Hiking checklist – What to pack for a day’s hiking
You're looking forward to a great day's hiking, but packing your bag is a real chore and spoils the moment? To make your life easier, here's a checklist of essentials to pack before hitting the trails.
Clothing
- Hiking or trail shoes
- Socks
- Shorts / Leggings / Hiking pants (bottoms you’re comfortable in)
- Bra
- Technical T-shirt
- Long-sleeve top (if it’s a bit chilly)
- Jacket / Windbreaker
- Cap / Hat
- Neckband
Accessories
- Backpack (with chest strap for greater comfort)
- Water pouch and/or flask / filter flask
- Walking poles
- Headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Cell phone
- Watch
- Paper map (if you don’t have the itinerary on your watch or phone)
- External battery
- Camera
Against rain and cold (weather permitting)
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof pants
- Fleece
- Down jacket
- Gloves
- Bonnet / Headband
Nutrition and hydration
- Sufficient water (sometimes it’s better to carry too much than to run out!)
- Picnic
- Sweets, dried fruit, bars, compotes
- Micropur tablets (for recharging water from a stream) or filter flask
Health & Safety
- Small first-aid kit: bandages, disinfectant, compeed, compress
- Anti-tick tweezers
- Anti-friction cream
- Sun cream / Sun lip stick
- Survival blanket
- Whistle
Miscellaneous
- Credit card, cash, identity card
- Waste bag
- Swiss Army Knife / Opinel
- Handkerchiefs
- Binoculars for wildlife observation
Lolo’s little tips
- As with the other checklists(trail and bike), prepare your gear the day before so as not to waste time in the morning.
- Plan your route in advance to avoid detours on the day of the hike. Apps like Strava, Komoot, Decathlon Outdoor or Visorando can help!
- Always pack warm in the mountains, as the weather can change rapidly.
Thanks to this checklist, you’re ready to set off with peace of mind for a day in the great outdoors. To your bags, and happy adventuring!