Pack for a 4-5 hour hike

navihawk

navihawk

Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Messages
4,677
Hey everyone. Looking for opinions on what to carry on a day hike. I have an LL Beane fanny pack I could use or a small backpack. Whats your opinions on a comfortable pack, and what should I bring? First aid kit, ect,...
We climbed up Mt.Hedgehog in the White mountains and decided to go light with just the shirts on our backs and water,(not enough).Definately could have used a good sized band-aid for one hiker on his hand.
Looks like there are mor trips to come after this one.
 
A good daypack (LL Bean makes one) is essential. For short hikes I would take a good lunch, rain gear, fire making stuff, first aid kit, water, a light foam pad for sitting, tarp, 50 feet of nylon cord, caribiner, hat, rain jacket, light leather gloves, and of course something to cut stuff with. Never trust the weather. Always be prepared to spend a night wherever you are going.
 
For day hikes, I use a few different packs. Usually, the packs are between 1000 and 2000 ci. My Dakine Heli Pack is great for fast and light, and my Camelbak Honcho gets used for longer excursions. Both packs have a shovel flap which is great for stowing rain gear or layers that have been removed. I always carry:

- 2-3 liters of water
- A knife, usually a Mora of some sort
- A first aid kit that I assembled
- A poncho or something that can be used as an expedient shelter
- Some paracord
- A few Powerbars or granola-type bars
- An Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Survival Kit

On more extended excursions, I'll take my Stansport 1 liter pot which contains an Esbit stove and fuel tabs, hard candy, BSA Hot Spark, a few bullion cubes, a few tea bags, matches, and PJ cottonballs.
 
Start with the Ten Essentials. There are many different variations of the "Ten Essentials" that you can read online. Here's a quick list I came up with to get you started:

1) Pocketknife (SAK, Mora, anything really)
2) Emergency food (extra granola bars, energy bars, trail mix, whatever)
3) Rain protection (poncho or jacket)
4) Map and compass (one is no good without the other)
5) Emergency shelter (poncho can double as shelter)
6) Extra water (carry extra water, or water purification method)
7) Signaling device (whistle or mirror)
8) Emergency clothes (climate-appropriate in waterproof baggie, dry socks, long underwear, etc.)
9) First Aid kit
10) Firestarter (matches, flint and steel, lighter, etc.)

Adjust the above list for your climate and region. For example, in the desert "Sun Protection" should be included, but I wouldn't consider it an "Essential" in Arkansas or Oregon. In Arkansas I would add Insect Protection as an "Essential", depending on the time of year.

Consider and be prepared for the full range of weather possibilities (snow? rain? bright sun?). Add a few 'recreational' or 'luxury' items, like camera and guidebook.

When finished, keep a log of everything you carried, what you used, what you didn't use, and what you wished you had with. Next trip, use that list to modify your pack contents.

Happy Hiking,
-Bob
 
As far as pack size, I prefer a fullsize daypack. Something quality-made with comfortable waist straps, shoulder straps, and sternum strap.

I think you perhaps could squeeze everything into a fanny pack. But then gear selection becomes more critical, and recreational items have to be left behind. I think a fanny pack would be great for a half-hour hike in a well-developed area, like a tourist spot or nature trail close to the vehicle.
 
Forget bandaids. Grab some sterile gauze and a roll of duck tape. Gorillia Tape is some awesome stuff. Forget complicated fire starting gizmos like magnesium starters. Pack you four or five new Bic Lighters. Pack a small zip lock bag full of clothes dryer lint. It is a great light weight fire starting material. A small emergency candle can also be helpful. Also take a stainless steel cup for boiling water in. Get you a good whistle, like a Fox 40. Forget para cord. A roll of heavy duty fishing line takes up less space and is just as handy. Take a sharpening stone. A dull knife won't do you much good. Also get you a good, small LED flashlight. The Coast LED Lensers are nice.
 
Forget para cord. A roll of heavy duty fishing line takes up less space and is just as handy.
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I disagree with this, though the rest of the points mentioned seem spot-on to me. I prefer paracord to fishing line for a number of reasons. First, I find it to be easier to work with. You can knot and untie the same piece without too much strain on your fingers (almost impossible once a fishing line has become taut). This means that the same cord can be used multiple times. Additionally, since it is thicker, you can handle it without risk of injury or undue strain - I've been in situations where I've had to rig up a small handle for something, and I'd rather grip some braided paracord than a bundle of fishing line. For some tasks, like hoisting your food bag up a tree and away from critters, I would simply not trust fishing line.

Finally - and I know that it's not a primary concern (or even a secondary concern) in a true survival situation - paracord is easier to pack out with you than fishing line. By this I mean that it doesn't take much effort to get a used bundle of paracord wrapped up again, and that it doesn't take up much additional space. Contrast this with fishing line, which takes up less space initially, but is likely to wind up in tangled, unmanageable balls after use. You can burn it, pack it out, or leave it, but once used for something other than fishing, it often ceases to be gear and becomes garbage.

All that being said, I would bring both. Paracord for situations where cordage is required, and fishing line as a lightweight backup and - more importantly - for fishing.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Mentor said:
I disagree with this, though the rest of the points mentioned seem spot-on to me. I prefer paracord to fishing line for a number of reasons. First, I find it to be easier to work with. You can knot and untie the same piece without too much strain on your fingers (almost impossible once a fishing line has become taut). This means that the same cord can be used multiple times. Additionally, since it is thicker, you can handle it without risk of injury or undue strain - I've been in situations where I've had to rig up a small handle for something, and I'd rather grip some braided paracord than a bundle of fishing line. For some tasks, like hoisting your food bag up a tree and away from critters, I would simply not trust fishing line.

Finally - and I know that it's not a primary concern (or even a secondary concern) in a true survival situation - paracord is easier to pack out with you than fishing line. By this I mean that it doesn't take much effort to get a used bundle of paracord wrapped up again, and that it doesn't take up much additional space. Contrast this with fishing line, which takes up less space initially, but is likely to wind up in tangled, unmanageable balls after use. You can burn it, pack it out, or leave it, but once used for something other than fishing, it often ceases to be gear and becomes garbage.

All that being said, I would bring both. Paracord for situations where cordage is required, and fishing line as a lightweight backup and - more importantly - for fishing.

All the best,

- Mike
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I know I've cut my self with fishing line before, I guess more of a burn, but it bled and hurt. Never done that with para cord.
 
Serrinon said:
As far as a pack, I picked this up recently:
http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/763939

It's a beefed up fanny pack. I just had shoulder surgery so I want something I can go on a day hike with this fall and put zero weight on my shoulders. It holds 10 Liters and weighs 28 ounces
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Very similar to my Beane fanny pack. Good point on the shoulder. I recently had my collarbone pinned and I'm sure a pack would bother it.
 
I feel the fanny pack is too small. My wife would have the fanny pack and I'd have a larger pack. I carry a day pack and often carry water for my wife and myself (and any kids). In the pack, I have bottled water, cell phone, compass, map, flash light, commercial miniture first aid kit, pain pills (Motrin), pen, 25 feet of paracord, dry matches, big SAK, rain jacket, hat, bug spray, paper towels, granola bars, trail mix (nuts and dried fruit), a few zip locks (qt and gallon size), nalgene wide mouth water bottle with junk sealed up in it, 22 revolver, and extra socks. Might throw in a small tarp if it is a long day hike and a small cotton towel.
 
22-rimfire said:
I feel the fanny pack is too small. My wife would have the fanny pack and I'd have a larger pack. I carry a day pack and often carry water for my wife and myself (and any kids). In the pack, I have bottled water, cell phone, compass, map, flash light, commercial miniture first aid kit, pain pills (Motrin), pen, 25 feet of paracord, dry matches, big SAK, rain jacket, hat, bug spray, paper towels, granola bars, trail mix (nuts and dried fruit), a few zip locks (qt and gallon size), nalgene wide mouth water bottle with junk sealed up in it, 22 revolver, and extra socks. Might throw in a small tarp if it is a long day hike and a small cotton towel.
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How many Liters is your Fanny pack, and how many Liters is your day pack?

If he doesn't travel with the wife, kids, gun, or tarp he may not need as much space. Especially if his shoulder will hurt from a backpack. The fanny pack I have comes with two external mesh "holsters" for water bottles and has an internal capacity of 10 liters. Which is short of a 30 liter day pack, but if you consolidate it will be fine .

At least thats what i'm telling myself since I can't use a backpack for another 3 months ;) I'll be out of my sling in a couple weeks and I'll want to go for a day hike :)
 
It's me and the dog. Maybe at some point the wife will get interested, I hope.I am just starting out,so I limit myself to day hikes for now.
I know I need to dig up one of those collapsible dog watewr bowls.
 
I'd reccomend an Osprey Stratos series pack. I have a Stratos 40 (40 liters) and it, by far, is the most comfortable pack I've worn.
 
mmmotorcycle said:
I'd reccomend an Osprey Stratos series pack. I have a Stratos 40 (40 liters) and it, by far, is the most comfortable pack I've worn.
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40 Liter pack sounds like a good idea for a general purpose pack. You can easily use that for a 2-3 day hike, and if you are skilled and cut down on waste you can use it for a 1 week hike. A guy i was talking with at the store does that regularly. Although there is no way you'd need it for a 4 hour hike.
 
I climbed Mt. Washington last Friday and took the following in a small water bladder pack:

Mini Survival kit
2.5 quarts of water
Winter hat
Map and compass
GPS
Sunglasses
Adventure medical heatsheet bivi
Whistle
Paracord
Mirror
Lightstick
Cellphone
Lighter
Small headlamp
5 energy bars
Gloves
Fleece vest
Windbreaker
Small FA kit
Camera

This is the minimum I would take bagging peaks in the white's.

It was near zero viz at summit and 33 degrees brrr. 80 degrees at the base.

Skam
 
skammer said:
I climbed Mt. Washington last Friday and took the following in a small water bladder pack:

Mini Survival kit
2.5 quarts of water
Winter hat
Map and compass
GPS
Sunglasses
Adventure medical heatsheet bivi
Whistle
Paracord
Mirror
Lightstick
Cellphone
Lighter
Small headlamp
5 energy bars
Gloves
Fleece vest
Windbreaker
Small FA kit
Camera

This is the minimum I would take bagging peaks in the white's.

It was near zero viz at summit and 33 degrees brrr. 80 degrees at the base.

Skam
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BLASPHEMY!!! Skammer, I looked and looked, and nowhere, nowhere, do I see a knife listed.:eek:

Doc
 
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