Summer Day Hike Packing List

The always up to date guide to what’s in my pack! Geared for a sunny Pacific Northwest day hike.

Last Updated: 9/09/2015

This is a full gear list including both packed and worn items.

• Trekking Poles – Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Pole (length – 130 cm)
  • I like a longer trekking pole if its the “z-pole” style.  That way I can choke up and adjust my length when needed but still have a long option when crossing streams or on steep descents.
• Backpack – Black Diamond Bolt
• Hammock – Hummingbird Single Person Hammock + Tree Straps
  • Nothing makes people jealous like busting out a hammock at the edge of a lake and kicking up your feet.
• Water Bladder – Hydrapak Reversible Reservoir with Shape Shift – 2 Liters
• Bic Lighter
• Headlamp – Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
  • 160 lumens in a small dependable, waterproof package.
• Sit Pad – 1′ by 2′ piece of foam I cut from a sleeping pad
  • One of my favorite items to take with me.  Great for sitting on at lunch, around the fire, using as a small table to keep from losing small items, placed under a pack in your vestibule to keep the bottom of your pack dry, and many more uses.
• Emergency Beacon – Delorme InReach
• GPS – Garmon 62s
• Watch – Suunto Core
• Sun Glasses – Smith Dolen ChromaPop Polarchromic Ignitor Sunglasses
• Light Upper Body Insulation/Weather Protection – Outdoor Research Halogen
• Hiking Shorts – Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts
• Hiking Shoes – Adidas Terrex Fast R Low
  • These are great trail shoes for rugged terrain.  They are more supportive than the minimalist trail runners that are so popular right now but I’ve found I really prefer more supportive shoes but not quite a full hiking boot.  Also, they do not have a GORE-TEX liner.  This is important because in the summer, when you don’t need to worry about your feet getting wet and freezing, GORE-TEX actually makes you feet a bit swampy since it doesn’t breath nearly as well as non-waterproof shoes.
• Gaiters – REI Trail Running Gaiters
  • I wear gaiters almost more in the summer than the winter to keep dirt and small rocks from getting in my shoes and causing irritation.
• Boxers – ExOfficio Give-N-Go Sport Boxer Brief
• Socks – Darn Tough Ultralight hiking socks
• Shirt – Outdoor Research Echo 1/4 zip
• Hat – Trucker Hat
• Emergency Survival Gear – Emergency + medical gear packing list

Alternate Items – These are items I swap in or out when the weather changes.

• Sandals – Teva Barracuda
  • I like bringing sandals with me when I’m going to be around a lot of water.  Either fly fishing or just crossing a lot of streams/rivers.
• Fly Fishing Rod – Tenkara USA Sato Rod + Flys
  • I use a traditional fly rod when I’m not backpacking but I like the quick setup time of a tenkara rod when I’m backpacking for quick casts while hiking.
• Gaiters – REI Alpine Gaiters
  • Swap in when going somewhere with tons of brush to protect your lower legs.
• Hiking Pants – Prana Zion pants
  • Swap the shorts for these if you are going to be doing a lot of bushwhacking or the temps are a little on the cool side.
• Water Filtration – Sawyer Squeeze Mini + Platypus Platy Water Tank
  • If there is any question that I might use more than 2L of water this comes along.
• Scrub Gloves – Any lightweight gardening glove
  • It might sound odd to carry gardening gloves but when I’m not already carrying a good pair of gloves to keep me warm and there is the possibility of bushwhacking through some nasty terrain I like some protection for my hands to help push through thick thorny brush.