through trails with lots of branches and overgrown paths the pants stopped them from snagging my pants.

You can get some really lightweight rain pants that are pretty good. My friend had a $70 pair of Helly Hansen pants that were good and waterproof but got a rip in them on day one. My $35 Mountain Warehouse rain pants stood the test of the trip. More expensive isn’t always better. And sometimes luck has something to do with it. But I was happy with mine.

Comfortable backpack

A backpack allows you to keep your hands free of your water bottle, cell phone and snacks in case you need them to help you on the trail. It means you can take hiking gear for weather changes and even a lunch for those longer hikes.

Get something lightweight, definitely something with a couple of pockets. I like to have my water bottle handy so being able to reach it without taking off my bag is a big deal.

I also recommend a backpack with a ventilated back panel so your back doesn’t get super sweaty. You’ll be much more comfortable later in the hike. I admit I now have a bit of a backpack obsession and have a variety of backpacks for all different hikes.

Backpacks come in a range of prices. Try them on first and make sure they fit you comfortably. Also think about the size you need: day pack or multi day hiking backpack. A good day pack should be about 10-20 liters. I prefer a 20 liter minimum.

If you’re going on longer day hikes with multiple weather changes aim for around 30 liters. Anything overnight you need at least 60 liters if you need to carry a tent and other essentials.

Water bottle

Obviously this is the most important thing to take with you. Never go on a hike without water. And never go on a hike without enough water. I don’t go anywhere without my hard-wearing Nalgene water bottle which fits nicely in the side of my backpack. It holds a liter of water.

While that’s good for a short hike, anything over an hour or so you should bring more. My friend swears by her hydration pack that fits in your backpack. You then drink through the tube hands free.

I have one too, but prefer my lightweight Platypus collapsible water bottle to top up my water bottle. Mine holds 2 liters although you can get smaller or larger ones. But when it’s empty you can easily roll it up and it weighs only about 50 grams.

                        

Water filter

A liter of water weighs 2.2 lbs! Can you believe that? So you can’t always carry enough for the length of your hike if it’s a multi day hike. Or even a day long hike. You might have to collect water to drink safely in an emergency.

I recommend purchasing a water filter. I grabbed an easy to use and lightweight Sawyer water filter. It comes with a collapsible bottle. Simply collect the water in the bottle. Screw the filter on the top and either drink or squeeze the contents through the filter into your clean bottle to save for later.

I also have a Life Straw that you can use to drink water and it filters it along the way. Either put the unfiltered water in a bottle first or in a pinch drink straight from the source.

                         

Comfortable breathable shirts

When you’re hiking you’ll be working up a sweat. So you want a shirt that will be comfortable and stay relatively dry. I like the quick dry shirts which are more breathable.

Regular t-shirts are not going to be comfortable once they get wet and start clinging to you. This might also rub on your skin if your backpack is on your back too.

I have a mixture of short sleeve and long sleeve hiking shirts in my hiking gear kit, although it’s not often I layer up as once I get walking I don’t get too cold. Workout shirts are an option too, and still better than a cotton t-shirt.

                                                  

Trekking poles

My saviors! I love my trekking poles and they are an essential element of my travel gear. They help with the uphills that I need help climbing. They help with the downhills to I keep my balance. And they definitely help when I’ve been hiking all day and I’m feeling less than energized to finish the hike.

The hiking poles bear some of my weight so my feet don’t have to. Hiking poles are also good for testing the ground as you walk – they’ve saved me from many a muddy patch or deeper than expected puddle! I like my Mountain Warehouse Blencathra ones which are collapsible, but also these Black Diamond cork handle ones that cause less friction irritation on your hands if you’re hiking for multiple days or on arduous hikes.

                          

Snacks and food

Don’t go on a hike without at least something to eat. I typically pack a granola bar, some mixed nuts and some kind of energy/protein snack or something sweet. Even on short hikes you’ll likely want to have something to snack on when you get to your viewpoint or at a rest spot along the way.

Plus I’ve been on hikes where I thought it would be 3 hours and then I took a turn and ended up on a 7 hour hike so preparedness is key. If you’re going for a hike longer than 4 hours I would pack a light lunch too. Something to keep your energy up.

Speaking of energy, don’t forget to eat before you go. Hiking on an empty stomach won’t do you any good.

First Aid kit

You don’t necessarily want to bring a giant first aid kit, but some essentials are always helpful to pack. Make up your own first aid kit or buy one ready made and leave it with your hiking gear.

I suggest getting a small lightweight bag like a toiletry bag with a zip and pack some essentials. Band aids, after bite lotion, a tenser bandage and some gauze, medical tape, painkillers and allergy pills, antiseptic wipes and tweezers.

If you are able to gather more than this I would. As someone who has rolled her ankle while hiking and recently was stung by a wasp, this is always useful stuff to have.

Clothing layers

Prepare for the unexpected when packing your hiking gear. And that means a change in temperature or weather conditions. I live in British Columbia, Canada which means that rain is always a possibility (hence the rain pants earlier in this list). But hiking also involves elevation changes and that means it can drop in temperature really quickly.

I went on a hike in August and it was a lovely 19 degrees (C). But we were doing a mountain trail up Mount Seymour in North Vancouver and by the time we reached the trail head further up the mountain we’d lost about 8 of those degrees and would continue to lose a couple more as we started hiking. Packing an extra lightweight jacket, gloves or a hat is always recommended.

  

Maps and a compass

You could play this really old school and print off a map, or you can screenshot your online maps or download using a trail app such as All Trails. Either way, it’s best to know where you’re going and to see how your hike is progressing.

Too often I’ve thought I was nearly finished the hike only to see my little dot was not moving as fast on the screen. I’ve also been on Vancouver hikes where we’ve taken the wrong trail and ended up on a much longer hike than planned. So now I have a mini compass attached to my bag and trail maps downloaded.

For bigger multi day hikes we print multiple copies of the maps…bonus is you can use the used pages as fuel for your camp fire!

           

Bear spray or a bear bell

This one applies mostly if hiking in Canada and the USA. In North America we have bears. They like the woods just as much as we do. But since you’re heading into their territory it’s always good to have a) a warning, and b) some protection.

Bears looks cute and fuzzy from a distance but up close is a different matter. I have a bear bell I attach to my bag. It alerts the wildlife that you’re there because the last thing you want is to round a corner and surprise a bear.

95% of the time you won’t see anything bigger than a squirrel on your hikes but a bear bell will help keep that true. For the other 5% of times having bear spray at hand is a great idea. You likely won’t have to use it but it could be the difference between life and death on a hike. Don’t be cheap, just buy the bear spray.

  

If you’ve enjoyed this or found it useful post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What are your hiking gear essentials? How long do your hikes usually last?