What to Pack for a Hike: Camping Checklist

Friends invited you on a hike? That’s great! Now you just need to figure out how to pack light, have fun, and avoid injuries.

In this article, we share checklists of the most essential items for a hike, and provide tips for preparing for a trekking trip alone or with children.

How to prepare for a hike

Hiking can safely be considered an active form of recreation: unlike a picnic with a cozy blanket and croissants, here you need to be aware of the responsibility. If you don’t prepare everything you need, you’re unlikely to be able to pack up and go home whenever you feel like it. Therefore, you need to proceed from your goal.

Relax in nature for a couple of days

A perfectly fair goal. You walk surrounded by natural beauty, light a campfire in the evening and admire the stars, sleep soundly in a tent at night, and set off in the morning. A dream!

However, we advise you to consider whether you truly want to relax by overcoming all the “charms” of a hike. You need to be prepared for the fact that there won’t be a comfortable restroom or shower nearby. Therefore, if your goal is simply to relax in nature, we recommend first learning about what glamping is. Perhaps the option of glamorous camping with a cozy cabin and all amenities will appeal to you much more.

Test your endurance on a multi-day hike

A logical option for those who want to experience the full rigor of hiking. This includes the heavy load of a backpack on your shoulders, sometimes unpredictable weather and natural phenomena, and, of course, a ton of great impressions at the end of the hike.

What to pack for a camping trip

Money and documents

Of course, all important papers should be with you. If something is needed and there’s an opportunity to buy more at the beginning, money will come in handy. In addition to your passport, be sure to bring your insurance policy. We recommend storing documents in a sealed zip-lock bag to keep them safe if they happen to float away down a river or get wet in the rain.

Tent

The second most important item, because you need somewhere to sleep. A trekking tent weighs up to 4 kg, which is quite manageable. We recommend choosing one if you’re not planning to conquer mountain peaks with low temperatures. However, you should consider that in such a tent, you can only sit or lie down. Tents are also divided by seasons: for example, a summer tent has a ventilation window, while an all-season one is made of waterproof materials. We recommend buying the latter: they will come in handy at any time.

Sleeping bag and sleeping pad

Or rather, items for comfortable tent living. A sleeping bag should be slightly longer than your height for more comfortable sleep. Just like tents, sleeping bags come in three-season versions, which we recommend for hiking. A sleeping pad (or camping mat) is needed for comfortable sleep: it’s placed under the sleeping bag. The most comfortable sleeping pads are double-layered, thick, and made of foamed polyethylene.

Backpack

Here are important rules for choosing a backpack. It should be made of water-repellent materials so that its contents remain safe and sound during the hike. Additionally, buy a model with wide shoulder straps and a hip belt: this will distribute the backpack’s weight evenly across your body, and your back won’t suffer after a long journey. Now, about volume. We recommend basing it on the duration of the hike: 20–35 liters is ideal for a day hike, 35–50 liters for a light multi-day trip, and 50–100 liters for a full-fledged trekking expedition with all its charms. Backpacks with a volume of 100–120 liters are usually taken by those who love long expeditions.

Clothing and footwear

Comfortable clothing and footwear are key to a successful hike. Here’s a small checklist of the most essential wardrobe items:

two t-shirts made of natural materials;
underwear;
two hoodies, one with a fleece lining;
two pairs of trousers made of natural materials, one waterproof;
a jacket with wind and moisture protection;
several pairs of socks;
a hat;
thermal underwear;
a cap;
a swimsuit or swimming trunks, if you plan to swim;
trekking or hiking boots;
rubber slippers;
sunglasses on a chain, so you don’t lose them.

Now you are fully dressed and almost ready for the hike!

First aid kit

Put the following items in your first aid kit:

cotton wool, plaster, and bandages;
antiseptics;
painkillers;
medications for the gastrointestinal tract;
antihistamines;
fever reducers;
elastic bandage;
sunscreen and lip balm with SPF.

Before using any medication, please consult your doctor.

Hygiene items

shampoo, soap. These can be poured into special plastic travel bottles;
toothbrush and toothpaste;
towel: large and small, for hands;
small mirror;
wet wipes and toilet paper;
a comb;
small scissors;
a razor, if necessary.

Kitchen utensils

No hike is complete without a delicious meal. Here’s what you’ll need for cooking:

individual mug, spoon, fork, and plate for each person (preferably metal or wooden);
a cooking pot;
a kettle or small pot for boiling water;
folding knives;
a ladle;
matches and lighters;
a cutting board;
rope;
solid fuel and a burner.

What food to bring

Now let’s move on to the food itself:

water. This is the most essential (the more, the better);

cereals;
canned goods: stewed meat, pâtés, fish;
potatoes for soup;
salt and spices;
tea and coffee;
sweets: crackers, cookies;
nuts, dried fruits;
fresh fruits and ready-made meals — only suitable for the first day of the hike;
shashlik — if you have a grill.

Perishable foods can only be taken as a snack for the journey “there”. They definitely won’t last until your return.

What to take on a hike with a child

Traveling with children brings completely different emotions. Of course, you’ll have to make an effort to ensure the trip is comfortable for the child, but in return, you’ll experience new emotions together. You need to ensure the child has comfortable shoes and that the distance is suitable for a walking trip. Be sure to bring any medications the child might need.

Additionally, we recommend bringing a badminton set, a frisbee, or a kite for outdoor games. Some children enjoy board games — bring those too if you want to give your brain a workout after exercising your muscles.

What to take on hikes of different durations

Let’s go from simple to complex, specifically from a one-day hike to a trip lasting three to seven days.

One-day hike

Planning to spend the night in a tent surrounded by nature? The first things you’ll need are a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. As for clothing, you’ll only need one pair of trousers, spare socks, and underwear. A long-sleeved top for a cool evening will also come in handy. A must-have for a one-day trip is a first aid kit, which should contain medications for three doses, a bandage, hydrogen peroxide, and adhesive plasters. Regarding food: you need enough for lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next day.

We recently shared on the blog what ecotourism is — perhaps this option will appeal to you for a one-day trip. You’ll explore local flora and fauna, enjoy a day in nature, and return home peacefully in the evening.

Hike lasting three days or more

Decided to organize a big multi-day trip? Here’s what’s important to consider:

take three sets of spare clothes;
pack the necessary amount of medications and protective gear;
think about food. If you stop near a grocery store, you can relax. Away from civilization, you need to calculate how much food and drink each person needs per day, and multiply that number by the number of days. It’s better to have a little more food than the norm — your appetite will definitely increase in nature.

We wish you great hikes without mosquitoes and discomfort!