Hiking Tips and Gear

Introduction

Hiking is one of our favorite activities. There is no great mystery around hiking, and we want it to be accessible to everyone. We have created this Hiking Tips and Gear page for you to learn about hiking and to use as a guide when preparing to hike.

On this page, we discuss the activity of hiking – what it is, who can do it (almost everyone!), and what you will need to wear and bring on a hike.

What is Hiking?

Hiking is walking anywhere, typically not on a road, although some hikes, including the Appalachian Trail, sometimes include road segments. Also called trekking, hiking is a free activity that provides boundless rewards and benefits. In this post, we share hiking tips and how to avoid common problems, as well as tips for suitable clothing and gear.

Many places can only be visited by hiking, including mountain tops, hidden beaches and other beautiful places in remote areas. Hiking can be done at any time of the year in many areas. Adjust the gear and supplies you need to fit the distance and conditions of the hike.

On this page, we share Amazon affiliate links. We only receive compensation if you click through and purchase an item we linked to. In keeping with our travel philosophy, we have shared products that are less expensive, but good.

What Do I Need For Hiking?

Very little gear is needed for hiking. In fact, you already have most of the things needed since many are everyday necessities like snacks and band aids! The list of things to bring on a hike depends on the temperature and weather, the length of the hike, and access to help in case of emergency.

Always bring necessities like water, snacks, and essential first aid items for minor problems. For longer, more remote, or multi-day hikes, you will need to pack more carefully and think through different things that could happen. Keep reading for what to wear and what to bring on a hike.

Hiking is a relatively safe activity and accessible to most people. However, there are some problems that can arise, especially if you are new to hiking. Some of these problems are outlined below. Most problems can be avoided with a little pre-planning and careful packing.

Potential Problems When Hiking

It’s important to be properly prepared for hiking to avoid problems that could ruin or dampen your experience. Some physical issues that can arise when hiking include:

1. Blisters
2. Chafing
3. Dry lips
4. Aching feet, sore or tight muscles, cramping
5. Headache
6. Sunburn
7. Scrapes or cuts

Most of these problems can be avoided by thinking through your clothing, gear, hydration and supplies.

What to Wear When Hiking

Some of the most important items to consider before hiking are your clothing and shoes.

Clothing

Dress in layers! Unless the weather is hot, it is a good idea to wear (or bring) layers. Weather can change rapidly, and sweat cooling your body can cause you to lose heat quickly.

On the Top

I like to wear:

1. a short-sleeved t-shirt made from a wicking fabric as my first top layer. Under Armour is a relatively inexpensive brand for these athletic-style t-shirts, which come with traditional t-shirt necks and v-necks. Depending on temperatures at your time of departure, you can add:

2. a similar long-sleeved t-shirt, like this 1/2 zip shirt that can be zipped down as your body warms. If temperatures warrant, add:

3. a fleece sweatshirt. Over this, wear:

4. a packable waterproof, windbreaker-type jacket. This is especially important for keeping heat in if temperatures are cold and if weather is forecasted to be rainy or windy.

This combination will allow you to hike in below-freezing temperatures and to remove layers as the day warms. Of course, if you are hiking in warm temps, you won’t need all these layers!

On the Bottom

For bottoms, you can choose any shorts or pants that are lightweight, wick sweat away from your body, are breathable, and easy to move in. If wearing shorts, which you should only do in warm weather, choose some that are long enough that your thighs won’t begin to chafe. See the section below on chafing for preventing or treating this uncomfortable problem. When hiking in cold weather, wear long underwear like these, or women can just put a pair of hiking pants over yoga pants.

I often hike in fitted, yoga-style pants in lengths from clam-digger to full length depending on expected temperatures and trail conditions. I have these pants from Under Armour. If I will be hiking on trails prone to poison ivy or briers, I wear long hiking pants like these by Columbia.

There are special zip-off pants made for hiking that zip off above the knee to convert to shorts. Fred likes these by Columbia.

Shoes / Boots

Shoes are one of the most important gear items for hikers. Hiking boots are not always necessary, or even preferred. But all shoes or boots worn on hikes should have good support and traction. And don’t ever wear new shoes that haven’t been broken in, as a painful blister is one of worst ways to ruin a hike.

Boots?

The choice of hiking boots or athletic shoes is a personal preference. Some people like or need the ankle support of a boot. I like trail-running shoes for hiking. They give me the traction I need and a wider footprint than a running-style shoe. I currently have the Brooks Women’s Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoe, which I purchased on Amazon. Fred prefers a hiking boot and loves his Merrell hiking boots.

Fit-wise, the type of shoe you choose will depend on your feet. A high-end store like REI or Fleet Feet can do an individualized analysis of your feet and your gait to help you find the right shoes.

Fit

It’s important that your shoes fit well and have proper arch support. You don’t want your feet sliding in your shoes when traveling downhill, causing your toes to repeatedly hit the front of your shoe. This can make every step painful. Shoes shouldn’t be too tight or too loose!

If you are flat-footed, or for whatever reason need more arch support, you may need inserts like these Superfeet insoles. Superfeet sells support insoles in a variety of sizes and support levels. They are expensive, so if you can get a shoe that fits your unique needs without needing an insert, that will save you some money. Two of our children are flat-footed; they do need Superfeet for hiking.

Money Saving Tip: Hiking boots and trail running shoes can be expensive. Most of these types of shoes have a new version every year (and the versions may have a numbered naming convention). The shoes from previous years are often sold at a deep discount. They are generally just as good as the current model – maybe better! So don’t go to REI, Dicks Sporting Goods or Fleet Feet and buy shoes at retail. You can visit those stores to determine which type of shoe you like, then go home and shop online. I shop at REI Outlet, Amazon, 6 PM Discount Shoes, Cabela’s, Backcountry, and more. I’m a bottom feeder, willing to put in a little time to find the right shoe at the right price!

Socks

Socks are the next consideration. Wool or synthetic-fabric socks are the best for keeping your feet dry. I like athletic socks with some thickness to them to cushion my feet and provide a bit of support. I wear these Puma socks. If you are wearing boots, you need a sock that comes up higher than the boot shaft. This is to avoid chafing on your leg in the boot above the sock line. Fred likes these hiking socks from Merrell.

Testing your Shoe / Sock Combo

Any new shoe/sock combination should be worn for a good period of time on several occasions before a long hike. You can wear them around while you run errands, clean house, or go for walks. If your shoe/sock combo is bothering you, take care of it right away! Shoes can be returned or exchanged most places if they don’t show signs of wear.

Things to Bring on a Hike

Phone and Identification

Always bring your phone and your ID. Your phone can serve many purposes on a hike. If you have any network coverage and use an app like AllTrails to route you on a hike, you will not get lost. You can see your progress on the app as you hike.

Your phone is your lifeline as well, should an emergency occur. You can call 911 to ask for help. Have you set up an emergency contact in your phone? First responders can use that number to contact your loved ones if something happens to you on a hike.

Your phone is also often your camera, allowing you to take awesome photos along the way.

It is absolutely essential to bring your identification on a hike. If you have a medical condition, it would also be good to bring information about that.

Backpacks

A medium-sized backpack, often called a daypack by hikers, is usually sufficient for hikes up to one full day. A daypack does not need to be expensive – a typical school-style backpack works just fine. I do like external pockets for easy access to my lip balm, phone and water bottle.

Choose a daypack with room for any layers of clothing that may be shed during the day, although a bulkier sweatshirt or jacket can be tied around your waist or tied/strapped to your backpack. You also need space for food, sunblock, a small first aid kit (band aids, moleskin, Neosporin, Ibuprofen), and a rain poncho.

This Maelstrom daypack comes in a variety of colors, has nice exterior pockets, is roomy enough to add a hydration bladder (if using), and is relatively inexpensive.

It is not necessary to overthink or overpack for a hike.

Water / Hydration

Start your hike hydrated by drinking some water before leaving. Then you will need at least 8 oz of water per hour on an easy, non-sweaty hike. Hikes in hot, humid weather, or strenuous hikes demand more water.

Further, water needs vary since some people sweat more than others. Men generally need more water than women, based on bigger-on-average body sizes. On a 4 mile hike, most people will need between a quart and two quarts of water. It’s a good idea to bring more water than you think you will need.

For a durable, reusable water bottle that holds 24 oz. of water, but still fits in the side pocket of your daypack, check out these Nalgene Tritan On The Fly Water Bottles.

Hydration “Bladders”:

For longer hikes where you will need more than a quart of water, and if you plan to do a lot of hiking, consider buying a bladder-style hydration-pack. This is essentially a refillable waterproof pouch with a tube straw attached. Hydration bladders come in a variety of sizes / water capacities and may be inserted into your daypack like this one, or come with their own backpack like this one.

In addition to being able to carry more water, by wearing your fluids across your back, you distribute your hiking load more evenly. Quick and easy access to water, via a straw clipped to the shoulder strap of your backpack, is a huge relief on a difficult hike. It’s easier to stay hydrated when you can drink often.

Hydration-backpacks have less room to store food and other items. However, Fred and I hiked to the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, staying two nights at Phantom Ranch, and hiking back out with only what we could pack into our hydration backpacks! (But if I did that hike over again, I would buy a hydration bladder and add it to my favorite daypack.)

Sunglasses

Always bring your sunglasses, even if the day starts out cloudy. Sunglasses don’t need to be expensive. I tend to lose or break mine, so I buy cheap ones. Polarized sunglasses can prevent glare, headache, and sun damage to your eyes.

Hats / Caps

I like to wear a baseball-style cap for wooded hikes or hikes on cloudy days. The bill of the cap also comes in handy if it starts to rain, keeping rain off my face. If I will be hiking in an exposed area for several hours, and the day is sunny, I wear a hat with more coverage like this hat from Sunday Afternoons. Fred is fair-skinned and prone to sunburn. He wears a longer hat that provides protection for his neck like this one. For a cold weather hike, wear a beanie-type hat under the hood of your jacket.

Sunblock

Apply sunblock before starting your hike. Since you will likely be sweating, use a sunblock made for faces that will not burn your eyes if it mixes with sweat and runs. I start every day with this Isdin product on my face, and I have used this sunblock for faces by Neutrogena for years when hiking or at the beach.

Poncho – Being Prepared for Rain

In addition to a windproof, waterproof jacket, pack a poncho. Ponchos are cheap and don’t take up much space in your daypack. They become priceless in a torrential downpour. We like these ponchos from the Totes brand.

Snacks / Food

Snacks are essential on hikes. I have a fear of being hungry, so I tend to overpack food! Some of my favorite snacks for hiking are beef or turkey jerky, string cheese, nuts, trail mix, Peanut M&Ms, dried fruit such as apricots and raisins, fresh fruit such as apples, bananas and mandarin oranges, Paleo energy bars (I love RX Bars – these come in a variety of flavors – or Autumn’s Gold Grain-Free granola bars). A peanut-butter and jelly sandwich makes a good snack / lunch too!

Eat something about every two hours when on a hike. This will keep you energized to power through. If a hike is an out-and-back, you might plan to eat lunch at the turnaround point.

Small First Aid Supply

Please don’t leave home without a small, essential first aid supply. This can be packed into a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag and should include band aids, Neosporin or other topical antibiotic, Ibuprofen or other oral analgesic, Moleskin, and Benadryl. In more than 40 years of hiking, I’ve never needed first aid beyond these items.

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles are optional, but they can be helpful on long hikes, hikes with significant elevation changes, or challenging terrain. While I find it tedious to carry poles on shorter or flatter hikes, they can be very useful on steep uphills and downhills. Just the tiny bit of support stepping up a steep stair can be a relief. When traveling downhill, poles can soften the impact to your knees by taking some of your weight onto your upper body. If you are over 50, overweight, or unstable for any reason, hiking poles can be a big key to successful hiking.

There are a lot of expensive hiking poles, but yours don’t need to cost a lot. Check out these Black Diamond poles. Mine are similar to these. Shop around too! I found my poles on REI’s outlet page.

Most hiking poles are collapsible, and some are even foldable. They don’t take up much room in your luggage, so bring them on your trip if you will be hiking!

Ziploc Bags

Ziploc or other brand resealable bags are useful for packing snacks, organizing your daypack, keeping packed items dry, and packing out garbage. You can pack your small first aid kit into a Ziploc bag. Pack a couple extra empty Ziplocs too. They take up almost no space and are lightweight.

Toilet Paper / Tissue

Bring a small supply of toilet paper or tissue in a Ziploc bag for emergencies.

Lip Balm

Burning, chapped lips are a nuisance and detract from your enjoyment of a hike. Chapped lips can be avoided by wearing a lip balm. Aquaphor is a great product that can be used as a lip balm, but can also serve a variety of purposes such as covering an abrasion. Amazon sells a 3-pack of travel sized tubes of Aquaphor.

Camera

Smartphone cameras take such fantastic pictures that unless you are an avid photographer, you will likely not need another camera. But Fred always takes his Nikon DSLR.

Field glasses or binoculars

If you love wildlife spotting, bring a set of field glasses or binoculars.

Other Tips

Chafing Prevention

Chafing happens when loose fabric rubs against your skin, or skin rubs on skin repeatedly, causing irritation and possibly a rash. When chafing occurs while hiking, it is often on your inner thighs, although it can happen in other places as well. Chafing can be a mild nuisance, or it can become extremely painful and ruin your hike.

To avoid chafing, men and women can wear a snug pair of athletic underwear, like these, under shorts or pants. Optionally, I like to hike in yoga-style pants, or capris that are form-fitting, as the snug stretch fabric almost ensures no chafing.

If you are concerned about chafing, you can apply an anti-chafing product before hiking and bring it with you for later re-application. Anti-chafing products usually come in a “stick” (and look like a stick deodorant). They can be applied to reduce friction in areas where you may chafe. These sticks come in travel sizes too. Check out this one from Gold Bond or this handy, travel-sized women’s stick from the Glide brand.

Moleskin

Moleskin is an adhesive product made of cotton. It adheres to a blister or an area where a blister is forming and protects the area from further chafing. Moleskin can be a lifesaver on a hike! It comes in a roll and can be cut to the size you need. A roll will last a long time. You can also buy Moleskin pads pre-cut, but they do not hold as well. If you buy a roll of Moleskin, you can cut and bring a small “sheet” with you on your hike. You could also pre-cut pieces, eg, the size to cover your Achilles tendon area, or bring a small set of scissors. Test out cutting Moleskin before leaving home. I recommend the sheet and scissors method.

Conclusion

We hope these Hiking Tips and Gear recommendations have been helpful. With a little thought and pre-planning, hiking can be a wonderful and rewarding experience! If you have questions about hiking, do not hesitate to send us an email at: [email protected].

Please leave comments with your thoughts on the information that is helpful to you. What are we missing? What do you like? The suggested itineraries? The routes? The photos? The descriptions and hints?