Day Hiking Essentials

My approach to hiking is simple: I don’t carry loose items. Everything lives in a pouch or system so I can find things quickly without digging around.

This setup is designed for a full day in a national park—not backcountry hiking—so I still assume I have access to a car if needed. Most of this stays in my pack at all times, and I’ll adjust water depending on the hike.

My Pack

1 - Backpack with integrated hydration pack: I prefer a smaller size pack for day hikes, so this is the Gregory Nano 18 Hydration Pack. It might be the smallest adult pack out there. The pack has a separate pocket for the hydration pack that the reservoir clips into so it sort of hangs. I also suggest the hydration pack dryer from BonDry to keep your pack from getting gross when you aren’t using it.

2 - Items for when nature calls and you’re a lady: There may not always be a toilet nearby, so it’s important to be prepared. I carry a Female Urinal and Pee Cloth, as well as some hand sanitizer.

3 - First Aid Kit: This one is a no-brainer. I prefer a kit designed to treat outdoor injuries from Adventure Medial Kits.

4 - Pouch of additional emergency items: More details on what I stock here below.

5 - Microfiber Travel Towel: Helpful for really hot days to dab sweat, or soak with water and keep your head/neck cool. This one comes in multiple colors!

6 - Pouch of toiletries: More details on what I pack in this below.

7 - Sunscreen and bug spray pouch: I’ll show you what I pack in there below.

8 - Solar battery bank: I’ve had this one for a while, but they make newer ones with USB-C and charging cables built in. You never hope to need to use it, but it’s better to have the option of being able to recharge your devices!

9 - Infinity tool modular straps: These are literally so cool and can be used in thousands of ways. I have 4 of each size that I keep in a small pouch so they’re tucked away until I need them.

10 - These are all the items I keep stashed in the top pocket of my pack, which I’ll detail below.

11 - Extra water: I like these particular water bottles because they are collapsable and take up minimal space when empty. Mine are 32oz / 1L.

Emergency Pouch

Things I hopefully never need—but still carry.

1 - Waterproof Pouch: I love the pouches from Aloha Collection - they come in all sorts of sizes and colors. This one is the Mid side pouch and it fits all of my additional first aid / emergency items perfectly.

2 - Emergency Bivvy: This is an emergency sleeping bag/blanket, and is not something you ever want to have to use. It’s super small and light, so it’s absolutely worth having in the event of an emergency.

3 - Tiny First Aid and Survival Guides: These are about the size of a credit card and take up hardly any space at all. Great resources to have handy for any situation.

4 - Blister Bandages: I always have a pack of these hydrocolloid bandages - they hold up way better than regular cloth bandages if you start to get blisters. I sometimes need to use these between my toes, which is why I have multiple sizes.

5 - KT Tape: Sometimes you have to tape your knee, ankle, shoulder, etc. KT Tape is really versatile and doesn’t take up much space.

6 - Regular bandaids: People always need regular bandaids. This cute tin from Welly had outdoor theme bandages, but they off all sorts if that’s something you’re into.

7 - Waterproof and windproof matches: Good to have in case of an emergency and small.

8 - LifeStraw: If you run out of water but have a water source nearby, having a LifeStraw removes the risk of you getting sick from bacteria and parasites.

9 - Quick guide to knots: Learning knots ware more of a Boy Scout thing, so I like keeping this small guide with me as a quick reference.

10 - Survival paracord bracelet: This seems like one of those silly things that people don’t use, but it never hurts to have about 10ft of paracord and a fire-starter handy.

11 - Compass and survival whistle: Most of us won’t ever need to use a compass, but it’s another item you hope you won’t ever need, and is worth carrying since it’s so small. This particular whistle from Daily Carry Co emits up to 120 dB.

Top Pack Pocket - Quick Access Items

I keep these items in the top pocket of my pack so they are easy to grab.

1 - Hand Sanitizer: Always keep this on you and easy to access! National Park bathrooms can be gross!

2 - Bear Bell: Not necessary to carry when not in bear regions. This bell has a magnet to keep it from jingling all the time, but I like this handy so I can easily decide to use it. This does not eliminate the need for bear spray!

3 - Pocket Phone Tripod: The side of a credit card and has adapters to fit most modern phones.

4 - Small Flashlight: Helpful to have handy if you’re exploring any cave-type areas or just need to get a closer look at something. This one is the upgraded version of the one I have, is rechargeable, and is a tiny bit larger than a pen.

5 - Utility Knife: This is not for protection! Use it to cut paracord, or to open that bag of vaccum sealed jerky.

6 - Headlamp: I prefer to keep mine handy because if you feel you need a headlap, time is probably of the essence. This one from Black Diamond has a multiple settings including a red light setting for when you want to maintain your night vision and not blind others. You will want to make sure you’ve charged it before your adventure!