Essential Hiking Gear for Beginners: All You Need to Know Before You Buy

Choosing your first hiking backpack

Size

Learning how to select a hiking backpack comes with experience. But the most important thing to know is that the size of your backpack should align with your main goal as a hiker. Generally speaking, the more miles you plan to hike, the more gear you will need to bring. There is a significant bump in size between day hiking packs and backpacking packs. As a beginner, I would highly suggest you start on the lower side in terms of both mileage and pack size. A 20-liter pack can offer enough space for all of your hiking essentials like a liter of water, enough snacks for even an ambitious hike, a phone, and an extra emergency layer.

Fit

Having a hiking backpack that fits you correctly can make a significant difference in your comfort while you hike for a few reasons. A pack that fits properly will distribute weight properly (ideally mainly at your hips) which will save wear and tear on your shoulders. A proper fit will also mitigate the chance of the pack rubbing on your skin which can cause uncomfortable chafing. If you can, try on a pack before buying it and play with all of the various cinching chords to see how comfortably you can conform it to your body.

Hydration Packs

Some packs feature bladders that you can drink out of through a tube and mouthpiece while you are hiking. Bladders have pros and cons. The main pro is that I find myself likelier to drink more and stay more hydrated with the ease of use of a bladder that allows us to drink while I walk. On the con side, they can be challenging to clean and end up making the pack more expensive. You don’t need a hydration specific pack to get started, a water bottle in a pack will do the trick, but it is really nice to walk and drink comfortably at the same time.

Pockets

One feature that I highly suggest looking into are external pockets that are easy to access while you have the pack on. You can fill these pockets with trail mix and a water bottle and if you can reach them while you are moving it will help with the flow of your hike. If you stuff snacks deep in your pack, you have to stop and take it off to eat which can seriously slow down the pace of a hike.

Price

Hiking packs can get really expensive, but don’t let that make purchasing your first one feel overwhelming. You can absolutely get a great pack for your first hikes for an affordable price. Less features often mean lower price but don’t necessarily mean a worse pack for a first time hiker. Cutting edge materials and features can shave ounces from a pack or make hydrating on a steep descent more efficient, but won’t translate to a much different hiking experience when you are first starting to build your skills on shorter hikes.

The basics of hiking shoes

Understanding the different types of hiking shoes may seem complicated, but knowing which will serve you best depends on both the type of hiking you plan to do as well as your body’s need for support when you walk. I could get deep in the weeds on the specifics of hiking footwear, but there are three basic categories worth looking at for your first pair of hiking kicks.

Trail Runners

Don’t let the category name fool you, trail running shoes make fantastic hiking footwear due to their light weight, ample tread, and trail focused support. Even though they may look flimsy compared to the heavily supported boots below, many Appalachian Trail hikers choose trail runners to hike the entire north to south span of our country in them due to their light weight and breathability.

Light Hikers

If you are looking for some more support than a trail running shoe but don’t quite need a boot, a light hiker is a fantastic choice. A bonus is that many brands, like Vasque, have whole categories of light hikers that pull double duty as handsome around town shoes when you aren't using them for a day hike.

Hiking Boots

For those that crave maximum support or need it due to mobility concerns, hiking boots offer the most ankle support, stiffest outsoles, and often the most grip for the trail. While a heavy duty hiking boot is a fabulous option for those who need the extra support, they are heavy, have a tendency not to breathe well, and need some serious breaking in (more on that below). I would suggest starting with something lighter for your first pair if you don’t think you will need the support.

Fit

It is worth noting that feet have a tendency to swell on long hikes so it might be worthwhile to lean towards sizing up your hiking boots if you are between sizes or are planning some ambitious hikes.

I highly suggest trying on your first set of hiking footwear and walking around in them before taking them out to the trailhead. This doesn’t have to be ambitious—just around your block or one of those cool obstacle courses they have at REI, just make sure you get some steps in so you can find any major rubbing points or sizing issues before committing to having them out on trail.

Breaking in

ALWAYS break in new hiking footwear. Regardless of what the company may claim in terms of break in time, you will be more comfortable if you walk around in them for a few days and as many miles as your schedule will allow so that the shoe can mold to the unique contours and pressure points of your feet before you put in a longer hike. A proper break in period will lead to less blisters, hot spots, and a generally much more comfortable hiking adventure.

Layering for weather conditions

Dressing in thoughtful layers, that can be removed and thrown in a pack or grabbed out of a pack and thrown on, is the best way to maximize your comfort while hiking in potentially fickle weather conditions. There is also the fact that you will heat up while you hike and cool down when you stop for a snack, so being dynamic with the amount of layers you have on can maximize your comfort through the entirety of your active time. Layering can be broken down into three basic parts.

Base, or next to skin, layers

The job of base layers is to keep you comfortable as well as move moisture off away from your skin. If your next to skin layers become soaking wet with sweat, you can become dangerously cold if temperatures drop on your hike. Moisture wicking materials like synthetics and wool can help move your moisture off of you which will keep you warmer and minimize chafing.

Mid, or insulating, layers

The job of the midlayer is to keep some heat trapping dead space between your body and the elements. For the most part, the thicker the layer, the warmer you will be. The thickness of the mid layer you choose should be in direct relation to the temps you plan to hike in. Popular mid layers for warmer hikes are fleeces while puffy down or synthetic jackets of various thicknesses will serve you better for the coldest hikes.

Outer, or protective, layers

The outer layer’s job is to protect your body from the most extreme elements like wind, rain, snow—even sun. Even if you don’t plan to hike in extreme weather, a lightweight water-resistant shell is an extremely smart safety net to keep in your pack any time there is any chance of rain at all. They offer very small weight and size penalties and can really save your hyde if you get stuck in a freak storm in the backcountry.

Navigation tools for the trail

Always default to map and compass

While the gadgets below can be incredibly helpful tools to help you find your way on a hike, they all have flaws. Namely: batteries that can run out and leave you in a lurch if you are completely dependent upon them. Having a map and compass with you, and ideally some skills if you have classes available, is the best way to mitigate your chances of getting dangerously lost on a hike.

GPS Watches

GPS hiking watches have become incredibly sophisticated in the last decade and many have the capabilities to hold on to downloaded maps, track your progress in deep canyons in real time, and help you orienteer right from your own wrist. They can be tricky to keep charged on the longest hikes, so be careful about depending on them too heavily if you are finding your hike far out of your element.

Your phone

While I wouldn’t suggest you depend on your phone for navigation very deep in the backcountry, there are some excellent apps like AllTrails, onX, and Gaia GPS that can help keep you on your planned route if you have reliable service and plenty of battery in that phone of yours.

First aid and safety essentials

Bring plenty of water

Water may not seem like a classic first aid essential, but dehydration is one of the most common maladies that hikers end up dealing with. Each body is different and each hike is different, but a pretty good rule of thumb is to plan to bring at least a liter of water for every two hours you plan to be out on trail. It doesn’t matter if you bring it in a bladder, Nalgene, or fancy insulated number, just make sure you regularly take stops to drink the stuff. If it is going to be a super hot hike I suggest juicing up your hydration with an electrolyte enhancement like these from Nuun.

Premade first aid kits are the way to go

You can absolutely put together a first aid kit with the right amount of research or education from a local gear shop—it will likely be more expensive and less comprehensive than a premade aid kit one like these from Adventure Medical Kits. The beauty of the premade kits is that they will give you small amounts of items, like butterfly bandages, so you don’t have to invest in a whole box to throw four in your kit.

Get some training

The most comprehensive first aid kit in the world won’t do any good in an emergency if you don’t know how to use it. Since emergencies in the wilderness can offer a specific set of challenges, I suggest taking wilderness specific training like the fantastic offerings from NOLs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get in shape for hiking?

The best way to get in shape for hiking is to walk as much as you can. Even if you live far away from the nearest trailhead, you can be ready to hike it if you walk every chance you get. Taking the stairs or choosing the steepest routes to walk around town can help get you ready to hike trails with a lot of vertical gain. It is also a great idea to walk around with a backpack that is loaded down as much as possible to get your body prepared to carry a load.

What is the difference between hiking and trekking?

At their base, hiking and trekking are the same activity—walking outdoors usually on trails. Trekking usually denotes a longer distance, more intense terrain, and more skills and equipment needed.

How do you start hiking for beginners?

Research the best hiking trails for beginners around you and start there. It also doesn't hurt to start googling beginner hiker gear reviews. If you have a local hiking group that is also an ideal way to start because of both the camaraderie and killer tips you can get from other hikers. It is also safer to travel with experienced hikers who will likely know the terrain and conditions better.

What are the 3 basic skills in hiking?

1.Orientation - it is incredibly important to know where you are while you are hiking. Noticing key features in the landscape and knowing where you want to go will help you not only regularly get to key destinations but also help you get home safe. 2. Route choice - the route you choose to take to hike to a destination can change how comfortable, safe, and ambitious the hike itself becomes. Knowing your own limits, trail conditions, and goals and choosing routes the hiking trail that are commensurate to those is an extremely useful skill in hiking. 3. Pace setting - it can be challenging to succeed at having a well paced hike that allows you you to get to your destination and back in a reasonable time that allows plenty of time for enjoyment but also doesn’t burn you out for moving to fast. Getting into a just right pace and maintaining it is a skill that will make hiking much more enjoyable when mastered.

How many miles should a beginner hike?

The short answer: as many as you like. I would suggest not being too ambitious in terms of mileage or vertical gain right out of the gates—keep it below 5 miles or 1500 feet of vert if it is your very first hike—I truly believe that no hike is too short for a beginner hiker. A short hike with the right gear that is safe is a great hike for beginner hikers.