Lost with Luis: What to Pack on a Day Hike

Getting out in nature is so important and rewarding, and there’s no better way to do it than hiking! But it’s also important to be adequately prepared to stay safe and fully enjoy the experience.

Here’s a checklist of the 10 things you should consider bringing on your next day hike:

1. SPF 30+
This one is a must. I am big on the importance of sun protection, as I have a skin condition called melasma, which is triggered by sun exposure. But even if you don’t have this, protection is still important!
Hiking on a cloudy day or through a shaded forest doesn’t exclude you, either. Those harmful sun rays will still touch your skin. Apply your sunscreen before you leave, and then throw the bottle in your pack to re-apply later in the day. My go-to brand is Vichy Matte Finish Face Sunscreen SPF.

2. Binoculars
The whole point of hiking is to enjoy nature! So why not actually enjoy nature by seeing it close up? Bring some binoculars with you in your backpack so you can take them out and check out the wildlife around you.
Many parks and trails will have information kiosks at the start of the trailhead, which you can use as a guide to know what to look out for.

3. Hat
I know, I know, I already said it, but sun protection is SO important! So, make sure to bring a hat with you to shade your face while hiking.
Just choose something you don’t mind getting wet, sweaty, or dirty, because it’s guaranteed to suffer a bit of wear and tear during your hike. These are my go-to hats (pictured above and below) and I have one in every colour. They have a stretch fit, so they are super comfortable!

4. Bug repellent
This one is pretty essential when you’re spending any extended time outdoors. Not all areas have bad bugs, but it’s hard to know until you are actually there. So, throw this in your pack just in case – you’ll be thanking me later! I personally like PiActive deet free repellent. I recently got eaten alive at Algonquin Park (prior to applying repellent) and out of a few brands I packed, this product was incredible and I like that it’s deet free.

5. Good hiking boots
Blisters, wet feet, and twisted ankles are definitely not what we want while hiking. Good hiking boots can prevent all of these things.
Not only are good hiking boots a must, breaking them in is also a must. You don’t want to go out and spend a good chunk of change on some high-end boots only to wear them for the first time on a 5-hour hike and get a bunch of blisters. Take some time to wear them in on short walks and hikes before trying them out on something longer.

6. Change of socks
Remember the wet feet thing I mentioned before? Yeah, not so good. In the event that your boots are not as waterproof as you think – or if you are forming a blister and need to double up on socks – having a spare pair can be a lifesaver.

7. Water for drinking
It goes without saying that you’re going to break a sweat while hiking. For that reason, water is so important. It’s recommended to bring 0.5 litres water per hour of hiking, as a rule of thumb.
A good ol’ water bottle works well, but if you want to take it to the next level, a water bladder (or reservoir) is even better. This way you can carry more water, and it can stay in your backpack while you just drink through the straw.
If it’s a hot day or long hike, you can also consider bringing some electrolytes to help with hydration.

8. Snacks
I mean, obviously. Snacks are essential to any hiking trip! When thinking about the kind of snacks to bring, focus on energy-dense and satiating snacks – trail mix with nuts, protein bars, or jerky are all good options.
Fresh or dried fruit is also a great idea, because it’s refreshing and gives that boost of natural sugars and energy. Just keep in mind, you don’t want to bring anything that may spoil, like yogurt, and nothing that is too heavy to carry. I opted for a good ol’ fashioned sandwich for lunch on my most recent hike.

9. Wet Wipes
You never know quite what you will encounter out in the wild. Well, dirt and mud are actually pretty much a given. It’s typical to have to use your hands for stability when scaling some rocky section. Once you’re up to that gorgeous viewpoint, I guarantee you’ll be grateful for wet wipes to clean off your hands before digging into your snacks. Wet wipes are also useful as part of a small first-aid kit – use them to get the dirt out of any small scrapes or scratches.

10. A good camera or camera phone
Hands down, the best part of hiking is the views. It is such a reward after all that hard work! Once you are at that viewpoint, whether looking over a mountain range, out across the lake, or through the forest, you are going to want to remember it.
Take your camera, or at least your phone, with you on every hike. Snap a few pictures of the trail and of the gorgeous viewpoints. Make sure to take some pics of yourself and your hiking buddies too! You definitely want to remember what a fun time it was. I recently invested in an iPhone 12 Pro Max, mostly because of the incredible camera.