What really makes a day pack? Some people seem to think that a day pack is just a school book bag that hiking gear can be carried in. While other groups think that day packs need to be expensive packs so that tons of gear can be carried. The truth is, a day pack is what the hiker wants it to be.
While on the hiking on a trail, or in a wilderness area – the type of gear carried varies for each person and terrain where they are hiking. If someone was hiking on flat terrain, there is no need for mountain climbing equipment. Regardless of where someone is going, there is some basic equipment that should be considered. There is no exact, one fits all, master check list. The best these list can do is give ideas on what other hikers carry.
One of the items on the “essential” list is a first aid kit. This can be just made from about anything, such as a rubber bowl, or a store bought kit already put together.
Inside the first aid kit:
Bandages (large and small), tape, anti-biotic ointment, pain reliever, alcohol prep pads (good for fire starting), anti itch cream for bug bites, super glue for closing wounds, finger bandages and a first aid manual. There are a lot of first aid manuals out on the internet in PDF format. Go print one out, fold it up and put it in your first aid kit. Keep in mind that is just a starter list. Add items to fit the needs of the hike.
GPS, Compass, TOPO Map and skills to use them
Most experienced hikers know to learn how to use the gear “before” its time to use it. There is still a group of people that will buy and GPS, take it on the trail and try to learn how to use it then. This type of situation is a setting for disaster. Take the time to learn how to use the GPS, Compass and TOPO map “before” the hike – not “during” the hike.
To carry spare batteries for the GPS, buy a camera that uses AA batteries – or what ever type of battery the GPS uses. There are a lot of hikers that will buy a digital camera and do not check to see what kind of batteries it uses. If the batteries in the GPS fail, take the batteries from the camera and put them in the GPS. However, if the camera uses an ION Lithium battery, its kinda hard to use that in a GPS.
AA LED Flashlight
LED flashlights can extend the battery life by 10X in some cases, as compared to regular bulbed flashlights. While looking for a flashlight to take on the trail, there are a couple of important considerations that should be factored in. For maximum durability do not buy LED flashlights with a plastic housing. Some plastic flashlights will crack around the screw on cap.
The end cap of this flashlight split when it was about 2 years old. Because of the split, this LED flashight has been retired from being taken on any kind of hiking or camping trip.
Instead of looking at the wattage of the LED, look at the “Lumens.” There are a number of factors that define how bright a LED flashlight is, such as the reflective dish, and shape of the flashlight head. Just because the flashlight says 1 watt, does not mean it is going to have bright or dull beam. Most of the time, a 3 watt LED is going to be brighter then a 1 watt LED.
Hiking Boots
Buy a pair that fit wall, water proof lowers and a good pair of socks. Before going on a hiking trip, spend some time breaking the boots in. Wear the boots while walking through the mall, going grocery shopping, taking the kids fishing or what else its takes.
Shelter / Rain Poncho / Cord or String
Buy a decent quality rain poncho with lanyard holes. This can be set up as an emergency shelter or worn when the rain starts falling.
Matches / Fire Starter
Some strike anywhere matches and some dryer lint. Dryer lint catches on fire faster then cotton or twigs. Get a pill bottle pull of dryer lint from the trash can and put it in the pack. Maybe even use a large pill bottle and keep the dryer lint in with the matches? But there are people that would recommend against that.
Whistle / Signal Mirror
There are reports of lost hikers using signal mirrors to catch the attention of rescue planes from 9 miles away.
Food / water Bottle
Bring along some kind of high protein snack, such as beef jerky. Stay away from items with a high sugar content as there is a chance of a sugar crash later. Bring along some water in a bottle or canteen. Depending on the length of the hike, maybe bring along some water purification tablets or water filter.
In conclusion:
This list should be considered as a starter list. Add items as needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable hike.
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