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Hiking Essentials and Equipment

My 10 Essentials From About.com

Section titled “My 10 Essentials From About.com”

1. Navigation

Section titled “1. Navigation”
  • Map (+ case)
  • Compass
  • Optional: Altimeter

2. Sun Protection

Section titled “2. Sun Protection”
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses (polarized)

3. Insulation

Section titled “3. Insulation”
  • Additional layer of clothing
  • Optional: Head covers

4. Illumination

Section titled “4. Illumination”
  • Headlamp (or flashlight)

5. First-aid Supplies

Section titled “5. First-aid Supplies”
  • First aid kit (treatments for blisters, adhesive bandages of various sizes, several gauze pads, adhesive tape, disinfecting ointment, over-the-counter pain medication, pencil and paper. Latex gloves also deserve consideration + first aid guide). Optional: ear plugs

6. Fire

Section titled “6. Fire”
  • Matches in case
  • Firestarter (candle, lint).

7. Repair Kit and Tools

Section titled “7. Repair Kit and Tools”
  • Rescue tool
  • Duct tape

8. Nutrition (extra food)

Section titled “8. Nutrition (extra food)”
  • Extra food(energy bars, nuts, dried fruits or jerky)

9. Hydration (extra water)

Section titled “9. Hydration (extra water)”
  • Water bottle(s)
  • Water carrier

10. Emergency Shelter

Section titled “10. Emergency Shelter”
  • Tarp
  • Space blanket
  • Garbage bag large and bright colour

Beyond the Top Ten

Section titled “Beyond the Top Ten”
  • Insect repellent:
  • Whistle
  • Ice axe: For safety when crossing snow fields.
  • Communication device: Two-way radios, a cell phone or a satellite telephone
  • Signalling device: space blanket, compass mirror

20 Essentials for a typical day trip in Canada by Ben Gadd

Section titled “20 Essentials for a typical day trip in Canada by Ben Gadd”
  • Hat
  • Warm clothing
  • Rain jacket with hood
  • Lighter
  • Glasses and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Light source
  • Handkerchief or banana
  • Multi tool
  • Toilet paper or towelettes
  • Watch
  • Compass and GPS
  • Topographic map
  • Whistle
  • Large garbage bag
  • First aid kit
  • Water bottle
  • Water filtration device or disinfection kit
  • Food

First aid supplies

Section titled “First aid supplies”
  • Triangular bandage
  • Alcohol pads
  • Paramedic gloves
  • Rescue breather
  • Extra butane lighter
  • Ear plugs
  • Thermometer
  • Blister pads
  • Fabric band aids
  • Butterfly bandages
  • Menstrual pads - can soak or apply pressure
  • Extra Swiss Army knife
  • Pills like aspirin, ibuprofen, tylenol
  • Elasticity
  • Tape
  • Tick remover eg pro-tick remover
  • Tums (calcium carbonate tablets)

Winter Driving Survival Kit

Section titled “Winter Driving Survival Kit”
  • Ice scraper/snowbrush
  • Shovel
  • Sand or other traction aid
  • Tow rope or chain
  • Booster cables
  • Road flares or warning lights
  • Fuel line antifreeze
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Small tool kit
  • Extra clothing and footwear
  • Blanket
  • Non-perishable energy foods – e.g., chocolate or granola bars, juice, soup, bottled water
  • Candle
  • Matches or lighter

Traditional

Section titled “Traditional”

Cheryl Strayed’ Traditional “Camper” Backpacker for Pacific Coach Trail (PCT)

Section titled “Cheryl Strayed’ Traditional “Camper” Backpacker for Pacific Coach Trail (PCT)”
  • Compression sack (for clothing)
  • Clothing:
  • Fleece pants
  • Thermal shirt long sleeved
  • Fleece anorak
  • Wool socks x 2
  • Underwear x 2
  • Thin gloves
  • Sun hat
  • Fleece hat
  • Rain pants
  • Dry bag (for food)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Camp chair / sleeping pad
  • Head lamp
  • Bungee cord x 5
  • Water purifier
  • Collapsible stove
  • Gas canister
  • Lighter
  • Cooking pots inside each other (Like Russian dolls)
  • Foldable utensils
  • Sandals
  • Hiking boots
  • Quick dry pack towel
  • Thermometer
  • Tarp (blue)
  • Insulated plastic mug
  • Snakebite kit
  • Swiss army knife
  • Binoculars
  • Condoms
  • Rope
  • Compass
  • Guide books (PCT, Staying Found)
  • First aid kit
  • Toilet paper in ziplock
  • Trowel
  • Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, deodorant, nail clippers, DEET, sunscreen, hairbrush, menstrual supplies)
  • Flashlight
  • Lantern
  • Candle x 2
  • Foldable saw
  • Tent
  • 1 L plastic water bottle x 2
  • 10 L dromedary bag
  • Goretex raincoat
  • Backpack + raincover
  • Extra batteries
  • Waterproof matches
  • Mylar blanket (aka space blanket)
  • Bottle of iodine pills
  • 2 pens, 3 novels
  • Cash
  • ID
  • Postage stamps
  • Camera + mini-tripod
  • Backpack - Gregory hybrid external frame

List for Hiking - Need, Have, Nice to Have

Section titled “List for Hiking - Need, Have, Nice to Have”

Need

Section titled “Need”
  • Biodegradable soap - e.g. Scent killer bar soap
  • Hiking boots
  • Snacks - preferably bio-degradable carriers
  • Sleeping pad (e.g. thermarest Solite)
  • Light sleeping bag
  • 30m+ nylon rope (x 2)
  • Water pump purifier and/or purification-iodine tablets
  • For water filters, ceramic is best
  • After iodine purification, mix with flavoured powder for taste
  • Buy new iodine tablets for each trip
  • Depending on Situation:
  • Bear / Pepper spray

Have

Section titled “Have”
  • Towelettes - non scented
  • Bar soap (biodegradable)
  • Stove: alcohol stove or isobutane/propane on naphtha (white gas) and spare fuel
  • Aluminum cook pot + mug
  • 2 x stuff sack / pillows
  • Fleece pants
  • Windbreaker - MEC FLUX JACKET, rain jacket
  • Collapsible water carrier / water proof bag - dry sack (emergency bag water carrier, 35L, 2L, 7L, 5L)
  • Thin socks (wool)
  • Waist pack
  • Atkos Sno-seal (or beeswax sealant)
  • Wool + synthetic large socks (1 pair)
  • Small daypack (30L), top loader, squeeze close
  • Stuff sack (MEC pack rat)
  • Neck bandana (CIBC, neck scarf, tubular from MEC)
  • Lighter
  • Leaf Pocket Belt
  • Stretchy Cotton Hand Warmers
  • Daypack 30L
  • Compass + sighting mirror
  • 1L bottle Nalgene
  • Solar recharger - PowerFilm Solar USB + AA Solar Charger
  • AA rechargable batteries (Duracell)
  • Duct tape
  • Water bag (for map/protective case)
  • Dromedary pack (4L) - “Dromlite”
  • Platypus PlusBottle, 1 Liter with Closure Cap
  • Matches
  • Toronto recreational trail maps (bike and hike)
  • Space blanket
  • Head lamp + spare batteries
  • Carabineers
  • First aid kit
  • Tylenol + advil, polysporin
  • Moleskin
  • Band aids
  • Tent (small) or bivy sack
  • Sleeping bag
  • Whistle
  • Polarized sun glasses
  • Walking stick, trekking poles
  • Clothing
  • Fleece
  • Gloves
  • Pants
  • Light shirts
  • Socks x 2 at least
  • Rain jacket with hood
  • Light weight shoes
  • Kindle (trail/guide light reading)
  • Knife / rescue tool / tweezers
  • Camera
  • Garbage bag, plastic grocery bags x 5
  • Soap (camp / biodegradable @ Canadian Tire)
  • Personal health : toothbrush
  • Personal effects (id, wallet, phone, etc.)
  • Toilet paper
  • Matches
  • Firestarter - laundry lint, candle
  • DEET, bug spray
  • Flashlight
  • Sunscreen
  • Wading shoes or light sandals
  • Light Watch (Casio Pathfinder with barometer, thermometer, compass, altimeter)
  • Small pack towel
  • Spork
  • Cook set
  • Alcohol fuel for alcohol stove: Methyl Hydrate (99.99% pure methanol - methyl alcohol) at Canadian tire lists at 1L container for <$5)
  • Wide brimmed hat and/or hat with built in head cover
  • Gaiters (replaced by regular boots)

Nice to Have Future

Section titled “Nice to Have Future”

Clothing

Section titled “Clothing”
  • Layer wool sweaters for outerwear