Day Hiking Equipment

Before your trip, acquire the right clothing and equipment. This is not a ploy by to get you to part with your cash – I don’t have shares in any outdoor clothing suppliers! Having the correct day hiking equipment can mean the difference between being comfortable and having a great time or being uncomfortable and miserable. It can also prevent injuries and in adverse weather can mean the difference between hypothermia and feeling a bit chilly. You do not need to spend a fortune but it is worth investing in the following;

A pair of walking boots.  Walking boots and trainers are two very different things.

Very well walked in boots

Walking boots have stiff soles to protect and support your feet on uneven ground and a well fitting pair will support your ankles preventing injury. Waterproof boots often cost a little more but this will seem like money well spent the first time you walk through water and keep nice dry feet.

A pair of walking socks.  Your cotton socks may do a great job with street shoes but they won’t with your walking boots. Modern walking socks are designed to minimise friction between your feet and your boots helping avoid blisters.

A waterproof jacket.  These come in a huge range of styles, weights and prices. As a general rule it is worth paying extra for Gortex or similar as non-breathable jackets can become very sweaty! Depending on where you are going it may also be worth investing in waterproof over trousers.waterproof over trousers

Quick drying trousers / shorts.  Do not set out on a long hike in jeans or cotton trousers. If it is hot you will find them very sweaty. If it rains they will retain water, stick to your skin and become very heavy. They will not dry easily and as the temperature often drops with rainfall you can become very cold. Walking trousers do not retain water and are designed to dry quickly.

Hiking along the bluffs of the upper Mississippi

A couple of layers for your upper body – warm layers and thin layers
Whether you invest in wicking (fabric designed to take moisture away from your skin) base and upper layers is up to you but you should always carry a warm top with you, even if you are hiking somewhere warm. Conditions can change very quickly, especially in the mountains. Layers allow you to add and remove clothing according to the conditions and specialist outdoor layers are light and compact easily, making them easy to carry.

A warm hat and a sun hat. A warm hat is one of the best ways of keeping your body temperature up so it is always worth having one in your rucksack. Sunhats that are close fitting or with a tie / strap are also very handy, especially if you are hiking in an exposed place. We like large brimmed hats as they help protect your neck and shoulders as well.

A rucksack.  These come in many sizes, styles and colours. The recommended size for day hiking is 15 – 35litres. Essentially you will need one big enough to carry all the items you want to take with you including water, food and additional clothing. If you are only doing short walks any basic rucksack is OK. If you intend on hiking a little further it is worth spending more money to get a rucksack with a waist strap and a chest strap as this will help spread the weight across your body and really does make a difference. Freeflow air systems can also be good to avoid getting a horribly sweaty back. I am also a fan of outside pockets for water bottles and a rain cover (preferably inbuilt). If you are bored with wading through the endless options, we have had a Deuter sack for years and been very pleased with it. Berghaus also do some great options.

A space blanket.  These are inexpensive, lightweight and fold up very small. Hopefully you will never need it but if a member of your party becomes immobile for any reason they are really good at keeping people warm until help arrives.

A compact first aid kit.  You can either buy a readymade one or make up your own and stick it in a zip lock bag. I tend to do the latter as it is much cheaper.

But to get this battered takes a while!

If you are hiking with children do not forget to get suitable clothing for them as well. Children lose body heat much faster than adults and are particularly prone to hypothermia in difficult conditions.

Once you have your boots make sure you wear them in before tramping off into the distance. You do not have to hike over hill and dale to do this as even wearing them to walk the dog or pick up the milk will start to soften them.

We recommend…

In terms of the best place to buy your day hiking equipment, When we are shopping for outdoor wear, our go to place is Amazon. They have a great range of stock and consistently low prices.

When you set off on your day hike, in addition to the clothing listed above you will need to take the following

• Water. There is often no water available on a trail. You need to carry it with you. Always take more than you think you’ll need. If the trailhead is not adjacent to a shop or a restaurant leave some in the car too.
• Food. As with water take more than you think you’ll need, especially if you are hiking with children. They burn calories really quickly.
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• A map and description of the trail. A compass is great, especially if you lose visibility, you need to know how to use it though…..

The following items are also good to have

• Anti bacterial gel / wipes
• Small, zip lock plastic bags, great for keeping cameras, smart phones etc. dry in a heavy shower
• Small torch
• Binoculars
• Camera

If you would like to print these lists click on this link Hiking Checklist