Day Hike Checklist is, always, very important as long as it will help you putting together all necessary stuff, without missing essential items.
Bringing the proper equipment will add greatly to your enjoyment, your safety, and the enjoyment and safety of the group. This stuff is essential if you are going out in the mountains for more than a couple of hours. Make sure that you are comfortable with your equipment and you know where it all fits in. Do not carry anything in your hands; do not tie a jacket around your waist. Everything should fit in your day-pack. Carry your wallet and keys in your day-pack, at all times.
In your day-pack:
- 2-3 liters of water in plastic water bottles (not soda bottles)
- Lunch and snacks
- Rain jacket (no matter what the forecast)
- Long sleeve shirt (no matter what the forecast)
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Wool or fleece hat and gloves
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Personal first aid kit
- Small flashlight (preferable head lamp) with spare batteries
- Plastic bag for trash
- Map (and know how to use it, if you are not accompanied by a mountain guide/leader)
- Compass (and know how to use it, if you are not accompanied by a mountain guide/leader)
If it is not the height of a warm summer, add:
- Warm fleece hiking sweater or jacket
- Rain pants
How to dress:
- Dress in layers. Your first layer should be a short-sleeve t-shirt (synthetic, not cotton) even if it seems cool in the morning. You will warm up. Your second layer should be a long-sleeve shirt (also synthetic). If you need extra layers, you will have your warm hiking sweater and rain jacket. Shorts give you more mobility and keep you cooler; pants give you more protection from insects and brush.
- Hiking boots that are well broken-in and that go over the ankles
- Good hiking socks (not sports socks).
- Sunhat with a wide brim (if the temperatures are low, it will be replaced by warm hat and, eventually, gloves).
- Bandanna which you need to keep handy.
Lunches and snacks:
- Peanut butter, salami, bologna, small cans of tuna fish or sardines, fruit, cookies, trail snacks.
Be sure that you’ll have a look at this day hike checklist before leaving your stuff behind.
