Day hikers, whats in your pack?

[Aloha]

I enjoy hiking and getting out for a few hours in the beautiful California sun.  I'll typically plan a few hours there and back.  I'll go anywhere from 2-4 hours out mostly moderate in difficulty.

Do pack what you'll need and also build in for possibly having to stay the night? 

[ducttapetech]

For day hikes, I pack light. I do have enough gear to stay over a night if I have too or I if just simply decide to stay out the night.

[Toolslinger]

For day hikes, I pack light. I do have enough gear to stay over a night if I have too or I if just simply decide to stay out the night.

Same here. I might load up a bit more kit if I know I'm going with friends/family who may not be quite as prepared.

[eddie1115]

In addition to food, water, the normal "10 essential" type items, I'll bring a Heatsheets "blanket" with some cord, and an emergency bivvy, just in case I have to stay out.  This isn't enough that I would choose to stay out, but I could survive, uncomfortably, until morning.

[Millhouse]

Typically, I carry:

Waterproof jacket and over trousers
Fleece jacket
Gloves (2 pairs in winter)
Hat (in winter)
FAK
Paracord
Compass
Whistle
GPS
Head Torch
2 x glow sticks
Rebar
AMK Bivvy Bag
Storm Matches

Food and drink for the day.

[Gareth]

Millhouse has pretty much nailed it I think, though I don't normally carry glowsticks and the last time I was out I was carrying my modified Kick rather than a Rebar.

[Syncop8r]

Millhouse has pretty much nailed it I think, though I don't normally carry glowsticks and the last time I was out I was carrying my modified Kick rather than a Rebar.

You never know when you'll stumble across an outdoor dance party.

[Toolslinger]

Millhouse has pretty much nailed it I think, though I don't normally carry glowsticks and the last time I was out I was carrying my modified Kick rather than a Rebar.

You never know when you'll stumble across an outdoor dance party.

Forest Rave!!!!!!!!

[scattergun13]

My gear is pretty much the same as everyone else's. I am fanatical about carrying my own tinder in 2 different forms. This is usually, Vaseline soaked cotton balls and a couple of WetFire cubes. I'm all about starting a fire the manly way, I just don't want to have to under stress.


Stew

[comis]

To get in better shape and get my legs ready for a long hiking trip I am planning, I usually try to hike 2-3 times a week if weather permits.  The climate I hike is extremely humid(80-90%) and hot in summer(35c+), and chilly(10-20C) and little dry in winter(60%).

The following pack will allow me to hike most places, and even allow me to stay the night with some comfort if I have to.

-First Aid kit(include some meds)
-72 hrs survival kit

Shelter
-Light weight tarp
-Disposable rain poncho

Fire
-Ferro rod and tinder
-lighter

Water(for a 10km, moderate small mountain hike)
-1L Nalgene water, 1L sport drink
-Aqua Mira Frontier and collapsible water bag

Signal
-Cell phone(also for recording the track and speed, via My track)
-mobile charger
-Signal mirror
-Whistle

Nagivation
-Compass and Map

Tool
-Small fixed blade
-Folding saw(it come in handy one time for making impromptu hiking poles)
-Hiking poles(really helpful if I up the difficulty and duration)
-one additional light layer, usually a vest
-leather gloves

Food
-Energy food(about 1000 calories worth)


There is major redundancy between the survival kit and all the goodies I bring, but PSK is meant for last resort use, so I don't plan to use it unless I or my group is in serious shxt.


The total weight is about 20 pounds when water is full.

[Crocker]

You guys have it covered, but I can't go anywhere without my prescription eye glasses. I can easily hike without them as I'm very far-sighted, but God help me if I have to do anything with my hands. Along with them I like a good pair of sunglasses.

As for blades, there's always a folder clipped to my pocket no matter where I am, but I will generally add a fixed blade sheath knife to my belt and a multitool to my bag.

Snack, water, hat, socks, whistle, etc.

Heck, sometimes I carry almost that much to walk the dogs around town.

[Edit...oh yeah, and a compass and watch]

[Steinar]

For a day hike where I expect to sweat quite a bit, e.g. walking to the top of a mountain, the two most important things I pack are socks and a t-shirt. The t-shirt is for changing into dry clothes before starting the descent back, the socks in case I step too deep into water. Walking around in wet clothes in cold weather is not my cup of tea.

[batosai117]

It's been a while since I took a pic of my day hike pack so here's an old photo. It's even grainy from when my phone wasn't so smart



Camelback Mule complete with bedroll, tarp, FAK, metal cup for cooking and boiling water, fishing kit inside, spare undies/T-shirt/socks, gloves, fire starting essentials - lighter/ferro rod/storm matches, flashlight, polar pure tabs, and of course the built in water pouch. I've had this pack for years as well as a Maxpedition Jumbo that works well for day hikes too.

For tools and blades I'll attach a fixed blade to the pack and keep my favorite folder riding in my front right pocket.


Sent from my electronic multi-tool.

[Etherealicer]

Wow, you guys don't pack light:

For a dayhike
GEAR
- 1L of water (thousands of places where I can get a refill).
- Food, usually a sandwich, some jerky and Ovo-bar
- Sunglasses, suncream
- SAK (Rescue or Pioneer)
- all packed in a small backpack
- tiny 1st aid-kit, REGA-membership card, mobile phone

CLOTH
- Depending on the terrain trekking-, bouldering- or hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Sport cloth
- Baseball cap

Yup, thats all

[batosai117]

Wow, you guys don't pack light:

For a dayhike
GEAR
- 1L of water (thousands of places where I can get a refill).
- Food, usually a sandwich, some jerky and Ovo-bar
- Sunglasses, suncream
- SAK (Rescue or Pioneer)
- all packed in a small backpack
- tiny 1st aid-kit, REGA-membership card, mobile phone

CLOTH
- Depending on the terrain trekking-, bouldering- or hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Sport cloth
- Baseball cap

Yup, thats all

Lol, mine is for the day hike with overnight involved. For just roaming around I simply put this on:



FAK, water, flashlight, spare mag for my Ruger LC9, backup cellphone charger, spyderco ceramic sharpening stone, aaaand that's about it. Of course EDC items will be on me so that's a given (lighter, SAK pioneer, Leatherman Micra)


Sent from my electronic multi-tool.

[Etherealicer]

Wow, you guys don't pack light:

For a dayhike
GEAR
- 1L of water (thousands of places where I can get a refill).
- Food, usually a sandwich, some jerky and Ovo-bar
- Sunglasses, suncream
- SAK (Rescue or Pioneer)
- all packed in a small backpack
- tiny 1st aid-kit, REGA-membership card, mobile phone

CLOTH
- Depending on the terrain trekking-, bouldering- or hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Sport cloth
- Baseball cap

Yup, thats all

Lol, mine is for the day hike with overnight involved. For just roaming around I simply put this on:

FAK, water, flashlight, spare mag for my Ruger LC9, backup cellphone charger, spyderco ceramic sharpening stone, aaaand that's about it. Of course EDC items will be on me so that's a given (lighter, SAK pioneer, Leatherman Micra)


Sent from my electronic multi-tool.

How much abuse do you give your knifes that you need re-sharpening on a day-hike

[Aloha]

Packing the dreaded WHAT IT stuff is certainly very personal.  I can totally understand why others do it and it's exactly why I do.  I pack what I'll use and factor in an over night stay as a WHAT IF. 

FAK
2 lights with spare cells
Fixed blade and SAK
MT
Compass, GPS, Map, Cell phone
Watch

Hyrdation bladder 2/3L based on season
Cliff bars, nuts, glucose gel, tuna in pouch, instance coffee/tea
Metal cup
basic fire kit - lighter, ferro rod, steel wool, fat wood, tin foil
mini stove - based on length of hike and difficulty

Long sleeve top, spare socks, small tarp, fleece  -  all dependent on weather and length and difficulty of hike.

I have never been stuck out BUT I have seen ( new reports ) one to many times hikers ill prepared for the California Mountains and get stuck, hurt, disoriented, and suffer an over nighter in the mountains. 

I can do the light bit of extra weight when I feel the hike is difficult enough or long enough to call for it.

[batosai117]

Packing the dreaded WHAT IT stuff is certainly very personal.  I can totally understand why others do it and it's exactly why I do.  I pack what I'll use and factor in an over night stay as a WHAT IF. 

FAK
2 lights with spare cells
Fixed blade and SAK
MT
Compass, GPS, Map, Cell phone
Watch

Hyrdation bladder 2/3L based on season
Cliff bars, nuts, glucose gel, tuna in pouch, instance coffee/tea
Metal cup
basic fire kit - lighter, ferro rod, steel wool, fat wood, tin foil
mini stove - based on length of hike and difficulty

Long sleeve top, spare socks, small tarp, fleece  -  all dependent on weather and length and difficulty of hike.

I have never been stuck out BUT I have seen ( new reports ) one to many times hikers ill prepared for the California Mountains and get stuck, hurt, disoriented, and suffer an over nighter in the mountains. 

I can do the light bit of extra weight when I feel the hike is difficult enough or long enough to call for it.

I like the way you pack / think

I forgot to add that I also carry a mini stove. One of those esbit folding mini stoves. The metal cup fits perfectly on top. I don't mind the small amounts of extra weight to feel prepared. I'm an Eagle Scout and Policeman so being prepared is embedded into my thought process. My FAK is large and can accommodate several types of injuries and not just a bandaid and a pair of Tylenol for a rough day. Most outdoorsy stuff we can wing but I don't like to mess around with medical problems.


Sent from my electronic multi-tool.

[Aloha]

Thanks.  It's really not a ton of weight and when packed correctly it fits in quite a manageable pack.  I too have a few more odds and ends in the pack but these are the notable items.   

I too love those little Esbit stoves, I just got a mixed fuel stove ( pocket rocket wana be ) and will test this out in a few week when I head up to the mountains.  My FAK is good for 2 people and much like yours is set up to do more than solve a headache. 

I am prepared to stop bleeding, splint up simple fractures,  and treat sprains.  Both my roommate and I are Red Cross CPR certified and  I may take a wilderness first aid coarse just because. 

I try to not carry every thing and the kitchen sink but a few items extra when out in the mountains is smart IMO.  Everything is based on weather and terrain and the distance of the hike.     

   

[cool123]

I prefer to keep either a swiss pocket knife or any multitool for my outdoor survival trips like camping, hunting, hiking and trekking.

[cool123]

As an outdoors man, I keep with me the best survival knife with the fire starter which keep me safe in case of any attack by wilds and the fire starter makes some flames enough to prepare some to eat.

[NKlamerus]

All this and Noone carries pepto bismol and toilet paper?

I'm a man, and eagle scout. But having the runs from trail berry's with no TP is not fun. It's torture.

[ducttapetech]

Charcoal and pinecones...........

Nate

[Lichtbote]

But having the runs from trail berry's with no TP is not fun. It's torture.

You don´t have superglue/cyanacrylat in your first aid kit?

Could help to solve that problem, too. 

[Gareth]

Charcoal and pinecones...........

Nate

I don't normally carry toilet paper on day hikes, but it's a must if I'm camping.  Pine cones really don't give quite the same results IMO.

[ducttapetech]

Charcoal and pinecones...........

Nate

I don't normally carry toilet paper on day hikes, but it's a must if I'm camping.  Pine cones really don't give quite the same results IMO.

Corncobs then?
LMAO!

Nate

[Aloha]

I dont carry TP when on a day hike however I do always have a bandana and handkerchief on me.  I have a small pack of tissue and in my FAK I carry ibuprofen/acetaminophen/glucose tablets/nausea diarrhea pills. 

I'm sure in a pinch I could rustle up a squirrel or rabbit   

[ducttapetech]

Lol!

Nate

[nervium]

just a knife and your heart is enough...

[Steinar]

just a knife and your heart is enough...

A good summary of more than a daypack.