Ultimate Gear and Packing List for One-Day Hikes and Walks

by Holly Worton | Apr 2, 2020

I often get questions about the gear that I use for my walks, so I thought it was about time I sat down and wrote a blog post about it. Unfortunately, I suspect that not knowing what gear to get can prevent some people from venturing out on longer walks. This list includes all the stuff that I use and recommend to friends.

However, I am providing just one person’s perspective in this blog post. Because it’s important to compare and contrast the things that other people consider to be important to stay safe in the outdoors, I wanted to share this blog post on a Day Hike Packing List: A Prepared Girl’s Guide. Check out her guide as well.

I also have a wishlist on Amazon of things I’d like to buy for future outdoor adventures. When my birthday comes around, or Christmas, I pick something from that list to buy myself, and if someone asks me what I want for my birthday, I send them a link from that list. I find that this is the easiest way to build up my outdoors gear. If you’ve got a birthday coming up and are looking for something special to ask for, check out this list of perfect gift ideas for the outdoors. The flexible phone tripod is something I’ve found super useful in the past, and I’ve got my eye on the Icebreaker Merino Wool base layer leggings for winter camping.

You can download a printable checklist here that you can edit for your own purposes.

Day Walks

When I ran my Meetup group for women walkers, I would include this list of things to bring:

Water bottles or water pouch with at least 1.5 L of water
Packed lunch + snacks
Hot drink in a flask if you like (it’s always nice to have a cup of tea on the trail if it’s chilly)
Waterproof jacket + trousers
Waterproof hiking shoes/boots that have been broken in
Sunscreen & hat for sun/cold
Backpack to carry all the above
Appropriate clothing for the weather

Let’s go through each bullet point, and I’ll explain what I use and why I recommend it.

Water bottles

I like to carry both a water bottle and a water reservoir. I prefer these wide mouth bottles from Nalgene as they’re not too heavy, and they’re easy to clean. Plus, they come in lots of different colors. I also use these bottles when I go camping.

Water pouch

I use Osprey backpacks and so I also use an Osprey water reservoir. I’ve heard complaints from other walkers about their water bladders making the water taste like plastic, but this has never been a problem with my Osprey reservoir. I have a 2.5 L hydration pack, but I don’t always fill it up. I may just fill it to the 1.5 L line when going out for a day hike, and then bring my 1 L Nalgene bottle for a total of 2.5 L of water. Note that I tend to bring more water than I actually need, especially when going out with a group. (Amazon link | Osprey website)

Flask

If you just want a small flask for a hot drink, I use this flask from Lifeventure for having a cup of tea around the campfire when camping.

But for day walks, I always carry a 500 ml. flask like this one. This is not the exact one that I use (mine was purchased on sale at an outdoors shop, and I have no idea what brand it is), but I do have a one liter flask from this brand that I use for drinking yerba mate at home.

The trick to keeping your drink hot in whatever size flask is to heat it up first. Whenever I go on a day walk, I fill my flask with hot water from the kettle as soon as I wake up and head downstairs. I put the lid on and let the flask heat up while I get ready. I don’t actually make my tea until just a few minutes before I walk out the door. This technique has allowed me to have hot tea for hours—sometimes I can have a warm drink on the train home from my walk if I have tea left over!

Waterproof jacket + trousers

The North Face used to be one of my favorite brands—these days, I’m not so sure. I can’t link to the exact jacket that I have because I bought it back in 2011. I’ve worn this jacket for thousands of miles of walks, and I’ve never had to re-waterproof it. I think I got it for sale at an outdoors shop for £50. The link above is to their women’s waterproof section.

Another brand that I love is Rab, and they have great outdoor clothing. I have one of their puffy jackets that I love (link to that below) and as much as I love The North Face, I think I’ll get a Rab jacket whenever I need to replace my current waterproof. I really like their Women’s Downpour Plus Jacket, which comes in a variety of colors and is reasonably priced for a good quality waterproof jacket. But personally, I’m leaning toward the Women’s Spark Jacket, mostly because I love those chest pockets. They’re really convenient.

For the bottoms, I use Berghaus waterproof overtrousers: these go on top of your normal walking trousers. If it’s already raining when I leave the house in the morning for a walk, I leave with both pairs of trousers on. Otherwise, I leave in my normal walking trousers (link below) and fold these overtrousers up in my backpack. This model is an upgrade of the ones I’ve had for years. The important details: they unzip down the sides so that you can pull them on over your boots and normal trousers without too much fuss. This is important if it’s suddenly started pouring down rain when you’re out on the trail and you want to cover up fast.

I never leave the house for a walk without my waterproofs in my backpack, no matter how nice the weather may seem.

Waterproof hiking shoes/boots that have been broken in

Shoes and boots are very, very personal. You’re going to have to go with what works for you. My links here are just for reference. I’ve tried many shoes and boots over the years. You’re probably going to want to go to a shop and try these on before buying them (though, to be honest, I’ve bought shoes online without trying them on first). Be sure to bring the same hiking socks you’ll be wearing with them. Because hiking socks are extra padded, you may need to buy a half-size or a whole size larger than you usually wear.

In the winter and when it’s raining or muddy, I wear my boots. The boots that I love, love, love are the Scarpa Womens Terra GTX Boot, which I got at Cotswold Outdoors near Covent Garden. They are leather and are totally waterproof, and I regularly re-waterproof them after a particularly wet or muddy walk with Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather.

For 3-season and dry weather walking, my favorite shoes for years were the Salomon Women’s Hiking Shoes X Ultra 3 Prime GTX W. They are Gore-Tex, not leather, and they are light and breathable and good for hot weather walking. This is an old model, however, so you may have to look at something new if you want a similar shoe.

My new favorite walking shoes are the Altra Lone Peak 4.0 Low Mesh Women’s Trail Running Shoes. They have a Footshape Toe Box, which allows your toes to spread out naturally (which is good if you’re used to wearing barefoot-style shoes), and Zero-Drop, which means that the heel isn’t higher than the toe. They also have excellent grip, which is great for going downhill.

And for years I’ve been a fan of Vibram FiveFingers shoes, but these are a true barefoot shoe and you won’t be comfortable wearing these for a hike if you’ve got a big pack on. They’re great for a nice shorter day hike, probably less than 10 miles (and with a lighter pack).

Sunscreen & Hat

Sunscreen: use whatever brand you prefer. Apply early and often, even when it’s cloudy. I’ve had some of my worst sunburns when it’s cloudy and I’ve forgotten to reapply my sun cream.

I have a Columbia hat that’s very similar to this one, and I always get complimented on it when I’m out on a walk. It’s cool, and it keeps my face and neck well shaded. This is my standard summer walking hat.

For the cold, you probably already have a suitable hat. Any beanie will do, as long as it keeps your head warm. Sometimes, if it’s not too cold, I like a warm headband like this one from Pachamama. I can no longer find the exact pattern that I have, but they have many different colors and patterns. They are wool on the outside, fleece on the inside. It keeps my ears and head warm but also cool on the top, which can be refreshing on a crisp day.

Backpack

I am a massive fan of Osprey backpacks and I probably have far too many of them! If you’re a woman, be sure to look at the women’s specific packs. They will be designed for a woman’s body.

My standard pack for a short day walk when I’m out alone is the Hikelite 18. It’s big enough for my waterproofs, my water supplies, maps, and small personal items. There’s not a lot of extra room left over for food, but if your lunch is small you should be fine.

My standard pack when I’m walking with a group is a 26 L Osprey pack that was exclusive to Cotswold Outdoors and is no longer available. I can’t even find the name of it. For a pack this size (and bigger) you want to be sure it has a good hip belt, so while the Osprey Hikelite does come in a 26 L size, I don’t like the hip belt on it. The Osprey Sirrus 26 is very close to what I’ve got, and it’s what I’d recommend. Osprey change their colors up every year or so, and if you don’t like the current colors, you can check Amazon or eBay for the previous season’s colors, often at a discount.

For longer hikes, I use a bigger pack. More on that in a separate post! But be aware that you shouldn’t need more than a 26 L pack for a day hike. If you get a larger pack, you risk carrying too much with you. If you do this intentionally, it will be good training for a longer hike, but if you don’t pay attention to what you’re packing, it can make for a tiring day and sore feet. For reference, the pack I use for multi-day hikes is the Kyte 36. (Amazon link | Osprey link).

Make sure that your pack comes with a rain cover (many Osprey models do), or buy one separately.

Dry sacks. My pack has a rain cover. However, I also pack my things in dry sacks: it helps keep things extra dry, and it helps me to separate my stuff into different categories so they’re not all floating around in my pack. I have two sets of the classic 4-pack Exped drybags [which come in an assortment of sizes: XS (3litres), S (5 litres), M (8 litres) and L (13 litres)], and also the Exped Ultralight XXS drybag.

XXS: perfect for batteries, chargers, power bank, and your head light.
XS: great for food and snacks.
S: I use this one for my big first aid kit.
M: good for extra gloves, neck warmers, hats—or for when it gets warm and you’re not using them.
L: I usually only use this big one for camping, to keep my clothes inside. It doubles as a pillow for sleeping.

Appropriate clothing

Appropriate clothing, in my opinion, consists of the following items (most of which are designed for the outdoors):

Base layer. I have old, random-brand short sleeve base layers that I use for running and walking. But if I were going to upgrade, I’d get something like these short sleeve tech shirts from Under Armour. In the winter, I use the Zip-Neck Bamboo Base Layer from BAM. Each year they come out with different colors for it. I like it’s thumb loops, which keep my wrists warm and prevent the sleeves from riding up my arms under a jacket. I also love its quarter-zip, which I find really useful to regulate my body temperature when I’m wearing lots of layers.
Mid layer. This will be either a fleece or a puffy jacket. My favorite fleece at the moment is from Berghaus. I can’t find the model online, but I suspect that the Berghaus Women’s Prism Micro Polartec Interactive Fleece Jacket is the updated version of what I’ve got. What I like about it: good pockets, and full zip. I used to wear pull-on fleeces, but now I prefer a full zip: it helps me to regulate my body temperature when I’m outdoors. My puffy jacket is from Rab, and I love it so much! (Amazon link | Rab link) What I love about it: it’s warm, packable into a fairly small size, and it has great pockets. Plus, it comes in about eight different colors, all of which are pretty.
Waterproof outer layers. See above.
Sports bra, if needed. I use the Coobie Seamless Sports Bra. The Coobie has been my standard bra for years, and I love it. Seamless. Comfy!
Underwear. Runderwear is the best option for chafe-proof running and walking underwear. A friend of mine recommends Exofficio underwear, which is designed for travel.
Walking trousers (not jeans!). I love, love, love Craghoppers and I have worn their trousers for years. What I like about them: their trousers have all kinds of little extras, like a cloth for your glasses, a dry bag for your phone, and plenty of pockets. Perhaps most importantly, they come in regular, short, and long lengths. The short length is perfect for me (I’m 5’3″ or 162 cm). For 3-season walking (spring, summer, fall), I am on my third pair of NosiLife Pro II Convertible Trousers (not because they’ve worn out, but because I’ve lost weight and needed a smaller size—these trousers seem to last forever). My first two pairs were not convertible, but my current ones are, which I prefer because they give you more flexibility. For winter walking, I wear the Craghoppers Women’s Kiwi Pro Stretch Lined Trousers, which are fleece lined and very cozy. You might need to go a size up on these. They are usually seasonal on the Craghoppers website, so you may not find them outside of winter, but they are usually available year-round on Amazon, and often at discounted prices. You may also want to use a belt to hold them up, because I find that my backpack can push down on my trousers when I’m walking, even though they fit me well. This listing says it’s for a man’s belt, but it’s the one I’ve got and it’s perfect. It comes in different sizes.
Good walking socks. Bridgedale is my favorite brand, but Smart Wool is also great. My standard 3-season sock is the Bridgedale Women’s Hike Lightweight Cotton Cool Comfort Socks. Tip: get them in different colors so you can distinguish between pairs when you’re doing a long distance walk or you’re out for several days at a time. For winter, you can use a thicker sock like the Bridgedale Women’s Hike Midweight Boot Height- Merino Endurance Socks or the Bridgedale Women’s Explorer Heavyweight Merino Endurance Socks.
Gloves. I have the Chamonix Gore-Tex gloves from Trekmates. They are very warm and perfect for winter walking.
Neck warmer. A Merino Buff is good, because it can double as a head warmer. You can also get a fleece neck warmer like this one. I have a lovely Heat Holders Women Thermal Winter Fleece Neck Warmer that I wear in the office at home when I’m fasting and cold, but it might be overkill for a winter hike.

There are also some excellent recommendations for trousers in this blog post on the ultimate guide to rock climbing pants. Apparently some hiking pants are also good for rock climbing, and this article lays out the pros and cons of different types of outdoors pants. It also includes a lot of brands that I don’t have experience with, which is great for getting to know new options. Check it out!

Extras

That above list, as you may remember, was for the walkers who accompanied me on my Meetup walks. That assumes we were walking as a group, and it assumes that I was the one carrying a giant first aid kit and other extras. If you’re going out on a walk alone, you’ll need a few other things. You may also want to carry extra water.

Compass. If you’re going to be venturing out on your own, always have a compass with you, and know how to use it. Do not rely on the “compass” that you probably have on your smart phone.
Head light. I have the Energizer LED Vision Ultra HD Headlight. I’ve had this thing for almost 10 years and it’s only now starting to fail. I think it’s a great beginner’s head lamp. While I usually opt for things with rechargeable batteries, when you’re in the outdoors you won’t be able to easily recharge things. I have an older version of this head light, which takes three AAA batteries. I always carry extra batteries with me, especially when I’m out with people or when I’m out for a multi-day hike. I’ve had this light for almost ten years now, and it’s still going strong.
First aid kit. Be sure you have your own personal medication, and that you also have tick removal tools (like the O’Tom Tick Twister) and Compeed for blisters (I always carry a mix of the Medium Plasters and the Mix Pack—note that these are usually less expensive on Amazon). Also be sure you have tissues and lip balm.
Maps. If you’re going out alone, always have the paper maps for the area where you’ll be walking, and know how to read them. Don’t rely on a GPS device or smart phone as your primary navigation method. Batteries die out, and electronic devices aren’t always as accurate as you may think. Note that you can buy weatherproof versions of OS Maps. Alternatively, buy a map case to keep your map dry and still functional. I also use the OS Maps app for planning walks and for when I’ve forgotten my paper maps (oops!).
Personal shelter. I always go out with my 2-person Bothy Bag in my pack, and I had a larger one for group walks. It’s great for emergency situations, and it really keeps you warm. A two-person shelter is big enough for you and your backpack. I also carry a foil blanket with me just in case.
Poles. I use the Carbon Fibre 3-Section Pacerpoles. They are fantastic!
Poo kit. I usually only carry this if I’m going backpacking, but if you have digestive issues, or if you’re the kind of person who often has emergencies out on the trail, you’ll need a poo kit, like the very lightweight Coghlans Back Packers Trowel and some toilet paper (not tissue, as it doesn’t biodegrade as quickly).
Power bank. Stay safe by making sure you have backup power for your electronics. I have this power bank and am happy with it. I also have a solar charger for when I’m on a multi-day hiker or when I’m out camping.
Watch. Yes, you have your phone with you…but what if the battery dies? You need to know what time it is, and how long you’ve got until sundown.
Whistle. I have a whistle attached to each one of my backpacks. Know how to use it. The emergency signal is: six blasts, wait one minute, six more blasts. Keep going until help is with you.

I think that’s everything! I will be updating and adding to this post, so please let me know if you have any questions.

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