Before setting out on a hike, prepare a checklist
of items needed for your backpacking trip. The items taken along on a
hiking trip can vary depending on the particular
type of hike you are going on, the time
of year and the length of the trip.Hikers Checklist
Before setting out on a hike, prepare a checklist
of items needed for your backpacking trip. The items taken along on a
hiking trip can vary depending on the particular
type of hike you are going on, the time
of year and the length of the trip.
It is important to take with you those items which are essential (such as food and clothing), and items which could save your - or someone else's life. Packing too much stuff can increase the weight of your pack, and could possibly make your trip miserable. Use the checklist below as a general guide to help you decide what to take on your trip. If you are not an experienced hiker, be sure to check with an experienced hiker to see if your check list is sufficient. Please note that the information provided is only a guide.
Hiking Check list (weekend or
extended trip)
| CLOTHING | GEAR and MISCELLANEOUS |
|---|---|
| Socks (at least 2 pair) | Plastic Garbage Bag (2) |
| lightweight (non-cotton) shirt tops | Water purifier (filter, tablets, Hydro-Photon steri-Pen) |
| Long underwear, tops and bottoms | Sunscreen and sunglasses |
| Three layers of shirts or sweaters | Water bottles (2) or hydration system (camelback) with water |
| Wind and Rain gear ( GoreTex ) | Compass (how about an altimeter ?) (GPS unit) |
| Liner gloves (2 pair) | Hiking Map. TerraTopo Map ! |
| Mittens (cool weather) | Guidebook for area. (plants, mushrooms, other...) |
| Mittens (leather or handling stuff on fire!) | Head lamp with spare batteries and bulb. |
| Hat(s) | Personal first aid kit. |
| Neck warmer(s) | Sleeping bag |
| Balaclava | Sleeping pad (optional) |
| Hiking Boots | Tent (optional unless you sleep under the stars and like rain) |
| Sandals (Chaco, Teva, Nike) | Pliers/Knife (Gerber, Leatherman) |
| Beanie and Hankie | Whistle |
| Lightweight Fleece (nylon/polyester) | Pepper Spray (for those critters) |
| bra (for the gals) | Fire Starter (Matches / Butane lighter or waterproof matches) |
| Hiking Boots | Soap (biodegradable) |
| Pants (no cotton!) | Towel(s) |
| Insulating Pants (cold weather) | Toilet Paper |
| Extra set of Boot laces | Cooking Gear (stove, knife, fork, spoon, cups, extra stove fuel) |
| Coffee, Chocolate, Tea | |
|
FOOD |
Aluminum Foil |
| Precooked (dehydrated) food | Insect Repellant |
| Energy Bars | Binoculars |
| Instant Oats | Pain Tablets (Tylenol/Aspirin) |
| Dried Meats/Fish | Disinfectants Ointment |
| Pasta/Sauce | Headlamp / flashlight |
| Spices and Salt | Signal mirror |
| Dried Fruit and Nuts / Peanut butter | Nylon cord (50 feet) |
|
TOILETRIES |
Emergency food (power bar, chocolate) |
| Aspirin /Ibuprofen |
Other Stuff |
| Lip balm | Fishing gear and license |
| Disinfectant / Antibiotic Ointment | Thermometer |
| Scissors | A tube of GOOP |
| Vaseline | Pencil/Pen and Paper. (Try wrapping duct tape around pencil) |
| glasses/Contact supplies | Duct Tape (see item above if you do not want to carry whole roll) |
| toothbrush / toothpaste | Ball of string and nylon |
| Dental floss | Pack cover or garbage bags |
FABRICS
The best fabrics for outdoor wear are synthetic (man-made) fabrics like nylon, acrylic and polypropylene. Wool clothing is also acceptable. DO NOT USE COTTON in cold weather. Why? Cotton absorbs moisture like a sponge and holds it next to the skin. This quality is perfect for hot, desert hiking where you want to keep your body cool. But it is deadly in the cold. WET skin + COLD air = HYPOTHERMIA. Therefore, NO COTTON!
“Layering” refers to dressing in multiple, relatively thin layers of clothing rather than one or two thick, heavy layers. Layering in this way provides more versatility over a wider range of temperature and activity conditions. The goal is to NOT SWEAT. You don’t want moisture on your skin. When you are hiking up hill and working hard, you get hot, so you peel-off a layer. When you get to the top and sit down to rest, you get cold, so you add a layer. In other words, don’t hike in a t-shirt and parka. You’ll have no options to regulate your body temperature. A pair of long underwear (polypro) helps wicks the moisture away when its cold.
INNER LAYER (next to your skin) NO COTTON
1. Long underwear top and bottoms made of polypropylene or some similar synthetic material. Cost: $20 - $35 per piece. Expensive, but this next-to-the-skin layer is an important one. Polypropylene wicks (draws away) moisture (sweat) from the skin keeping it dry and, thereby, warm. And when it does get wet, it dries very quickly.
2. Socks. Your sock “system” includes wearing two pair, one thin polypropylene inner sock to wick moisture and one thick wool or synthetic outer sock for insulation and padding. Feet sweat. Damp feet inside damp socks causes rubbing and chafing, which causes blisters and, damp feet get cold. Carry at least 1 change of socks.
MIDDLE LAYER (for insulation) NO COTTON
This is your clothing layer. Again, NO COTTON. That includes -- no blue jeans. Jeans are lousy for hiking especially in snow where it is almost impossible to NOT get them wet. Remember the cold weather formula: WET + COLD = DANGER.
1. Shirt. Long-sleeved, quick drying, synthetic fabric or wool.
2. Hiking pants. Quick drying, synthetic fabric or wool. Some manufacturers make hiking pants with zippered thighs that can be unzipped and made into shorts. These cost $55 - $80.
3. Wool sweater or Polyester fleece top.
4. Insulated jacket or parka with hood. Water-resistant or waterproof outer lining is best. This is your warmest piece of clothing.
5. Warm hat, stocking cap or ski mask. Most of your body’s heat escapes from your head.
OUTER (SHELL) LAYER
The primary purpose of this layer is to protect you from exterior elements - wind, rain and snow.1. A windproof, waterproof jacket (GorTex) and pants are best. A poncho and rain pants will also work, however plastic ponchos do not breath (retain body's moisture inside poncho) and they can whip around in a strong wind and, thereby, not fully protect you from the rain.
2. Waterproof, windproof mittens. Mittens are warmer than gloves because the fingers get to share their warmth. Wear synthetic or wool gloves under the mittens for extra warmth and to keep your hands warm when you have to take your mittens off to perform some task that requires fingers.
3. Gaiters. These are waterproof leggings that cover the lower leg from the top of the boot to just below the knee. They help keep your pants dry and snow out of your boots when trudging through deep snow.
Get a bag that provides the most warmth with the least bulk and weight. Down filled bags are best but require more care than other synthetic-filled bags. Go with a good synthetic bag to begin with.
The best sleeping bag for summer use is a bag with a water resistant nylon shell and polyester filler material that is rated at +20 degrees Fahrenheit. Store your bag by hanging it up or stuffing it loosely into a large cotton pillowcase or laundry bag. Don’t leave it compressed in its stuff sack for storage as this will compress the fibers and reduce its insulating capability.
HYPOTHERMIA: THE YEAR-ROUND KILLER
(hypo = below + thermia = heat) Below normal body temperature
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Hypothermia stalks them all. Any time of the year a hiker can get wet. If he, then, also gets cold, he could die. Moisture on the body in the form of snow, rain or even sweat can conspire with cold or even merely cool temperatures to bring about a condition where the body is losing heat faster than it can generate it and its core temperature drops below the normal 98.6 degrees. This is HYPOTHERMIA. It is a life-threatening condition, if not quickly handled. Proper clothing is the key to accomplishing that.