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Going on a hike involves a little bit more than putting on your boots and setting off. Check out our guide on what to bring to make sure you're safe and ready for any eventuality!
Here's a quick go-to list that we will look at in more detail below:
Rucksack
Waterproof bag cover
Dry bag
Hiking boots
Hiking trousers
Base layer, mid layer, top layers!
Hiking socks
Waterproofs
Head torch
Water bottles
Safety/emergency bag
Map and Compass
Wallet and ID
ID is especially important
Food
Spare layers
First Aid Kit
Buff, hat and gloves
Battery pack and charger
Ok.. ready to unpack the list? (if you'll pardon the pun)
Rucksack
An essential piece of kit. Key features we've found useful are:
External bottle carriers for quick and easy access.
Hip belt
Dual buckling at the hip and chest for extra support
Light
Back panel to reduce sweat build up on your back
External, easily reachable zipped pockets for snacks and other useful bits
Versatility - use for different sports e.g. hiking/mountain biking/snow sports etc
Our gear:
We use Osprey day bags for their robustness and reliability. We use the Talon and Tempest. Click here for more information.
Decathlon do a lot of really affordable options. Click here for their products.
Waterproof bag cover
A lot of bags will have inbuilt waterproof bag carriers such as the photo below. These are essential for those rainy days! If your bag doesn't have one, Osprey do a great range found here
Dry bag
We've so far managed without these through the use of ziplock bags, however if you're wanting a more secure option, we've been recommended the dry sacks from Osprey in the past.
Hiking boots
For an in depth guide on how to choose hiking boots, click here for our guide we have made on this area.
Our gear:
We both use Scarpa Terra GTX and have found them very effective for keeping our feet comfortable, dry and secure for miles on end.
You may choose to use lighter trail running trainers for comfort, speed and portability if in a hotter climate and want to be more nimble on your feet for technical terrain. We've made good use of Salomon, Inov-8, Saucony and more.
Hiking trousers
The key things we look for in this area are:
Ventilation zips
Stretch - for ease of movement and comfort
Quick dry - for sweaty legs or if it rains then dries!
Thickness - thinner for warmer, drier months, then we pop either merino leggings under or waterproof trousers over if it's really cold or wet.
Some have waterproof coatings for lighter rain - this is useful if you don't want to keep taking your waterproof trousers on and off.
Others may have reinforced knee areas for improved wear resistance and comfort on scrambles.
Our gear:
Tom uses Rab - click here
Essi uses Northface - click here
Hiking tops and base layers
This really doesn't need to be expensive. We've used Decathlon's synthetic hiking/running range and have found these extremely comfortable, breathable and affordable. Click here for their range.
Key tips:
We recommend bringing a spare layer with you on any walk. Especially if going into the hills - for every 165m you climb, the air temperature will drop 1 degrees Celsius.
Do not make the mistake of packing for what it's like on the flat at the car if it's sunny and rosy! We've been in lovely sunny weather and then suddenly the weather has changed to a sleety hail storm mess. Be prepared.
What are base layers and what do they do?
Base layers are an essential piece of kit for so many reasons. They sit close to your body, therefore helping to modulate your core temperature by keeping your skin dry through their wicking techniques. Wicking occurs when the spaces between the fibres pull the sweat away from your skin via 'Capillary Action' and then transfer the sweat to the next layer of clothing.
Why is this important?
Keeping your skin dry helps prevent any big fluctuations in core temperature during exercise, which can be the difference between life and death in some circumstances (think hypothermia). By keeping your skin dry, they also help to reduce the risk of chaffing and discomfort - not ideal when out and about and comfort is key. This therefore improves your performance and enjoyment of being outdoors..
The key materials to look out for are:
1. Merino Wool
This comes from Merino sheep that are found in Australia and New Zealand. It is a lot softer and finer than normal wool and Incredibly versatile.
Pros:
They have a very high level of breathability as they absorb sweat into their fibres which then evaporates into the air faster than synthetic fibres.
Extremely soft and gentle to your skin
They are not only breathable and wick-able, but the merino wool actually reacts with the sweat, speeding up the release of heat for faster temperature regulation
Merino wool has natural antibacterial properties so you don't need to wash them as often - your friend/partner will thank you!
Good for lower intensity, colder outings, but also very effective in warmer temperatures due to their fast wicking rates.
Naturally flame retardent
More environmentally friendly due to their biodegradability
Cons:
Usually more expensive than synthetic base layers
Can become heavier due to the absorbability of the fibres - they will often absorb up to 35% of their weight in water before appearing damp
2. Synthetic -
Man made materials usually made out of polyester.
Pros
Effective for higher intensity exercise like running where you need faster wicking properties and don't want the high absorbability rate of merino.
Cons:
Not usually as warm
Not flame retardent, ie they melt/distort when exposed to naked flames
3. Combined or hybrid -
We haven't used a blend before but we figure they probably use positive aspects from both of the above!
Key tips: We recommend going for base layers with neck zips for improved ventilation and airflow.
Our gear:
Fohn Merino Wool baselayers from Wiggle. Click here for more info.
Hiking socks
This is a can of worms in itself. They are definitely worth buying as they are especially made for comfort and performance in the outdoors. Their seams are developed in a way as to not increase friction or abrasion whilst walking, improving comfort and reduced blister risk. They may also offer compression support e.g. around the inside arch of the foot or around the ankle.
Things to think about are:
Time of the year you will use them - thick vs thin, heavy vs light.
Extra blister protection?
Waterproof? Sealskinz are the leaders in this category
Length - longer for abrasion resistance from your hiking boots, and from the environment in summer such as thorns, rocks and branches.
Material:
- Merino vs Synthetic - Pros and cons as per base layers above.
- Cotton - We suggest you avoid using cotton for exercise. These are your everyday socks that you use. They're not great for keeping you warm, or for drying quickly, therefore they are a perfect storm for blisters and discomfort.
- Wool - Warm, but a bit scratchy.
These aren't merino sheep, unfortunately
Waterproofs
Check out our guide on Instagram for how to choose a waterproof coat.
We both wear Patagonia's Torrentshell - Click here for more details.
Waterproof trousers are an essential piece of kit - we bought these (men's) and these (women's) from Decathlon for their portability, affordability, comfort and ease of use in both trail running and hiking.
Please note - if you're wanting cycling specific trousers, look for reinforced bottoms to reduce the speed at which they wear out.
Head torch
We've always got on stashed away in a bag pocket as you never know what will happen out on a hike, bike or run. We've nearly come unstuck before when a hike took way longer than expected and we walked home with our phone torches - not ideal. It can also be a great way of signalling if you're injured or in need of assistance.
We've used Decathlon's in the past but now use these ones from Alpkit for their wide beam, making them very suitable and effective for night time running/hiking.
We looked for:
Rechargeable battery for reduced long term cost and environmental friendliness
Secure head fastening
Adjustable torch bezel for improved sight
Water bottles
The old rule of thumb suggests taking 0.5L per hour of hiking and 1L per 2 hours.
This is however, over simplistic and you need to take into account other factors, including:
Walking/Running speed
Hills
Temperature - hot weather = more sweating!
Weather - windy weather means you work harder
Terrain - scree/mud/scrambling
Your own metabolism - are you usually a bit more sweaty?
We've used 3 different types in the past:
Hard plastic/aluminium
We use these from Finisterre and Nalgene as they are tough and have survived many a drop!
Pros:
Durable
Measurement useful for camping cooking
Easy to fill, stores a lot of water
Easy to clean and dry
Cons
Heavier and bulkier, taking up more space
Only really suitable for hiking and biking - look for other options for trail running
2. Water bladder/Camel Back
We've used these from Camel Back and the Decathlon one's that came with our trail running bags.
Pros:
Store a high quantity of water
Very convenient, easy to use on the go
Most hiking bags and trail running bags have storage options and purpose made holes for these.
Cons:
Harder to clean out and dry when not in use. We've heard freezing them whilst not using them is a good way to prevent any bacterial growth
The tubing can freeze on colder adventures - not ideal
Leakage from the tube - wasting water
3. Collapsable
We use these from Decathlon
Pros:
Convenient to store
Light
Great for trail running
Cons:
Less durable than hard plastic/aluminium
Harder to clean out and dry
And for extra comfort, we often bring a flask of hot coffee for a mid-late walk pick me up. Our trustee Stanley flask and aluminium Finisterre mugs are always up to the job.
Emergency/survival blanket and first aid kit
Vital for if the weather or your fortunes turn e.g. you've sprained your ankle or are really struggling. Emergency blankets (foil or plastic) are waterproof and windproof. They help to trap around 90% of your body heat, therefore keeping you warm and safe in tricky situations.
Top tip - buy a bright colour as this serves as a distress signal and is more easily identifiable.
Our gear:
We have these from Lifesystems but you can get smaller, more portable ones.
Keep your eye out for some first aid tips and guides from Essi, our in house doctor.
Map and Compass
Discussed in our 'how to plan a route' guide. We will soon be bringing out a 'how to navigate' guide.
You can't always rely on your phone battery, signal or GPS device to keep you safe. Learn the basics and get yourself a compass and hard copy of a map (be it a full map or printed segment).
Wallet and ID
A post hike/bike/run pub stop is just the best, right? ID is also essential if you're out by yourself. If you become unconscious/unable to communicate, someone will be able to identify you and speed up the rescue process.
We also recommend keeping a card with next of kin details/emergency contact numbers.
Food
Keeping yourself well fuelled whilst Trought and Abouting is essential. For some ideas on what to bring, check out our 'Recipes' tab, or click here
We recommend taking a bite of a snack every 20-30 minutes to prevent any big dips in energy and thus maintain a constant, sustainable flow of energy. Having some easily portable, easily reachable snacks is therefore really handy.
However, you also don't want to take on board a large amount of fuel so that you have indigestion or a big crash in energy. We advise not sitting around for too long, especially in the cold as your core temperature can drop very quickly - we tend not to sit down for more than 10-15mins as a result.
What do we bring?
We tend to bring more than we think we'll need as you can never be too safe.
A source of protein to kick start the recovery process - examples include boiled eggs, nuts, cheese sandwiches, protein bars etc.
Slow release carbohydrates for a longer lasting energy supply e.g. wholemeal bread, wholegrain rice, oats/granola, your typical trail/brunch bars, trail mix - dried fruit, nuts, oats. You can get gels/purpose made bars too such as SIS and Clif bars - we tend to use these more on higher intensity sessions such as running and biking.
Fast release energy - A few sweets or feel good treats for when the going gets tough or when you need a quick boost of energy. A chocolate bar never goes amiss. We've used jelly in the past, or sugar babies - whatever you enjoy.
We try to avoid bulkier Tupperware or heavier fruit such as apples as they take up a lot of space and weight.
Essi's delicious carrot cake muffins
Buff, hat and gloves
We shouldn't really be that excited by using a Buff, but honestly, they are so diverse and useful. We've used them as sweat bands on our head and wrists, hats, face masks, neck covers to protect our neck from the sun and balaclava's for verrrrry cold days.
Our gear:
Buff: You don't need to spend a premium on these. These merino wool ones from Decathlon do they job brilliantly and are a lot cheaper than the original brand.
Key tip: If you're too hot, soak the buff in a fresh stream and pop it on your head - It's a great way of cooling yourself down.
Hat: we use these from Patagonia. We use them everywhere and they have retained their elasticity, warmth and look for years on end. We're very impressed with them. They're great for people with big heads too! (speaking from experience).
Gloves:
There's nothing worse than having cold, wet and numb hands, thus not being able to use your fingers for zips/buttons as you manically chew at the food wrapper to open it up. Keeping your core warm will help a lot with this, but a good pair of gloves is an essential piece of kit to keep your fingers nimble and useful.
We've used a range of gloves, ranging from Decathlon liners to Sealskinz cycling gloves. try to avoid cotton as it doesn't dry very quickly.
Think about:
Water resistance/waterproofing
Reinforced/padded palm areas for hiking poles/scrambling
Mittens vs gloves - mittens are less useful for dexterous activities like zips and laces but good for a solid grip on a walking pole.
Wrist straps and clips so you don't lose a glove
Lining material - synthetic, wool, merino, blend
?Touch screen finger
Avoid:
Cotton - doesn't dry quickly, not very breathable and
Battery pack and charger
A waterproof battery pack/juice box or whatever you call it is an essential stowaway in a bag. It's a useful piece of kit that could save your life, particularly in colder temperatures where the cold saps battery charge. Just remember to pre-charge the pack before and bring your charging cable!
We picked up a waterproof one from Lidl for less than a tenner.
And that's a wrap! Thank you for checking out this longer blog post. If you'd like to know more or have any other suggestions for future blogs, let us know in the comments below!
Hope you stay #troughtandabout
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