Six Hiking Must Haves

When you head out on your next hiking adventure, be sure to bring along these six hiking must haves. I have done a fair amount hiking and learned what hiking gear works really well. In this post, I share these learnings.

In 2023, I was fortunate to go with Spanish Steps on a 15 day trek along the Via Francigena from Siena Italy to Rome. In early 2024, I have challenged myself to do a 28-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail in a single day. Different experiences for sure but these hikes have a lot of commonality when it it comes to gear. Read on …

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The first 3 items on the list are: backpack, trekking poles, and trail shoes.

1. Hiking Backpack. This year I’m hiking with an Osprey pack that has space for a hydration bladder (Osprey Tempest 20L, Osprey Talon 22L, Osprey 3L bladder). The Osprey brand makes a very breathable and comfortable pack with the Tempest geared toward females and the Talon for the males. The new bladder is awesome — it has been redesigned for easy filling, and effortless inserting into the bag. For day hiking, choose a bag in the 18L to 35L range. I will be using a 20L bag on my 28-mile hiking day.
2. Trekking Poles. I’ll be honest with you, I never used to use them. Then, when I started using them I wondered why I held back so long. Trekking poles have many benefits including reducing the strain on knees and hips. But did you know that trekking poles keep you from getting hotdog fingers, and it tones the arms? These Convacure trekking poles are a great entry option because they are lightweight, collapsible and affordable.
3. Trail Shoe. These days you’ll notice that many thru-hikers are favoring trail shoes over the hiking boots. There are a lot of trail shoe options and one I’m absolutely loving is the Topo Terraventure 4 Women’s Trail Shoe (also in men’s). This shoe has a 3mm drop, a balanced cushion, neutral support, and moderate pliability. It has a rock plate which I really like, as well as a wide toe box which is great for when your feet swell and for letting your toes splay out. If you want a more stable shoe then check out the Topo Traverse Men’s Trail Shoe (also in women’s).

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The next 3 items are socks, trail pants/shorts, and rain gear.

4. Socks. Happy feet make for a happy day on the trail. I look for a light cushioned wool hiking sock like these super cute micro-crew Darn Tough socks I also like these light cushion SmartWool socks. Socks like this are known for keeping your feet dry and comfortable all day. Explore other styles in the Darn Tough store and the Smartwool store.
5. Trail pants & shorts. Lightweight, breathable, and quick drying are the essential qualities you want to look for. This year, I found myself donning a pair of prAna Koen Women’s Pants. What I love about them: stretchy fabric, comfortable waist, zippered pockets. I also have these cargo style hiking pants and these Mier hiking shorts on repeat. As a men’s option, check out the Men’s Mier cargo hiking short, and these G Gradual hiking pants are an affordable dupe of the Kuhl Defender pants.
6. Rain jacket. You need to be prepared for rain. When you choose a jacket, think lightweight and waterproof. I have The North Face Venture Women’s Jacket (also in men’s). As a lower cost option, check out this Little Donkey Andy Men’s Jacket (also in women’s).

Bonus Track

Why stop at six? Here are 4 more items to make your hiking day more enjoyable.

7. Lamb’s Wool. Lamb’s Wool weighs almost nothing and takes up about the same amount of room, so packing some lamb’s wool should be a no brainer. When to use it? For me, when something starts feeling a bit uncomfortable or begins to rub, tucking in some lamb’s wool fixes the issue right away. It’s got a bit of the spinach effect — so feel super comfortable using a lot of lamb’s wool each time.
8. Hike Goo. Along with the lamb’s wool bring along some type of water barrier like this Hike Goo. When you apply it, make sure your feet are clean and you put your socks on immediately after. You will also want to put some on any time you start to think you feel a hot spot on your foot — never wait. I proactively put on Hike Goo any time I am breaking in new shoes, when I am going to encounter more technical terrain, or if I am covering a lot of distance.
9. Hydration Boost. My go to favorites are LMNT Raspberry Salt and Watermelon Salt and I suggest you pick up a variety packet of LMNT Electrolyte Powder Packets to see what you like. These are zero-sugar and tastes great! Shop the LMNT store for more options.
10. Energy Boost. I like to take in 100-200 calories per moving hour on the trail. My favorite are the ProBAR Bolt Chews and the ProBAR peanut butter snack bars. If you aren’t sure, grab a Fan Favorite Variety Pack or shop the ProBar store.