Trail Essentials
Here are some of the trail essentials I take along with me to every hiking and backpacking trip. Don’t get this confused with the ten essentials - which generally refers to packing extra of certain types of items in case they are needed. Nonetheless, a lot of the trail essentials I take on trips overlap with the ten essentials because it’s hard to predict what could happen on the trail sometimes.
To learn more about the ten essentials, I think this list from REI is a good starting point. The National Park Service (NPS) also provides a list of the ten essentials as well. I don’t carry all the ten essentials with me at all times even though I know I definitely should so that is definitely something I will be proactively doing when I pack for my next trip.
I didn’t include my sleep system here because I covered those in another post which can be found here.
If you are conscious about the weight of your pack, maybe leave that deck of cards and take the trail essentials with you. But most of the 10 essentials are actually pretty lightweight on their own.
Backpack
Having a good backpack is quite important if you find yourself doing a somewhat long and difficult hike. You definitely want something that feels comfortable on your shoulders and back and something that your body can support well. I own several backpacks depending on what type of activity I’m doing. I obviously wouldn’t bring my backpacking pack to a normal day hike but I do have a mid-size pack to do that. I’ll go into more details below. In short, I do recommend trying to try out different packs when you’re shopping around.
Backpacking Pack: Osprey Aura 50 Women’s
I’ve owned this pack since 2018 and this is the only backpacking pack I own. When I bought this, I did go into REI and tried out different packs and this was the one that spoke to me. Although other packs by Gregory and Deuter were highly recommended by other hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, this was the one that I thought felt most comfortable.
Pros 😊
Good beginner backpacking pack
Lots of space to store gear and smaller items
Support feels nice and easy to adjust
50L capacity is good for an overnight or 2-3 day trips
Cons 😔
Bottles are hard to reach, easily solvable with a water bladder
No detachable daypack
On the heavier side, weighing at 4 lbs
Day Pack: Gregory Jade 28 L
I didn’t do a whole lot of research before purchasing this pack. I picked it up, liked it enough and never returned it. I’ve since used it as my go-to day pack. This pack has all the features I was looking for and being able to attach the trekking poles was certainly a bonus as well. It also comes with a rainfly, perfect for those rainy and misty hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
Pros 😊
Rainfly is included
Trekking pole attachment
Hip belt feels robust and hugs waist nicely
Cons 😔
Not a lot of hooks and daisy chains, makes it difficult to attach bulkier items on the outside if needed
Water bottles are also hard to access and again, easily solvable if you use a hydration bladder
Day Pack/Gym Bag: REI Co-Op Ruckpack 18
I remember really loving the look of this pack when I first saw it and finally saved up and bought this pack. Why did I get an 18L pack? I’m not sure. This pack barely fits all the gear I take on a day hike so I use it solely to go to the climbing gym.
Pros 😊
Small and compact, if weight is not an issue, you can probably pack this into your backpacking pack as a day pack
The new Ruckpuck is made with recycled materials!
Inexpensive
Cons 😔
Super small
The side pocket is extremely small and hard to fit a larger bottle
No extra attachment points, a barebones hiking pack
Gets uncomfortable if the bag is fully packed
Camp Kitchen
The setup for when I’m at camp and out backpacking is pretty different even though when I was purchasing items, I tried to make sure there are certain things that I could use at an established campground where I have more space and access to water and also in the backcountry. I think the essentials here would be a reliable stove systems and utensils. Others would definitely be optional.