Day Hiking Essentials Checklist
Updated: Mar 17, 2023
New to hiking and don’t know what to pack? Experienced, but looking for a list of hiking essentials? Let me help you out!
Taking a day hike in New York or New England is the perfect way to escape into nature, but planning what to pack can be complicated. Whether you're taking a short walk through the woods or planning a long hike to a mountaintop, this list will help! First determine where you'd like to hike, then you should pack for the trip.
These essentials will help you if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation and may even prevent one from happening. Beware ~ the more gear you pack, the more space you need. I'm queen of overpacking and my backpack ends up super heavy, try not to do that!! Everything on this checklist is based on my personal preference, however there are many other options out there. Find the options that work best for you!
What to Pack for a Day Hike in New York or New England
Hiking Backpack
A backpack is one of the most important items for any hike. They're used to carry the rest of the essentials on this list so your hands are free to use while you hike. Whatever backpack you choose, be sure it's waterproof or find a way to waterproof it yourself.
Personal Choice: For day hiking I use The North Face. There's enough space throughout the backpack without being too heavy. There's an adjustable sternum strap if you're looking for more stability. They also have many color options for different personalities!
Correct Hiking Clothing
In the Northeast corner weather is unpredictable. Mornings will be freezing cold and in the afternoon you're sweating. May 10, 2020 it was snowing, the weekend before it was over 80 degrees. This is why it's very important to check the weather before you hike and to dress in appropriate layers. On a hike at Mount Taurus in Cold Springs, New York I wore a long sleeve shirt, light fleece, and leggings throughout the base of the trail and threw on a coat, hat, and gloves to keep warm through the summit. For hikes in New England you want to be sure your basic clothing includes a base layer, pants, and socks. Long pants are the WORST on a hot day, but New England is known it's ridiculous population of ticks. I would rather sweat than get bit by a tick (again). If you wear shorts make sure to check yourself after the hike. Socks are also extremely important. If you don’t choose the right socks you can end up with blisters, poor ventilation, or freeze your toes in cold weather.
Personal Choice: For a base layer I love my Kari Traa Luftig Long Sleeve and Luftig Pant in the color Naval. My favorite socks are assorted packs from Columbia. For a fleece I have a navy hooded zip-up from The North Face. Leggings and pants I purchase from a variety of places depending on how they fit me. For more hiking clothing see my blog post on over twenty women's hiking clothing brands.
Correct Hiking Footwear
Correct footwear is vital to hiking. When trying on footwear you also want to make sure the shoe is lightweight and offers support. I would recommend closed-toed shoes when you hike to avoid injury.
Personal Choice: I currently use Merrell. I especially love my winter boots, they keep my feet warm and are light enough to hike in. I also love that they are a dark grey/black color, so they match almost anything!
Sun Protection
There are many ways to protect yourself from the sun while you hike. The best way to begin is with sunscreen. Choose the SPF that best suits you. Next I would recommend a hat, a pair of sunglasses, and chapstick. Remember, the sun is just as strong in the winter and in New England tree leaves are gone half of the year so peaks are more prone to sunlight.
Personal Choice: The last few times I used drugstore sunscreens I had a bad reaction. I’m still experimenting to find out what works best for me. Burt’s Bees is my go to chapstick. Right now I have Vitamin E & Peppermint, but they have an assortment of options.
Hiking Map/Navigation
A trail map is an essential item when hiking. You can find a trail map by searching online or through an app such as AllTrails so you can read it from your device while you hike. Be careful of this though! You don't want to waste too much battery checking on your phone while you hike. The best thing to do is print the map ahead of the hike. Phones are good for another reason - they have a built in GPS. However, not every spot in the woods is going to have WiFi or cell service. This is why you should pack a compass with you (and learn how to properly use it).
Personal Choice: I like to have something physical to look at and carry a compass. If you’re looking for something high tech you can look at the Garmin In Reach.
Water
Do not underestimate this one! You should pack more water than you think you will drink. It is never a bad idea to have more water, right? Just don’t add too much weight or you may struggle carrying your pack. Multiple water bottles can take up a lot of space and create waste, so many hikers opt for a hydration pack. Another good idea is to bring a water purifier in case you run out. These will purify water that you find in nature. Never assume running water is safe to drink without purifying it, you never know what’s upstream. I have seen numerous posts in hiking groups on Facebook of decaying animals up the river.
Personal Choice: I love my LifeStraw Go water filter bottle in blue. It carries 22 ounces of water and thanks to the filter I can refill it with river water and not have to worry.
Food
You want to keep energized throughout your hike, you'll use up a LOT of energy and burns calories. Packing food with protein and fiber is a good place to start. Just like with water, pack extra food in case of an emergency.
Personal Choice: When I hike I try planning a stop at a local deli for a sandwich to bring with me. Trail Mix is a healthy choice, I like to make my own so I can control the variety and throw in some extra pieces of chocolate! Organic fruit strips and anything peanut butter are also a personal favorite.
First Aid Kit
You don't need to pack an entire medicine cabinet, but there are a few items you should always have when you hike. You could purchase a traditional hiking kit, but creating your own is just as easy. If you use the items enough, creating your own saves money in the long run. Items could include band-aids, antibiotic ointment, gloves, roll of sterile dressing, triangular bandage, gauze pads, adhesive tape, alcohol swabs, aspirin, ibuprofen, antibacterial soap, bandage scissors, safety pins, and tweezers. Of course, if you have any medical needs be sure that you pack the medical essentials for that as well. If you are not trained in First Aid and CPR you may want to look into taking a course to learn some life saving skills.
Personal Choice: Instead of purchasing a kit online, I create my own kit with items from a drugstore and a small bag I can easily store in my backpack! The extra items are a great addition to my home medicine cabinet. I'm also First Aid/CPR certified, as well as a trained instructor.
Multi-Tool Kit
Like the first-aid kit, you can create this kit on your own. Some items to include: a pocket knife, duct tape, bear spray/pepper spray, lighter, waterproof matches, and whistle. A pocket knife comes in handy for cutting food, preparing a fire, cutting first aid materials, providing a sense of safety, and many more. Duct tape can be used as a short term repair for many items you bring hiking and can be used to create new items. Bear spray can be used as protection from unwanted visitors. Lighters or waterproof matches can be used to help start a fire, which would be necessary for warmth, cooking food, and boiling water. A whistle is important, if you get lost screaming can only be heard by so far and waste energy.
Personal Choice: Same as the first-aid kit, I have built up my multi-tool kit over time. Dick's, REI, and Amazon are great places to find pieces you need.
Flashlight/Headlight
It may not be planned to hike in the dark, but it can definitely happen. There are two options in that situation, a flashlight or headlight. I would suggest a headlight over a flashlight, simply because it will free your hands. You will want them free in the dark if you are like me and trip a lot! Either way, make sure you have it charged or the batteries are replaced before the hike.
Personal Choice: At the moment I'm using a headlight and flashlight set I purchased from Walmart. I know these won't last me forever but they've been a great starter set!
Bug spray
I always forget and kick myself for it later. Bugs in New England are bad throughout most of the year. Always, always check for ticks. Even in a mild Winter you need to watch for ticks.
Personal Choice: I HATE bugs. Bug spray is a life saver for that fact. Besides wearing long pants, I like to apply an organic bug spray to myself while I’m outdoors.
Money
When you think about hiking in the woods you wouldn’t really think about bringing money. This is true, but I say it for two reasons. The first reason is so you don't leave it in your car. If you know you can safely carry your money on your person, why would you choose to leave it in your car hours away from you? Second, if you happen to get lost in the woods and you are lucky enough to make it out you may not find yourself near your car. You can use your money to get a ride, get food, get water, or even a hotel if necessary.
I.D./License
The reasoning for the I.D. or license is similar to the money. If you get lost and find your way out you may need your identification. Another reason, if you ever get lost in the woods or suffer an emergency your I.D. will help identify you and provide important information.
Watch
A watch that doesn’t require a charge that is also waterproof is perfect. Just remember to replace those tiny batteries once in a while.
Trekking poles/Hiking stick
I haven't used trekking poles very often. I've passed many people using them and it makes sense but I prefer to go hands free. When I do think I need some sort of support I opt for a hiking stick. If you're lucky enough you may find some hiking sticks placed at the start of a trail by fellow hikers. If you don’t want any old hiking stick you can personalize it by carving it or painting it.
Bags
Zip-lock bags are useful to store food in, as well as your phone. Keeping your phone in a zip-lock bag may be necessary if it is raining or if you are near water. A plastic shopping bag or garbage bag is a good item to bring hiking so you can store any garbage you have without contaminating the rest of the items in your backpack. If you feel like being a good samaritan you can even pick up litter you find along your hike.
Napkins/Paper Towels
Napkins or paper towels can come in handy when hiking. If you are planning on eating during your hike they may be necessary for cleaning up. Paper towels can be used to clean different items or to help for any wounds.
Weather Appropriate Hiking Clothing and Accessories
It's important to check the weather before you hike. Checking the weather will help determine what weather appropriate clothing to pack. If it's raining you'll want to wear a raincoat. If it's going to be cold you'll want to decide what to pack from the following items; a winter hat, winter gloves, scarf/neck protection, and ice spikes/crampons. In my post Great Barrington, Massachusetts & Hiking Monument Mountain I share a brief story on why spikes are important in Winter/Spring.
Lightweight/Quick Dry Towel
If there's a slight chance you may get wet then you should pack a quick dry towel. You want it to be lightweight, because a wet towel on its own can get very heavy.
Small blanket
You may not plan to spend the night in the woods, but you should always prepare for it. A small blanket can mean life or death if you get stuck in the woods in New England. Night time temperatures can even drop significantly in the summer. Any body heat you can retain is very important to your survival.
Camera/camera accessories
If you are like me you need eighty pictures of the same view. Using a phone works, a camera is a better option because it saves phone battery and often the quality is much better. If you have a camera and plan to bring it make sure you have an appropriate case to keep it safe!
Personal Choice: I have a Canon Powershot sx540 I received as a gift a few years ago. I love to use it and am still learning. Feel free to share your tips :)
Phone - fully charged
You always want to bring your phone when you hike and make sure it's fully charged. Your phone has a GPS signal in case you are lost, however you could lose cellular service. Try to use your phone as little as possible when you hike. To do this, I suggested affordable options that replace a function of a cell phone.
Personal Choice: I currently have a Samsung Note20 Ultra. The screen is massive and it takes some great photos. One thing I want to get is a tripod, my hands are SO shaky.
Binoculars
Binoculars aren't necessary, but could be helpful. If you get lost and are trying to see far out they may be useful. They can also be fun if you are interested in getting close to nature from a distance.
Personal Choice: I do not actually own binoculars, but they are definitely on my wishlist!
Car Keys
Don't lock them in your car! I also do not recommend leaving them under your tire, many people know this trick now.
Tell someone your plans
Before you leave the house, make sure you tell someone (other than who you are hiking with) where you are going and your plans for the day.
What are some items that you bring on your hike? Do you have anything I should add? If you have any favorite items share them with me in the comments!
Happy Hiking!
