Hiking Packing List 2024: Everything You Need To Hit The Trails
When it comes to outdoor activities, hiking has one of the lowest barriers to entry out there. It’s almost free (minus the transportation cost to get to the trail), doesn’t require much know-how and is accessible to a wide range of body types and fitness levels. If you were really hard core about keeping it simple, you could skip the hiking packing list and simply head to the nearest trailhead barefoot and empty-handed—although we don’t recommend that.
Make the most of your time on the trail with these hiking essentials.
Like other outdoor pursuits, hiking contains its own universe of gear and accessories: enough to satisfy the most minimal trekkers all the way to the most maximalist adventurers. If you want to get into hiking this summer and don’t know where to start, or you just need a quick refresher on the essentials, we’ve got you covered with a complete hiking packing list.
Hiking Packing List, At A Glance:
Best Hiking Apparel: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody, Outdoor Research Ferrosi Crux Pants, Vuori Men’s Strato Tech Tee, Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Socks, Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid Boots, Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX Shoes, Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody, Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket
Best Hiking Equipment: Osprey Daylite Daypack, Black Diamond Pursuit FLZ Poles, Garmin Fenix 7, Garmin GPSMAP 67i, Sawyer SP140 Personal Water Bottle Filter, VSSL Essentials Ready Kit, Black Diamond Distance 4 Hydration Vest,
Best Hiking Accessories: Nalgene Sustain Tritan Bottle, Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp, Sunski Treeline Polarized Sunglasses, MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen
Best Hiking Apparel
Depending on the hikes you’ll be taking and the terrain you’ll be exploring, you’ll want to invest in hiking apparel that’s breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, UPF-protective and (depending on conditions) wind and water resistant. Below are a few of our editor’s favorite layers, boots and more.
Sun Shirt
- Our Pick: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
Hiking Pants:
- Our Pick: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Crux Pants
Hiking Socks
- Our Pick: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew
Hiking Boots
- Our Pick: Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid
Hiking Shoes
- Our Pick: Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX
Hiking Fleece
- Our Pick: Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoodie
Hiking Shell
- Our Pick: Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket
Additional Items: Hiking in intermittent weather or definitive downpours? Then you’ll need a rain jacket—but make sure you don’t grab just any slicker from the rack. A hiking rain jacket should repel water, dump moisture and steam and be packable. If you’re an outdoor sandal aficionado, make sure to pick a pair that is quick-drying and has a grippy outsole.
Best Hiking Equipment
Whether it’s an hour-long jaunt on your backyard trail or an all-day mission into new territory, it’s always wise to pack equipment that will ensure your hike is safe and uneventful. We recommend a comfortable and breathable daypack and easy-to-maneuver trekking poles. You’ll also want some sort of navigational aid, whether that’s a handheld GPS or even a paper map.
Daypack
- Our Pick: Osprey Daylite
Trekking Poles
- Our Pick: Black Diamond Pursuit FLZ Poles
GPS Watch
Handheld GPS
- Our Pick: Garmin GPSMAP 67i
Water Filtration Device
First Aid/ Survival Kit
- Our Pick: VSSL Essentials Ready Kit
Hydration Vest
- Our Pick: Black Diamond Distance 4
Additional Items: Digital maps are certainly light—they weigh no more than the device that stores them—but there’s something to having a paper map with you (especially if you’re prone to forgetting to charge your devices). Make sure your map is up to date and that you know how to read it. Otherwise, it’s just a pretty picture.
Best Hiking Accessories
No activity is complete without a few accessories, and hiking is no exception. Whether it’s a lightweight water bottle, the perfect pair of sunglasses or sunscreen that won’t sting when it gets in your eyes, the best hiking accessories take any hike from so-so to “can’t wait to do it again.”
Hiking Water Bottle
- Our Pick: Nalgene Sustain Tritan
Headlamp
- Our Pick: Black Diamond Spot 400