You’ve got your gear, chosen your route, and now are ready to pack up and head out. But how to keep all the odds and ends in order, and accessible when you need them?
But first, remember to pack your Day Hiking Essentials:
- At least 2L water
- Food for the hike
- Map and Compass
- Sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- First Aid kit
- Headlamp
- Lighter or Matches
- Pocket knife
You want to put the heaviest items closest to your spine, and pack other items around them so those heavy items don’t move around too much as you walk. That means things like water are nearest to my back, in the center of my pack. Lighter items like extra jackets or snacks, are tucked around the water.
Items that you know you will use a lot (map, snacks) should be easily accessible, in the top compartment of a multiple-pouch backpack, or just at the top of the main backpack compartment. Items you won’t be using as often (e.g., first aid kits, headlamps) can be stowed at the base of the pack.
Depending on the weather and season, you might also add:
Autumn weather means including a warm beanie hat, jacket, and gloves. If it’s stormy and muddy, a rain jacket, gaiters (the kind that go around your ankles), and trekking poles. Or, if it’s going to be a warm or hot hike, extra water is a must!
Most day packs and backpacks are sized by how much volume they hold, in litres. Most daypacks range in the 20-35L size, while backpacks range from 45 to 60 to even 100L for long trips. Most half day or single-person day hikes a 20-25L pack is just fine, but if you are doing an all-day hike, or hike with multiple people or children, you will want to err more towards the 35L size.
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