It does not matter if I am heading out for a two hour hike or a multi day trip, the same hiking essentials are always with me. The same core items are always with me. I have refined this list over years of hiking, camping, and spending time in places where the nearest help is a long way off. These are not theoretical survival items pulled from a checklist. These are the things actually in my pack every single time I head out.
A Knife: The Most Basic Hiking Essential
I carry either a Gerber folding knife or a Spyderco depending on the trip. A folding knife handles the majority of what you need in the field and takes up almost no space. A knife is one of those things you will never regret having and absolutely regret leaving behind.
Paracord
There is always paracord in my truck and in my pack. It is lightweight, takes up almost no room, and the number of uses for it in the field is almost endless. Securing gear, building emergency shelter, rigging a clothesline, improvising repairs. It is one of those items that earns its weight every single time.
Water
I carry water in a Nalgene or a Smart Water bottle depending on what I have on hand. I gravitated toward Smart Water bottles because the height of the bottle fits perfectly in the side pockets of most packs and is easy to grab without stopping. Whatever you carry, carry more than you think you need.
Navigation
I pick up a paper map at the trailhead or visitor center whenever one is available and I always have a compass with me. I also use onX on my phone for detailed mapping in the backcountry. Having multiple navigation options matters because phones die, signals disappear, and paper maps do not need batteries.
First Aid Kit
There is a small kit in my pack and another one in my truck at all times. At a minimum make sure you have bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, and blister care. The goal is to handle the small stuff so the small stuff does not become a big problem out there. If you are not sure what should be in your kit, this post on checking your trail first aid kit is a good place to start.
Signaling
My pack has a whistle built into the sternum strap buckle which means it is always there and always accessible without digging through anything. I also carry my phone and for serious backcountry trips I carry a Zoleo satellite communicator for real emergencies when there is no cell signal and you need to reach someone no matter what.
Shelter
I do not always carry dedicated shelter material on shorter trips but on anything more serious a tarp or emergency bivy goes in the pack. A tarp and some paracord can get you through a night in conditions you were not expecting and takes up almost no space in your pack.
The goal with all of this is not to be prepared for the apocalypse. It is to make sure that if something goes sideways out there you have options. Most of the time none of it gets used and that is exactly the point.
If you want more practical trail and safety guides, the Adventure Tips section has more. The Trail First Aid Kit guide is a good companion to this one, covering what should be in your kit and how to check it before you head out. When you are ready to use all that gear, the Places section has trip reports from trails and remote sites across the US. The newsletter is where I share the extra stuff: finds, tips, and things that do not always make it to the blog. Subscribe on Substack if you want to follow along.
