The Essential Day Hiking Gear List from The Trek

Since thru-hiking has been temporarily canceled, we’re pivoting toward appreciating the things we can do, like shorter outings close to home, and hopefully more extended trips later this summer. Last week I listed the gear I take day hiking, which will be getting lots of use this year. Now we’re going to throw our day-hiking essentials at you, with a few options for versatility / budget, plus the basics of what to carry for hikes of different distances.

Looking for day hikes in your region? Our 2020 NOGO hikers have day hike recommendations for Tahoe, California; Winter Park, Colorado; and Memphis, Tennessee.

Essential Day Hiking Gear

First, what type of hike are you doing? Peakbagging above treeline at high elevations? Or sticking close to town for a relaxed jaunt? You don’t want to overpack, but you also don’t want to be unprepared. Here are the basics to consider when packing your day-hiking bag.

See the full list from Maggie Slepian on the Trek's website here.