I thought it might be useful to give you all some insight into “What’s In My Bag?” for 3-season (Fall, Spring, Summer) day hikes. I’ve gone through a lot of gear through the years, including selling used gear that I really didn’t enjoy using. This is what I carry with me on any medium or difficult day hike, with an emphasis on trying to keep my pack light.
10 Essentials
- Navigation: Silva Forecaster
- Sun Protection: A Patagonia trucker hat is my go-to
- Insulation: I always bring an extra mid-weight Patagonia Capilene layer just in case
- Illumination: Petzl Tikka Headlamp
- First-aid supplies: Moleskin has saved many of my friends’ feet
- Fire: Zippo Windproof Lighter
- Repair kit and tools: Classic Swiss Army Knife
- Nutrition: My favorite bars are the Peanut Butter KIND bars
- Hydration: I love my MSR DromLite
- Emergency Shelter: SOL. It’s super light and hopefully you’ll never need it! But just in case..
Bulk
- Pack: I love my Topo Designs Mountain Pack for easier hikes and Osprey Sirrus 36 for longer hikers
- Poles: I went for the cheaper Leki Cristallo Poles and have never had any issues
Clothing & Footwear
- Shirts: I’m a huge fan of the Icebreaker Merino Wool shirts, even with the heavy price tag
- Shell: My go-to rain jacket is a super cheap North Face Hyvent 2.5 I bought from the Freeport outlets. Similar here
- Pants: I will usually wear Lululemon Yoga Pants but if I’m scrambling in New England, I’ll put on my Fjallraven Keb Trousers
- Boots: It took me a while to realize that stiff boots just aren’t for me. If you have strong ankles, I would recommend a softer boot like the Salomon X Ultra Mid II GTX. They’re ridiculously comfortable and low bulk! As an aside, I did all of my Zion and Bryce Canyon hiking in Nike running shoes so don’t think you *need* to buy new boots if you are just doing some easy terrain hiking!
