Hiking trip packing list for day hikes and multi-day walks

On a hike, what you carry is what you have. There is no shop around the corner when a blister starts, the weather turns or the path runs out. At the same time, every item is weight you carry up every hill, so the list has to be short and it has to be right.

This list covers day hikes first and then what changes if you stay out for several days. Adjust it for the terrain, the season and how far from help you will be.

Start with the route, not the list

Before you pack, find out three things about the walk: how long it is, how high it goes, and how far you are from a road, a hut or a village. A two-hour loop on marked paths in a park needs far less than a full day in the mountains, where the weather changes and the signal fails.

Look at the forecast the night before and again in the morning. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you walk in a group, agree on a turn-back time and stick to it.

Footwear

Your feet decide the day. Choose shoes or boots that fit well, are broken in, and suit the ground.

• Trail shoes are fine for dry, well-marked paths and light loads. Boots give more support and protection on rough, wet or steep ground and with a heavy pack.
• Never wear new boots for the first time on a long walk. Walk in them for a few weeks before the trip.
• Socks matter as much. Bring wool or synthetic hiking socks, not cotton, and a spare pair to change into at lunch.
• A pair of light shoes or sandals for the end of the day, so your feet can recover.
• Blister plasters or tape, used at the first hot spot, not after the blister.

Clothes, in layers

Layers let you adjust as you warm up on the climb and cool down at the top.

• A base layer top in a fabric that dries fast. Avoid cotton, which holds sweat and feels cold.
• Walking trousers or shorts that move easily
• A warm mid layer, such as fleece or a light insulated jacket, even in summer, because mountains get cold
• A waterproof jacket, always, even if the forecast is dry. It also works as a windproof layer.
• Waterproof trousers if rain is likely
• A hat and light gloves, or a sun hat in hot weather
• Spare socks and one dry top in a waterproof bag

If you are not sure whether to bring a layer, bring it. A layer you didn't need costs a little weight, and a layer you needed and left behind can cost a lot more. See cold-weather packing and hot-weather packing for the two ends of the range.

The pack itself

• For a day hike, a pack of a modest size is enough. It should sit close to your back and have a chest strap and a hip belt to share the weight.
• A rain cover or a liner bag keeps the contents dry.
• Put heavy items close to your back and in the middle. Things you will want during the day go in the pockets.

Navigation and safety

Do not rely on your phone alone. Batteries die faster in the cold, and signal is patchy in valleys.

• A map of the area, paper or downloaded for offline use, and the knowledge of how to read it
• A compass, if the route calls for it and you know how to use it
• Your phone, fully charged, with the route saved offline
• A power bank
• A whistle and a headtorch, even for day hikes, in case you are out longer than planned
• A small first-aid kit with plasters, blister dressings, bandage, pain relief and any personal medicine
• A foil blanket, which weighs almost nothing
• Emergency numbers for the area you are in

Take a course in basic first aid if you walk often, and learn the local emergency number before you go.

Food and water

• Water. How much depends on the heat and the route. Carry more than you expect to need, and know where you can refill. A filter or purification tablets are useful where streams are the only source.
• Food. Pack more than the walk needs. Snacks that give quick energy, such as nuts, dried fruit and bars, plus something for lunch.
• Salt. In hot weather, a salty snack helps after a lot of sweat.
• Eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty, as a habit.

Sun, bugs and small things

• Sunscreen and lip balm, because height and exposed ground increase sun
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent, and a check for ticks after a walk in long grass or woods in areas where they are common
• A small towel or cloth
• A bag for rubbish, since you carry out what you carry in
• A little cash, a card and your ID
• A pocket knife or multi-tool, where it is allowed

If you stay out overnight

A multi-day walk adds to the list, mostly around sleeping and cooking.

• Shelter and sleep. A tent or bivvy, a sleeping bag rated for the lowest temperature you expect, and a sleeping mat. If you stay in huts, check what they provide, since some supply blankets and some expect you to bring a liner.
• Cooking. A stove, fuel, a pot, a lighter or matches, a spoon and a mug. Plan meals by weight, and take dried foods.
• Clothes. One set to walk in and one to sleep and relax in. The second set stays dry.
• Wash kit. Small and light: toothbrush, a little toothpaste, biodegradable soap, a quick-dry towel.
• Food. Count the days, then add a spare day of food.
• Water treatment. A reliable way to make water safe.

Weight is the main problem. Pack, lift, and weigh. Take out anything you didn't use on your last trip. In general, the pack should be no more than about a fifth of your body weight if you can manage it, though that is a guide, not a rule.

Walking with others

On a group hike, split the shared things between people: one stove, one first-aid kit, one map and one tent per two or three. What a group should share covers the idea. Walk at the pace of the slowest person, and keep the group together at junctions.

Where to go next

Pack your bag a few days early and take it on a short walk. You will find out what sits wrong, what you forgot and what you never touched. If you are planning a trek across several days, plan a trip together shows how to keep the route, the stays and the jobs in one place.