13 Essential Items for Your Hiking Backpack

Hiking is meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable pastime, but if you’re unprepared, even the most scenic excursion can quickly become an unforgiving and challenging misadventure.

Having the right items in your backpack is important for making sure you have an enjoyable, comfortable, and safe journey.

Yes, I know it can be overwhelming for any newby with the vast array of hiking gear and gadgets available on the market – our 13 essentials for your hiking backpack guide will surely set you on the right path to an informed decision and make sure you have everything you need to hit the trails with confidence and comfort.

We’ve covered all the essentials from retro navigation tools to clothing to staying hydrated on your trails. So, get your backpack, lace up your hiking boots, get out there, and hit the trails.

Navigation tools

Nothing beats the good old retro paper map and compass when the GPS apps on your phone have zero reception. Make sure you know how to use these relics of the past so you can effectively navigate your way back to the trail parking lot.

Paper maps give you a clear overview of the area and include trails, specific landmarks, elevation levels, and points of interest.

A compass never fails to give you the correct direction and will be an invaluable piece of gear when you have zero battery bars on your phone.

But, if you do have a signal and plenty of battery power available your favourite GPS App should be your go-to item to navigate the outdoors – be sure to download the latest maps that will give you detailed trail information and real-time tracking features.

A combination of these navigation tools is the best way to go.

Lighting source

One of the worst situations you can find yourself in is trying to navigate your way along a narrow trail in the dark with no light. It’s important to have a reliable light source that is fully charged or has a set of new batteries.

My tip: Opt for a headlamp, it’s the best way to find your way in the dark and also free’s up your hands for other activities. Choose a model that has adjustable brightness as well as a red light setting as this helps to preserve your night vision and won’t blind your fellow campers every time you look at them.

Make sure you have a light source even if you don’t plan on hiking at night – you never know what can happen. It’s better to be prepared than not.

Emergency shelter

Taking a tent or foldable tarp or bivvy is an essential item even if you don’t plan on sleeping in the wild.

A tarp is lightweight and easy to carry and can be quickly made into a shelter when the clouds and start rolling in. It can also act as a welcomed shade port when you’re hiking on a hot day and there’s not a tree in sight.

A Bivvy is also a great idea – it’s an easy-to-carry shelter come sleeping bag – and can double up as a carry bag when needed. It’s not large so make sure that your hiking party carries their own because you won’t want to be sharing this one.

Just make sure that you carry some sort of shelter so that you don’t get caught off guard and end up shivering in the rain because you took a wrong turn and end up sleeping in the wilderness.

Extra clothing

This one is a no-brainer – no matter what the environment if you are going into the outdoors for an extended time take additional insulated layers with you, preferably something that’s waterproof – I know, it must sound like your mom but the weather can turn on a dime and shivering in the dark is the last thing you want to be doing.

I also recommend carrying several pairs of clean dry socks on any hiking trip. There’s nothing like keeping your feet warm at night with a clean pair of socks, especially after a day spent hiking. Trust me, your feet will love you for this one

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Clean drinking water and a method to treat dirty water

Clean drinking water is an absolute must for any hiking trip. My advice is to carry as much water as you possibly can because the load only gets lighter as the day and your energy levels wear on.

There are also a multitude of water filtration devices from straws, to tablets, to gravity-fed systems to foot pump units that can turn any water source into clean drinking water. My only caveat is that the water never really tastes as good but will certainly keep you alive if the need arises.

Just make sure that you don’t choose a device the size of the kitchen sink – remember, you need to haul this water gear around with you.

Extra food for at least one additional day

Packing additional food is always top of mind when I’m planning a hike – I sometimes pack a little too much to be perfectly honest. But for some folk, a few snack bars are all they pack… I say to them, there’s no Seven-Eleven on the way so you need to pack and carry everything that you’ll be eating. Luckily this follows the same suit as the water – the more the day progresses the lighter the load gets.

On a more serious note: I recommend packing high-energy food like granola and energy bars dried fruits and nuts. Or, my personal favorite the trail mix – I mean, that’s why they invented it in the first place, right? Heat and eat packs are also a good idea and beat carrying heavy canned foods around.

Hunger pains are the first thing to put a damper on a great hiking trip so be prepared. A good tip is to spread the food-carrying load among the whole hiking party. Just make sure that if you run into an unexpected situation you must exercise food rationing so that everyone has something to eat to keep their energy and mood levels up.

Sun protection

Everyone loves a bit of sunlight on their face when they go for a nice hike in the woods – isn’t that the point really? Too much of a good thing sounds cliché, but when you’ve been walking on a hiking trail for 5 hours in the heat of the morning sun it can get a bit much.

Having adequate sun protection in your hiking backpack is a must-have if you plan on having an enjoyable journey.

A good wide-brim hat that offers protection for your face head and neck is a great option. A cap with a neck flat will also do the trick.

Sunscreen is essential but my tip is to use it sparingly – rather opt for loose-fitting clothes to cover up from the sun when extended exposure is unavoidable.

The last item, and my personal favourite is a good pair of sunglasses. If your budget allows, go for a pair that offers good polarised lenses, this will not only take the edge off glare but also helps with increased colour contrast – visual comfort is the aim of the game here.

Fire-starting tools

Having the ability to start a good campfire is vital not only to cook your food but essential to keeping warm and warding off unwanted animals if needed. Gone are the days of rubbing two sticks together to impress the ladies with your fire-making abilities and no, this isn’t an audition for the next Survivor season. Regarding fire starters, there’s a plethora of options on the market today.

My key advice with fire-starting tools is to pack multiple alternatives in your backpack because they don’t take up much space and having a backup is always a good idea. Opt for a good lighter and waterproof matches and if you really want to impress the hiking party a magnesium rod or fire steel is a great way to get the spark going for your campfire.

Multi-purpose knife or multi-tool

If you’re heading out into the wilderness you cannot leave the house without a multipurpose knife strapped to your belt buckle that’s easy to access at a moment’s notice.

There’s a multitude of brands offering various gadgets wrapped up into a compact unit. Whichever option you choose, make sure that it includes some or all of the following tools.

A sharp knife blade for cutting – preferably made of strong steel. A bottle / can opener is a definite must. Other tools like a saw, screwdriver, and pliers will also come in handy around the campsite. Additional options like tweezers, toothpicks, small compasses and magnifying glasses are always a great addition.

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Everyone knows the saying “You cannot be too prepared” so consider a multi-tool that has a fair amount of useful gadgets but won’t break the bank or one that to heavy or bulky to carry on your belt.

First-aid kit

When it comes to a first aid kit, its that one item that you always need to carry but hope you’ll never use.

Make sure that all the essential items are covered in your first aid kit and that you have enough kit for all the members in your hiking party. A key tip with this point is to share the load, if one person carries the first aid kit then someone else must carry some extra food or water.

It’s good practice to make sure that all the items in your kit are up to date, checked and cleaned regularly. Running into an emergency with an outdated first-aid kit is not ideal.

Your base kit should always have enough bandages, plasters, antiseptic spray & wipes, medical gloves and a blister repair kit. Other items like antihistamines, insect repellants, and pain relievers are also a great idea.

If anyone in your group has specific medical requirements, make sure that these items are also included. In any medical emergency, the more prepared you are the better off you’ll be.

Portable campfire cookware

It’s all good and well to carry enough food but if you don’t have any cookware to prepare it in then you’ll certainly put a damper on your comfort levels.

There are great portable cookware options on the market that are easy to carry and will make preparing your food a breeze. Choose a lightweight construction made from stainless steel or anodized aluminium, combine this with a wind-resistant camping stove and you’re all set for a great experience.

There’s nothing like enjoying a hot meal out in nature prepared on your own campfire cookware. Just make sure you don’t pack the kitchen sink because remember you must carry this cookware from start to finish.

Insect repelling device

There’s nothing like a blizzard of buzzing mosquitoes to put a damper on a great day hiking in the woods. So make sure you have an insect-repelling device to get rid of the unwanted pests

Your options here range from basic creams and sprays – which don’t always work – to wrist bands and clip-on disks that contain the active repelling ingredients.

My pro tip here would be to invest in a good electronic device that provides an insect-free bubble around your campsite by emitting high-pitched sound waves that ward off the pesky critters. These devices usually have multiple uses which include a torch and power bank. Just make sure the unit is fully charged before you head off to bed because no one wants a 3 am mosquito wake-up call.

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Solar Power bank

With the array of electronic devices we all carry these days, it’s wise to include a device that can recharge them all, right?

With a wide range available you are spoilt for choice in this regard. My pro tip would be to make sure the unit has a big enough battery to charge all your essentials. Spending the day hiking to the top of the mountain only to find your camera or smartphone battery has run and you have no other way to capture the memory is not ideal.

A good idea is to make sure your power bank has enough ports for all your devices with multiple options to cater for different connection types at the same time. If your budget allows, go for a unit that has a waterproof design that can withstand the elements.

My additional pro tip is to choose a solar power bank that incorporates into the top of your backpack – it’s going to be in the sun for most of the day so you might as well make good use of it.

That’s my take on the 13 essential items for your hiking backpack. Remember, this list encompasses all the basics you can add to this list and personalize it based on your specific hike’s duration, terrain, and weather conditions. Always prioritize safety along with water, food and shelter.

I wish you all the best on your outdoor adventure, have fun and enjoy the journey.