So Krista, what's in your pack? Friends new to hiking often ask me what to bring and why I carry what I do. I hike in a 4 seasons, normally in Ontario and Upper New York State. My hiking normally takes me up 1000ft (300m) to 7000ft (2100m) per day, and hikes can be as long as 33km (21miles).
Most hikes I do go out of cellphone range, so I carry a SPOT device on me always. I have summitted almost 100 peaks in this area of the world, in every month of the year, and have gained some insight on what to bring in order to be prepared.
I like to strike a balance between keeping my pack weight down and bringing extras to keep my prepared IF I ever needed to stay out overnight in an emergency. This has never happened thankfully!
Each time we approach a new season, it's time to swap out some items out of my hiking pack. Here is my day hiking gear list for the different seasons:
Summer Fall/Spring Winter
Small 15-30L pack Medium 25-30L sized pack Large 40L pack
2-3L water/Gatorade 2-3L water/Gatorade 2-3L water and bottleparka
Short gaiters Short gaiters &/or Long Gaiters Short and Long Gaiters together
Boots (snowsealed) Boots (snowsealed) Boots (snowsealed)
Socks Socks and extra socks Socks and extra socks
Shorts Pants or shorts Shell jacket and softshell pants
T-shirt T-shirt, LS base, vest/softshell jkt Long baselayer and thin fleece
SPF/bugspray SPF SPF? Hand/foot warmers
Hat Hat and Toque Light and Heavy Toque
Sunglasses Sunglasses Sunglasses
Poles Poles (bring baskets) Poles with baskets, Ice Axe?
Survival kit &First aid Survival kit & first aid Survival kit, First Aid, full bivy
Compass and map Compass and map Compass and map
GPS & extra batteries GPS and extra batteries GPS and extra batteries
Headlamp &batteries Headlamp & extra batteries Headlamp & extra batteries
Rainjacket and pants Rainjacket and pants Down jacket,downpants, & booty
Extra Layer-longsleeve Down jkt, extra base/fleece Extra baselayer, extra mittens
Bottle of Gatorade Gatorade or Thermos of tea Thermos of tea
Camera Gloves and Mittens Gloves and Mittens and extras
Cellphone Snowshoes? Microspikes? Snowshoes, crampons, or spikes
Camera Camera Camera
Cellphone Cellphone Cellphone (keep battery warm)
Blue foam square Foam square to sit on Large foam piece to sit/lie on
Plastic bags to line pack, Plastic bags to line pack, Plastic bags to line pack,
waterproof items, waterproof items, waterproof items, emergency
emergency wet boots emergency line wet boots emergency line wet boots
Stuff sacks Stuff sacks Stuff sacks
PLB or SPOT PLB or SPOT PLB or SPOT
Rain cover for pack Rain cover for pack Toilet Paper&Hand Sanitizer
Toilet Paper& HS Toilet Paper& Hand Sanitizer
Survival kit contents include things like: Small firestarters, water tablets, extra food, extra batteries, emergency blankets, large orange garbage bags, swiss army knife with saw, 24hr hand/foot warmers, whistle, electrolyte tablets, matches, etc.
First Aid Kit contents include things like: Athletic tape, triangular bandage, antiseptic swabs, gauze, pain meds, blister bandages, etc.
To print a copy of my list click here. If you have any questions comment below, I'd love to hear from you!
Happy Hiking!
Krista
Most hikes I do go out of cellphone range, so I carry a SPOT device on me always. I have summitted almost 100 peaks in this area of the world, in every month of the year, and have gained some insight on what to bring in order to be prepared.
I like to strike a balance between keeping my pack weight down and bringing extras to keep my prepared IF I ever needed to stay out overnight in an emergency. This has never happened thankfully!
Each time we approach a new season, it's time to swap out some items out of my hiking pack. Here is my day hiking gear list for the different seasons:
Summer Fall/Spring Winter
Small 15-30L pack Medium 25-30L sized pack Large 40L pack
2-3L water/Gatorade 2-3L water/Gatorade 2-3L water and bottleparka
Short gaiters Short gaiters &/or Long Gaiters Short and Long Gaiters together
Boots (snowsealed) Boots (snowsealed) Boots (snowsealed)
Socks Socks and extra socks Socks and extra socks
Shorts Pants or shorts Shell jacket and softshell pants
T-shirt T-shirt, LS base, vest/softshell jkt Long baselayer and thin fleece
SPF/bugspray SPF SPF? Hand/foot warmers
Hat Hat and Toque Light and Heavy Toque
Sunglasses Sunglasses Sunglasses
Poles Poles (bring baskets) Poles with baskets, Ice Axe?
Survival kit &First aid Survival kit & first aid Survival kit, First Aid, full bivy
Compass and map Compass and map Compass and map
GPS & extra batteries GPS and extra batteries GPS and extra batteries
Headlamp &batteries Headlamp & extra batteries Headlamp & extra batteries
Rainjacket and pants Rainjacket and pants Down jacket,downpants, & booty
Extra Layer-longsleeve Down jkt, extra base/fleece Extra baselayer, extra mittens
Bottle of Gatorade Gatorade or Thermos of tea Thermos of tea
Camera Gloves and Mittens Gloves and Mittens and extras
Cellphone Snowshoes? Microspikes? Snowshoes, crampons, or spikes
Camera Camera Camera
Cellphone Cellphone Cellphone (keep battery warm)
Blue foam square Foam square to sit on Large foam piece to sit/lie on
Plastic bags to line pack, Plastic bags to line pack, Plastic bags to line pack,
waterproof items, waterproof items, waterproof items, emergency
emergency wet boots emergency line wet boots emergency line wet boots
Stuff sacks Stuff sacks Stuff sacks
PLB or SPOT PLB or SPOT PLB or SPOT
Rain cover for pack Rain cover for pack Toilet Paper&Hand Sanitizer
Toilet Paper& HS Toilet Paper& Hand Sanitizer
Survival kit contents include things like: Small firestarters, water tablets, extra food, extra batteries, emergency blankets, large orange garbage bags, swiss army knife with saw, 24hr hand/foot warmers, whistle, electrolyte tablets, matches, etc.
First Aid Kit contents include things like: Athletic tape, triangular bandage, antiseptic swabs, gauze, pain meds, blister bandages, etc.
To print a copy of my list click here. If you have any questions comment below, I'd love to hear from you!
Happy Hiking!
Krista
Hiking in late September in the Adirondack Mountains, New York
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