Essential Hiking and Outdoor Gear

When planning a day hike, having the right gear can make all the difference between an enjoyable hiking adventure and a challenging ordeal.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just starting out, knowing what hiking essentials to pack is key to ensuring your safety, comfort, and overall experience on the trail.

This guide breaks down the must-have hiking gear for a day hike, from the best footwear and clothing options to crucial items like hydration systems, navigation tools, and outdoor gear. Equip yourself with these essentials, and you’ll be ready to confidently tackle any hiking trail.

Hiking is one of our favorite outdoor activities. We love a hard day of hiking, especially the longer, more challenging hikes.

Having the right gear is essential. We often get asked about specific gear when posting a picture or video on YouTube or one of our social media channels. So, in this post, we will break down and share our favorite hiking gear, the food we bring, and other outdoor gear when we set out for a hiking adventure.

When heading out for a hike, having the proper clothing and gear is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience. The right attire can protect you from the elements, such as wind, rain, and harsh sun, while also providing comfort and flexibility on varied terrains.

Breathable layers help regulate your body temperature, wicking away sweat to keep you dry and warm in cooler conditions or cool in the heat.

Proper footwear with good grip is crucial for preventing slips and falls on rocky or uneven trails. Additionally, specialized gear like hats, gloves, and waterproof jackets can shield you from unexpected weather changes, ensuring that you’re prepared for whatever nature throws your way.

Investing in quality hiking clothing isn’t just about comfort—it’s about safety and enhancing your overall hiking experience.

Below are some of our favorite hiking clothing recommendations.

The Outdoor Research sun hoodie is our favorite hoodie. It is super comfortable! The hoodie fits well and does not blow off when it is windy like other hoodies whe have tried.

The Echo Hoodie is built from bluesign®-approved and recycled materials and is perfect for everything from fall running and spring ski touring to summer hiking and winter base layers.

The lightweight and breathable fabric is infused with UPF 15 sun protection and ActiveFresh™ odor control technology, and the AirVent™ technology provides superb airflow and moisture management. The Echo Hoodie features thumb holes, a reflective logo, quick-drying fabric, and flat-seam construction for a comfortable fit.

Truly an all-arounder and an OR customer favorite, the Echo Hoodie is the do-it-all piece for 4-season use.

When hiking, especially if you are using trekking poles, the sun can hammer the tops of your hands, leaving them sunburnt at the end of a day’s hike.

We started wearing Outdoor Research Sun Gloves and love them. They protect the tops of your hands from sun exposure.

The ActiveIce™ Sun Gloves utilize ActiveIce™ technology and UPF 50 to keep hands cool and protected from the sun while hiking, trail running, or paddle boarding.

Proper hiking shoes and footwear are essential to avoid blisters and injury.

For years, I (Tyler) struggled with chronic injuries from hiking and trail running. I always had some injury. I could train through some, but my IT band issue prevented me from hiking and trail running.

I was an early adopter when Hoka released its first shoe, the Mafate, in 2009. They were the ugliest-looking running shoes ever, but boy, were they comfortable. I started hiking and trail running in the Mafate and was sold.

We, Tyler and Mimi, are now big fans of Hoka’s and have our favorites based on the hike, run, or trail run we will be doing.

We will wear Hoka Bondi when we run on pavement or the Hoka Stinson or Speedgoat when we hit the trail.

Since 2009 when Hoka introduced their 1st shoe, and we have not worn anything else. For the most part, we have both been injury-free and blister-free.

The Hoka Stinson is our favorite for long hikes, especially if the trail is technical and rocky. The shoe’s wider toe box is perfect for the long downhills.

The Stinson is it if you pack just one pair on your next adventure. Known as the Swiss army knife of shoes – thanks to its road-to-trail agility – the Stinson cues up the perfect blend of plush cushioning and versatile traction. Made to conquer any terrain, you’ll find pavement, trail, and gravel are no match for the Stinson’s stabilizing H-Frame™, rubber toe cap, and multi-directional lugs.

If you want lighter shoes than the Stinson, check out the Speedgoat.

The Hoka Speedgoat is a great shoe if you will be doing a lot of climbing. It has excellent traction and is light.

The downside is that the toe box is a bit narrow, and your toes can take a beating if you like to hammer the descent.

There’s only one GOAT on the trail. And this is it. Combining HOKA’s tried and true cushioning with aggressive traction and ultralight materials, the Speedgoat  was born to tame the trail. A workhorse for technical terrain, this recent reissue was refined with a breathable woven textile upper, foot-hugging internal chassis, plusher dual gusset tongue, and revised lug orientation inspired by the hoof of a goat (what else?)

Over the years, we have dialed in the gear we use for hiking. Your hiking gear can vary depending on the distance, difficulty, and the time of year.

Below are some essential hiking gear items we cannot do without.

The Distance Carbon Z is Black Diamond’s lightest Z-Pole engineered for those who travel fast. With 100% carbon construction, the Distance Carbon Z features a three-section foldable design that allows for fast-response deployment.

The diameter of the poles has been slimmed down, shaving weight and bulk without sacrificing durability. These trekking poles are lightweight. The supportive distance strap is breathable and moisture-wicking. The ultralight EVA grip has just the right amount of comfort, and non-scarring rubber Tech Tips round out this piece as the ultimate lightweight detail-driven pillar of pole technology.

Reach for the Talon 11 when the day’s agenda calls for a mountain bike ride, day hike, summit scramble, or all of the above. This versatile panel-loading pack features a hydration reservoir sleeve, breathable, close-to-body AirScape® backpanel and continuous-wrap harness and hipbelt that moves with you. Mounting options for an ice axe, trekking poles, a bike helmet and blinky light make this pack ready for whatever adventures you can dream up. Constructed with high-quality bluesign®-approved recycled high-tenacity nylon and a PFC-free DWR coating.

The Osprey Talon 6 is the perfect pack for shorter hikes and has become one of our favorites. It allows you to carry all you need without a big, bulky shoulder pack.

Minimalist day hikers, trail runners, and anyone who wants to be prepared with the essentials but without extra bulk will appreciate the Talon 6. With room for water bottles, a rain jacket, and trailside snacks, this is your go-to for light and fast adventures. Built for speed and simplicity, this waist pack uses our body-hugging Biostretch waistbelt to stabilize loads. It is constructed with high-quality bluesign®-approved recycled high-tenacity nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating.

The Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System 1.0L is a lightweight and compact water filter for hikers, backpackers, and travelers. Weighing just 2.3 ounces, it features a collapsible Hydrapak soft bottle and a 0.1-micron microfilter that removes bacteria, protozoa, and particles, providing safe drinking water from natural sources like rivers and lakes. With a fast flow rate of up to 2 liters per minute, it’s easy to use—fill the flask, screw on the filter, and drink directly or squeeze to dispense water. The filter lasts up to 1,000 liters and requires minimal maintenance, making it a reliable choice for outdoor adventures.

We love the Ultraspire Waist Light for a couple of different reasons. If you are wearing a hat, a headlamp does not fit right. Furthermore, headlamps for us make us motion sick from the bouncing around on the trail. For years, hiking or running at night with a headlamp would cause us to struggle with motion sickness.

We discovered the Ultraspire waist light and will never return to a headlamp.

UltrAspire 3D Lighting, which casts shadows across uneven surfaces, gives you a better understanding of your terrain. This light can be tilted up and down and is adjustable between spot and floodlighting, giving you plenty of versatility. The large button lets you easily adjust between high, medium, low, and blinking settings. It now also includes a battery indicator light that, when toggled on, quickly illuminates green, gold, or red, indicating battery level. The Lumen 400z includes a sweatproof pocket holding a large cell phone or other essentials. This light features our Race Fit, a fatigue-free buckle system allowing you to undo the buckle quickly, and a conical belt made of limited-stretch elastic, providing a more comfortable and natural breathing pattern. This waist light includes one of our UltrAspire rechargeable 18650 batteries and features a USB Type-C charging port for a significantly quicker charge. Consists of a USB Type-C charging cable.

Garmin watches are our go-to GPS watches of choice. There are many Garmin watches to choose from.

For your longer treks, you want a solar watch; otherwise, you will run out of battery and not be able to record your entire trek.

So, when choosing a GPS watch, look for one with solar charging capability.

Proper hydration, food, and nutrition are essential when going on a hike or trial run. Everyone has their favorite hydration drinks and food.

Below are some of our favorites.

Tailwind Endurance Fuel is one of our favorite drinks for long hikes or trail runs.

Endurance Fuel mixes clear with water to provide all your calories, electrolytes, and hydration.

Some of the flavors are caffeinated. Our favorite is Rasberry Caffeinated. For non-caffeinated, we like the Dauwatlermelon or Berry. All the flavors are tasty!

It is simple to use and has a clean, light taste.

Just pour, shake, and go!

LMNT is a popular electrolyte drink mix designed to help maintain optimal hydration levels, especially for those on low-carb or ketogenic diets, athletes, or anyone with increased electrolyte needs. Each serving of LMNT contains a balanced mix of sodium, potassium, and magnesium without added sugars, artificial ingredients, or fillers. The drink is available in various flavors, making it a tasty and convenient option for replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat, exercise, or daily activities. With its focus on a science-backed approach to hydration, LMNT has become a go-to choice for those seeking effective electrolyte support.

Get yourself a variety pack of flavors to see what flavor you like the best.

Our favorite flavors are Grapefruit and Watermelon Salt.

Homemade rice cakes are one of our favorite treats on the trail. They’re nutritious. You can also add various ingredients and flavors so they never get boring.

WATCH THE VIDEO TO THE LEFT ON HOW TO MAKE RICE CAKES. 

Heading out for an ultra run or a hike takes planning and the proper clothes, equipment, and nutrition.

There is nothing worse than finding out you forget something.

Having a checklist of your essential items is very helpful in setting yourself up for success when hitting the trail.

Below is a link to our essential hiking and ultra-running gear checklist. For each hiking and ultra-running adventure, we print out and check off the items before heading out the door.