Hiking is endlessly rewarding. Experiencing the great outdoors first hand, reaping the benefits both physically and mentally of this simple, pure form of exercise… There are countless things to say in favour of hiking, but when it comes to your first walk, an important consideration looms: what on earth should you bring with you?
A few things might seem obvious, even to the uninitiated. Good boots, waterproofs in case of rain, some kind of backpack. But many experienced hikers will remember a walk, early into their enjoyment of the hobby, when they realised – halfway through the route – that they’d forgotten something invaluable.
To make things easy, we’ve put together this guide to the things you should bring with you on your first ever hike. While you might not need to bring everything on this list, we’re starting with the basics, and will aim to include all of the ‘must-haves’…
Preparing for your first hike
Before you get going on your first ‘proper’ hike, and before you even begin packing your rucksack, you need to make sure you’ve done enough preparation. It’s easy to go overboard here, so we’ll focus on the essentials: you need to be confident you know what you’ll need to bring, and you need to have it ready. This means doing a bit of homework!
The goal should be to put together a list of the things you know you’ll need to have with you. This will differ depending on a few things – the length of your walk, the terrain you’ll be taking on, and other individual things like any dietary requirements, medicine you might need to take, etc.
To get started with your equipment list, there are lots of places you can turn. A quick internet search can return plenty of sources of insight, from helpful hiking blogs to video guides – and these are a great place to start. Have a read of some resources (like this one) for inspiration about things you’ll definitely need, and might want to bring, and start making notes.
Once you’re satisfied, check off everything you currently own, everything you’ll need to get hold of, and make a note of some ‘nice to have’ things that aren’t urgent for now – to ensure you spend your money wisely. Once you have everything together, the final stage of preparation is to pack your bag; make sure to do this the night before, rather than the morning of your first hike – you’ll have a clear head, won’t be tired, and will leave yourself enough time to realise if you forgot anything. Click here, for more tips and ideas when it comes to Hiking.
Now, to the actual things you’ll need to bring…
Things to wear
We’ll start with the things to actually wear on your hike, as these are arguably the things you’ll use the most! We’ll work from the ground up:
Boots: You’ll want a sturdy pair of walking or hiking shoes, preferably boots. These should be waterproof, or treated with a waterproof coating. Inside them should be a pair of comfy, warm socks – thicker is better as they’ll rub less.
Trousers or shorts: If you’re walking in the cold or wet, you’ll want waterproof trousers. If you’re walking in the sun, shorts are fine, providing you won’t be walking through any bushes or long grass (beware of ticks!), in which case opt for trousers.
T shirt and jumpers: It’s important to bring breathable tops, so a short-sleeved t-shirt and lightweight jumper are a great idea. It’s important to keep warm, but you want to be able to quickly add or remove layers if the weather changes.
Waterproofs: Check the weather before your walk, and if it’s due to rain, wear a good quality waterproof (and ideally windproof) coat. It’s also a good option to invest in some waterproof gaiters too, if your budget can stretch.
Hat, scarf, gloves: Hats are important in both sun and rain – bring a sunhat in the summer, or a beanie or other warm hat if it’s cold out. The same goes for gloves and scarves; bring them if it’s chilly!
Things to eat
On to the thing that can be the icing on the cake (particularly if you literally bring cake…) – the food to bring along to keep your energy levels up as you walk.
Water. Plenty of water: The most important thing you’ll bring on a hike with you. You need to have a supply of water to last you the entire time you’re out on the trail, and you need to be sipping it regularly. A backpack water container, such as a Camelbak, is a great way to carry water with you.
High-energy snacks: Bring a good supply of high-energy snacks. This could mean whole grain or cereal bars, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and other slow-release energising foods.
A hearty lunch: If your hike will take place over an entire day, then be sure to pack a dedicated lunch rather than relying on snacks for the duration. Sandwiches, crisps, chocolate bars – whatever takes your fancy!
Treats…: It’s a good idea to pack a few treats to munch on at a couple of points during your walk. A sugary, indulgent snack is a great way to heighten the enjoyment of the day!
Things to pack
With your wearables and edibles all accounted for, now onto the ‘stuff’ you’ll need to bring along on your first hike. These things are a little bit more optional, but the bare essentials include:
Phone, and GPS: If you’re the owner of a smartphone, then it will likely have GPS facilities, but it’s not a bad idea to have a dedicated GPS to leave turned off in your backpack (and thus not liable to drain of battery, as phones are).
Be sure to bring your phone too though, just in case you need to get in touch with anyone – as a worst case, the phone can contact the emergency services even without signal, an invaluable failsafe on a hike in the wilderness.
Wallet, keys: Obvious, yes, but put them on your list nonetheless. When you’ve got so much to think about, the things you always have with you can fall by the wayside!
Rucksack: You’ll need to bring a rucksack of adequate size, but don’t go overboard for your first hike. A sturdy backpack will be fine for the most part, and will be less cumbersome. If you eventually start doing longer hikes and camping trips, a larger rucksack might become necessary but for now, a simple bag is fine!
Map: Even with the wonders of modern technology and route planning, a good old fashioned paper map is a must-have. Make sure you have an up to date map for the area you’re visiting, and mark your route on it.
Compass: You may well not need or intend to use a compass and map on your first walk, particularly if you’re following a simple route – but it’s a good idea to have them, as a worst-case-scenario backup.
Suncream: If it’s going to be a sunny day, be sure to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun! A bottle of adequate-factor suncream is an important item to have in the bag.
Torch: You probably won’t need it, but a torch is a smart piece of safety gear to have with you, should it get dark or should you need to signal for help.
Whistle: As above, a great backup item to have if you need to get someone’s attention out in the wilderness.
First aid & emergency gear: A must-have, even though you probably won’t use them. Plasters (or band-aids), disinfectant spray, bandages, saline solution, and other basic first aid items (ideally in a small first aid kit) are an important thing to take along.
Ready to go? Good luck!
This may seem like a fairly long list of things, but by bringing them all along, you can be certain that whatever your first hike throws at you, you’re well equipped to handle it. Even if you bring everything on this list, you’ll still only fill a medium-sized bag – and it shouldn’t weigh too much. We hope this list has been helpful, and provides you with a good starting point for your first ever hike – good luck!
This article was contributed by Gavin Evans, owner of Roaming Spices, a UK-based hiking blog offering hike reports, tips, tricks, and advice on making the most of your time out on the trail.