What do you carry in your hiking pack for a long days hike?

[Uncle Jackie]

Myself...

First aid kit (including suture kit)
Matches
Compass
Knife
Water bottle - steel
Water purifying pills
Rope
Snake bite kit
Tick remover
Whistle
Head lantern
Flashlight
Binoculars
Foil Emergency blanket
Bear bell
Mosquito head netting
Bear repellant
Mirror
GPS
Flint
Fire starter
Trail marker tape
Steel mug
Cooking kit with cutlery
Bug spray
Work Gloves
Emergency saw
Garbage bag (emergency rain poncho)
Fishing line and hooks
Pipe and tobacco

Depending on the season, extra clothes

Apart from the clothes, all in one pack at under 24 lbs. Seems like a lot, but on more than one occasion I have been forced to spend the night in the middle of a forest, on a beach, or in the desert. Please tell me I'm not the only one who is 'over prepared' just in case...

 

[Heron]

Good list. I carry food, water, jacket, firestarter, knife, first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, emergency blanket, pocket poncho, whistle, cell phone, bear spray, bear bell, flashlight, glow stick, rope, toilet paper, and a compass. I need to get more water purification tablets, but most places I hike have no water to purify.

 

[Legion]

What the heck is a bear bell?

 

[martym]

Most of what you carry
More water and protein bars
cotton balls soaked/coated with petroleum jelly stored in zip loc bag
sunscreen
skeeter spray
MRE's
pistol and ammo

 

[Eeyore]

With our population density; a credit card

We don't have long stretches of nature here, but what we always take with us when walking in the Netherlands or Germany:

Enough water for a day
Mobile phone
Pocket knife
Whistle
High energy biscuits
Tick remover
Duct tape

More is not needed around here. Like I said, high population density.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

http://hikesafe.com/index.php?page=gear-list

Usually some kind of water filter too depending on how big I'm going. I also have a SPOT and I just acquired a GPS that I'll be breaking out tomorrow, but that's a backpacking trip, not a day hike.

 

[FL shaver]

I was hoping to see more about what you break open for refueling while resting at the summit! Apples, pepperoni, cheddar cheese, bottled water, grapes, trail mix, assorted nuts....

 

[Philosophy Student]

Water
Jetboil
Related cooking items
Coffee/tea
Leatherman
First aid
Hiking pole
Fishing stuff if my plan is to wet a line
Food
Camera
Rain jacket
Maps

 

[Heron]

What the heck is a bear bell?

It's just a little bell you hang on your pack or clothes. They're sold with camping supplies.
From the American Bear Association:

Always stay alert . "Advertise" your presence by wearing bells, singing, clapping, etc.

I also like to use tent stakes, string, and bear bells to make a trip line perimeter around my camp for the night.

 

[Hayden]

Myself...


Apart from the clothes, all in one pack at under 24 lbs. Seems like a lot, but on more than one occasion I have been forced to spend the night in the middle of a forest, on a beach, or in the desert. Please tell me I'm not the only one who is 'over prepared' just in case...

My god man Ive been hiking my whole life and never been forced to spend the night outside unless it was planned you need to buy a GPS.I do cary a nice little pack when I hike though.

 

[WesternModern]

First aid kit
matches & firestarter
small collapsible stove
emergency blanket
poncho
flashlight
a old long-sleeve Henley shirt
wool socks
wool hat
brown cotton work gloves
hard candy
coffee & blue enamel coffee cup
rope
small spare compass
jackknife
small folding saw
binoculars
two 20 oz bottles of water, along with my canteen
food (summer sausage, beef jerky, Finnish dried cinnamon toast)

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

I was hoping to see more about what you break open for refueling while resting at the summit! Apples, pepperoni, cheddar cheese, bottled water, grapes, trail mix, assorted nuts....

This trip I'm snacking on pop-tarts, cliff bars, and honey stinger gels. Lunch monday is turkey and cheese while on Mt. Lincoln. Dinner tomorrow is Jamaican chicken with rice and chocolate mousse ( both dehydrated). Tuesday, pop-tarts for breakfast, same snacks, and salami and swiss for lunch, hopefully on Bondcliff. Beer and NSAID's for dinner at the truck. .

I'll post it up when I come to my senses. This one is going to leave a mark.

 

[Khedquist]

Myself...

First aid kit (including suture kit)
Matches
Compass
Knife
Water bottle - steel
Water purifying pills
Rope
Snake bite kit
Tick remover
Whistle
Head lantern
Flashlight
Binoculars
Foil Emergency blanket
Bear bell
Mosquito head netting
Bear repellant
Mirror
GPS
Flint
Fire starter
Trail marker tape
Steel mug
Cooking kit with cutlery
Bug spray
Work Gloves
Emergency saw
Garbage bag (emergency rain poncho)
Fishing line and hooks
Pipe and tobacco

Depending on the season, extra clothes

Apart from the clothes, all in one pack at under 24 lbs. Seems like a lot, but on more than one occasion I have been forced to spend the night in the middle of a forest, on a beach, or in the desert. Please tell me I'm not the only one who is 'over prepared' just in case...

Wow. Is that for a one day hike. We went on a five day backpacking trip and my pack, food, clothes, tent, toiletries, water and filter, first aid kit, etc was only 32lbs. My wife's pack was 30lbs.

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

Some good stuff on here. One thing which is mandatory - lip balm. I like Chapstick but I like the various medicated ones out there even more. You can get some primo ones at the 99c store. In my area I also carry pepper spray - coyotes and sometimes aggressive predator hominids. Hope to never use it.

 

[mboschm]

Clothes I'm wearing: hiking boots/trail runners, t-shirt (thermal longsleeve if it's very cold), fleece jumper, hard shell jacket, hiking trousers (snow trousers and/or gaiters if snow is likely to be encountered), thermal long johns if it's very cold, hat (fleece beanie if it's cold), buff (cold weather)/bandanna (warm weather).

In my pack. Water, food, knife if I need it to prepare food (slice cheese/sausage, peel fruit), so a small folding is just what I need, mini first aid kit (band-aids, pins and tweezers), rubbish bag (emergency pack cover) and I don't think that I leave anything out.

 

[goby]

Wow, that's crazy!!! I've gone on 2 day trips and only backed 12 lbs!!! Its even crazier if you are staying on a trail!!

For a day hike, this is what I would take off your list:


YES

Pipe and tobacco (if I smoked)
Knife
Water bottle - steel
Water purifying pills
Binoculars (only for fun, not safety)


NO
Compass
Matches
Flint (maybe, but why the matches too?)
Fire starter
First aid kit (including suture kit)
Head lantern & Flashlight (both of them -- really?)
Rope
Snake bite kit
Tick remover
Foil Emergency blanket
Bear bell
Mosquito head netting
Bear repellant
Whistle
Mirror
GPS
Trail marker tape (what is that??)
Bug spray
Work Gloves
Emergency saw
Garbage bag (emergency rain poncho)
Fishing line and hooks
Steel mug
Cooking kit with cutlery

 

[Legion]

It's just a little bell you hang on your pack or clothes. They're sold with camping supplies.
From the American Bear Association:

I also like to use tent stakes, string, and bear bells to make a trip line perimeter around my camp for the night.

Oh, so they are not a bell to scare away bears, but more so you dont surprise a hunter and get shot? That makes more sense. I was thinking it would be more like a dinner bell to a bear.

 

[FL shaver]

This trip I'm snacking on pop-tarts, cliff bars, and honey stinger gels. Lunch monday is turkey and cheese while on Mt. Lincoln. Dinner tomorrow is Jamaican chicken with rice and chocolate mousse ( both dehydrated). Tuesday, pop-tarts for breakfast, same snacks, and salami and swiss for lunch, hopefully on Bondcliff. Beer and NSAID's for dinner at the truck. .

I'll post it up when I come to my senses. This one is going to leave a mark.

Five star dining!

 

[Uncle Jackie]

My god man Ive been hiking my whole life and never been forced to spend the night outside unless it was planned you need to buy a GPS.I do cary a nice little pack when I hike though.

LOL... For me, hiking seldom remains on a trail, usually a great deal of bushwhacking involved. Sometimes there has been a little more bush and a lot more whacking than I had intended. I guess I just like to take the path less traveled.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

Wow, that's crazy!!! I've gone on 2 day trips and only backed 12 lbs!!! Its even crazier if you are staying on a trail!!

Agreed. My total base weight for my backpack setup is 14.5 lbs. That includes all sleep gear, tent, pack, emergency, and cooking supplies. Next year I hope to get it to 12. Food and water are always variables.

Five star dining!

Salami and cheese was real moral booster after about 8500 of climbing. That's one that will make a repeat appearance on the menu. Pics to follow later in the other thread. I need a shave, and Percocet.