Hiking is my favourite past time. It's where I find peace and solitude from day to day life. It's how I choose to stay active and how I manage to take so many unique landscape images. With that being said, it can be a truly sucky time if you're underprepared. Weather changes quickly on the mountains, and you can't always trust that the estimated time on Alltrails is going to be accurate.
What you put in your backpack can be the difference between a good hike and a bad hike. A safe hike and a sketchy one. Over the years, I've overpacked, under packed and used all manor of backpack (some have left my back sore and knotted). I've made a tonne of mistakes in my early 20s so you don't have to.
In this blog post I give you my ride or die products I take on every long hike. I'll discuss tips and tricks on how to lighten your load for a shorter walk and everything in between.
The Backpack
I've briefly mentioned this pack in my what to wear hiking guide but i'll say it louder for the people in the back. The Osprey Sirrus range has been the best backpack that I've ever used. The top and bottom straps make for an ergonomic dream. I don't think my bag has slipped once. The front pockets are great for easily accessibility and there's enough room in the back for everything you need for the day. I picked the 36L as a photographer, as I usually have some camera gear in the back which can be pretty bulky. I realise this might be a little excessive for some people for a day hike, but for me it does just fine. There's a bottom section I like to put my waterproof in and top section for things like snacks, sunscreen etc.
Water
This should be your number one, always. The rule is, if you run out of water you should turn back. For longer hikes, I like to use a water bladder. This one by Osprey 3L is my absolute ride or die. Packing this at the bottom of your pack will allow everything else to easily go on top. For shorter hikes, you can use something like the Chilly or Yetti bottles. I used to use these, but I usually just end up carrying my bladder these days.
Sun protection
These items can be adjusted to the time of year, of course, but at the bare minimum you should be bringing sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses. On a hot summers day, i'll also bring a UV protectant sun shirt and a baseball cap with me, too.
For the face, there is literally nothing better than Thank you Farmer spf 50 sunscreen. Personally, I don't mess with anything less for my face, I plan on staying wrinkle free, thank you very much. For the rest of my body, I'll usually pick a drugstore basic factor 50.
Sunglasses
This'll definitely depend on where you're hiking. If you're in the UK, you can pretty much use any pair of sunglasses you own. For high altitude trekking, you'll want to make sure your eyes are protected.
I use my Vans Rise and Shine sunglasses in tortoise shell. I have a particularly small head and these babies never slip. They're also cheap enough that if I break them or scratch them, it's no sweat replacing them.
For higher altitude, you're going to want something like Sungod or Kyloe in the wild both of these brands specialise in super strong UV lenses which will keep your eyes safe from harmful rays that are usually stronger at high altitude.
Navigation
I'm a huge worrier. I over think EVERYTHING. I can't think of anything more terrifying than getting lost in the mountains. And for good reason. It is absolutely essential that you bring sufficient navigation with you on your hikes and know how to use it. Some people opt for a Garmin, but I"m not that fancy yet so I typically opt for a good compass and OS map of the area I'm hiking in. I usually pair this with an offline version of OS maps on my phone or alltrails. Remember, even if you do have an app, please always have a physical backup.
Head torch
I definitely got this one from my dad. Over the years, he's taught me that you can never go wrong with one (or several) head torches handy. Make sure it's fully charged and pop it in your backpack, regardless of how long your hike is. Trust me.
I got this Blukar head torch for our USA road trip last year and it's been in my backpack ever since. The battery lasts forever and there's a red light function which is super useful.
Pen knife
I think this one is slightly controversial, but I always carry a pen knife on me. Overall, it's a super useful tool with pretty much everything you need in a pinch. I've used mine for food, opening bottles, removing stray cotton/ fabric from clothing, bandages, prizing something open- the list goes on. My point is, you never know when you're going to need a pen knife for either safety or sheer practicality. I got mine strangely enough in a marketing pack for a company I used to work for. Here's a link to one I've had on my wish list for a while now.
Lighter
I don't think I need to explain this too much, but always bring a lighter. Any is fine, or a box of matches. You never know when you might need to light a fire for heat, or smoke signal in extreme circumstances.
Layers
This is one of those things which is going to change with the seasons, or with the type of hike you are doing. If you're doing a super long hike or heading up into the mountains, I recommend bringing a fleece and a down jacket, even if it's warm when you start. I cannot tell you the number of times I've sweated it out on a hot sunny day and either the weather will change, or when I reach the summit it'll be blowing a gale and cold. If you're sweaty from walking and get cold, it's a one way ticket to hypothermia. I have two down jackets currently, both from Fjern. I use my thicker down jacket for winter hiking and my lighter, thinner down jacket in summer and spring. Check out my what to wear hiking guide for more inspiration
Snacks
Anyone who knows me knows this is pretty much the only reason I go hiking. Bringing more snacks than you need is always a good idea. The more energy your body uses, the more you need to replace. Sweating and strenuous exercise can also lead to a loss of electrolytes so it's super important to make sure you have enough protein, sugar and salts to keep you going. Some of my go to snacks include:
- Peanut butter sandwich
- Mixed nuts
- Dried Apricots
- Oat bars
First aid
Every backpack should include first aid to some degree, whether that's a pack of plasters, painkillers and bandages or a full firstaid kit. You never know what will happen on the trails, so best come prepared! I also like to throw some lip balm in here if I can.
Waterproof
No backpack is complete without a trusty waterproof layer. If I'm not backpacking, this usually goes in the bottom pocket of my backpack. In the winter months, I'll reach for my trusty yellow waterproof, similar one here, but in warmer or lighter showers, I'll reach for this Quechua water repellant layer
Finally, my backpack isn't complete without my camera, a couple of spare batteries and a spare lens!
What are your ride or die day pack products? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
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