Day hiking essentials for kids
Hiking

Day Hiking Checklist: 12 Essentials to Bring on the Trail

While we just started hiking more seriously in the past five years, Steven and I got into hiking around 10 years ago. Some of our first hikes were when I was pregnant with Levi! Just in the past two months, we’ve hiked over 50 hours and 100 miles. Over this time, especially with the addition of our boys, we’ve perfected what to pack for a family day hike.

Things to Keep in Mind Before You Pack Your Gear

Before we get into our recommendations, please keep in mind that the best gear list is different for each person, for each type of hike, and for different weather conditions. Items like water and snacks are essential, but you’ll pack differently if there’s rain in the forecast.

While the following lists certainly aren’t exhaustive, there are a few things to consider before you pack up for your day hike. First, keep your day pack light. While you need the basics to ensure your comfort and safety, every item added is weight on your back. If you’re new to hiking, give yourself a day or two to get everything packed up. When you put your pack on, does it immediately feel too heavy? If so, you’re likely bringing too much. Also, if you’re hiking with kids, you’ll want to double your water haul for every additional person. (Kids will go through a LOT of water out on the trail!) For some quick and easy tips and tricks for hiking with children, check out this blog post.

Must-Have Gear for Day Hikes

A Backpack with a Hydration Bladder

We’ve been using an Osprey day pack for two years and absolutely love it. And yes — it’s a kid’s backpack. But it’s the perfect size for a day hike and fits me comfortably. To keep the pack stable, it includes a webbing hip belt with mesh wings and a sternum strap, which makes all the difference when your pack is full and you’re trekking up or downhill. The main storage compartment is large enough for all of the following gear and essentials, and also contains a smaller zippered mesh pocket that’s perfect for sunglasses, sunscreen and chapstick. For other pack options, check out Backcountry.com.

Solid Hiking Shoes

While you can hike the trail in your running shoes, I highly recommend picking up a pair of trail running shoes o hiking boots with good stability and grip. I can’t underestimate the difference it makes out on the trail! Here’s a bit more about the trail shoes we use for each member of our family.

Breathable Socks and Clothing Layers

As a family, we typically wear the same gear over and over on our hikes. Comfort is key here, but you’ll also want clothing items that breathe easily, wick moisture and can be layered on and off. Depending on the trail conditions, this may include our puffy jackets and/or rain jackets. For the full list of our clothing essentials, click here!

Hats and Sunglasses

Sun protection is critical, particularly if the trail is pretty exposed. (Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way!) Make sure that everyone in your camp has a hat to protect their faces from the sun. I always wear my sunglasses because more often than not, the trail can be dusty. I prefer Sunskis because their sunglasses are lightweight and stylish.

Additional Items to Consider for Your Hike

Depending on the trail, we’ll bring our Cascade trekking poles (especially on hikes with steep elevation gains). Steven and I each have a set, so we split the four trekking poles amongst the four of us.

If you’re hiking with toddlers, consider wearing a baby/toddler backpack carrier. Little legs get tired fast, and this was a game-changer for us when the boys were younger! Plus, there’s nothing cuter when you’re babe falls fast asleep in the pack.

When hiking out in the wilderness and national parks, there’s always the chance that you’ll run into wildlife. Pack bear spray as needed!

What to Pack Inside of Your Backpack

Within our packs, I always make sure the following items. To us, these are non-negotiable! Always pack smart and be prepared. Failing to do so can lead to an emergency, and that’s the last thing you’ll want while out exploring Mother Nature.

Water, Water, Water!

The amount of water necessary will depend on the trail conditions, like mileage and elevation gain. No matter what the mileage, I ALWAYS carry 1.5-3L of water. As I mentioned before, I’ll double up this amount with every additional person. When all four of us are hiking, we’ll easily carry 6-10L of water. If your hike is longer than five miles, consider taking a water filter system.

Sunscreen, Chapstick and Bug Spray

Before every hike, I make sure that we have these items. These are KEY, especially if you’re hiking in higher elevation. We use Beautycounter’s Countersun Mineral 30 SPF because it’s lightweight and water-resistant. (I also layer on this Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer (20 SPF) on myself for that pre-hike glow!) We’re always trying new bug repellent, especially formulas that are DEET-free. We’ll have a comprehensive review coming for Aunt Fannie’s, Venture Wipes and Gaan + Co bug repellant wipes soon!

A First Aid Kit

We always keep a first aid kit in our day pack. In fact, I only take it out of the pack if I need to resupply. We don’t have anything fancy — just a ziplock baggy with bandaids, Neosporin, antiseptic wipes, non-adherent gauze pads, a Swiss Army knife, Leukotape, eyedrops, Advil, Tylenol, Benedryl and anti-diarrhea pills. Depending on the trail, I might also pack an emergency kit from North Star Survival, which provides all of the necessities you’d need for 72 hours in case something goes wrong. (Get your own emergency kit here for 15% off when you use the code VANFAM15!)

Alllllll of the Snacks!

You’ll definitely expend your energy out on the trail, so it’s important to bring snacks that will keep you replenished. Some of our trail favorites include: almonds, dried mangos, pretzels, cashews, Rice Krispie treats, salami, cubed cheese, granola bars, olives, applesauce packets, gummy bears and lollipops. If we’re hiking more than 3 miles, I usually pack sandwiches or Lunchables for us as well. I’ll pull out the “treats” as motivation and energy for the boys. It works wonders!

Your Phone

I know this seems pretty straightforward — most of us can’t live without this extra appendage. But trust me, you’ll want to have a fully charged phone handy for several reasons. Besides having a way to take awesome pics of your scenic hike, you’ll want to have the trail downloaded onto your phone. I highly recommend using AllTrails premium version. When you start your hike, you can hit the navigate button to track your mileage, pace and elevation gain. When you have the offline trail map, the app will alert you when you get off route, which is one of the best features because it can happen. A lot! Additionally, AllTrails recently added a new feature that serves as a lifeline. If it’s just the boys and I, I always send a link to the trail to Steven, but now I can send him alerts through this app’s feature.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to carry an extra battery pack with a charging cord for your phone. You’d be surprised how much battery you’ll use up taking videos and photos along the trail!

A Toiletries Bag

I can’t express how important it is to have a small toiletries bag, especially when you’re hiking with kids. In ours, I have my urine funnel and Kula cloths, as well as hand sanitizer and wet wipes. I always carry an extra ziplock baggy in the kit to discard soiled wipes/toilet paper. With two boys, you never know when nature calls, so be prepared. Once those little legs start moving, so do other things! And always — ALWAYS — pack out what you hike in with. With more and more people opting outside, it’s imperative that we keep our trails clean! For more info on Leave No Trace principles, click here.

For Your Pup

We often take Ruby with us on the trail, so we bring a leash and at least two doggy bags to clean up after her. Again, pack it out! While we personally don’t pack other items in for Ruby, a lot of pet owners like to have a separate collapsable bowl to give your dog water in. For us, Ruby gets her water intake from streams and lakes most of the time, or I’ll cup water in my hands for her.

And That’s About It!

Besides the gear we’re wearing, I’m able to pack all of these items into our Osprey pack. Whether you’re going on a one-mile hike or five, it’s imperative that you include these items. If you’re completely new to hiking, take a look at this quick post before you head outdoors.

Is there anything else that you’d add to our list?

Feisty, fun, outspoken mom to two boys and wife to an adventure-lovin' weekend warrior. Love my fam, lifting, hiking, animals, music, reading, sushi, beaches, sunshine & Jesus.