A minimalist guide to day hikes - what to bring
Day hikes are a great way to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy the beauty of nature. But, you don't need to pack a lot of gear to have a successful hike. As a minimalist, I apply the same approach to my hiking gear and planning. Here's what I pack for my day hikes.
Hiking backpack
My go-to backpack is Fjallraven High Coast Foldsack 24. A good backpack is essential for carrying all your gear. I recommend the Fjallraven High Coast Foldsack 24 for its versatility, lightweight design, and comfortable padded straps. The front pocket and side compartments make it easy to access your water bottle, tripod, and other essentials.
Rain jacket
I currently have only one rain jacket for hikes - and that’s The North Face W Quest Jacket. Over the years, I’ve tried and tested so many other brands but feel like this TNF jacket fits, stays, protects better. It can be layered up or down, it’s lightweight and easy to pack, making it perfect for a minimalist day hike.
Hiking shoes
My personal favourite are the Columbia hiking shoes, as they provide good grip and support on wet and rocky terrains, just like the Samaria gorge hike. I was so glad I had a proper hiking boots with a good grip when I hiked that gorge.
Comfortable clothes
Layering is key for a comfortable hike. Choose clothes made of natural materials like cotton and wool. My usual outfit for the day hikes would include a sports bra with a good back support, a base layer, a long sleeve fleece, trekking tights or leggings, a hat and sunglasses.
Water
For the day hike, I take my stainless steel water bottle with me - it’s 1L and I refill if I run out. Why stainless steel water bottle? Because it’s environmentally friendly, durable, safe and easy to clean. Mine is from Ikea, similar to this water bottle, nothing too fancy.
Hygiene and meds
This includes a sunscreen, hand sanitizer, lip balm, painkillers (paracetamol mainly) and bandaids. Nothing too much, only the essentials I guess.
Snacks
I would normally take some fruits (banana, apples or tangerines), a granola bar, and a sandwich for lunch (if it’s a full day hike 8-9 hours).
My camera
I couldn’t forget the camera, could I? Since I am a travel photographer, my SONY A7R III full-frame camera comes with me everywhere I go. I sometimes take my little Fuji film camera with me too. I have some of my hiking film shots on my film photography Instagram account here - take a sneak peek if you like!
Miscellaneous
Ok, this is not a physical item but I feel like I couldn’t leave it out. And it’s my favourite app for discovering new trails or just checking what others say about the trail I want to discover - it’s All Trails. With its simple interface, detailed trail maps, and community-generated reviews, All Trails is the ultimate tool for planning and enjoying your outdoor excursions.
That’s it - here’s everything I usually have with me on my day hikes. What else do you pack for your day hikes? Let me know in the comments below.