Almost any season is a great time to go hiking. For those of you who enjoy the wonders of the world in all of its natural beauty, I’m sure hiking is always on your list of “things to do”. And why not? It’s a great way to spend some quality time with friends and loved ones, as well as spend some time away from the busy hustle of everyday life.
Alas, as we prepare ourselves for the big hiking day and get excited to leave society behind there are some things we’ll be taking with us. It’s important to create a checklist of what to bring hiking, especially if you plan to hike for a full day or more. No worries, we’ve decided to provide some assistance when it comes to your list with our very own “what to bring hiking” list.
1 Water
There is absolutely no way around this one. Water is absolutely essential to any hiking trip for any length of time. I don't know about you, but I certainly need to quench my thirst from time to time. The trick here is how you carry your water. You can choose to carry bottled water, or pour your water into a canteen, or other types of water bottles. The choice is yours, I’d recommend opting for something that keeps your water cold.
2 Snacks
Snacks, a lot like water, are a must. You may get a little tired and need a little pick me up. Whether you’re hiking while snacking or making a pit stop to snack you won’t regret having something to munch on. I recommend grabbing a protein packed snack like one of our wholesale muscle beef jerkys. Light weight, easy to carry, and ready to eat no matter how hot or cold it is outside.
3 Backpack
This one may be a little on the nose. But I have seen people hiking without any backpacks. In fact, they weren’t carrying much at all. If you’re out there for 30 minutes to an hour, you may not need what’s on this list. More than that, you’ll be glad you took a minute to review this list and that we’ve included a backpack, a place to carry everything on our “what to bring hiking list”.
4 First Aid Kit
We’re going to be completely honest, I have seen a lot of people (myself included) kind of forget about safety. It’s almost as if it’s an afterthought for most. However, it’s definitely important. And a first aid kit will come in handy in the unfortunate event that it is needed. Plus, you’re really going to be MVP if you have a surprise first aid kit, and it turns out it comes in handy.
5 Comfortable Hiking Shoes
We can not forget about one of the most essential items of any hiking trip. Hiking boots! I personally recommend Salomon’s Hiking boots as they blend comfort and style perfect for the occasion. What better place to grab your shoes than a place that gets it?
6 Map or A Compass
This is what I’m talking about. Forget about getting lost. No, seriously forget about it. It’s not fun when you’re lost for too long. Bring a map or a compass with you so you can navigate easily through the trails and back. Unless you’re really good at leaving markings on the way that you could notice, and follow to get back this is a great add on to the list.
7 Camera
Yes, I know your phones have cameras. So does mine. But personally, I still prefer a quality DSLR. That’s right. A good digital camera will take quality photos every time (not that your phone camera isn’t good) . I just think the real deal is better. A good quality digital camera will take full frame images, which means you aren’t cropping anything from the photo from your view to when you snap the pic. So, it might be worth it for you, depending on how often you take photos and of what.
That wraps up our list of what to bring hiking. Now, of course there are so many other things you can bring hiking. However , if you’re in a rush or you’re going hiking for the first time, this list will save you a lot of time and headache. It features everything you’ll absolutely need to enjoy a hike.
