When hiking, camping, or adventuring the outdoors, you always need to be prepared. If not for an emergency, just for the day! Leaving for a hike without the ten essentials is like driving to work without shoes or your ID, it just doesn’t make sense.

The point of the ten hiking essentials is to be fully prepared for the day ahead. These ten items will ensure your safety, comfort, and basic needs. Food, water, and shelter are what every human being requires to live comfortably, and the ten essentials do just that. They are the ten minimum things you need to bring with you outdoors.

Being the wife of an Eagle Scout means that we always carry the ten essentials in each of our backpacks. In fact, we have the ten essentials in both of our hiking backpacks, our cars, our school bags… I think my husband has even stashed a bag full of the ten essentials in one of my larger purses. Yeah, definitely a bit overboard, but being a geologist and ready for any hazard, I didn’t stop him…

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The Ten Hiking Essentials:

According to the Boy Scouts of America (okay they don’t have it on their site but they have an article in Scouting Magazine), the ten essentials are the minimum gear you need to keep you “comfortable, warm, hydrated, safe, and, most of all, prepared.”

Okay, let’s get on with it, shall we? The ten hiking essentials are…

1. Water

Humans can live without food much longer than they can live without water. Therefore, water should be your number one priority. Dehydration is a critical condition that should always be monitored while outdoors.

It is widely known that the average human should consume 8 cups or roughly 2 liters of water per day. Because this is the minimum amount, you should be consuming much more when hiking. Furthermore, you should be prepared to have enough water for one extra day. The easiest way I have found to do this is to carry your water in a water bladder plus two extra Nalgenes.

If you don’t want to carry the extra weight, bring one or two Nalgenes plus a water filter. These filters are the ones we use on the trails.

Finally, I have heard some great things about water filter straws. I have not personally used them but I am sure they would work great in an emergency situation.

Note: Please be informed when using water pumps. Be realistic in where to choose your water source to pump, the pumps can only filter so much. In most cases, the faster the water is moving and the further upstream you are, the less contaminated the water is.

Tip: Here are a few other ways to filter your water! and here is a great article from REI about the pros and cons of each filter type.

2. Food

Next, food is definitely another huge priority. In my case, I need food pretty frequently before I get crabby. I consider this an emergency situation but to each their own.

We personally keep extra food on top of our regular lunch and snacks to be safe. The biggest thing you need to consider is that when you’re hiking, you burn A LOT of calories. The average person will burn between 430 (160 lbs) to 550 (200 lbs) calories PER HOUR. When you’re hiking, you should be eating enough calories to energize your body enough for the entire trip.

Because of this, be sure to plan your meals on the trail (and after) accordingly. Great trail food includes fruit, veggies,  sandwiches, trail mix, dried fruit, jerky, and energy bars.

Energy bars are one of my favorite ways to get a ton of extra energy on the trail. Because hikers need extra calories, there have been some great companies that have come up with awesome bars. My go-to bars are Clif Bars (250 calories), Clif Builder Bars (270 calories), and Pro Bar Meals (390 calories).

Remeber, in hiking, healthy calories are your friend. Always bring extra! Plan accordingly based on your hiking distance plus some!

Example:

A 160 lb person hiking 9 miles with 2,000 ft elevation gain and a 15 lb day pack. The average hiker travels at 2.5 to 4 mph. So let’s say 3 mph for 9 miles is three hours of hiking plus extra calories burned for the 15 lb pack. So about 450 calories per hour for three hours is 1,350 calories. That alone is 6 full Clif bars! But if you’re an actual human being, it would be like 3 Clif bars and a normal lunch.

3. Pocket Knife

Pocket knives are becoming less and less popular these days, but they are incredibly useful little tools! The best style of pocket knife for hiking is an all-purpose multi-tool pocket knife like the famous Swiss Army Knife. The reason these are so useful is that they have a blade, saw, scissors, can opener, and much more (as you probably know). If you do prefer to carry a larger knife, it is best to carry a larger knife plus this tool to ensure diversity in usage.

There are countless types of Swiss Army Knives, the Fieldmaster is one of the best-priced options for hikers with the required tools needed. They also offer the Climber, EvoGrip, and the Camper. And, if you’re wanting to feel REALLY prepared, you can check out the SwissChamp.

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4. First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is a necessity on the trail. Someone is going to need it. If not from your group, you will come across someone else on the trail looking for a band-aid.

Be sure to choose a first aid kit that is going to last some time and has enough diversity in options that you can care for most outdoor-related injuries. You can always put together your own kit, but starting with a pre-made outdoor kit is usually the best way to start.

There are SO MANY first aid kits out there. Let me do all the hard work for you. Here are the best options (in my opinion and from smallest to largest):

• Ultra Light Adventure Medical Kit: These were designed for the outdoors but are incredibly sparse. These are best for very short hiking trips if you have a larger kit in your car. I don’t incredibly recommend getting such a small kit but if you are really worried about weight, this is the one to get.
• Preparify 100 Piece: These first aid kits are about as small as you would want to go on a full day hike. They have a great number of supplies and even include a small compass. These are also great to get extra and stash in your car or at work.
• Swiss Safe 200 Piece: This one is a bit larger of a kit, with nearly all the supplies you would need for a day hike. Includes an extra outdoor survival kit as well.
• Multi-Day Adventure Medical Kit: This kit is designed for 1-5 people for a multiple day trip. Great for backpacking. A good way to use this is to keep it at base camp and bring a lighter day medical kit with you (like the Ultra Light Kit).

Tip: After you purchase and/or put together your first aid kit, be sure to add any prescriptions and extra over the counter medications you or your hiking partners may need on the trail. Here is a list we usually bring: Pepto Bismol, Tylenol, aspirin, Benadryl, tums, and cold medicine. If you’re hiking with children, you will probably need a bit extra.

Other items you might want to add to your kit: an emergency blanket, soap, hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, chapstick, gloves, tissues, duct tape, and toilet paper.

5. Extra Clothing

The point of bringing extra clothes is to always be prepared for a change in the forecast. Weather can change rapidly and extra clothing can quite literally be the difference between life or death. With extra clothing, you should be packing according to the seasons. For example, if you will be hiking in the summer in a desert region, pack for colder temperatures and extreme heat. But, if you’re hiking in the winter in areas that could potentially receive snow, pack a snow jacket.

One best way to prepare for colder temperatures is to master the art of layering. Backpacker magazine and REI have some great articles on how to properly layer. The great thing about this technique is that it can be adapted to whatever colder temperatures are occurring with the addition or subtraction of a layer.

For Women:

These are the brands and layers that I personally use and recommend:

• Base Layer Top: Duofold Lightweight Top or the Under Armour Midweight Top (for winter conditions)
• Mid Layer Top: Northface Fleece 1/4 Zip and/or Columbia’s Mighty Light III (packable down jacket)
• Outer Layer Top: Artix Soft Shell (midweight), Northface Resolve (mid-to-heavyweight), Columbia Bugaboo Jacket (heavyweight)
• Base Layer Bottoms: Icebreaker Merino Wool Leggings 
• Normal Hiking Pants: White Sierra Convertable Pants
• Winter Hiking Pants: Columbia Modern Mountain 2.0 

For Men:

These are the brands and layers my husband uses and recommends:

• Base Layer Top: Duofold Midweight Merino Wool Shirt
• Mid Layer Top: Columbia Cascades Full-Zip Fleece and/or Costco’s Packable Down Jackets (they begin selling them in the autumn)
• Outer Layer Top: Northface Soft Shell (midweight), Wantdo Winter Jacket (heavyweight)
• Base Layer Bottoms: Duofold Midweight Bottoms
• Normal Hiking Pants: Columbia Convertable Pants
• Winter Hiking Pants: Wantdo Winter Pants with Bib

Related: The Ultimate Pre Travel Checklist

6. Rain Gear

In a similar fashion, you should also be prepared for rain and stormy conditions. The great thing about rain gear is that it is lightweight and easy to pack.

My husband and I both swear by the Northface Venture jackets (women’s and men’s). As for pants, we tend to use packable hiking gear such as these for women and these for men. For our boots, we use Sof Sole Waterproofing Spray (actually works REALLY well) and Nikwax Cleaning and Waterproofing.

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7. Flash Light

Having a flashlight in your ten hiking essentials pack is arguably the best investment you can make. You may think you will be getting back before the sun sets but you never know what could happen on the trail. And of course, they will be essential to overnight trips!

My husband and I prefer to carry both a headlamp (we use Black Diamond battery operated headlamps, but MergerGo makes a Rechargeable Headlamp) and tactical flashlights.

8. Matches and Fire Starter

Matches and fire starter are two incredibly easy, cheap, and lightweight items to throw in your backpack. You should always pack your food and clothing according to weather conditions, the matches and fire starter should be planned only for emergency conditions (and overnight trips, of course).

Because these items are targeted for emergency conditions, be sure to have a variety of ways to start a fire. Waterproof matches and a magnesium spark kit are a great way to do that.

Tip: We keep all of our fire starter kits in ziplock bags, along with shredded paper and pieces of cardboard to get the fire going. This keeps everything nice in one place and, most importantly, dry.

9. Sun Protection

Always prepare accordingly for the sun and remember you can get sunburnt on a cloudy day. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I know this all too well. At a minimum, keep a bandana or buff (these are our favorites) and a sunhat with you. UV sunglasses and sunscreen are always important to wear as well to prevent sun damage.

Tip: Working long hours on the trails as a geologist has taught me the amazing magic of using a sunscreen stick. It may look like a glue stick but is one of the easiest ways to reapply sunscreen on the move!

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10. Map and Compass

The last items included on the ten hiking essentials list are a map and compass. These two useful tools are now being used less often but are incredibly important. Again, these are usually used in emergency situations but if you’re hiking on less popular trails, they will come in handy. Remember, you will most likely not have service on your phone and your battery can die quite quickly when it is attempting to search for a signal.

If you’re a mapping and navigation novice, a simple compass will do just fine. If you’re looking for a more snazzy compass, this one looks pretty good for sighting purposes. Or maybe you’re a geologist and have been drooling over getting your own Brunton like me.

As for maps, I, of course, prefer to use USGS Quadrangles, even when I am hiking on personal trips but there is a very small chance you will too. For choosing maps, here are a few tips:

• Be sure to have a properly scaled map of the area you are in. This means that the map will cover a large enough area for you to see the neighboring land and your entire trail, but have enough detail that you can understand where you are at.
• You can find many maps that are laminated to protect from the elements. If yours isn’t, keep it in a ziplock bag.
• If you’re hiking in National Parks, you can go to the visitor center and usually get one for free! Beware though, many of the National Park maps do not have topo lines, but they usually will offer more detailed maps for pretty cheap. Great way to support the Park Service too!

Amazon has a surprisingly large array of maps available, and many tailored to hikers like this one. A simple way to find a map of your area is to just search for maps near the park or nearby city, such as “Hiking Map of Rocky Mountain National Park” and a ton will pop up!

The last thing I want to say about navigating when hiking is this: before you go on your trip, be sure you are informed about the area. Take a quick glance at Google Maps. Also, you do not have to be an expert in orienteering to use a map to find your way back. However, a little practice goes a long way. You can find helpful videos on YouTube like this great tutorial or can take free or cheap community classes like the ones offered at REI.

Bonus Items:

Here are a few extra items I personally carry and recommend. They are not incredibly vital, and therefore not on the traditional ten hiking essentials list, but I thought it would be good to add them. I have learned about all of these items from people much more experienced than myself.

Electrolytes:

Electrolytes are chemicals in the human body that regulate muscle function, hydration, and much more. When your body is working hard, like when hiking, you need more electrolytes to maintain a healthy level. Gatorade is one of the more famous ways athletes maintain electrolytes. You can consume electrolytes through drops, powder, and gummies (my personal favorite). Here is a great article if your interested to learn more about electrolytes.

Rope:

My husband and his scouting family always hike with rope. I used to make fun of them all the time for it until that one stormy night when a rope was the only thing holding our tarps up. One popular way to hike with rope is to wear a rope bracelet.

Analog Watch:

Cellphones die all too quickly. Keeping a cheap analog watch with you is always a great idea to make sure you head back on time.

Duct Tape:

Out of all of its uses, my favorite way to use duct tape is to act as moleskin for blisters. It works incredibly well. But as you probably know, everything can be fixed with duct tape. At least temporarily…  We usually create a small roll off of a larger roll and just toss it in our ten hiking essentials bag.

Sock Liners:

Sock liners were a game changer for me. These are thin socks you put on before your hiking socks. They absorb the friction and wick sweat between your shoes and feet to avoid blisters. THEY ARE AMAZING!

Solar Panel Charger/Portable Charger:

I don’t personally use one, but I know countless people who use solar panel chargers when hiking. They are surprisingly inexpensive and are great to add to the outside of your backpack to charge while you’re on the trail. Portable chargers are also a great option.

Dehydrated Meals:

Dehydrated meals are getting better and better. If you’re unaware, these are what many backpackers pack to eat for multiple days. They are incredibly high in sodium and calories so I don’t recommend them for basic day hiking, but they are great if you’re going on an overnight trip. If you’re going to cook dehydrated meals, be sure to pack a backpacking stove and fuel.

Trekking Poles:

Trekking poles are those two walking sticks you see some hikers using. They have handholds and a pointy end. There are several benefits of using trekking poles, including keeping your balance and taking some weight off of your feet. They are great to bring if you will be crossing any streams, have a heavier backpack on, or be hiking for multiple days.

Gaiters:

Oh, the great power of gaiters. Hiking gaiters are waterproof covers that wrap around your angles. They protect your legs and feet from water, snow, bushes, and halt anything from falling into your boots. They come in short (cover just your angles) and long (cover your calves) and are incredibly functional and fashionable 😉

Propper Footwear:

Last but definitely not least, always be sure to wear proper footwear while hiking. Everyone has their own opinion on which type is the best so before buying hiking boots, be sure to do your own research. Here is a great article REI has put together about which ones to buy. Then, after you buy your boots, be sure to break them in before you hit the trails.

BONUS: Rock Climbing Gear

We will often combine our rock climbing and hiking adventures. Some of our favorite climbing gear include:

• Mad Rock Mad Pad Crash Pad
• Ingenuity Outdoor Climbing Rope
• Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet
• Black Diamond Momentum Harness

How to pack the Ten Hiking Essentials:

One final tip I would like to add is on packing. A great way to always know you’re prepared and ready for a quick hike is to keep the ten essentials in a separate small bag (like these ones) you can throw into any daypack. This is the best way we have found to keep our gear organized and always ready for the next adventure!

Using the Ten Essentials in an Emergency:

Finally, the ten hiking essentials can be used for more than just your basic needs during a hike. Like I’ve mentioned, some of the items are used most importantly during an emergency. There are countless stories of hikers and campers getting lost on trails or snowed in. These occasions are rare but carrying one extra pound of weight has proven helpful for countless of individuals in times of need. In fact, this has happened to us on four separate occasions. FOUR. I’ll use the most extreme as an example.

A couple years back, my husband and I were driving home from Christmas. Our commute between our parent’s homes and school was usually about 5 hours over a mountain pass. Before we left, we checked the weather and pass conditions. With no cloud in sight, we took off on what we thought would be an easy journey. Spoiler alert, we were dead wrong.

About two hours in, we started our ascent into the mountains and a few clouds began to pop up. Being the nerd I am I checked the radar to see if the forecast was incorrect, quite a few rain clouds heading our way. Still, we weren’t worried, we should be over the pass before they hit.

Next hour rolls around and we start slowing down to traffic. Finally, we roll to a stop due to an accident.

So here we are, stuck on a mountain pass, no town let alone an exit nearby and rainclouds are on the way. Out of habit, I check the forecast again and a blizzard warning is in full effect. A BLIZZARD WARNING.

No big deal, right? We have chains and four-wheel drive, it would be fine! But, by the time the traffic finally cleared up the snow had not only began, it was whiteout conditions. We couldn’t even see the taillights of the cars right in front of us! As we were driving, I got an alert that the DOT had closed the pass right behind us! So we were one of only a few cars on the pass in whiteout conditions.

Knowing the snow wasn’t about to end, we decided to pull over to wait it out. At this point, the other cars had been sucked into a warp hole, no idea where they went. No plows were in sight and we were just alone in our freezing car. We were hungry, frustrated, freezing, and at this point, it was completely dark out.

Now, I am not saying we were about to die, we were just REALLY hangry. But, we remembered we had the ten essentials in the car! We downed some calories, grabbed the flashlights and gloves, repositioned our chains, brushed off the snow from the headlights and got back on the road.

Finally, we made it out and were actually really lucky. Many people get stuck on mountain passes with much worse stories. But I can easily say that if we didn’t have that ten essentials hit, I may have eaten one of my husband’s arms off.

That was my first experience using a ten hiking essentials kit for an emergency. Since then, we have used our ten hiking essentials in an emergency situation three other times but actually on the trail (but the stories are not as spectacular). You really never know when you will need some extra calories, water, a fire starter, or even a surprisingly handy pocket knife.

Looking for new hiking destinations? Check out our recent hiking adventures!