Hiking is one of those trips that everybody loves when they get to the top. However, packing for that trip is a different story. You have always got to be prepared for the worst when hiking for your hiking trip. Nonetheless, there are a few essentials that you need to bring with you on your hiking trip.
Hiking is a great way to enjoy nature and the natural beauty of this world. Furthermore, it is a fantastic way to exercise in one of the most creative ways possible, particularly to keep your family healthy. Plus you can absorb the vitamin D from the sun whilst you are enjoying your hike. Furthermore, hiking is great for reducing your stress levels and improving your overall health.
Your first hike can be scary and intimidating. Furthermore, you can’t be sure what to expect when going on your hiking trip as well. It could be great, it could be bad, and the weather could be ruthless on the day. Not to mention the stuff that you require.
There are a couple of things to consider for your hike. If it is a short trip, you don’t need to worry about taking too much. A short walk would be no more than three miles, so all you will need is a bottle of water and good hiking boots. You may also need a rain jacket to keep you dry. Let’s look at the essential items you will need for your hike.
How To Choose A Hiking Backpack
For your first hiking trip, you just need an old bag with plenty of room for essential items. As you level up your hikes and make them more difficult, this is when you buy a high-quality hiking bag from Go Outdoors or other adventure shops that specialise in outdoor products. If your hike is overnight, you will need a well-packed bag for this.
The Essential Hiking Items That You Need For Your Trip
Going for a hike is not the safest type of exercise. The list is big but at least you know you will be safe for the journey. Anyway, let’s get right into the essential items for your hiking trip.
Water Bottle
One of the first items you should bring is a water bottle. A water bottle is essential because you will break into a sweat, especially when you get near the top. Yes, the trip can be a little cold at the top but if the sun is shining, you can soon feel the heat. Furthermore, the trip can be long so you will need a drink on the way and to back down. Either get a 2L bottle or get two smaller bottles that are around 1L each.
You might think that water will just weigh you down. If you believe this is going to be an issue. Take an empty water bottle with you that either has a filter or purification drops. However, we advise you to take your water with you as well as some purification drops just in case you need more.
Some form Of Navigation
It is easy to get lost on your journey, this is why a map is essential. If you are in the wild and are far up the hill or mountain, you will need a map instead of a phone. The reason why is that you may find it challenging to get a signal on your phone.
Snacks For On The Way
Food is another essential item for your journey. You will need plenty of food to keep you energised throughout your hiking trip. Additionally, hikers should aim around consuming 200+ calories per hour to keep themselves energised. Think of foods that are easy to carry as well. You don’t want to bring food where you need to add water or it can easily fall apart in your bag. Foods such as nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, peanut butter and sandwiches. For your first hike, you won’t need a mass amount of food but you will need enough for the trip.
Sun Protection
Another thing which is essential for your hiking trip is sun cream. As you climb further up the hill, you will get closer to the sun. Make sure you keep your skin protected from the sun, especially if you will be hiking for a long time.
Plenty Of Layers
One thing you will need on your hiking trip is plenty of layers. You don’t know what the weather will be like on your hiking trip. That is why you need to be prepared for all weather conditions. Comfortable clothing is an absolute must for your hiking trip. If your hiking trip is in the summer months, wearing shorts, tracksuit pants or leggings are all great options. However, make sure you bring something water-resistant. In the winter, you will want to wear something a lot thicker.
Lights
Depending on the time of day you are going on your hike, you may want to take a headlamp. A headlamp is great for when the sun sets so make sure you carry one of these with you.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is essential for your hiking trip. It is essential in case anything goes wrong. Make sure the essentials are packed in your medic kits such as scissors, plasters, bandages, antiseptic cream/liquid, pins, painkillers, antihistamines and anything else you think you will need in case of an emergency.
Multitool
A multitool is another essential item for your hiking trip. Again, you never know what can happen in the wild. A multitool can have scissors, a knife and other cool gadgets that could be useful. These are only small so you don’t need to worry about them being an unnecessary items.
Hiking Boots
Hiking boots are the final item on the list. Walking in trainers with very little ankle support is not the best idea when hiking. Furthermore, you need to ensure the grips on your boots are good for the wet weather if it does rain. Additionally, make sure they have good ankle support because the ground won’t be very flat for your trip.
To Conclude
As you can see, there are many important items for a hiking trip. There are many other items that you can take on your hiking trip although these are the most important. One thing we do advise is that you make sure you do not bring too many items with you. So, get on your favourite nato watch strap and get ready for your hiking trip.