Hiking Essentials (From a First Time Hiker)
After doing our first big hike EVER in the beautiful mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park, we definitely learned some big do’s and don’ts when it comes to what to pack in your hiking bag.
First off, lets talk about clothing.
The weather in the mountains can be truly unpredictable. We went in early September and it was in the 90’s the first day, and the 30’s the next with snow and rain sprinkled in throughout the rest of the week
That being said, the first (and probably most important thing) is what you wear.
1. Layer your clothing
Having lightweight layers will help when you have those chilly mornings and warmer afternoons. We had a little bit of weather shock and weren’t prepared for the cold, so we had bundled up with hoodies and bulky jackets that after about half a mile we shed as our body temperature rose from walking.
In the future, we will probably just stick with the thin light jackets we originally planned on and tough out the little bit of cold first off. The weight of the jackets wasn’t super helpful and since we had not originally planned on bringing them, they didn’t fit in our bags when we took them off.
We litterally had to tie one of the hoodies to the outside of our backpack……lol
2. Have REALLY comfortable shoes
Especially if your hike is long, blisters are seriously no joke! We made the decision before our trip to invest in some hiking boots and we were so glad we did! While climbing over rocks and traveling down the rougher/wetter terrain, our minimal tread tennis shoes absolutely would NOT have cut it!
You really want to make sure you shoes are well broken in before any serious hiking as well to help your feet get accustomed to walking long distances and so you can better fix any potential rub spots.
Wrapping those rub spots with waterproof bandaids is also a big help!
My Husband’s Hiking Shoes: Columbia Men’s Crestwood Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot, Breathable, High-Traction Grip, 10 Regular US, cordovan, squash
My Hiking Shoes: Columbia Women’s Crestwood Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe, Dark Truffle, Plum Purple, 9.5 Regular US
3. Have a comfortable backpack
We each had a backpack as we were carrying alot of camera equipment in addition to normal hiking gear. Mine had thicker wider straps and my husband’s had thinner more plush straps. As the hike went on, we traded to share the weight and we found that we were actually both more comfortable when we traded!
That being said, take some practice hikes to make sure you are comfortable with that bag you are carrying
Alright, now for what to actually pack in your bag:
1. WATER and a way to get more
This is definitely one of the most important items as this is what will make or break your hike. Make sure you have a decent sized water bottle that is easy for you to drink out of.
Make sure you are drinking LOTS to keep your body energized and fight fatigue. Trust me, when you are in high altitude, your body fights alot harder and you will be glad you drank your water!
There are not water fountains or places to get clean water while out on the trails, so having a small water filter is 100% recommended!
I truly thought that this would be a silly purchase and that we wouldn’t need, it, but now it is the one item I don’t think I will ever go on a hike without! The one we used was only $20 and super easy to use! We were able to fill our bottles up several times from rivers and lakes and not have to worry about getting sick!
Here is the Filter we used: Sawyer Products SP128 Mini Water Filtration System, Single, Blue
2. High Energy Snacks
Remember how I said your body works alot harder in higher altitudes? Yeah, definitely having some great snacks will help exponentially! We had the usual trail snacks like trail mix, granola bars, and beef jerky, but you can also add some higher protein and carb filled items to yours as well.
It’s also a good idea to have more snacks than you think you will need, as you never know what may happen and it’s always good to be prepared in case you get stuck out there longer than you anticipated
3. Survival Essentials – Fire, Shelter, First Aid, and a Knife
These are all things that hopefully you won’t have to use, but you will be so glad to have them if you do!
We had a small kit of matches, a few emergency blankets, first aid items such as tylenol, bandages, and disinfectant, and of course a good ol’ pocket knife!
It doesn’t have to be fancy, just make sure your bases are covered!
UCO Stormproof Match Kit with Waterproof Case, 25 Stormproof Matches and 3 Strikers – Orange
4. Bathroom Essentials
This sounds super silly, but trust me, when you are out in the woods and you gotta do your business, you will thank me that you though of this!
Having a little bit of toilet paper or wipes will help you to feel a little fresher, but DON’T FORGET to bring a ziplock bag to dispose of your trash afterwards. You should never leave trash out on the trails and unless you remember to bring a shovel to dig a hole to bury it….. well…. enough said.
Coleman Camper’s Toilet Paper, 3 Rolls
5. Hiking Sticks
We knew we wanted to bring these, but we didn’t realize how helpful they truly were! When you are going uphill for miles, it can be really hard on your knees to constantly pull your body weight forward.
The hiking sticks helped to relieve some of that pressure and the ones we had were collapsable so we could put them in our bags when we didn’t want to use them.
These are pretty similar to the one’s we used: Bafx Products Trekking Walking Hiking Poles Adjustable for All Heights, Durable & Lightweight Aluminum
6. Something to take some pictures!
This can be as simple as your phone or even a real camera if you are doing something more professional. Just remember the heavier the items you bring, the heavier your bag will be and no one can carry it but YOU!
We have a youtube channel, so we do some heavy vlogging, but we definitely learned our lesson to minimize how much equipment we bring! All in all, you will want to make sure you at least have something to capture some of those special moments and of course those gorgeous views you will find along the way!
We saw a mama Moose with her calf!
7. Chapstick
Trust me…. Even if you think you won’t need it…. You will… That’s all I’m going to say.
8. BONUS – Extra Hiking Socks
After sweating all day, a change of socks can feel oh so good and give you that extra little boost to keep going! Don’t forget to get some sock liners to help wick moisture from your feet!
Merino Wool Hiking & Walking Socks 3 pack (Light Grey, US Women 11-13 // US Men 9.5-12.5)
Get the sock liners! They are life savers! Fox River Men’s Wick Dry Altura Crew Sock Liner, 3 Pack (Olive, Large)
Now just a few tips on what NOT to bring
As I mentioned earlier, don’t bring bulky clothing. Layers are good, but make sure that they are easy to fold up small enough to fit in your bag
Bulky Food Containers – Even though it isn’t the most Eco friendly, ziplock bags do just fine and when your food is gone, you aren’t still carrying around those bulky containers
Extra Water bottles – If you have a water filter, you hopefully shouldn’t need one. Just make sure that the main bottle you have is large enough to last you awhile. Save yourself the extra weight!
Whatever you take with you on your hike, just remember to be safe, have fun, and enjoy the beauty of nature that’s all around you!
