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Published:May 19, 2022
By Heather Eldridge
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Last updated: March 1, 2024
We love a good checklist to help us prepare for a trip – even if we’re just going out for a day hike. Use this Day Hike Checklist every time you hit the trail to make rounding up your gear quick and easy, and to give you peace of mind that you aren’t forgetting something critical.
Day Hiking Checklist
DOWNLOAD OUR PRINTABLE CHECKLIST
You won’t need all the items on this list for every trip, but it’s worth thinking through each of them as you gather your gear. Grab the basics first, then use the categories at the end to tailor your gear list to your specific needs.
TO DO
- Apply for any required permits
- Call ranger station for trail conditions & regulations
- Check if trailhead requires a parking pass or cash/card for pay station
- Check current weather
- Charge electronics & check batteries
- Update emergency contacts and turn on SOS/emergency notification features on your phone
- Study topo map/take photos of guidebook pages
- Download GPS phone app & appropriate maps or GPS area
- Download driving directions for offline use (we use maps.me)
- Leave an itinerary with a friend & under your car seat
- Pack your bag
Essentials
WATERPROOFING
Based on your pack choice, choose one or more of the following to keep your stuff dry:
- Pack liner or trash bag
- Waterproof stuff sack(s)
- Ziploc(s)
TOOLS & ACCESSORIES
- Headlamp
- Wallet (containing cash, ID, credit card, insurance card)
- Phone in protective case
- First aid kit & prescription Rx
- Sunscreen & lip balm
- Poop kit (toilet paper, hand sanitizer & trowel)
- Light pocket knife or multitool
- Ultralight chair/sit pad or hammock
- Trekking poles
NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT
- Topo map(s)
- Waterproof map bag/ Ziploc
- Compass
- Watch
- GPS phone app
PACK
Choose one of the following to carry your gear:
- Daypack
- Hydration pack
- Fanny pack
- Extra shoulder or hipbelt pocket
CLOTHING
Some worn, some packed. Layer clothing based on season and weather conditions. For fabrics – think lightweight and quick-drying (no cotton).
- Hiking pants (men’s/women’s), leggings, or shorts (men’s/women’s)
- Quick-dry underwear
- Shirt (sun shirt, base layer, or short sleeve/tank)
- Jacket(s) (rain, down, fleece, windbreaker – possibly a combo)
- Shoes/boots
- High-quality socks
- Gaiters (for talus, sand, snow, or fast/long trips)
- Hat(s) (warm or for sun)
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
PACK IN CAR
- Parking pass or cash/card
- Itinerary or note under seat
- Clean clothes & comfy shoes to change into
- Gallon of water to refill bottles
- Cooler with post-hike refreshments
- Blanket or camping chairs (for tailgating)
FOOD & WATER
- Full water bottle(s) or hydration bladder
- Food & snacks
- Spoon
- Empty Ziploc (for garbage)
- Drink mixes
- Travel mug & coffee/tea
Additional Gear For Specific Trips
RAIN & SNOW
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Rain mittens
- Umbrella
- Warm socks
- Traction devices or snowshoes
- GPS/phone app (for route finding in snow)
MOSQUITOS & TICKS
- Pre-treat clothing with Permethrin
- Treat skin with Picaridin
- Head net
LONG HIKES / REMOTE LOCATIONS
- Extra food for emergencies
- Whistle
- Duct/Tenacious Tape (for repairs)
- Small lighter & fire starters
- Water filter or treatment pills
- Collapsible water containers (for carrying lots of water in dry locations)
- Satellite Messenger/PLB
- Emergency blanket/shelter
GRIZZLY BEAR COUNTRY
PHOTOGRAPHY
Backup photos, clear storage, and clean lens.
DSLR or Point-and-Shoot
- Camera
- Holster or camera clip
- Tripod
- Remote shutter
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Rain cover / dry bag
- Extra battery
- Extra camera card
Smartphone
- Phone (Apple or Android)
- Shoulder pouch or hipbelt pocket
- Tripod
- Smartphone tripod mount
- Remote shutter
- Small carabiner (to keep track of remote)
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Waterproof case or Ziploc
- Power bank (for long trips)
- Short charging cable
DOG
For the trail
- Leash
- Collar/harness
- Food & collapsible bowl
- Extra water (you carry)
- Treats & treat pouch
- Dog boots / Musher’s Secret Wax (to protect the paws)
- Poop bags & gallon Ziploc or OPsak (to pack out waste)
- Dog backpack
- Dog jacket (for dogs with low cold tolerance)
- Foam pad (to insulate you and your dog from the cold/wet ground during breaks)
- Dog first aid kit (or add stuff to human first aid kit)
- Collar light (check battery pre-trip)
Leave in car
- Quick-dry towel
- Blanket
- Dog car hammock (seat protector)
- Extra dog food in airtight container
Overnight Trips
Prepping for a multi day adventure? We also have checklists for backpacking, camping, and winter camping.
Day Hiking Tips
FINDING A BALANCE OF PACK WEIGHT & PREPAREDNESS – A lightweight backpack is far more comfortable to carry. This will help you conserve energy so you can hike further and enjoy your time outdoors more. That said, we never advise skipping essentials like a map, food, water, rain jacket, and a basic first aid kit when venturing into the backcountry. Learn more about ways to reduce your pack weight here.
BACKPACKS – Most people use a daypack or hydration pack (comes with a bladder) for day trips for their useful capacity, comfortable carry, and convenient pockets to keep gear organized and easily accessible. Daypacks come in a variety of sizes, but we prefer those that have about 20-30 liters of volume. Fanny packs are also a great option for small gear loads or for extra capacity in addition to a daypack.
WHAT TO WEAR FOR HIKING – The clothing you wear and pack for a day hike will depend on the conditions you expect to encounter on specific trips, but the basics remain the same. Wear layers made of quick-drying (synthetic or wool) fabrics so you can stay comfortable no matter the weather. Lightweight, breathable footwear and high-quality, non-cotton socks also make a huge difference in reducing fatigue and avoiding blisters. Get specific recommendations on the best down jackets, rain jackets, hiking pants, base layers, and more on our Gear Guide Homepage.
More Information
If you enjoyed this post, you’ll probably like the CleverHiker Gear Guide as well. Here are some popular resources to check out.
- 10 Best Hiking Footwear
- 10 Best Backpacking Tents
- 10 Best Sleeping Bags and Quilts
- 10 Best Sleeping Pads
- 10 Best Backpacking Packs
- 10 Best Backpacking Stoves
- CleverHiker Top Gear Picks
Featured
About the Author
Heather Eldridge is an accomplished backpacker and camping aficionado. She cut her teeth on winter camping and rock climbing trips as a youngster then went on to thru-hike over 6,000 miles of America’s longest trails. She now lives on a farm in Oregon where she works as a full-time gear tester, writer, and photographer.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a modest commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.
