Dayhike Checklist:
Don't Forget Anything On Your First (Or Next) Hike

By Diane Spicer

Here are the essential items on a dayhike checklist, including clothing, trail gear, safety items, comfort items and hygiene supplies.

Essential clothing a dayhiker needs

One important caveat: no cotton, only moisture wicking, quick dry fabrics

Tailor this list to the weather conditions, adjusting for temperature and moisture levels.

• Pants/shorts/skirt/Leggings
• Shirt: long/short sleeves
• Wicking underwear
• Sports bra (no underwires)
• Hiking socks and (optional) liner socks
• Lightweight wind resistant jacket
• Hat with brim

Important trail gear for a dayhiker

• Backpack or lumbar pack
• Hiking boots/shoes (no sandals or flipflops)
• Water bottle(s) or hydration bladder system
• Trekking poles

Safety items on a dayhike checklist

• First aid kit (minimum: pain relief, disinfectant, band aids, tweezers, eye drops, scissors, gauze)
• Blister prevention/treatment
• Whistle
• Map & compass (don't rely upon GPS)
• Head lamp with batteries turned around to avoid accidental discharge
• Watch
• Bandanna (impromptu cold pack, eye patch, sanitary napkin, wound compress)
• Thin “space” blanket or lightweight tarp
• Fire starter kit (lighter, ignitable materials)
• Multi-tool/knife
• Lip balm (SPF 25) to prevent sun/wind burn
• Ace/compression bandage
• Drivers license, emergency contacts, pertinent medical conditions & medications in plastic bag

Think about investing in a satellite communication device for emergency situations.

Comfort and hygiene items on your dayhike checklist

• Food, with extra “just in case” high calorie snacks
• Water, 1 liter minimum (with electrolytes added if needed)
• Trowel, hand sanitizer and baby wipes with plastic bag for disposal (waste disposal)
• Menstruation supplies
• Insect repellent
• Sit pad

In a hurry?

Here's a pdf copy of my tried and true free dayhike checklist.

• It's organized into essential items, add ons, fun stuff, and includes what to do at the trailhead before your hike.

How to create your personal checklist for a day hike

Every hiker needs to be prepared to either turn around, or tackle what's in front of her.

Sometimes Mother Nature has nasty surprises in store that only your checklist can prepare you for.

That's why a checklist must include the big categories that important to your health and well being:

• Hiking clothing
• Trail gear
• Safety and survival items
• Food
• Water
• Fun stuff based on your personal interests

How to use a dayhike checklist, no matter your hiking experience

Each big category contains many options that you will need to pick and choose from, based on your hiking style and plans.

• If you're new to hiking, use a checklist to build an inventory of hiking equipment that you'll need to own - eventually. To start off, concentrate on safety items and comfortable hiking clothing and boots.

• If you've logged plenty of trail miles, use the list as a tool to quickly double check yourself before you leave for the trail head.

• If you're a grizzled trail veteran, use the checklist at the start of every season to review which gear needs to be replaced, repaired, or retired for the upcoming trail work. 

Preaching to the choir?

You might already know this, but here it is, just for the record.

A dayhike checklist is the only way to guarantee that you're prepared enough to have a safe, enjoyable hike.

If you leave things to chance and memory, you're going to disappoint (and possibly even endanger) yourself.

And if you don't know what to take on a hike, using a checklist will save you trouble down the road trail.

• Amend it as your skill set grows, and personalize it for your own unique needs and goals as a hiker.

Here's one more compelling reason to know what to take on a hike:

• If you're in charge of planning the hike, you owe it to your trail buddies to be prepared.
• That includes canine companions.

How long is a good dayhike checklist?

The list is as long as it needs to be, given the type of day hike you're planning.

If you like to stick to well maintained, extensively signed trails, you're going to need a very short list...

• unless the weather turns bad or you get injured.
  

Do you tackle trails that take you into the double digit mileage range with elevation gain and loss?

• Then don't skimp on the details. Build up a long checklist and stick to it.
• With every mile you put between yourself and "civilization" (or at least the trail head), you need to be more and more thoroughly prepared.

Get started here to find what you need for a dayhike

There is no "one size fits all" dayhike checklist. (the bad news)

You're going to have to create your own version. (good news - trust me!)

To get you started on your list of "must take" items for a hike, I've created resources to share information with you in each of those big categories.

Read these tips and recommendations with your personal filter in place: what makes sense for the type of hiking you're going to do?

Your answer will change with the seasons, and expand as your hiking confidence grows.

Hiking clothing on your checklist

The bare minimum a summer into fall day hiker needs to bring on a hike would be moisture wicking shirt and pants, a sun hat, a jacket and a sturdy pair of boots with appropriate socks.

Read about general types of the best clothing for hikers.

Consider my specific recommendations, the outdoor apparel I know works well on the trail in all seasons because I use it myself.

Outdoor gear for hikers

• Start off with a general overview of what you'll need, and how to buy it. 
  
• Want a specific list of hiking equipment? Go here.

Safety items for dayhikers

Nobody is going to take care of you out on a hiking trail, so it's up to you to be prepared.

No worries! This website is bursting with factual, trustworthy information on how to get ready for hiking.

Start here:

• The ten essentials are a common sense list of what you need. 
• Survival gear is also recommended; that link brings you to my tips for putting together a survival kit which can ride along in your backpack (and hopefully never needs to be used).

Best hiking food

There's food.

And then there's hiking food.

• Read about the difference here.
  
• Munch on these tasty day hike food ideas.
• If you need gluten free trail food, get it here. 
  
• If you want specific nutrition information, here it is!

Hiking hydration

Believe it or not, water is considered a nutrient for your hard working hiker's body.

• Hiking water and hiking water bottles are 2 topics you should read about before you write "water" on your dayhike checklist.
• Curious about sports drinks for hikers? Read this.

Now add a little fun into the mix!

Here's where that dayhike checklist really gets personalized!

If trail time is going to be fun, you might have to bring along a few toys.

• Like a camera or field guides. 
• Or a trail journal.
  
• Nothing is more fun that learning some outdoor lore: be able to identify what you spot on the hiking trail.
• How about some seaweed snacks just to mix it up a little?

Get that checklist started!

You're armed with the facts, and plenty of ideas to get started on writing your checklist.

Won't you feel better at the trail head, knowing that you have everything you need to stay safe and comfortable during a hike?

I thought so!

You're my kind of hiker: prepared and confident.

• Here's more beginner hiking information to consider as you create your list.

The best day hike is the one that you remember for all the right reasons.

Enhance your chance to dance down the trail, by using a dayhike checklist.

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Dayhike Checklist