Over the course of the past four years, I’ve fallen in love with hiking. From the Drakensberg, to the Cedarberg, to Outeniqua, and the Amatola mountains, all the way to Mallorca, Spain. Hutted, and tented. With a large group, and alone. 2-day, 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day hikes. This is, from my (likely, limited) perspective, a brief report of the essentials for a hike.
First and foremost, the hiking bag. For all of the hikes I’ve been on, bar the last, I’ve used but a 40-liter bag. I maintain that this is enough for nearly all hikes. Albeit, a 40-liter bag leaves little room for luxury if you’re walking for more than two days. From clothing to food to equipment, everything will have to be chosen with size in mind. So, if you’re after a bit more comfort, get a bigger bag. I’d say 55 liters will satisfy most, but you can go up to 65 or 75 liters if you really want to be extra (if you’re carrying stuff for other people, this may be the way to go). Almost more important than the size is the comfort. You can suffer through a hike using a bag with only shoulder straps, but get a bag with straps that go around your waist and chest, which help distribute the weight, and you’ll be thanking yourself all the way. Trust me, I’ve had it both ways, and the latter is definitely better.
Onto clothing. The key here is reusability and flexibility. You can get by with 2 tops if they’re tops that don’t hold onto smells. The same goes for other clothes. What’s more important than having fresh clothes every day is having clothes for all kinds of weather conditions and activities. You can never be fully prepared for a hike you’ve never been on. So be prepared for hot, cold, rain, or shine. There’s one exception to this rule for me: socks. I’ll pack more socks than necessary, just because wet or dirty socks are so damn demoralizing. Also, don’t forget a towel. Microfiber towels which dry easily are king. And enough bags inside your bag for wet or dirty stuff.
Next up, equipment. This is where it all gets very subjective. With your sleeping bag, you’ll have to find the balance between size and warmth. If you need a tent, don’t compromise on quality. Size is less important than ensuring your shelter can withstand the conditions you’ll be facing. But, in general with hiking equipment, the lighter and smaller it packs, the more expensive it’ll be, so keep this in mind. Other essentials include a pocket knife, some torch or headlamp, and a medical aid kit. I’ve never taken the latter, but have been lucky enough that my fellow hikers have always had one. I wouldn’t recommend the risk. Finally, cooking utensils. This largely depends on the food you’re packing. If you want to cook something warm or make coffee or tea, you’ll need a gas canister and stove, as well as a pot. Then there’s your basic cutlery and crockery. Again, reuse is key - if you can use your pot as your cup and your bowl, all the better.
Which brings us to food. This is even more subjective. I’ve survived 5-day hikes with 2 bags of protein porridge, a few cans of tuna or beans, and a few energy bars and nuts. But, it wasn’t pleasant. It’s been far more enjoyable having some noodles to cook in the evenings and plenty of on-the-go sweets and trail mix to share. I’ve also seen hikers eat delicious dehydrated meals, to which they just need to add some boiling water to cook. It really depends on you. You know how much you eat. Just keep in mind you’re going to be expending a lot of energy. Pack enough for the number of days you’ll be walking, and for an additional day, just in case. Trash can be a bit of a headache, so make sure you have some means of storing your waste if there’s no place to throw things away on the trail. Then, of course, the most essential of all: water. I’ve never had problems just carrying a 750ml bottle of water that I refilled on the way. But this is something you don’t want to take a chance with. So research the trail you’re going on and verify how often you’ll be able to refill your water. A 1.5-liter or 2-liter bladder may be a safer option.
And that about wraps it up. People often get overly concerned about what to pack and not to pack on a hike. In reality, so long as you’ve got your basic human needs covered (food, water, shelter, clothing), you’ll be okay. And every hike is an opportunity to learn. Start small, and work your way up. You’ll very quickly learn what you like and don’t like. And you’ll also learn that the bag on your back and what you pack are minor details in comparison to the beauty and contentment you’ll find on the trail. Regardless of which trail. What’s most important is that you just get out there and enjoy.
Cheers.
"I was amazed that what I needed to survive could be carried on my back.
And, most surprising of all, that I could carry it."
- Cheryl Strayed