Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Hiking is a good way to stay healthy. It will increase your heart rate and get your blood pumping. Regular activity can reduce the risk of both heart disease and stroke. In fact, according to the British Heart Foundation, you can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by 35% by being more active. This 10 hiking essentials for beginners is a checklist of gear that will help you prepare for your next hiking adventure.
Hiking Clothes & Shoes
Walking Shoes
Because hiking involves a lot of walking on different terrain, it is very important to have well-sturdy and good-quality walking shoes. The primary functions of hiking shoes are to protect your feet from bruising and abrasion caused by rough wilderness terrain, to cushion your soles, and to provide good traction on rough, steep, slippery, wet, and muddy terrain.
These are my recommended walking shoes. I have them and use them on my hiking trails.
Socks
Having good quality hiking shoes or boots is not the only thing you need to protect your feet from bruising and blisters. When I went on my first 13-mile hike in Thetford Forest, I had no idea how important socks are. My feet became infested with blisters on my toes, the back of my feet, and around my ankles. They were so large that I couldn’t wear shoes for days. The thickness and material used should be factors to consider when purchasing your next pair of socks.
These are the socks that I use for my hiking trips. I always consider the weather and temperature when choosing which socks, as thermal socks a best for snow and cold weather conditions.
Zip Trouser
These multi-purpose convertible trousers zip at the knee and quickly transform into shorts, keeping you cool when the weather warms up while also being ready to zip back into trousers at a moment’s notice.
These are my favourite zip trousers.
Hiking Tops
The type of hiking tops or t-shirts you wear will be determined by the weather. If the weather is cold, you’ll be wearing a thermal merino base top. If the weather is nice and warm, a thin top will be ideal. In the winter, I always wear two layers, a thermal base and a wool zip-up top, while in the summer, I wear a simple t-shirt or any gym shirt. Below are the base layers and gym tops I use when I am hiking.
Additional Clothing
The great outdoors can be very unpredictable. Here are a list of additional protection that I carry with me on a hiking trip especially if the trip lasts more than a day or the weather changes unexpectedly.
- Easy to pack waterproof shell layers
- Gloves to protects my hands for cold weather conditions
- Extra change socks
- Raincoats or Poncho
Navigation
Waterproof Map
Your map must be waterproof so that you can use it even if it rains. A map is essential on any hike, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area. If you don’t have a smart device, your GPS battery has died, or you can’t get good mobile data to load your maps and hiking apps, a waterproof map is a great alternative. You can find a lot of weather proof maps on Amazon.
Compass
A compass is a traditional method of navigation. We rarely use the old-school compass for navigation anymore due to technological advancement; however, knowing how to use a compass can be a lifesaver if your GPS device does not work or if you are in an area where the signal is very poor, such as some areas of Ben Nevis in Scotland. Amazon has a lot of different types of compass you can get for reasonable prices.
Altimeter
When combined with a map and compass, an altimeter can be a powerful navigation tool for hikers and backpackers. If you’re hiking in terrain with ups and downs and have a topographic map with you, an altimeter can help you find your way. A very popular Altimeter device among hikers and backpackers is the Garmin inReach Mini.
Smartphone Applications
You can also download Google Maps for offline use as a backup. AllTrails and Gaia GPS are apps and websites for navigating and tracking day hikes; you can sign up for a free or premium account.
Food
It is critical that you bring more than enough nutrition to keep you going and that you choose the right foods and drinks to preserve your energy. Dry foods, such as granola bars or mixed nuts, are a convenient source of extra food when hiking. They are light weight and easy to eat while you are on the go.
Hydration
The most important aspect of any hiking trip is to stay hydrated. You should never go without water for more than a few hours, especially if the weather is hot. Always begin your day with a full bottle of water. The amount of water you’ll need to bring depends on how long and far your hiking trail is. Check the area for water sources before going on your next hiking trip, learning how to purify water is beneficial.
There are many ways to bring water during your hiking trip. My favourite hydration system is a water bladder. It conveniently fits into my backpack. A traditional way of getting hydrated is bringing a water bottle. Then there’s LifeStraw. LifeStraw is a water filtration and purification device brand. It can filter up to 4000 litres of water, which is enough for one person for three years. It eliminates virtually all waterborne bacteria, microplastics, and parasites.
Sun Protection
Sunglasses
I always advise bringing sunglasses. Sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection are required to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
Sun Cream
Applying sun cream will protect your skin from the damaging effect of UV rays. Wearing sun cream is not just for hot weather even on cool or cloudy days, UV rays can be harmful.
Headwear
Hats are excellent for providing all-around sun protection and keeping cool. Hats with a wider brim protect the sides of your face and neck as well.
Light
I always bring a head torch with me. Out of curiosity, I will always explore caves and other dark spaces when I am hiking. Not only that, but a head torch is essential to keep in your backpack for safety reasons because you never know when you will need one. If you require assistance, a torch can also be used to signal for help. Also, keep spare batteries on hand. Here are some of the most highly rated head torches on Amazon.
Fire
While on the trail, you must be able to light a fire safely. Fire serves as a heat source, a light source, a cooking appliance, and an emergency signal, among other things. Bring dependable tools with you, such as waterproof matches and a lighter. Your trail’s dry grass and sticks work perfectly. The one I always carry with me is GERBER Bear Grylls Fire Starter. It is small lightweight and very easy to use. Plus it comes with a rescue whistle, in case I will need one.
First Aid
Here is a list of first aid items I have in my backpack.
- Bandages
- Plastic Strips
- Gauze Pads
- Medical Tape
- Antiseptic
- Compeed for Blisters
- Tweezers for splinters
- Hand Sanitizer
- Anti-Diarrheal medicine
- Topical antibiotics
- Over the Counter Painkillers (Ibuprofen and Paracetamol
The kit that I bought from Amazon is small and compact but has almost everything that I need for a first aid kit. I would highly recommend having Compeed on your medical kit. It helped me so many times and I will never go on a hike without it anymore. Another thing I highly recommend to make sure you have is Smith & Nephew Inc. Iodosorb Gel it will keep your wound clean and also aids with healing.
Repair Kit & Tool
A basic repair kit is a great thing to have on hand in case of an emergency. Duct tape, tenacious tape, scissors, a knife, and a screwdriver are examples of common household items. A survival multi-tool is also worth considering because it is compact and easy easy-to-carry.
Emergency Shelter
Day hikers frequently overlook the shelter, but in an emergency, you may find yourself spending the night outside and in need of a warm and dry place to sleep. An extra-large emergency bivy bag is a lightweight and inexpensive alternative. My emergency bivy bag is kept in my car’s glob box. It will come in handy if I break down somewhere.
This “10 Hiking Essentials for Beginners” blog is a guide for you to make sure you will have a safe hiking trip especially if you are going on your own to an unfamiliar area. The number of things you will need to carry with you will depend on how long and hard your hiking trails is going to be. Always use your own instinct when deciding which items you must carry with you.
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