TEN Things THAT Should BE IN YOUR PACK on Every Hike

Always carry a detailed topographic map of the area you are visiting and place it in a protective case or plastic covering. Always carry a compass and know how to use it. If new to map & compass navigation, contact your local Orienteering club. You may also choose to carry a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; or specific hiking apps on your phone.(See also illumination)

Don’t underestimate the importance of caring for your skin and eyes while enjoying the outdoors. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin, and reapply frequently.​ Choose  sunglasses and goggles with ultraviolet (UV) protection; polarized  lenses are best for reflected light off of water and snow.​ (Tinted sunglasses don’t always have enough UV protection.) 

At higher elevations UV radiation intensity increases by about 10 to 12 percent for every 3,000 feet of increase in altitude.​

How much extra clothing is necessary for an emergency? The garments used during the active portion of a hike and considered to be the basic hiking outfit include… inner and outer socks, boots/hiking shoes, underwear, pants, shirt, sweater or fleece jacket, hat, mittens or gloves, and rain gear.

THE TERM “EXTRA CLOTHING” REFERS TO ADDITIONAL LAYERS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO SURVIVE THE LONG, INACTIVE HOURS OF AN UNPLANNED BIVOUAC.

Even if your hiking plans are to return to your cars before dark, it is essential to carry a headlamp or flashlight, just in case. Batteries and bulbs do not last forever, always carry spares of both.

Carry and know how to use a first-aid kit, and remember, a First Aid kit DOES NOT translate into medical know-how. What you carry in your backpack is not a substitute for what’s between your ears. For that, consider ideally, Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder Through organizations like: NOLS Wilderness Medicine or Desert Mountain Medicine. 

Carry the means to start and sustain an emergency fire.

MOST HIKERS CARRY A BUTANE LIGHTER OR TWO, INSTEAD OF MATCHES IN A WATERPROOF CONTAINER. EITHER MUST BE ABSOLUTELY RELIABLE. Firestarter’s are indispensable for igniting wet wood quickly to make an emergency campfire. Common Firestarter’s include candles, chemical heat tabs, and canned heat.

MULTI-TOOLS AND KNIVES ARE SO USEFUL IN FIRST AID, FOOD PREPARATION, REPAIRS, AND THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO CARRY ONE. Other useful repair items are shoelaces, safety pins, needle and thread, duct tape,  plastic buckles... the list goes on depending on how much you want to carry.

FOR SHORTER TRIPS, A ONE-DAY SUPPLY OF EXTRA FOOD IS A REASONABLE EMERGENCY STOCKPILE IN CASE FOUL WEATHER, FAULTY NAVIGATION, INJURY, OR OTHER REASONS DELAY THE PLANNED RETURN. An expedition or long trek may require more. The food should require no cooking, be easily digestible, and store well for long periods. There are many possibilities.

Carry extra water and have the skills and tools required for obtaining and purifying additional water.

ALWAYS CARRY AT LEAST ONE WATER BOTTLE OR COLLAPSIBLE RESERVOIR. DAILY WATER CONSUMPTION VARIES GREATLY. 3 LITERS DAILY IS A REASONABLE MINIMUM — 17-28 OZS PER HOUR. IN HOT WEATHER OR AT HIGH ALTITUDES, 6 QUARTS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

Always try carry some sort of extra shelter from rain and wind, such as a plastic tube tent or a jumbo plastic trash bag. Another possibility is a reflective emergency blanket. It can be used in administering first aid to an injured or hypothermic person or can double as a means of shelter.

Trekking poles are an essential tool for hiking and mountaineering. Trekking poles, like ski poles, allow your arms to help propel you forward and upward. Whether walking on flat ground or up steep hills, poles can help to increase your average speed.