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The 10 Essentials for hiking – The 10 Things you should Always take Hiking

By: Author Alisha McDarris

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When heading into the great outdoors, there are a few things you should never leave home without. Clothes, for one. Our friends over at Toad&Co may smilingly suggest, “Save the planet: Go nude,” but in reality, we’ve found parents of small children–and just about everyone else, in fact–don’t actually like to see naked people flappin’ around in front of them on the hiking trail. So definitely wear clothes. And shoes. But there are a few–maybe less obvious–items you should also take with you when you lace up your hiking boots. Here are the 10 essentials for hiking, the things you should always keep in your backpack.

The 10 Essentials for Hiking – The 10 Items you Should Always take Hiking

  1. Water

    • This one should be obvious, right? Drink lots. Bring more than you need. Plus maybe a method for sanitizing water that you find in case you run out, especially if planning on spending the night outdoors.

  2. Food

    • Again, you need to eat, so this should be the second thing to go in your bag, even if you’re only planning to be out for an hour or two. What if you get lost? Or find a stunning vista and want to stay for a while? Bring more food than you anticipate needing (maybe some of the snacks from our cookbook or one of the vegan protein bars we taste-tested…).

  3. Extra Clothing

    • Even in warm climates, bring an extra layer or two of clothing. Sometimes weather changes suddenly or you gain more altitude than you anticipated. If so, you’ll be glad you have that rain jacket or fleece zip-up.

  4. First Aid Kit

    • Don’t leave home without a first aid kit. It could save your life, but most likely, it will just make your hike more comfortable if you get a blister, headache, or small cut.

  5. Navigational Tools

    • Even the best of us get turned around from time to time, even on fairly well-marked trails. So bring a map and a compass. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to direct fellow hikers because they didn’t have a map of their own.

  6. Sun Protection

    • No matter the season, bring sun protection like sunscreen (we like Skinnies ’cause it’s vegan and suuuper eco- and reef-friendly), sunglasses and a hat. Don’t make your delicate epidermis suffer because you couldn’t be bothered to drop some sunscreen in your bag!

  7. Fire Starter Tools

    • No matter the season, bring sun protection like sunscreen (we like Skinnies ’cause it’s vegan and suuuper eco- and reef-friendly), sunglasses and a hat. Don’t make your delicate epidermis suffer because you couldn’t be bothered to drop some sunscreen in your bag!

  8. Light

    • We like a solid ultralight headlamp, but a flashlight will do, too. Just make sure the batteries are charged, OK? There’s nothing more embarrassing than pulling out your headlamp at dusk and realizing it’s only got about 2 minutes of juice left… A little light can go a long way toward keeping panic at bay if the sun starts going down and you’re not sure how far you are from the trailhead.

  9. Multitool

    • You know, like a pocketknife or some such. We like a Gerber Multitool or Leatherman, personally. As the name implies, they have multiple uses and are great to have in many a circumstance.

  10. Emergency Shelter

    • You may not plan to spend the night outdoors, but sometimes it happens, especially in unfamiliar wilderness areas where you may not be able to find your way back to the trailhead. Now, we’re not suggesting you go on every day hike with a tent in your pack, but if you bring something as simple as an ultralight tarp or space blanket, you can bed down without freaking out.

Got it? Know the 10 essentials for hiking now (i.e. what you’re gonna shove in your pack the next time you set out for an exciting excursion into the woods or wilderness)? Good. Stay safe out there! And wander on!

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