elizabethadventuresblogThe 10 essentials are items I ALWAYS take with me when I hike, snowshoe or backpack. I want to share with you what these items are, and the reason you should have them for yourself. It doesn’t matter if I’m going on a 2 mile hike or a 10+ mile trek, I alway keep basic safety and first-aid equipment with me.
When you go out hiking you don’t expect to have something bad happen. But you need to always be prepared. What if you break a bone and have a bad fall and can’t walk out yourself? You need to carry enough resources on you to potentially spend the night on trail until help can come. A few years back in Oregon, a group of hikers got stuck on trail due to an unexpected forest fire. They were not prepared so they had a difficult night in the forest until they could safely making it out. Below I’ll be sharing what items you should always carry in your backpack, also known as the 10 essentials.
The 10 Essentials
You may have heard this term before, but it refers to the 10 items you should alway have with you on trail. It may differ slightly depending on the time of year. For example, you warm layers in winter and summer will be different. So what are the 10 Essentials?
- Navigation
- Headlamp
- Sun Protection
- First Aid
- Knife
- Fire
- Shelter
- Extra Food
- Water
- Clothing Layers
Navigation
You can still use a good old paper map on trail, but with so much technology these days, I much prefer various apps on trail. That also means you need to have a battery source to be able to always have a well-charged phone. These apps are only beneficial if you have a working phone. You should never go on trail without having some form of map on you. Most trails now have maps you can pre-download with a subscription. This is an easily skipped 10 essentials item, but so easy to have.
Trail Technology:
- AllTrail Map-I use the AllTrails app and pre-download maps of the trail. It allows me to properly track my hike and check to see where I am on trail. It does require a subscription, but it is the least expensive option and worth every penny!
- Gaia- This is another great trail navigation system. It will give you trail information prior to going as well as on the trail tracking. I don’t use it as often only because I don’t find it as easy to use as AllTrails, but it’s more accurate.
- FarOut- This app is a must if you plan to do any through hiking. It is an amazing resource for longer hikes. Hikers can share up-to-date information like water source conditions, campsite info and more. This is a must-have app for longer trails.
- Garmin GPS- I use the Garmin Inreach Mini on trail. It is a satellite GPS device that allows me to communicate with other Garmin users as well as my family back home. The best part about this device is that it has an SOS button and if I ever have an emergency where I cannot get off trail myself and need immediate assistant, I can push it for search and rescue to come help me.
- Garmin watch- I love having my Garmin Instinct Solar watch to give me accurate trail stats as I hike. It tells me elevation gained and mileage which helps me mentally on more difficult hikes knowing my trail stats.
Headlamp
When you’re out hiking in the day you might not think you need to carry a headlamp. This is part of the 10 essentials because what if you get stuck on trail overnight? Having a good light source should that happen will help you feel comfortable and stay safe all night. Make sure whatever headlamp you have has a minimum of 500/600 lumens or you won’t have enough light to properly see on trail. I have the Petzl RL, which has 900 lumens.
Sun Protection
You should always carry and wear sunscreen on trail, even in the winter months. Sun can reflect off the snow, causing winter burns. Sun protection is a year-round essential item. Other ways to provide sun protection are long sleeve layers. Many sun shirts come with hoods to keep the sun off your neck as well. Wearing a neck gaiter can help protect your neck and face from the sun’s UV rays on trail too. Wearing a baseball hat or sunhat will provide added sun protection for your face.
First Aid
You never know when an injury will happen, so first-aid is so important. I’ve even offered my supplies to people I’ve passed on the trail who didn’t have these items with them. I also can’t predict the weather or unforeseen circumstances, so I have a few things I make sure always come along in our pack in case we get stuck on the trail in poor weather or get lost. My dad was a boy scout so of course I grew up hearing about always being prepared, and hey, I listened!
Items in my kit:
- Cloth bandaids in multiple sizes (these stay on better in my opinion)
- Waterproof bandages in multiples sizes
- Mole Skin for blisters
- First-aid tape
- Compact scissors (or your pocket knife)
- Non-stick Gauze (you will thank me for the non-stick!)
- Anti-itch cream
- Antibiotic cream
- Ace Wrap
- Pain reliever medication
- Benadryl for allergic reactions
- Tick remover
Knife
You should always carry some sort of knife on trail, whether it be a small pocket knife of a larger collapsible knife. Not only does it provide you will protection, it it an essential tool. A small knife can help you cut materials if you get stuck on trail and need to build a shelter. It can also help you with you first aid kit if you need to cut down a bandaid.
Fire
Being able to start a fire not only to keep you warm, but to potentially signal your location to search and rescue can mean the difference between life and death. There are two options for fire starters you can carry in your essentials kit. The first is a lighter. A simple self-igniting lighter from a gas station is small and easy to use. You don’t need to worry about it getting wet either. The second option is matches. These are great to carry but you need to make sure they are in a ziplock bag or waterproof container. Wet matches won’t be very helpful on trail.
Shelter
Do you really need to carry a shelter with you day hiking? Yes! You always need to be prepared to spend the night on trail. If you’re out in the elements and it’s snowing or raining you will need to have a way to stay dry. You do not need to pack a big heavy tent on your day hikes, but it is essential you have a waterproof cover of some sort.
If you’re backpacking you already have a shelter with you. When you’re day hiking you will want to bring something that is compact and light. You can bring the rain-fly of your tent in a compression bag or if you have a small plastic tarp that would be a great option. Anything that won’t take up a lot of space but is waterproof would work great as your essential shelter.
Extra Food
If you’re out hiking, chances are you’re already carrying some snack in your backpack. But do you carry enough to last all night, maybe two? Make sure you throw a few extra granola bars or easy snacks in your bag should you need to stay on trail longer than expected. Keeping your body well fueled is essential on trail. If your body doesn’t have proper fuel it won’t have the energy to continue hiking.
Water
Sure, you can carry a large water bottle or bladder. But it’s not that easy to carry more than 3-4L on trail. You should always carry a water filter so you can resupply your water source on day hikes. I use the Katadyn filter because it’s compact, the faster filter on the marker and I can drink straight from it.
Clothing Layers
Carrying extra layer on trail will not only protect you from various elements like rain or sun, but can also help you stay warm. What I choose to pack varies by season. In winter months I’m carrying warmer layers and in warmer months I have more sun protection. You should always check the weather prior to make sure you pack appropriately.
Things I pack:
- Down jacket
- Beanie
- Gloves
- Extra pair or socks
- Rain jacket
- Hat
- Long sleeve shirt
Other Gear Items
There are a few items I will carry in my backpack that aren’t part of the 10 essentials. Most of these are items I carry in colder months because it’s less forgiving. I like to have extra gear in my backpack in case I need to spend the night in the snow.
- Rain ponchos– It rains lot in the PNW! If you are stuck outdoors in bad weather, staying dry can help save your life.
- Space blankets
- Toe and hand warmers in winter months
- Microspikes in winter and spring months
- Toiletry bag
My first-aid kit and must-carry items has changed, expanded, shrunk and evolved many times over the years as I’ve learned new things on the trail. Your kit will also be constantly evolving and thats great! It means you are creating a safety tool that will best suit your needs. I hope this helps you get started on your 10 essentials and helps you feel safe on trail.
If you’re new to the outdoors I have a lot of guides to help get your started! Check our by “Backpacking for Beginners” guide if you wan to start backpacking or learn how to improve what you’re currently doing. I also have a “Car Camping Gear” guide to help you learn what you need to comfortably start camping for all your adventures.
Happy Hiking,
Elizabeth
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