The 10 essentials for hiking – take these on every hike

Written By: Hannah

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, it’s important to pack the 10 essentials and hiking gear to ensure your safety on the trails.

Packing the “Ten Essentials” for hiking is a good habit to adopt whenever you step into the backcountry, even on day hikes, and no matter how long or short the hike.

You may only use a few of them or none at all on routine trips, but it’s when something goes wrong that you’ll truly appreciate the value of carrying these items that could be essential to your survival.

The original Ten Essentials list was created in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers, to help people be prepared for emergency situations in the outdoors.

The original essentials for hiking list included a map, compass, sunglasses and sunscreen, extra clothing, headlamp/flashlight, first-aid supplies, fire starter, matches, knife, and extra food.

The list remains much the same as it was back then. The difference is that instead of individual items, the list focuses on an issue rather than the specific items needed.

Below, I’ll share an updated list of the 10 essentials for hiking which makes up the majority of the essentials you should pack when putting together your day hiking packing list.

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