I was shuffling through Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah, when my foot struck something hard in the sand. I saw something shiny and bent down to uncover a Grivory knife. “That’s a great brand,” my guide said, before continuing, “You should always hike with something like this, it can help you in the craziest scenarios.”
I was on a camping trip with EXP Journeys, a luxury travel company that offers privately guided itineraries. As a city girl spending my first prolonged time in nature, I was learning so much. And, luckily, since I was with the professional guides of EXP Journeys, I didn’t have to worry about the outdoor essentials I didn’t pack for this multi-day trip, as they came prepared (I was just fortunate that my few days of hiking as a kid inspired the correct garments and layers for this trip).
My adventures with EXP Journeys motivated me to spend more time outdoors, but when I returned home, I realized I needed a compact list of professional hiker-approved essentials to pack, whether I’m taking a day hike or heading out on a longer journey. Below, my expert guides, Kevin Jackson and Maxie Johnson, share these key items, ranging from the seemingly obvious, like a water purifier, to the wonderfully bizarre, like duct tape.
Top Expert-approved Hiking Essentials
Black Diamond Pursuit 30 Liter Backpack
Amazon
First, you need something to carry your gear in. Jackson, who is the founder of EXP Journeys, recommends the Black Diamond Pursuit Pack as “it is large enough to fit all my personal gear with a great hip belt and side pockets.” For a longer journey, Johnson is impartial to his Osprey Aether pack for its airscape back panels, floating lids, and signature Fit on the Fly adjustments. Further, he appreciates Osprey’s customer loyalty.
“I used an Osprey Aether backpack on the Appalachian and Pacific Trails and many miles in between before the seams finally gave way and the hipbelt fell apart,” he explained. “Osprey took that 12-year-old backpack in for repairs, told me it was beyond fixable, and shipped me a brand-new Aether with a note thanking me for being a loyal customer.”
Benchmade Bugout Grivory Knife
REI
Cutting rope, building a fire, and repairing gear are just a few of the many practical uses of a Grivory knife, which is preferred by hikers for its strength and durability against environmental factors, and can fold up to safely fit in your pocket for use at a moment’s notice. This is the type of knife I found at the sand dunes—a similar style to the knife my guide proudly presented to me only moments after I found it, to showcase how he doesn’t lead a trip without it.
If $200 is a bit steep, hikers have also given the Gerber StrongArm Serrated Fixed Blade Knife, $150, and the Civivi Mini Praxis Folding Pocket Knife, $35, their stamps of approval.
Black Diamond Headlamp
REI
“Even if I am heading out on a hike at 8:00 a.m. I still always have a headlamp in my pack,” Jackson, who’s guided over 600 days in the Southwest and its National Parks alone, not counting solo hiking journeys, told me. He said his headlamp has come in handy more times than he can remember, like the time when he went on a big day hike with plans to be back by 4 p.m. at the latest. “We ended up taking the wrong trail and had to hike another five miles, putting us back to our vehicle closer to 7:30 p.m.,” he recalled. “It was dark, so having the headlamp allowed me to maintain the trail and safely make it back to the trailhead.”
Arc’teryx Gamma Waterproof Jacket
Amazon
During my time in the Southwest, I unexpectedly used my rain jacket every single day, if not for the passing rain shower, to protect from the winds. “I always have a lightweight waterproof jacket packed away in my pack even if the forecast calls for sunny and clear skies,” Jackson said. “Anyone who has hiked in the backcountry knows the weather can change on a dime, so having the ability to add that water windproof layer will be able to keep you warm and dry.”
Arc’Teryx’s Gamma Rain Jacket is a hiker-favorite for its weather- and abrasion-resistant design that delivers four-way stretch and air flow for long-lasting comfort, but you can achieve the same durable, lightweight, and thoughtful design in Outdoor Ventures’ top-rated Packable Rain Jacket, $63, Marmot’s Men’s Precip Eco Rain Jacket, on sale for $82, and Columbia’s Arcadia Ii Jacket, $75, for less.
Katadyn BeFree Water Filter Bottle
REI
This may sound like an obvious tip, but Jackson advises even day hikers to pack a water purification system. “Having the ability to clean water should you have issues with your supply can actually save your life,” he stressed. “There are several examples of day hikers, particularly in the Southwest, who set off with minimal water, thinking it’s only 4 miles, and they get lost or go off-trail.” Since the sun can be intense, water can quickly become critical, he continued: “There are often small springs or seeps in the rocks that could be used for water if they are treated, but without a purifier, it’s too dangerous to drink.”
Katadyn BeFree Water Bottle has a built-in filtration system for on-the-go cleansing, as does the Go Series Water Bottle from LifeStraw, the brand behind the best-selling water-filtering straw. Hikers have also given the portable Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System, $30, more than 35,000 five-star ratings at Amazon.
Buff CoolNet UV+ Insect Shield Multifunctional Neck Gaiter
REI
When I think of neck gaiters, I think about snowboarding, but after EXP provided me with a gaiter for our day hike, I was delighted to realize its role as lightweight, carefree sun and insect protection. “When hiking in the desert, I use my neck gaiter as a cooling towel as well as protection from the sun,” Jackson explained, noting it’s an essential in any climate (on cold-weather trips, the neck gaiter can keep you warm under your beanie).
In fact, a few years back, Jackson was guiding a family on a hike in the Southwest; it was a surprisingly hot day, and he had a few bottles filled with ice in his backpack. “When it was really feeling hot,” he recalled, “I asked the group to dunk their neck gaiter and wear them on their heads. It immediately cooled us all down, and as soon as the dry air dried them off, we kept doing it, and it made the hike much more palatable.”
Duct Tape
Amazon
“I always wrap duct tape around my water bottle or trekking pole, and can say I pretty much use it on every single trip I do,” Jackson said about this unlikely essential for hikers. “I have used it for blisters, repairs in tents, to close rips in down jackets, and even to secure sticks to make a pan handle.” While he says the pan handle might not be the best use for duct tape, it’s undoubtedly a multifaceted tool to make a myriad of situations that much easier and safer.
Levi’s Cotton Bandana
Amazon
“This humble square is the hardest-working item in my kit,” prefaced Johnson, who is the lead guide at EXP Journeys. “I hardly leave the house without a bandana, much less go on a backpacking trip without one (or four). He lists the bandana’s multiple uses as a camp towel, pot grabber, makeshift sling, water filter, trail marker, or—on one dramatic occasion in the Rocky Mountains—a tourniquet: “It is the cheapest and most versatile item in my packout, and every season, I discover at least one novel way to put it to use.”
Dr. Bronner’s Camp Soap
Amazon
It might sound obvious, but you’re going to get dirty on a hike, and if you’re trekking for multiple days at a time with no luxury campsite to refresh at each night, you need to pack your own supplies. “Dr. Bronner’s Camp Soap [is famous] in the backpacking world and for good reason; it is great for so much more than washing hands,” Johnson said. “When I hiked the Appalachian Trail, this tiny bottle of concentrated biodegradable soap not only cleaned my dishes but also rinsed off trail dust and even served as my toothpaste (I used the peppermint one, to be exact!).”
It’s not just for hygiene, either, as Johnson exemplifies a recent use when a client hugged a ponderosa pine and needed the sap scrubbed off. “A little goes a long way,” he says.
iMongol Cashmere Crew Socks
Amazon
There’s a reason why contestants on Survivor are allowed to bring a “luxury item” with them to remote locales like a desert island. “Simply having something special that I can look forward to every day is a magical and uplifting experience, and it helps to weather the less-than-ideal times,” Johnson explained. He suggests something “useful but indulgent,” like a pair of merino cashmere socks, only to be worn at camp after a long day on your feet (save your cushioned, sweat-wicking, and odor-resistant wool socks for the trails). Whatever you choose, Johnson stressed that the item shouldn’t take up too much space in your pack so you can: “Carry the essentials but reward yourself a little as well.”
Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.