After leading a few group hikes, I’ve learned that the difference between an enjoyable day out and a miserable trudge usually comes down to one thing… having the right kit. You don’t need to overpack, but you do need a few key essentials. In this post, I’m sharing my go-to day hike packing list as a hike leader, including what I pack, what I wear, and the small things that make a big difference when the weather suddenly changes.
Comfortable Footwear
This is the most important thing to get right when hiking and always takes the number one spot on my day hike packing list. When you’ve been hiking for miles, your feet will massively thank you for wearing comfortable, well-supported outdoor shoes that are specifically designed with hiking in mind.
I’ve learnt the hard way when it comes to wearing the wrong footwear when walking. I hiked half of the South Downs Way a couple of years back, in boots that I hadn’t worn in and that weren’t right for my feet. And the result was some very painful blisters which made hiking on day two way harder than it should have been.
I haven’t had that problem since finding and falling in love with adidas Terrex walking boots. I’ve spoken about them a lot on my blog, mainly because they are so freakin’ awesome, and my love affair with them continues. I’ve had three pairs of walking boots from adidas Terrex now and have even turned my husband into a fan too. Not gonna lie, it’s a massive benefit of being an adidas blogger that I get to try out new walking boots.
But back to why you need a comfy pair of walking boots on your day hike packing list and what other features you should be looking out for. You want good grip, ankle support, cushioning, some degree of waterproofing, and most importantly you need to have worn them in!!
Plus, never underestimate the power of a good pair of socks. Having the wrong pair of socks can massively affect comfort levels and increase the risk of blisters. I personally like to wear double-layered socks as I find they rub less, and if it’s really wet, waterproof socks are a must have.
If you hike as a family and you’re planning on taking your kids with you, comfy footwear matters just as much for them, because once little feet start hurting, morale can nosedive fast. Look for supportive soles, decent grip, and something they can walk in comfortably straight away when researching kids hiking boots.
The Right Bag
You’re going to need something to carry all your hiking bits and bobs in for the day. And whilst you might think a bag is just a bag, there’s actually more to consider if you want your hike to go well.
First and foremost there’s the question of size. I find a 20-30l day bag is the perfect size to carry everything I need. But I am a bit of an overpacker. For shorter, fair-weather hiking days you may get away with a 10-15l bag. If you’re in the process of buying a new bag, I would first write out your day hike packing list so you know exactly what you want to take with you. That will give you a much better idea of the size of bag you’ll need. And always have a test pack before the day of your hike.
Another thing to consider is how comfortable it is and how well the straps fit you. Ill-fitting bag straps can cause chafing, and as someone who has experienced chafing from bag straps, trust me… you do not want that!
And then there’s pockets. You want as many as possible, so you can section things out and make things easy to access. Pockets on the front of bag straps are great for storing snacks, tissues, or a phone so you can easily get it out to take photos or check a map. Side pockets are good for water bottles. And small internal zipped pockets help keep important things like keys nice and safe, so there’s no risk of them falling out of your bag mid-hike.
Hike Support
There are some things on my day hike packing list that may seem like ‘nice to haves’, but to me are key essentials in making the day a whole lot nicer. I always take a pair of walking poles with me when I’m leading group hikes. I don’t always use them, in fact depending on the terrain and elevation nine times out of ten I don’t, but I like to have them as an option and for other people to use should they need them. The extra support they give to helping you feel more stable when your legs are tired are worth packing them for.
Here are the other essential bits that I think should be on your day hike packing list:
- A charged phone – It speaks for itself, right? Photos, emergency contacts, access to maps, and well just about everything. Remember to also pack a portable charger if you’re out for the whole day as it’s amazing how quickly a phone battery can run out when you’ve got apps like Strava and OS maps running in the background.
- Snacks – Getting the snacks right can make or break a hike in my opinion. It’s important to pack calorie-dense food that will keep your energy levels up. Things like trail mix, flapjacks, energy balls, and jerky are great.
- Hydration – Some routes may have opportunities for you to stop and get a drink or fill a water bottle up, but you can’t always rely on that. I like to take two 1l bottles with me; 1 with water and 1 with squash or sometimes electrolytes if it’s a long hike or a hot day.
- First aid kit – Essential as a hike leader, but also for your own personal care too. Make sure you include: plasters, KT tape, antihistamines, alcohol wipes, instant ice pack, paracetamol, tick remover, foil emergency blanket.
Rain Prep
Hiking in the UK means you can never tell what the weather might do. So you kind of have to pack for every eventuality, because let’s face it the likelihood of there being rain at some point is pretty high!
Most good quality day bags come with a foldable rain cover that you can pull out to cover your bag so the contents don’t get wet. If yours doesn’t have one, you can also buy separate rain covers, which is well worth doing. Depending on the time of year, it might also be worth you investing in an internal dry bag to protect your belongings from torrential rain.
A rain jacket is an absolute must no matter what the weather forecast is. I’ve recently got this adidas Terrex Xperior 2l Goretex jacket which is perfect for taking hiking. It’s lightweight, waterproof and breathable, and best of all has zipped pockets to keep things secure, an adjustable hem to stop the rain getting in, and it folds up into the hood so you can pack it away when the sun does decide to put in an appearance.
My other rainy day must haves are lightweight packable waterproof trousers and a plastic bag. The trousers fold down into a small bag and are just handy to have with you. And the plastic bag… well, the bag has multiple uses. It can be used to store wet clothes, or it makes a fantastic dry layer if you want to sit down and eat your lunch but the ground is wet.
Sunshine
And then of course, you never know, you might be lucky and have a gorgeously sunny day, which comes with its own hiking needs. My sunny day hike packing list essentials include:
- Sunglasses – To protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging UV rays and to make you look cool.
- Sun lotion – Factor 50 is a non-negotiable on a hot, sunny hike. Slather yourself in it before you set off and take a bottle with you for top ups.
- Hat – A cap is perfect for keeping the sun off of your head (gotta avoid those burnt middle partings!). It’s also great in wet weather as it stops rain getting in your eyes, essential when you’re a glasses wearer like me.
- Hydration – I know I’ve already mentioned hydration earlier on, but this is so important I figured it was worth mentioning again. It’s important to keep hydrated on a hike no matter what the weather’s doing, but it’s even more important when it’s hot. Aim for regular sips, and in hot weather you may need up to 0.5–1L an hour depending on pace/sweat. And if you’re drinking this amount of water you should also consider taking in some electrolytes to replace lost salts.
Post Hike Essentials
It’s not just the things you’ll need during the hike, it’s also important to pack a few bits for afterwards. So make sure you include the following items on your day hike packing list too:
- Change of clothes – Something warm, something, cosy, something dry. Also if you’re hiking with your kids, I’d also pack a full spare outfit even on a dry day, because if you think you can get muddy you’ll be amazed what they can do with a muddy puddle! Again think comfy, cosy kids clothing to avoid those post-hike tantrums.
- Towel – In case you’ve got wet (or muddy) and need a dry down before changing into fresh clothes.
- Binbag – To put any wet, muddy clothes or shoes into, to protect your car.
- Change of shoes – You could have the world’s most comfortable walking shoes, but there’s no greater feeling than taking them off at the end of a full day’s hiking and slipping on some sliders, slippers, or mules.
- Money for the pub – Well, what’s a hike without a drink and a packet of crisps at the pub afterwards, right!?
Pack all of this in the boot of your car and you will thank your future self big time.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing I love more than going out for a day hike. Just knowing I have the whole day ahead of me to explore the outdoors, chat with friends, and get some mental headspace. It is pure tonic for the soul. And having my hike essentials with me makes the day run smoothly and I know you’ll be covered no matter what happens.
* Collaboration with adidas.
Author Bio
Becky Stafferton is a blog strategist and content creator. When she’s not writing she can be found running through muddy puddles, making lists of lists, having a good old moan, talking in funny voices to her two cockapoos, renovating her house in the forest, and teaching others how to use blogging to grow their business.
