16 Essential Items for your Day Hike Packing List
Are you planning a day hike and need guidance on what to carry with you? Perhaps you need more than you initially thought. Perhaps less. Let’s take some time to answer this with a day hike packing list.
But first, let’s define what a day hike is.
A day hike is a hike intended to be completed on the same day it is started, meaning there is no overnight camping involved. Day hikes will vary in length and difficulty and provide an excellent opportunity to explore nature without the anxiety of sleeping outdoors.
Day hikes can be short and easy or long and difficult; up a rugged mountain or along a sandy beach. A day hike can be whatever you want as long as you are outside in the wilderness. After all, hiking is synonymous with experiencing nature.
Daypacks
At a bare minimum, you should never hike without water. However, preparing for unforeseen circumstances is highly recommended and requires more gear. Carrying the gear necessary for emergencies may require the use of a small backpack.
Small backpacks typically made for hiking are referred to as daypacks. Daypacks are like backpacking packs but are less in volume and most do not include the adjustments necessary to make a backpack more comfortable when carrying heavier loads. Because daypacks are not used for heavier loads, these adjustments are not necessary.
Your daypack does not need to be fashionable or have all the bells and whistles. I use the REI Flash 22 (albeit an older model) and it offers everything I need. It has one main compartment, two side pockets, a full-length vertical front pocket, and a top lid pocket (see new model for current features). To top it off, this pack is more affordable than other daypacks costing two or three times more.
Whatever daypack you choose, the most important factor is that it has enough capacity to carry the necessary gear. In most cases, 20 to 30 liters will be enough.
Day Hike Packing List
So, we have already determined you will need a daypack for your day hike. Now what should you carry in it so you have an awesome experience day hiking, while also being prepared for emergencies? Below, I list everything you should strongly consider packing on your next day hike.
- Food & Water
- Poncho
- Cleaning Wipes
- Sit Pad
- Trash Bag
- First-aid Kit
- Water Filter
- Portable Charger
- Map & Compass
- Knife
- Lighter
- Headlamp
- Emergency Bivy
- Emergency Shelter
- Satellite Messenger
- Phone
Even if you did not think of some these listed items before, it is quite apparent why you should consider carrying them with you on a day hike. But in case it isn’t, we’ll provide a brief reason why you should.
♦ Food and Water ♦
Determine how much food you will need to last the duration of your day hike, then pack at least one more meal just in case. As for water, I recommend a Smart or Life water bottle as these are cheap, durable, and reusable.
How much food and water to bring is dependent on how strenuous and long your day hike is, so plan accordingly. I recommend to always bring at least 1-liter of water and a snack at bare minimum, even for shorter day hikes.
♦ Poncho ♦
Regardless of the weather forecast, carrying an inexpensive disposable poncho is a good idea. You could also carry a rain suit, like Frogg Toggs, which will cost and weigh more. The point is to not be caught in an unexpected shower with no way to stay dry. Make sure to read my article “Hiking in the Rain” for a complete guide on keeping your gear and yourself dry on your hike.
♦ Cleaning Wipes ♦
These wipes can serve multiple functions. Dirty hands? Grab a cleaning wipe. Number 2 in the woods? Cleaning wipe (of the biodegradable variety, of course). There are numerous things you may need to clean when on trail and cleaning wipes are a simple way to do it.
♦ Sitting Pad ♦
You may want a clean, dry place to sit during your hike, so bring a pad you can sit on. There are inflatable and foam sitting pads. I personally use one like the Thermarest Z-Seat, which folds up small and only weighs a few ounces.
♦ Trash Bag ♦
Carry something you can use as a trash bag on your hike. A plastic grocery bag or even a large enough zipper bag will suffice. Just don’t leave your trash behind. Remember the principles of Leave No Trace.
♦ First-Aid Kit ♦
Include a basic first-aid kit in your daypack. This should contain bandages, gauze, tape, alcohol wipes, and triple antibiotics. You may also want to include tweezers, anti-itch cream, pain reliever, and allergy medicine. Check out first-aid kit options on Amazon for an idea of everything you may want to include, then piece one together yourself or go with one of these kits.
♦ Water Filter ♦
You do not want to be stranded in the wilderness without a way to obtain clean drinking water. For this reason, always bring a water filter on your day hikes. You may also need to bring a water collection bag.
Personally, I use the Sawyer Squeeze water filter, an industry standard for hiking and backpacking. This filter will thread directly onto a Smart or Life water bottle so you can eliminate the need for a collection bag.
♦ Portable Charger ♦
There are numerous electronics which may require recharging during a hike, especially so if you end up on trail longer than anticipated. Having a portable charger (like this one from Ampex Gear) for your phone, camera, headlamp, or other gadgets will keep your electronics going longer. Remember to carry the necessary cable(s) for each device.
♦ Map & Compass ♦
It never hurts to have a map of the area and a compass on hand. Unforeseen things can happen. Perhaps you are relying on your phone for navigation, but phones can stop working. Having and knowing how to use a map and compass is valuable knowledge that can save your life. So, if you don’t know how to use them, I recommend reading this article.
♦ Knife ♦
A knife can be an essential tool for survival. If you need a fire for the night, being able to create your own tender by feathering a stick can be done even with a small knife. I recommend reading my article on how to start a campfire if you have any doubt in your abilities.
♦ Lighter ♦
You may need to start a fire, so having an ignitor of some sort is necessary. I recommend keeping it simple and using a lighter. You can use matches, but make sure they are of the waterproof variety or at least well protected from water. You can also carry a ferro rod but be skilled in its use.
♦ Headlamp ♦
You will want a dedicated light source. Do not rely solely on your phone for this. I recommend a headlamp because it frees up your hands for other tasks.
♦ Emergency Bivy or Blanket ♦
Even though it’s a day hike and you aren’t planning an overnight stay outdoors, sometimes things go wrong and you can find yourself in a bad situation if you do not have a method of staying warm. Pack an emergency bivy, like this one from SOL, as a precaution. The polyethylene material will reflect 90% of your body heat, helping you survive an unexpected cold night outdoors.
♦ Emergency Shelter ♦
A bivy is essential, but an emergency tent can also be a key piece to your survival in a bad situation. This emergency shelter is affordable and includes paracord for setup. It can also keep you dry in the rain and shield you from the wind while also reflecting your body heat. Be sure you know how to set it up beforehand.
♦ Satellite Messenger ♦
A satellite messenger, like the InReach Mini 2 from Garmin, is an invaluable tool to carry on your ventures into the wilderness, whether day hiking or backpacking. You can’t rely on your phone to always have a signal, so using it in an emergency may be impossible.
A satellite messenger uses satellites to send messages, so you should just about always have a means to get a message out. Most also include an SOS button. This button will send out a distress signal to rescuers who can then find your precise location and get to you sooner.
♦ Phone ♦
And last but certainly not least, bring your phone. Initially, this wasn’t going to be mentioned as most everyone will bring their phones anyway. But in case you were thinking otherwise, your phone is a valuable tool to have on trail for various reasons, such as:
- Maintaining contact with loved ones
- Navigation
- Information
- Camera
While your phone shouldn’t be your only tool for emergencies or anything other than your camera, it still serves well as a navigational tool when using apps like Hiking Project or All Trails. And in many situations, your phone will still work when there is an emergency. But if you will be hiking in an unfamiliar area where signal reliability is unknown, consider investing in a satellite messenger.
Additional Items to Consider
There are a few additional items you will not actually need in your day hike packing list, but you may want to consider them to enhance your preparedness and overall enjoyment. These include but are not limited to:
- Trekking Poles
- Tripod
- Sleeping Pad
Below, each item is briefly discussed for further clarification.
♦ Trekking Poles ♦
Trekking Poles are not necessary on your hike, but I highly recommend them for various reasons. Most notably because they help improve your balance and reduce wear on your knees. However, it is important they are used properly. Read my article on “How to use trekking poles the right way” for more information.
♦ Tripod ♦
I take a lot of pictures on day hikes and having a tripod is a handy tool for capturing stable images or pictures of yourself that are more than just an arm’s length away. There are small tripods with bendable legs that you can stand easily on uneven surfaces, or you can use a more traditional option. I personally use this tripod I found on Amazon that doubles as a selfie-stick.
♦ Sleeping Pad ♦
A sleeping pad is a more luxurious item to carry on a day hike, but if you want to relax a bit while enjoying the view, then this is a great addition to your daypack. However, I mostly include this for situations when you may be stranded overnight and want something comfortable to sleep on.
Combined with your emergency bivy and shelter, any insulation that gets you off the ground is beneficial. There are many inexpensive inflatable pad options that will pack down small enough to fit in your day pack, and being primarily for emergency purposes, this should suffice.
For further elaboration on why having a sleeping pad when camping is recommended, read my article “Do you need a sleeping pad for camping?“
Conclusion
You can tailor your day hike packing list any way necessary. Use your best judgement on what is actually required, be it more or less than what is included in this list. Just remember packing the right gear can be crucial to ensuring your day hike is an enjoyable experience, especially in the face of unforeseen circumstances.
