12 Items Always In My Backpack

 

If you go hiking, being prepared for anything to happen is always a good idea. I like to have several items stocked in my bag so it’s ready to go when I want to hit the trail. Now I’m making some assumptions here. 

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The first is that you have a pack. I’ve kinda become an Osprey fan girl. My amazing husband just got me the Osprey Renn 65L I can’t wait to break in, I was really waffling between that and the Gregory Deva 60L.  But, after finding this review from Outdoor Gear Lab, I was swayed to the Renn for my first bigger pack. 

 I also have the Osprey Poco Plus carrier and the Syncro 5 L hydration pack for short hikes on my own. We love the Poco plus for hiking with our son. If you want to read more about my feelings on the Poco, check out my post about Hiking Solo with Kiddos. 

  Second is that you have good heavy duty socks, I’m partial to The Darn Tough micro crew hiker. I’ve tried some other brands, but love the support and the way the Darn Tough hold their shape. They have a ton of great color, and style options and different weights and cushion levels for every time of the year. Another selling point is the moisture wicking ability of their wool. I once walked through  the river mouth at  Sable Falls and the water went over the edge of my boot and I honestly didn’t even notice my sock got wet. Dry feet are happy feet.

  And finally that you have your footwear of choice, I wear the Keen Pyrenees boots.  I tell you what, I had a great experience with the customer service from this company. I had a fluke accident where one of the lace hooks broke on my boots on the first outing. A few pictures later, and bam! A gift certificate for a brand new pair. No messing around with returns I still have the old ones, so if you know a good cobbler near Fenton, MI let me know. 

   Without further ado,  

12 Items Always in My Backpack 

1. Water

You’re moving your body and especially on warmer days you plenty of water. Say what you will about them, but I like to use a water bladder. 9/10 times I’m hiking with a tiny human, and he’s riding in my pack for the most part.  Not having to stop, or try to hand him a water bottled is huge. We all know if he had his own aid wind up carting that too. I can simply hand him the hose and keep moving. Our Osprey Poco Plus carrier has a capacity for a 1.5 liter water bladder. The other day I was able to get the 2.5 liter bladder from my Syncro 5 hydration pack into it. It took some finagling and was a tight squeeze but, I got it in there. Do with that information what you will.  

Carry water the way that works best for you, many people like Nalgene bottles, and long distance hikers tend to carry smart water bottles as they’re light weight and fit filtration systems, such as life straw, with ease. Obviously water isn’t light weight, so opting for filters will require less water lugging, given you have a source available.However you chose to do it, staying hydrated is key. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, do not ration water. Dehydration can cause confusion, dizziness and a multitude of other symptoms that can impede judgment and make a survival situation worse. Many rescue workers say that when they find a lost hiker that didn’t make it, often, they have a full supply of water.

My Syncro 5L and my plastic baggie of shelf stable trail snacks. 

2. More Food than You Think You Need

You all know I’m out there with a toddler more often than not. I think they can survive on snacks alone. I’m a day hiker at this point in my life, but still try to ensure I have adequate stores. I have a baggie that contains multiple granola bars, trail mixes, fruit leathers, and apple sauce pouches that lives in the Poco Plus. I also pack lunches to take with us. Where we are day hikers, I don’t find it necessary to dip into my husband’s freeze dried food stash. (Read that Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy stash.) I do, however, carry a few addition shelf stable items like tuna packets just in case an adventure goes sideways. Sometimes you just get hungrier than you think you will on a hike and the extra fuel is great to have on hand without thinking twice. 

A 1-2 person outdoor first aid kit. 

3. Well Stocked First Aid Kit

I’m sure this feels obvious but I’ll say it anyway. It’s important to be prepared for a worst case scenario. I carry a first aid kit that’s made for outdoor use, but I beef it up a bit. I add in heavier duty items such as butterfly bandages. I also add in thing’s specific for keeping my family comfortable like children’s acetaminophen and hydrocortisone cream. You can tailor your kit to your needs, based upon what you’re most likely to use. Just make sure you have the basics  like bandages, antiseptic, and gauze. 

My son out cold under the  built in sunshade of our Poco Plus carrier.  

4. Sun screen/sun protection 

You may be thinking, I don’t need that one year round. You’d be wrong. You can still get a sunburn on an overcast day. If you’re going to get into a body of water, opt for a reef safe sunblock. My favorite right now is Supergoop. I recently read that sunscreens and personal care products were causing a lot of pollution and was the number one reason some national and state parks are banning swimming. But sun protection goes beyond creams and sprays. A good hat with a wide brim and a pair of sunglasses are also a must. Some people seem to think you don’t need sunglasses in the colder months, but that glare off of snow is real and can be damaging to your eyes. I have a couple of prescription pairs, but try to keep an inexpensive pair in my bag as well. Just look something with full UVA/ UVB protection, and consider polarization if you’re going to be doing any activities on the water. If I seem a little soapboxy about the sunglasses, I used to work for an optometrist. So, I understand only get one set of eyes. 

5. Bug spray

I know bugs aren’t a year round problem in Michigan, and thank the lord for that!  But, bug spray is still something I tend to carry year round. I stick with the deep woods variety. Tick bites are not something I want to mess around with, so I’m also sure to make sure my socks are high, and tucked into long pants, as well as doing a check after the fact.  The reason I carry bug spray year round? In an emergency situation, it can be a pretty great fire accelerant. DON’T spray it DIRECTLY into a fire, but it could be the difference between your kindling taking or not on a windy day stranded in the wilderness. Be sure to wash the spray off of your skin before entering a body of water, and when you don’t need it any longer, this is especially true for young children.

Headlamp foldable state map of Michigan, and a Michigan Wildlife guide. 

6. Map/compass

Getting lost is not a good time, and it can be life or death in particular situations. I always carry a hard map of Michigan and a compass. I have a pack of Michigan field guides as well, added bonus these make for excellent toddler entertainment. If you’re hiking in a State Park, the visitors center will have maps GRAB ONE. While trails should have northward oriented maps posted at junctures along the way but sometimes you get turned around before you make it there. If you’re headed somewhere with out a visitors center, look up the trail map before you depart. Consider printing it out as well. You definitely can’t always count on having a cell service out there. And some times AllTrails is a dirty rotten liar friends. My point is know your trails. A compass is obviously important for finding the direction you’re headed. I tend to carry one that is part of a survival bracelet. It offers the added bonus of a fire striker, paracord, a whistle, an sos light and a small blade. I don’t wear it on my wrist because even though I got one that’s adjustable, all the extra features make it slide off my arms. 

My son checking out the Cedar Creek Trail map at Highland State Recreation Area. 

7. Garbage bags

Ah the humble garbage bag, such a versatile item. There are so many uses in a sticky situation, it’s overwhelming to try to list them all. There’s the obvious use of collecting waste but you can also use it in a multitude of survival scenarios. It can be used as a rain poncho, roofing for a makeshift shelter, and as a tarp to insulate your body from the ground. It can be used to keep items dry. You can also use it to collect, store, and carry water from a source body. It can even be used as a solar still for water collection.  You can use it as a flag to signal for help. It can even be used to make a sling or a compress for injuries.The list goes on, it’s an item more than worth its weight in gold. As light weight as they are, carrying 2 or 3 may not be a bad idea. 

8. Duct Tape Flat Pack

Okay this was an amazing Amazon find I will shout from the rooftops. We all know duct tape can be used in many ways to fasten things together. It’s also great for sealing packages, leaks, and patching holes. You can use it to make a splint, treat warts or blisters, and even remove splinters. It’s a useful item in a pinch, but lugging around a roll of it can be cumbersome. The flat pack offers a length of duct tape in a compact sleeved package. Perfect for situations, like hiking, where space and weight matter. 

Fire starter kit, flat pack duct tape and adjustable survival bracelet.

9. Fire Starting Kit

Another Amazon find here, at least the particular fire kit I carry. It’s  made by Steve Kaeser. It’s a small tin with wax covered jute, Fat wood chips, fat wood a ferro rod, and striker. It’s slightly larger than a credit card, and would fit in a standard shirt pocket. Not anything I’ve ever had to use luckily but it’s definitely an item you want when you do need it. 

10. Headlamp/Flashlight

A light source is a great thing to always have in your pack. Whether that’s a flashlight or a headlamp is entirely up to you and your preferences. I’m a day hiker, though I do have ambitions to actually backpack. Obviously I’m not actively using this item a lot, although it did come in clutch when we took a winter trip to Detach Primitive. (If you want to hear more about that trip check out my post Why Are You Like This?) Sometimes a wrong turn on a day hike can lead to you being out after dark. Being able to see in these situations is key. You can carry a flashlight if that is your preference, but I opt for a headlight because being hands free is helpful to me. 9/10 hikes I have a toddler strapped to my back, so keeping my hands free to assist him and more importantly keep my balance is huge. I’ve seen many runners that affix headlamps to their chest in lieu of their head to better light the path without having to look down. That may be a viable option for you. 

Body wipes, bootlaces, sunscreen, and baby wipes

11. Body/ Baby Wipes

This one isn’t essential but again because I tend to have a tiny human, I usually have baby wipes, for obvious reasons. Baby wipes aren’t just great for wiping tiny bottoms, they’re also great for wiping dirt of your hands, face, whatever.  Body wipes take it one step further. When you get a little extra sweaty on the trail and have somewhere to be afterwards, a body wipe can make you feel like a whole new person. It may be that item standing between you on the trail, and that brewery with the best burgers in town, or whatever food and beverage you’re hankering after a hike. These are really good and removing that funk, believe me.

12. Hand Sanitizer 

Since 2020, when we all had to stay home, this has become more of a staple for people. Obviously, hand sanitizer can be used to kill bacteria from the hands. But it offers more than meets to eye. The primary ingredient is alcohol. So it can be subbed for rubbing alcohol in a pinch. You can utilize it to clean out scrapes and cuts and disinfect surfaces. But alcohol is a decent accelerant. In a pinch you can use it to start fires. A little extra boost that can stand between you and a warm fire. 

Bonus: Bootlaces 

Bootlaces break from time to time. Happy feet are key on the trail. But, boot laces can have other uses in an emergency situation. I know earlier I said that I carry a paracord bracelet. Bootlaces can be used in similar ways. It could be used as rope to tie food up from animals, or to fashion a shelter. It could also be used as a fishing line, making tourniquets, or even for starting fires. 

A rare solo hike carrying all of my must haves in my Syncro 5L pack. 

What do you always have in your bag? Let’s tart a conversation in the comments below!