Everything You Need to Have On You or With You
Hikers generally agree on a list of what’s known as the “10 Essentials” for packing for hikes. This is a great starting point and lets you then edit to your preferences as well as personal needs based on the length and difficulty of the hike you are taking on. Our main categories are what you should consider personalizing as your own essentials. We are including more of our specifics below for you to use or disregard based on your preferences. Our list is based on the majority of hikes we do, which are usually around 5 miles or less. This is what we try to always have with us unless we know we won’t need them.
Where applicable, I’ve included links to the actual products we use and recommend. These are products we particularly love. I do not put them with every bullet point below as many things have lots of options we’ve been happy with but nothing that stands out above and beyond the others. When you do see and click on a link, it will open a new page (usually on Amazon) and we will get a small commission on many of these items if you purchase anything, at no additional cost to you. We really appreciate when this happens as it helps us keep this free site going and growing and you also hopefully get an excellent product. I’ve put links so that you can just click on the word when you read it, but if you’d like an overview with pictures of the products I’ve recommended, I’ll add the list at the end of this post.
Appropriate Footwear, Clothing, and Accessories
- Hiking boots, trail runners, and/or possibly water shoes depending on the hike and your preference for your own comfort and safety. (Quick note here: I am a HUGE fan of flip-flops, but no matter how comfortable I am in them, I acknowledge that sandals are rarely, if ever, appropriate for a hike, though they are much more common on the trails than they should be.)
- Hiking or athletic socks
- Comfortable hiking clothes (moisture-wicking and/or sun-blocking fabrics are especially good)
- Layers of clothing to adjust to changing temperatures. Weather can change very quickly, especially in the mountains.
- Warming accessories* (gloves, ear warmers/hat, etc.),
- *other more significant winter clothing should be thought through when hiking in winter conditions
- A backpack/daypack (waterproof if at all possible) to hold the other items listed as you go down this list
- Possibly Hiking/Trekking sticks/poles
Weather / Exposure Protection
Rain
- Raincoat. We have always picked packable raincoats with each of us choosing our own unique color, and we pack them all in one of our ebag packing cubes and, when not traveling, these live in the back of my minivan. We have always been very impressed with the Mountain Warehouse brand, but they have fewer options for adults than they used to, so now we just use them for the kids’ jackets. When I recently had to replace my raincoat, I went with this option from Zando and have been pleased.
- Quick-dry clothing
Sun
- Sunblock
- Here’s my latest obsession: The kids have always HATED me putting sunblock on their faces. We used the kids’ sticks when they were little and those worked best for us then. I’ve recently been introduced to powdered/brush-on sunblock and we are all in love with the effectiveness and ease of use. These can get rather pricey (though they last longer than you’d think at least) so I was particularly proud when I tried out a new money-saving experiment that was a success across the board. This powdered sunblock is a great product we have loved. I found this white, powdered sunblock worked great and was much cheaper, though it would also leave a kind of ghostly white aura that was not appealing and didn’t come with any applicator brush. So, I bought the white powder as well as a smaller, tinted, powder refill of the more expensive brand we liked. I add just a pinch (approximately 1:6 ratio) of the tinted powder refill and mix it up with the white powder and it all gets tinted and ends up just very slightly lighter than the tinted product on it’s own. I even bought a few empty applicators to try and to see if the kids prefer the brush or a sponge/puff. It turns out they both worked great and each kid has a different preference so we use them all. I will say that the brush has lost a bit of powder here or there and isn’t quite as neat, but not enough to change our feelings on it. Having multiple containers, I now have one I can always leave in my car, our soccer bag, my purse or backpack (when traveling), our bathroom, etc. No modesty here, I’m pretty psyched at how well this worked out!
- Sun-protecting lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Hat or Visor
Navigation
- Map: If there is a map at the beginning of the trail, as there often is, I usually take a picture of it on my phone so we can look at it along the way.
- Alltrails app. We love the Alltrails app for hiking and you can even download specific hikes ahead of time so that you can follow along on your phone even if you go out of range and can’t get service otherwise
- Any books you may use. When we go to certain areas that have a lot of hikes or that are very new to us, etc. we often look at books about hiking in that area. We can then follow along in the book and sometimes note specific views we should make a point to stop at, or detour/side hikes. We’ve even referenced these at times when a hike is feeling more slippery or steep than we expected and we can sometimes read more about what’s ahead to decide if we want to finish a loop or go back the way we came or a different way.
- Obviously, you’ll look for books specific to where you are going, but these are some of our favorites:
- Possibly some of our best ever hiking books were the “Revealed” Hawaii collection
- We’ve spent a lot more time recently in the Dolomites and found this one, specific to the Val Gardena area, very helpful
- Obviously, you’ll look for books specific to where you are going, but these are some of our favorites:
- I love using Apple AirTags on with our luggage when we travel so that I will never lose anything, but once we are wherever we are going, I also like to keep an airtag with each kid. We’ve used AirTag Wristbands for them in previous years, but this year I started using Pinned AirTag Holders where the kids can’t take them off and lose them (okay, not lose but forget them… I got a notification that my son’s was still back at the hotel in Lyon 20 minutes after we’d checked out!). You need a magnet to release the pin (similar to those anti-theft plastic tags on clothing in stores.)
- Possibly a compass
- Possibly a GPS especially as you may not be able to get a phone signal
NOURISHMENT
Water
- Water bottles are essential for us on any hike other than the very shortest overlook hikes.
- Consider also adding some electrolyte mixes to help with your water absorption and to ward off altitude sickness as dehydration can escalate and intensify symptoms.
- Extra water in collapsible jugs – We may have once brought one of these with us on a hike, but these are more for keeping in the car if you aren’t near a place to easily refill your water otherwise. Our 32-40oz water bottles are usually enough for us on most of our hikes, but it’s really nice to know you definitely can replenish that water as soon as you finish your hike and get back to the car.
- For longer hikes or especially in more extreme conditions, you may want to consider hiking with a hydration backpack that comes with it’s own water bladder and drinking spout so you can get to it easily. When we hiked the Grand Canyon back in 2007, before kids, we found these invaluable! Since we were going overnight and needed a little bit more space, we used some bigger bags like this one, though there are also smaller (and cheaper) ones that focus solely on the water but don’t hold much room for other essentials.
Food
Obviously, this is much more personal depending on your family’s preferences, but here are just a few ideas. Let us know what you love most that we are leaving off in the comments below.
- Protein bars
- Fruit and/or vegetables (apples, carrot sticks, etc.)
- Trail mix
- Sandwiches (Watch out for things that may not last well in the temperatures like meats or cheeses. Peanut butter is a good option.)
- Granola Bars
- Hand sanitizer and/or hand wipes to clean your hands as best as possible
Safety / First Aid / Gadgets & Tools
Safety
- Flashlight(s) and/or headlamp
- Arc lighter, matches, or traditional lighter
- Bear Spray
- Whistle(s) (can help you get found if you are lost, can signal to others, or may scare off dangerous wildlife)
First Aid
I like to make my own personalized first aid kit with our usual brands and products we use, but if you just want to have something and don’t have much time, you can always purchase a kit like this, which is already made for you.
- Bandages
- Self-Adhesive Bandage Wrap – we’ve used this surprisingly more than we would have expected as it’s good if you hurt a finger or want to wrap up a toe or something that a bandaid wouldn’t stick on easily.
- Wound wipes or something you prefer to clean a wound
- Neosporin and/or other healing ointment of your preference
- Stitchless Wound Closures (I never knew of these before but a doctor friend introduced me when I cut my hand open and they are miraculous, and no needle required!!)
- Aspirin/Ibuprofen (including those specifically dosed for children)
- Tweezers
- Anti-Chaffing cream or gel – My friends and I swear by this Anti Chafing Gel with Powder Finish. It is one of the most reasonably priced options as well. I buy a multi-pack to keep one in my backpack, one in a purse, one in my bathroom at home, etc. (It’s great for chaffing, but I also use it to keep my feet more comfortable when I’m wearing dress shoes, and I’ve even used it on my face as a moisturizer or silky smooth primer!)
- Foot Care
- Blister bandaids (I do list these separately from regular bandaids as they are SO much better when you actually are hiking with a blister. Also, you don’t replace these. Put these on your blister and leave them on for days until they start to come off b/c your blister is healed, you can shower and swim with them on just fine. Do not remove them though as they become your second skin and will leave your blister wide open if you do.)
- Moleskin (I used this more before I discovered blister bandaids, but it can still come in helpful for prevention)
- Nail clippers (Don’t underestimate the relief you can get from a hang nail on your toe which seems to have developed while you are on your hike)
- Nail file (Others may disagree, and I’m not trying to keep a fresh manicure or anything, but I’ve snapped many a nail while exploring outside and if that jagged edge isn’t fixed, that can quickly turn into a worse or more painful scratch or tear)
- Insect Preparedness
- Insect repellent (Ranger Ready is THE BEST… Deet-free but works even better than the strongest Deet products)
- After-care for bug bites or stings: Warrior Chigger 2X is a miracle worker for us as the best product to from stopping the itch from mosquito bites, to relieving the pain of nasty wasp stings.
Gadgets & Tools
- Compact protective/emergency blankets
- Possibly a Knife, particularly a multi-tool version
- Possibly a repair kit that may include things like a sewing kit, safety pins, maybe duct tape, rope, or even zip ties*
- *TIP: I use zip ties to “lock” bear spray in transport when we aren’t on a hike. Most bear sprays have some lock on them, but those are also meant to be able to come off quickly in an emergency and we’ve heard of too many stories of these getting bumped off and people spraying themselves or the kids accidentally, or even having it go off with things shifting around in their camper or car.
Other Comfort items
- Wallet or at least some ID and maybe cash
- Hiking or park pass if needed
- Car keys and a way to attach them to you… You don’t want to worry about them falling out of your pocket somewhere in the vast outdoors
- Bag for garbage and/or wet clothes
- Portable power brick(s) and/or batteries
- Camera & memory card
- Binoculars
- Bird and/or plant books or identifier apps (Seek by iNaturalist is great for identifying plants and insects and Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is great for identifying birds by their call.)
- Handheld fan(s) or hand warmer(s)
- Maybe a towel or blanket to sit on, or even some ultralight/packable chairs or maybe a hammock depending on where you are hiking and what your plans are (make sure hammocks are allowed and that they have straps that don’t damage the trees.
Entertainment
We love picnicking or hiking to huts where we might sit for a drink or bite to eat, and we find it very helpful to have a few options to keep the kids entertained (especially if you are taking cover temporarily from rain, where the kids can’t just run around and explore.)
- Pen(s) and/or pencil(s)
- Notebook
- Playing cards (This past year, our son introduced us to UNO Flip and we played it often and had a number of people ask us about it.)
- Pocket Chess or other small game(s)
- Possibly a picnic blanket or towel to sit on or place food or other items on
- For longer or certain specific hikes, you may want some lightweight, packable chairs* or even a hammock potentially (though make sure they are allowed and the straps are not damaging to the trees)
- These CLIQ chairs are truly the best, but there are many more affordable options that are pretty darn good too.
- For longer or certain specific hikes, you may want some lightweight, packable chairs* or even a hammock potentially (though make sure they are allowed and the straps are not damaging to the trees)
Know what you CAN’T bring
Please check before you go if you are planning on bringing a pet, drone, or any other companion/device(s) that are often not allowed, particularly in national parks (including internationally.) Even where pets are allowed, there may be rules about what length or type of leashes are required or other measures that are meant to keep those around you safe, as well as your 4-legged loved one!
It’s so distracting that we regularly see drones these days, right near where they are clearly marked as not allowed. You can get special permission to use them under certain circumstances and trust me, I love seeing the footage that these devices can capture, but there are (usually) quite a few other hikers nearby, particularly in the most popular spots and it’s quite intrusive to the experience. That incessant buzzing noise can be heard for miles, particularly up in the mountains. Drones can also be a safety issue for wildlife, both in the sky and on the ground. There are reports of drones distressing wildlife, or even disturbing or affecting breeding and nesting areas. These are often unintentional disturbances because we as hikers don’t always know what might be just a bit further away from us, but the damage is the same. While we often see people still using drones, they do occasionally get caught by rangers or other officials and penalties are steep and can come with fines in the thousands of dollars and even the potential of jail time!
There are even some rules that very few people seem to know about around rocks and stones. It can be fun and cute to find hand-painted rocks while walking around towns or other places, but in many national parks, leaving these rocks is considered littering and is illegal as some paints and sealants may be toxic to plants and/or animals also. Another one I don’t think most people would think of is that stacking rocks is not allowed in most parks either. Despite the growing popularity (or maybe because of it), it is worth noting that these are not allowed for multiple reasons; as they are sometimes used as trail markers, they can be confusing if that is not the purpose. They can also damage fragile ecosystems including affecting erosion. Those rocks may also be part of the habitat for some small animals or insects. These are things I don’t think most people are thinking about when taking their latest Instagram gem, but it’s important to keep in mind.
Also, It should hopefully go without saying that we need to leave nature how we found it, particularly in national parks. It is illegal to vandalize, take flowers or rocks, or otherwise alter the natural state of your surroundings. Some parks even require tree protection straps if you plan on using a hammock, so think through anything like these items that may not all be automatically allowed.
So, what to you think of our list? Any questions? What did we forget? What have you forgotten or wished you’d had at some point? Let us know in the comments below.
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- Women's Midi Length Skorts Skirts with 3 Pockets, High-Waisted Travel Walking 24" Knee-Length Skorts
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FIRST-AID AND MEDICATIONS SUGGESTIONS:
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This guide nails the balance between practicality and family fun.
It’s written by someone who’s clearly been on the trail with kids—and packed for every “just in case.”
The checklist is solid, but the real value is in the lived experience behind it.
A must-read if you’re planning to hike with little ones in tow.