For hiking, bring the classic 10-item system plus water, snacks, layers, navigation tools, first aid, and a compact shelter.
Here’s a clear, field-tested kit you can pack today. It covers the classic safety system, adds food and water targets, and shows how to dial weight without cutting the wrong corners. The goal is simple: step onto the trail confident you have what you need, and nothing that drags you down.
Quick Answer And Core Kit
The long-running 10-item system keeps day hikers out of trouble when plans slip. Build your kit around the items below, then add water, snacks, and trip-specific layers. Keep it simple, rugged, and easy to reach.
| Item | Why It Matters | Quick Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Find the route and backtrack if a turn gets missed. | Topo map + baseplate compass; phone with offline maps |
| Sun Protection | Limit UV on skin and eyes in open terrain. | Broad-spectrum SPF 30+, lip balm, brimmed hat, UV glasses |
| Insulation | Handle a cold summit or a long stop. | Synthetic puffy or fleece; light beanie and gloves |
| Illumination | See the trail after dusk or inside cover. | Headlamp with fresh batteries; tiny backup light |
| First Aid | Treat blisters, scrapes, and minor sprains. | Moleskin, bandages, gauze, tape, meds you use |
| Fire | Emergency warmth or signal in cold, wet turns. | Bic lighter, storm matches, mini tinder |
| Repair Kit | Fix straps, soles, and small gear breaks. | Tenacious Tape, needle & thread, zip ties, mini tool |
| Nutrition | Steady energy so pace stays smooth. | Trail mix, bars, nut butter, tortillas, jerky |
| Hydration | Avoid cramps, foggy thinking, and heat stress. | 2–3 L water carry; treatment for refills |
| Emergency Shelter | Wait out weather or a slow-moving rescue. | Space blanket, tarp, or ultralight bivy |
What To Pack For A Day Hike: Smart List
Use this section as your packing walk-through. Pull out your pack, lay gear on the floor, and run each step. You’ll finish with a balanced load that rides close and light.
Water And Electrolytes
Carry 0.5–1 liter per hour in mild weather, and more in heat or steep terrain. Drink small sips often. Sports drink mix helps replace salts during long, sweaty climbs. Treat any stream refill before you drink.
Public-health guidance backs steady hydration and starting the day topped up. See the CDC’s page on heat and your health for signs of overheating and daily planning. Water alone is fine for many day hikes; add salts during long, hot efforts.
Food That Travels Well
Plan 200–300 calories per hiking hour, more if you carry a heavy load or climb big vert. Mix quick carbs with fats and protein so energy doesn’t spike then crash. Pack a no-cook extra for delays—think nut-butter packets or bars.
Navigation That Works Offline
Phones make great map viewers when signal drops, as long as you download tiles and carry spare power. A paper topo and a baseplate compass still matter when batteries die or screens freeze. Keep both in a zip bag near the top of your pack. The long-standing hiking checklists from REI cover offline tools in detail; see the day hiking checklist.
Layers And Weather
Use a simple three-piece system: sweat-wicking tee, a warm midlayer, and a shell. Add or peel as you climb, rest, and descend. Synthetic or wool handles sweat better than cotton, which holds moisture. In shoulder seasons, toss in a thin puffy and light gloves.
Sun And Bug Defense
UV beats you up even on cool, breezy days. Wear a brimmed hat and sunglasses with full UV protection. Re-apply SPF 30+ every two hours. In buggy zones, long sleeves and pants reduce bites; use repellent on cuffs and waist.
First Aid That Fits
Start with a small kit: blister pads or moleskin, assorted adhesive bandages, gauze, elastic wrap, antibiotic ointment, and pain reliever you already use. Add any personal meds. Keep the kit in a bright pouch so you find it fast under stress. Learn simple blister care and wound cleaning ahead of time.
Light, Fire, And Backup Power
Headlamps trump phone flashlights on narrow tread. Pack one even for short outings; a slow group or a golden-hour summit can push timing. Tuck a lighter and storm matches in a tiny waterproof tube. A skinny power bank keeps your phone and GPS alive for maps and messages.
Repair Bits And Tape
Small breaks stop trips. A few strips of repair tape, a short length of cord, a mini multi-tool, and safety pins fix shoulder straps, torn shells, and loose soles. Add a spare buckle if your pack uses a size that’s easy to swap.
Shelter In A Pinch
An ultralight bivy, space blanket, or small tarp creates shade, blocks wind, and buys time during a delay. It weighs ounces and rides flat against the frame sheet of most daypacks.
Footwear, Socks, And Traction
Pick shoes that match the surface. Trail runners shine on packed dirt and fast moves; mid-cut boots add ankle support for cobbles and scree. Fit matters more than any feature. Toes need wiggle room on downhills. Lace snug at the ankle so the heel doesn’t lift.
Merino or synthetic socks manage sweat and reduce hot spots. Carry a dry spare for the ride out. In wet seasons, microspikes or light crampons may be worth the weight for icy mornings.
Fit, Weight, And Pack Layout
A comfy pack keeps you smiling at mile ten. Adjust torso length, set the hip belt so bones—not your stomach—carry the load, then snug shoulder straps. Use the sternum strap to steady sway.
Weight Targets By Trip Length
For a half-day stroll, many hikers carry 5–8 lb / 2–4 kg. A longer day with weather, filter, and extra food lands around 10–15 lb / 4.5–7 kg. Add traction, insulated layers, and more water when conditions call for it. If your load creeps up, spread gear across the group.
How To Pack So It Rides Well
- Put dense items mid-back, close to the spine.
- Stuff puffy layers around hard edges to stop rattles.
- Keep map, snacks, and phone in hip-belt or top pocket.
- Stand the water bladder upright; purge air for a quiet carry.
- Use a bright pouch for first aid so you can grab it fast.
Seasonal Add-Ons And Special Conditions
Conditions shift with altitude, shade, and season. Here’s how to tweak your kit without turning your pack into a closet. For a broad, agency-backed overview of core gear, see the NPS page on the 10-item system.
| Condition | Add-On Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hot, Exposed | Extra liter, salts, sun hoody, neck gaiter | Pre-hydrate; watch for cramps, dizziness, and heavy sweating patterns flagged by the CDC heat pages. |
| Cold And Windy | Wind shell, warm hat, liner gloves, hand warmers | Eat small snacks often so your furnace stays on. |
| Rainy | Waterproof shell, pack liner, dry socks in zip bag | Vent often so sweat doesn’t soak layers under the shell. |
| Shoulder Season | Light puffy, microspikes, headlamp upgrade | Trails freeze overnight; shadows stay slick well past noon. |
| Buggy Woods | Head net, permethrin-treated clothing | Long sleeves and pants reduce bites with no chemical smell. |
| High Country | Extra layer, more snacks, storm plan | Weather swings fast; turn time beats hero pushes. |
Hydration Strategy That Actually Works
Set a timer on your watch for 20–30 minutes and sip when it buzzes. Aim for pale-straw urine by midday. In long, hot climbs, add salts every hour. The CDC also points users to heat-risk dashboards and warning signs so you can adjust plans early.
Carry a simple treatment method: squeeze filter, chemical drops, or a UV pen. Treat clear water longer with drops than cloudy water requires. Always cap your bottles before setting them down near grit or mud.
Clothing: Simple System, Big Payoff
Start in a wicking tee and shorts or pants that move. Pack a midlayer that feels cozy when you stop. A shell blocks wind and drizzle. On sunny ridgelines, a hooded sun shirt keeps rays off your neck while still breathing well. Skip cotton socks; use merino or synthetic.
Electronics And Communication
Phones handle photos, maps, and quick updates. Drop offline maps before you leave the house. A small battery bank (5,000–10,000 mAh) covers a full day of photos and navigation. In remote zones, a satellite messenger adds check-ins and SOS coverage with grams, not pounds.
Route Research And Plan B
Check trail status, weather windows, road closures, and daylight length. Download a map layer that shows contours and water. Share a simple trip plan with a friend: trailhead, route, group size, and a back-by time that triggers a call if you miss it.
Group Systems: Split Weight, Share Redundancy
Groups can spread weight so each person carries less. One filter, one small repair kit, and one tarp often cover everyone. Keep two lights in the group and two ways to start a fire. Check that every hiker carries a jacket, water, food, and a personal blister kit.
Sample Packing Walk-Through
Let’s pack for a six-hour ridge hike with a lunch stop. Start with a 20–28 L daypack. Load a 2- or 3-liter bladder, then stack the warm layer and shell along the back panel. Add food where it won’t crush—wrap tortillas and bars inside the puffy. Slide the tarp or space blanket flat behind the bladder. Tuck first aid in a bright pouch on top. Put phone, snacks, and sun stick in the hip-belt pocket. Clip keys inside the lid so they can’t vanish under the seat of your car at dusk.
How To Keep The Kit Light Without Cutting Safety
- Pick multi-use items: a buff for sun, wind, and neck warmth.
- Choose synthetic insulation that dries fast after a sweat-soaked climb.
- Use tiny bottles for ointments and drops; leave bulky retail tubes at home.
- Trim packaging from bars and snacks to stop trash from multiplying.
- Weigh your pack once packed; if it feels heavy, shave extras from clothing first, never from safety gear.
Two Real-World Scenarios
Short Woodland Loop, 2–3 Hours
Carry 1–1.5 liters, a small snack stash, light shell, headlamp, first aid, and map on your phone with a paper backup in the glove box. Shoes with mild tread are fine. A brimmed cap and sunglasses keep branches and glare out of your eyes.
Big View Summit, 6–8 Hours
Carry 2–3 liters plus salts, hearty snacks, warm midlayer, shell, gloves, beanie, spare socks, headlamp, filter, and a compact tarp. Poles help knees on long descents. Pack a small power bank and a paper topo folded to your route. Start early and set a turn time so you reach the car with daylight to spare.
Skills That Pay Off Fast
- Practice with your compass in a city park before a trip.
- Learn a quick heel-lock lace to stop toe bang on downhills.
- Master a blister “donut” with moleskin so you can keep moving pain-free.
- Run a two-minute headlamp drill: find it, swap batteries, and stow it—all with gloves on.
Want a deeper explainer on the core system and field tips? REI’s primer on the Ten Essentials covers history and gear choices from navigation to shelter.
Trail Etiquette And Low-Impact Habits
Stay on the tread to protect fragile soil and to keep your ankles happy. Yield uphill. Step to the side for horses. Pack out every wrapper and fruit peel. Keep voices down near viewpoints where others are soaking in the quiet.
Before You Head Out
Do a ten-second pocket check at the trailhead: keys clipped, phone in airplane mode, map open, water bite valve locked, sunscreen on, hat on, headlamp in the top pocket. Tell someone when you expect to be back. If a storm builds, turn back. Peaks and viewpoints will be there next week.