Beginner Hiking Tips: 10 Essentials Things You Must Prepare

Hiking has always been a great escape. On a hike, you're more a human being than just a mere job title. Besides, hiking is so beneficial for our body and mental health. You'll spend your whole day on the uphill path, with the sun, green trees, and nature. This is the real definition of healing.

Hiking is free and open to people of all physical abilities, making it a wonderful outdoor activity for everyone. But if you're new to this activity, it might seem a bit threatening. To help you get your first adventure safe and enjoyable, there are a lot of things to prepare start from choosing the proper trail based on your physical capability, getting small exercises before hiking, checking the time and weather, as well as getting the essential stuff to bring with you. Basically, what you pack will depend on how many days you planned to go, where you plan to stay, and the weather.

On this occasion, we have summed up ten essential stuff to bring with you on your simple day-hiking. Make sure you won't miss a piece from the stuff we mentioned below!

So, without further ado, here's the list:

1. A Proper Backpack

Photo by j.mt_photography on pexels

When it comes to hiking, your comfort comes first. And those comfort can be coming from the things that seem trivial to you: a backpack. While you are hiking, it's better to get the most proper bag with you. Aside from the size, you have to consider the backpack strap and the colour.

In the case of getting robust hiking equipment, you can get a 20 to 35 litres daypack. Get the one with a sternum strap and interior pockets on it. This will ease you in grabbing anything important like your bottle of water or snacks. In addition, consider having a vibrant coloured bag, a white backpack will blend you with the fog and a black backpack will blend you with the dark night. Safety comes first, and if anything bad happens, the vibrant coloured backpack will help people to find you easier.

2. Rain gear

Weather changes, and it changes more quickly in the mountains. Since bad weather might occur at any time, you can bring a lightweight raincoat or a disposable one. It's important to keep yourself in the best condition and make yourself comfortable with the rain jacket.

3. Headlamp or Flashlight

There's nothing wrong with bringing a headlamp or flashlight with you. You can get the lightweight one, even a headlamp will make you hands-free while still providing lights. Moreover, you'll need a source of light to guide you back to the trailhead if you get stuck on the trail after dark.

One more thing to remember; Make sure they are fully charged before you put them inside your backpack.

4. First Aid

An emergency is uncommon, but minor injuries like cramping, blisters, and cuts might occur, still. There’s nothing wrong with bringing first aid. For a simple day hike, the pocket-sized first aid kit is enough, just make sure you know how to use them properly.

A packaged hiker's first aid kits are apparently sold at outdoor stores, you can also arrange your own kits. You can bring antiseptic wipes, bandages, insect sting treatment, antibacterial ointment, and many more. You should also include lightweight and waterproof matches, as well as a tiny whistle that you may use to attract attention in case of an emergency.

5. Sun Protection

Sunburn is the worst enemy, but you can get sun protection in any form. In that case, you can bring a hat, sunglasses, and a bottle of sunscreen which you can apply frequently. Please note that sun protection is essential both in hot weather and snow. Through "snow blindness", snow can reflect the sun lights and throws some intense rays back to you on winter treks.

6. Navigational Tools

What is more important than navigational tools during your hike? Hiking GPS systems can be essential to finding your way through the wilderness. It's also essential to know where you are and where you're heading to. There are several trail-finding websites and applications available. We strongly recommend you to have a couple of these downloaded on your smartphone. Considering the outdoors where batteries and internet are sometimes hard to find, you can bring a portable power bank with you.

Having backup navigation is also recommended since you can’t rely 100% on your phone. In that case, bring a waterproof detailed map as well as a compass to assist you to find your way. There's nothing wrong to bring an emergency communication device, such as the Garmin Mini, which lets you send text messages when cell service is unavailable.

7. Lots of Water

While hiking, it’s always better to bring more water than you imagine you’ll need. To estimate the amount of water you need; for every hour of hiking, bring at least 0.5L (16.9 oz) of water, if you’re going on a hot or difficult tray we recommend you to increase your water supply by two times. You can also bring a water filter like the use of a purifier, chemical tablets, or simply boil the water before you drink it.

This is important to get you away from the risk of heat stroke, altitude sickness, and hypothermia. But after all, you want to be in your best body condition, don't you? And to stay hydrated, you can enjoy your adventure without any worry.

8. Energizing Snacks

Aside from hydration, the nutrition for your body is no less important. While hiking you'll burn more calories than in your daily activities. So, don't just take a bar of granola and expect it will be enough for your journey. Instead, bring enough nutrition to keep you energized on the trail. If you can't decide on what to bring, you can have some nuts, granola bars, dehydrated meals, or trail mix.

Furthermore, it's better to bring extra. Since we don't know if there will be any unforeseen event that'll make our return delayed.

9. Multi-Purpose Tool

This is a better idea than you have to choose and buy separate tools. With multitools, you can perform any task as they combine an entire box of bulky large tools into one tiny portable device. Indeed you want to have your backpack as lightweight as possible, don’t you?

In the case of hiking, multi-tool can aid you with bandage or Moleskin cutting, food preparation, equipment maintenance, and many more. Additionally, bring a duct tape to help you fix things.

10. Shelter

Bringing an ultra-compact lightweight shelter or sleeping bag is never wrong. Especially if the weather is unpredictable and you unexpectedly have to stay a night outdoors. While this incident is pretty uncommon, though.

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Final thoughts

It's a great start to preparing yourself with the ten essentials of hiking, especially for beginners. Indeed we don't want to ruin our adventure by not being in the best condition or getting bothered over things because we are less prepared. So, write down all the needs and pack it!

Good luck on your adventure, peeps!