Day Hiking Gear List
My philosophy when it comes to day hiking is to hope for the best and plan for the worst. I recommend packing the “ten essentials,” plus a few more. That way, if something unexpected happens (like getting lost or injured,) you can survive a night or two in the wilderness.
For some of the important gear items in this list (like backpacks and clothing,) I have included several popular options for you to choose from. If you would like to see what kind of gear I pack for longer backpacking trips, check out My Long-Distance Backpacking Gear List.
Packing & Shelter
Weight: 2-3 pounds, Budget: ~$200
99.9% of day hikes turn out just as planned and you spend the night back home in your own bed. But, what happens that one time when you aren’t able to get back to your car before dark (or at all?) Packing a few extra items will allow you to survive a night or two in the woods, if you have to. You won’t be camping, but it sure beats sleeping on the ground in nothing but a t-shirt.
Lightweight Day Packs
- Option A: Camelbak Rim Runner 22 (25 ounces) Amazon
- Option B: Osprey Talon 22 (28 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option C: REI Trail 25 (32 ounces) REI
Emergency Shelter Items
- Emergency Bivy: SOL Emergency Bivy (3.8 ounces) Amazon REI
- Tarp/Ground Cloth: Equinox Silnylon Ground Cloth (5 ounces) Amazon Equinox
- Sit Pad: Therm-a-Rest Z Seat Sit Pad (2 ounces) Amazon REI
Clothing Packed
Weight: 1-2 pounds, Budget: ~$400
No matter how nice the weather is supposed to be, it can change on a dime in the mountains. It’s always a good idea to pack some cold weather clothing, just in case. A summer storm can ruin your day. And once the sun goes down, the temperature can drop as much as 50 degrees.
Lightweight Insulated Jackets
- Option A: Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (12 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option B: The North Face ThermoBall Jacket (12.3 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option C: Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoodie (12.7 ounces) Amazon REI
Lightweight Rain Jackets
- Option A: Outdoor Research Helium II (6.4 ounces) Amazon REI
- Option B: Arc’teryx Zeta FL Rain Jacket (7.8 ounces) REI
- Option C: Marmot Bantamweight (5 ounces) Amazon Marmot
Other Clothing Packed
- Warm Cap: Polartec Microfleece Beanie (0.8 ounce) Amazon REI
- Gloves: Polartec Microfleece Gloves (1.4 ounces) Amazon REI
- Bandana: Cotton Bandana (1 ounce) Amazon REI
Survival & Miscellaneous
Weight: 1.5 pounds, Budget: ~$250
These are items used for navigation, fire starting, first aid, gear repairs, organization and other various tasks. Though some of these items may not get used very often, it is still wise to carry them, because they can make all the difference in an emergency.
- Trail Map: Trail Map (3 ounces)
- GPS Messenger: SPOT Satellite Messenger (4.7 ounces) Amazon REI
- Compass/Thermometer: Silva Forecaster (0.5 ounce) Amazon
- Light: Petzl Zipka (2.4 ounces) Amazon REI
- Multi Tool: Swiss Army Classic (0.7 ounce) Amazon REI
- Fire Starter: Mini Bic Lighter (0.4 ounce) Amazon
- Backup Fire Starter: SOL Fire Lite Kit (0.6 ounce) Amazon REI
- Whistle: SOL Slim Howler (0.2 ounce) Amazon
- Signal Mirror: Signal Mirror (0.6 ounce) Amazon REI
- Tape: 50″ Duct Tape (0.6 ounce) Amazon REI
- Cord: 25′ Guyline (0.5 ounce) Amazon REI
- Writing: Memo Pad, Pencil & Sharpie (1.8 ounces) Amazon REI
- First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical .3 Kit (3.2 ounces) Amazon REI
- Trauma Bandage: QuickClot Sponge (1 ounce) Amazon REI
- Water Purification: 10 Aquatabs (0.5 ounce) Amazon
- Bug Head Net: Sea to Summit Head Net (1 ounce) Amazon REI
- Dry Sack: Sea to Summit UltraSil 8L (1 ounce) Amazon REI
- Ditty Sack: Granite Gear Air Zippsack 5L (1 ounce) Amazon
Items Worn or Carried
Weight: 1.6 pounds, Budget: ~$150 (not including cost of phone)
These are non-clothing items which are typically carried in your hands or on your body instead of inside your pack. It can be easy to forget them when you head out the door.
- Trekking Poles: REI Flash Carbon Trekking Poles (15 ounces) REI
- Fixed Blade Knife: Morakniv Craftline Basic 3.6 inch (4 ounces) Amazon
- Smartphone: Your Phone & Accessories (7 ounces)
Consumables
Weight: ~7 pounds
These are items which get depleted with every hike, so remember to check them before you leave home to make sure you have enough on hand. I recommend carrying a pound of food on day-hikes. It is probably more than you will eat, but it’s better to have too much than too little.
- Food: Hiking Snacks (16 ounces)
- Water: 2.5 Liters Water (85 ounces)
- Toilet Paper: Toilet Paper (1 ounce) Amazon
- Hand Sanitizer: Purell (1.2 ounces) Amazon
- Wet Wipes: 2 Wet Ones Singles (0.4 ounce) Amazon
- Spare Batteries: 3 AAA Lithium (0.8 ounces) Amazon
- Body Powder: Gold Bond Powder (1.8 ounces) Amazon
- Sunscreen: Travel Sunscreen (1.2 ounces) Amazon
- Lip Balm: Carmex (0.5 ounce) Amazon
- Bug Repellant: Repel 30% Deet (1.5 ounces) Amazon
Day Hiking Gear List Summary
Full Pack Weight: 12 pounds, Cost: ~$975
Some of this gear may seem like overkill for a day hike, but it’s lightweight, easy to carry and will give you an extra cushion of security in case things don’t go as planned. And, if you do longer distance backpacking trips too, you probably already own many things on this list.