Hiking Gear List
3 LB Ultralight Day Hiking Essentials
Day hiking is supposed to be fun. And part of the fun is a light backpack for easy walking. Unfortunately, most day hiking gear lists are way too heavy. But on the other hand, you DO want all the right gear to be safe!
So what to do? At only 3 pounds, this ultralight day hiking gear list will help you select the right hiking essentials to keep your daypack light, a spring in your step, but still keep you safe and happy. Better yet, it has a lot of inexpensive gear so you won’t go broke in the process!
The Problem with Most Day Hiking Gear Lists
This day hiking checklist is more comprehensive & useful than other hiking checklists. Here is why:
- Most lists don’t have weights for their gear. This inevitably leads to a heavy pack.
- They don’t give specific options for light gear or budget gear. E.g. REI Flash 18 Pack or the value $40 Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles — 1/3 price but equal to the best poles!
- They are too focused on the 10 essentials and fail to recommend important items like packs, trekking poles; light, non-blistering hiking shoes; best strategies for Lyme & Zika protection, etc.
- Food and Water: They do not give good recommendations for carrying a sensible amount of food and water. Water carried should be based on water availability & hiker preferences. See more in Hydration in 13 Essentials. Food carried should be based on the length of hike & hiker preferences. See more in Nutrition in 13 Essentials.
May 6, 2022
Adventure Alan
Hiking, Backpacking, Mountaineering,
Backcountry Adventure Travel
Authoritative information on lightweight backpacking, back-country travel and adventure. Gear lists, gear reviews, how to's, technique, trip reports, more
LIFE OUTDOORS
MEDIA MENTIONS
Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent is used on clothing, not skin, and it provides long-lasting protection against ticks.
MEDIA MENTIONS
One of the most popular, and readily available, means of tick prevention these days is the use of permethrin. Sawyer Permethrin Fabric Treatment is easy to find at most any sporting goods store and applies quick and easy to your clothing, boots, gear, etc.
MEDIA MENTIONS
While not technically a filtered water bottle, Sawyer Products’ water filtration system can transform anything into a safe, clean drinking vessel. Simply fill up the included reusable pouch at any water source, screw the pouch onto the filter, and either drink directly from the filter or squeeze the now-filtered water into another vessel (like a water bottle or pot for cooking).
