Packing up before leaving on a hiking trip is a mixture of excitement and also a tiny bit of stress, as you’ll always ask yourself if you’ve packed everything needed for the trip.
But, you’ll never be 100% ready for everything. Reading through all the hiking guides, going over all the forums, nothing will prepare you like going out in the wild by yourself. So, let’s go over a simple list of the ten most commonly forgotten items just to make sure you’ve got everything in you.
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1. Not packing a long sleeve shirt just because it’s summer.
You’ll be in for a surprise if you think that you’ll be okay with throwing on a t-shirt. Yes, you might be hiking when the weather is nice, but that’s also the time that bugs go outside as well.
That’s why you pack a long sleeve shirt when you’re hiking – so you can keep them away and protect yourself.
2. And the most skipped item - long underwear.
Sounds kind of silly at first, but you don’t want to have pain on your inner tights while you’re hiking in the middle of the trail. The pain is unbearable and you’ll have to walk yourself to the car despite it.
So, put on a long pair of underwear to minimize the friction on your inner thighs and enjoy the hiking experience properly.
3. And if you’re hiking in the mountains, pack a pair of gloves.
While you’re haking you won’t have the change to put your hands in your pockets. You’ll use them to support yourself on most of the hike.
That’s why packing a pack of gloves can be a lifesaver and make the experience so much more enjoyable, especially if you’re hiking at a higher altitude. While you might not have snow up there, the temperatures will be lower and you’ll have the skin on your hands always exposed, so even if they’re a light pair of gloves, pack it.
4. Make sure you always have enough charge on your device, so pack a power bank.
The last thing you’d want to be on a hiking trip is left without any battery on your phone. If you don’t want to be bothered by calls, put your phone on a “do not disturb”.
Put a power bank in your backpack to ensure you always have enough battery to make a quick phone call or fire up Google Maps to find your exact location.
5. Pack a small bag of trail snacks.
Trail snacks are the most underappreciated food on a hike. Why? Well, people often don’t snack properly.
Instead of seeing them as a fast way to recharge, take the trail snacks as a way to stop and immerse yourself in the surrounding beauty of nature.
6. And never forget the old school map
A map can always come in handy when you’re on a hike. While Google Maps can help you find your exact location in a matter of seconds, sometimes it just doesn’t work.
That’s why packing a good ol’ map that’s up to date with the local area can help you when your iPhone can’t.
7. Lighter and matches can always come in handy.
Making yourself a fire to keep warm, or if you’re fishing, experimenting with some in-the-wild cooking, lighter and matches can always come in handy.
The worst thing – you won’t find out how helpful those two items can be until you realize you don’t have them in you.
8. Pack a whistle just in case.
Best used to scare off bears, whistles are kind of a last resort thing. Pack one just so you can loudly signal you’re in distress if need be. Weights little to nothing, and costs very little to have one in you.
9. Grab a knife or a multi-tool.
This should never leave your backpack. Buy yourself a quality knife and a quality multi-tool and keep them in your hiking backpack.
You’ll be surprised by the number of times that you’ll have to use a knife in the wild, and realizing you don’t have one packed can be a bummer.
10. Cash and ID card.
An ID card is pretty self-explanatory, you’d want to easily prove your identity if need be. Cash, however, can get you out of some pretty strange situations.
You don’t want to be stuck in the wild with a credit card on you only. No ATM’s there. And more often than not you might need help from a stranger, and more often than you think, people will want cash in return for a favor. While we’d all love to live in a perfect world, ensure yourself by always having some cash with you.
So, you’ve got it. Keep in mind that this list can be adapted to your specific needs and how you tackle the hiking process as a whole.