Fun things to bring on a hike

Whether you’re casually hiking to a favorite waterfall or bagging a difficult summit, carrying the proper equipment is absolutely critical.

When things go wrong, as they often do, this can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a dire result. For first-timers and sage backcountry traveler alike, dialing in essential day hiking gear is an important part of any pre-trip preparations.

In the article below we discuss our opinions and preferences for some of the most critical day hiking equipment.

We also take a ton of multi-day backpacking trips, so if you’re interested in checking out our top picks for tents, sleeping bags/pads, backpacks, and a whole lot more, have a look through the CleverHiker Backpacking Gear Guide.

10 Day Hiking Essentials

1.

Hiking shoes

Navigation

A topo map and trusty compass are two navigation components that should accompany you on any trip into the backcountry. They’re reliable, lightweight, durable, and guaranteed to never run out of batteries. They can keep you from getting

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