What is your day hike kit?

[DaleW]

What do you consider to the the ultimate PSK or woods kit? Let's say this is for a day hike, where you would not normally carry a tent or sleeping bag. Emphasis on weight, compactness, and multiple use items.

[Note: after posting this, I realized that I forgot the most important survival tool: leave your itinerary with a trusted family member or friend and a "drop dead" check in time. If you don't check in for XXX hours after the check in time, they call in the search and rescue folk. I photocopy the map of my destination and call my contact if there are any changes due to road closures, weather, traffic jams on the way, etc. 99.9% of the accounts you read of people getting in trouble revolves around not leaving an itinerary or making a major departure from it. If they know you are on or in the vicinity of the that trail, they have a good chance of finding you. If you carry a 2-way radio, establish your contact channel too.]

Here's mine:

Worn (3 season)
Silkweight polyester tee shirt or Ex Officio Airstrip Lite long sleeve button down
REI Sahara convertible pants (zip offs)
silkweight polyester briefs
Patagonia medium weight polyester socks
Foot gear: light synthetic medium height boots. Typically Montrail, Merrel or Keen. Gore Tex in winter. Superfeet insoles), OR Packlite gaiters or MontBell stretch gaiters.
Rain gear (per season): Marmot Precip jacket and pants
Winter: Long sleeve silkweight polyester tee, matching long johns, Power Stretch tops and bottoms. Noth Face Redpoint jacket.
Hat (per season) Tilly T4, Outdoor Research bucket-style, fleece beanie
Bicycle gloves
Trekking poles

Pack:
GoLite Ion, Jam, or Platypus Typhoon (per conditions and load)

On my person (belt or pockets):
Fallkniven F1 knife in kydex belt sheath with Army size firesteel
Bandana
Sunglasses
Reading glasses
Pocket lanyard:
K&M match safe, long size, with compass, REI storm matches and strikers inside
SAK Classic knife
ACR or aluminum whistle
Light My Fire mini Firesteel
Spy capsule with Tinder-Quick tabs
Fenix EO1 flashlight


In my pack:
Suunto MC-2 compass with sighting mirror
Maps
2 liter water bladder and hose with 4 micro Pur tablets taped on
GoLite Poncho/tarp


PSK in Sea-to-Summit one liter waterproof roll-top stuff sack:
Mini Bic lighter
Adventure Medical .3 first aid kit with tick tweezers and added meds
10 pieces hard candy
Adventure Medical Heetsheets bivy (space blanket style bag)
Small fishing kit in pill box (leaders, split shot, Spider Wire line, foam ear plug bobber)
Snare wire
Flat pack duct tape
Hotel freebie-syle sewing kit
2x Single edge razor blades in shipping tape
50' braided seine twine
Adventure Medical signal mirror
2x one use DEET-based insect repellent wipes
2x one use SPF 30 sunscreen packet
One liter Platypus bladder with 4 Micro Pur tablets taped on
Petzl e+Lite headlamp
Spare batteries
Spare reading glasses
12' Kevlar Mule tape (bag sling, etc)



Patagonia Houdini windshirt
Hat (per weather/season)
Gloves (per weather/season)
Insulation layer (per weather/season, always synthetic)
Spare socks
Waterproof stuff sack for clothes


One day's meals
Extra food: granola bars, candy
Zip lock with instant coffee, tea, dry soup, sugar
550ml titanium pot and lid
Aluminum flashing wind screen
Esbit wing stove and fuel tabs
2' aluminum foil
Spork

Plastic potty trowel
Toilet paper
Small bottle hand sanitizer
Small bottle soap


Optional tools per weather and location of hike:
RAT 1 folder
Victorinox Fieldmaster
Mora
Kershaw/Bahco folding saw
Adventure Medical Thermolite bivy sack

Other toys:
Digital camera and small tripod
Radio
Notebook and pen
Binoculars

 

[jds1]

Dale,
How do you like your Ion pack? I've been considering that one lately for VERY light travel.

Jeff

 

[mtnfolk mike]

sounds like a nice kit Dale...:thumbup: very well thought out...

how about some pics...

 

[raybadge]

That's a lot of stuff for a day hike. I think your biggest challenges are dehydration, hypothermia, and fatigue. For the first, make sure you have a nice waterbottle or cantreen. For the second, make sure you're clothed properly; have an extra jacket, fleece, or rain geer; and a good lighter. For the last, keep in shape. If it makes you feel beter, you can pack a small first aid kit and a light weight tarp in a fanny pack; and a whistle, space blanket, and small knife in your pocket. But remember, you're out there to have fun, not resettle pre-contact America. So, ... have fun!

 

[powernoodle]

I am reluctant to mention these, but a GPS and/or cell phone is another consideration - though I recognize that the latter may be of no use depending on location and terrain. Just a thought.

 

[siguy]

it depends on what kind of dayhike, but i will make a quick list of the two extremes. i pretty much always fall somewhere in between these levels for a dayhike. to turn the second list into an overnight bag, i wouldn't really add very much at all.

a quick 10-30 minute hike in the woods behind the house:
clothing
EDC:
-stockman knife (sometimes i will have my fixed blade on the belt)
-small LED flashlight
-bic/zippo/matchsafe depending on my mood
-wallet
sometimes i will grab a hatchet or larger blade on my way out to play with

all day hike lasting from morning to mid/late afternoon, often on sustained hard terrain:
clothing
EDC
belt knife (~4" blade)
pack with:
-water (and bleach drops for purification)
-alcohol stove/fuel bottle/steel cup/cocoa and tea/spoon
-army style poncho (taken if the chance of rain is 50/50 or if i feel like it)
-spare layer (often a hard shell to repel wind and rain)
-folding saw (sometimes also hatchet)
-basic navigation equip (compass + map)
-roll of athletic tape (first aid and gear repair)
-field sharpening kit (2 sided strop and basic pocket stone or altoids kit)
-ball of cotton twine
-AMK space blanket
-food (lunch + snacks)

i probably forgot a couple of things, but you get the gist.

 

[DaleW]

Dale,
How do you like your Ion pack? I've been considering that one lately for VERY light travel.

Jeff

The Ion is your basic stuff sack with shoulder straps, with a bit more shape. At 9oz and $35, it does the trick for a basic day-hiking bag. There are similar bags out there, but most are in the 1200-1500 cubic inch range and just a little too small. They have made summit bags for years, meant to take the bare essentials to the top of a peak and back down to your main pack. If you go much smaller, you might as well use a hydration bag with a little storage. If you want more features-- check out the 25 liter Vaude packs and the 35 liter models if you want more room.

If you are a big guy and you fill up most of the small light bags, you look like you have a big lump-- the shoulder straps aren't long enough and the bag goes round with the load, so it sits too high on your back and bounces around. The Outdoor Research Summit Sack is guilty of that.

It is not as good for bushwhacking due to the thin fabric and that is where the Platypus bag excels. A tougher bag that can sit close to your back is better for getting through the brush and not ripped to shreds.

I use a GoLite Jam (not the newer Jam2) for basic weekenders. My summer base weight for packed gear (less food, water, and fuel) is 12 pounds and ~21 with the full load. Winter adds a few pounds with more clothing and a heaver sleeping bag.

I could pull off a summer overnighter with the Ion. It has lash tabs added to the front and a zig-zag of elastic cord, so I can haul my sleeping pad and/or rain gear on the outside.

None of the small frameless packs should be used for more than 20 pounds. They just turn into a lump past that. A little experimentation with packing can make a big difference.

 

[ROCK6]

My day hikes usually include enough to stay over night; you just never know

Well the weather is pretty mild down here in Texas (highs in the 60’s lows in the 40’s); we’re going to do a little hiking and rock-climbing/bouldering and if there’s no burn-ban, we’re planning on staying over night. Here’s what I’m packing…it’s for a “day” hike, but I’ll bring some extra food, pot, tents (small two-man tents), sleeping bags and ground mats if we do stay over night. My son and I could rough it, but my wife and daughter would prefer not to.

Worn:
Under Armor T-shirt
5.11 synthetic button, long sleeve shirt
REI Mojave convertible pants (zip offs)
Smartwool socks
Foot gear; for day hikes it’s either my Keens or Salomon hikers…if I’m expecting to stay the night, than I’ll put on my regular hiking boots
ORC (now Hercules) Soft Shell jacket.
Filson Packer hat
Fingerless Wool gloves
Polypro neck gaiter (Recon Wrap…absolutely love it!)
Hiking staff
Oakley Half Jacket sunglasses (extra clear lenses for night time in my pack)
Marathon GSAR watch
Cammenga wrist compass

On my person (belt and pockets):
Charter Bulldog Pug, .44 SPL (5 rounds 200 gr Speer Gold Dot / 5 extra rounds 200 gr semi-wadcutters)
BRKT Bravo-1 with monster fire steel with two Vaseline / Cotton balls in the handle
Emerson CQC-10 folder
Spyderco Para-Mil folder
Burt’s Bees Chapstick
Cravat/Bandana
Sunglasses
Base compass
Peanut Lighter and my Windmill lighter (for the pipe)
Small flat role of 100mph tape
Hank of braided 550 cord (about 15 feet)
Whistle
Swiss/Victorninox Spirit multitool
Light My Fire mini Fire steel
Fenix L1D (single AA) flashlight

Pack: Osprey Kestrel 38
3 Liter Camelback bladder
Klean Kanteen water bottle (18oz; in the outside pocket)
Digital camera on of the waste belt pockets
Blackberry/cell phone in the other waste belt pocket (necessary evil for work)
Empty 3 liter Platypus
IFAK, small
Integral Designs Silponcho
Poncho liner (with Thinsulate insulation)
Polartec 200 fleece pull-over
Fleece watch cap
Smartwool zip-neck long sleeve thermal top
Extra pair of socks
Kangaroo leather gloves
Full finger glove liners
Jetboil with a single 110 gram canister of fuel
Folded piece of heavy duty aluminum foil (about 1x2 feet)
Nalgene water bottle with Snow Peak Solo kit (inside the pack)
Katadyn mini water filter
Snow Peak double wall mug (I love it for my coffee/tea)
Vargo stainless Scork with can opener
Map of the local area
SAK Outrider
Small Steiner binoculars
Zebra single AA LED headlamp
Extra batteries (4xAAA and 4xAA)
Insect Repellant with SPF 30 protection
550 Cord (50 feet)
Silky Saw
U-Dig-It Trowel
Pack towel
Small hygiene kit (Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap, tooth brush/past)
Hand sanitizer
Small travel pack of wet wipes
Half-role of TP in a Ziploc bag
Two large garbage bags
Small AM/FM/Shortwave and WX radio
Small fire kit: Pink candle, Bic Lighter, Strike Force firesteel with tinder
K&M match safe, long size with REI storm matches
Small repair kit (sewing kit, 100mph tape, Krazy glue and a couple of zip ties)

For bouldering (our reason for the hike):
Climbing shoes
Bluewater 6mm x 30 meter accessory (emergency) line
Two carabineers
Chalkbag
Small role of medical tape

Snacks and emergency foods:
Sandwich (whatever my wife makes)
Banana chips / Trailmix
Clif bars (2-3)
Pepperoni
Wheat-thins (in a Ziploc)
Coffee singles and Licorice Root Tea (6 of each in a Ziploc)
Instant soup and a pack of Ramen noodles
Two packs of flavored tuna in foil packets

I might bring along a larger knife to play with; either my Bark River Golok or my new Fallkniven A2…either would go in the pack.

As a "vice", I'll pack along my pipe and a tin of tobacco...

If there’s no burn ban, I’ll bring along the sleeping bags/ground mats and a two or our small two-man tents. The kids can carry their own sleeping bags and ground mats; and my wife and I will each carry one of the small tents. We’d like to at least stay over night with a “real” fire and hike back in the morning…but my wife doesn’t want to stay out without a fire (I don’t blame her; damn burn bans!).

ROCK6

 

[DaleW]

I am reluctant to mention these, but a GPS and/or cell phone is another consideration - though I recognize that the latter may be of no use depending on location and terrain. Just a thought.

Nothing wrong with them, but I see them as extras. GPS's are useful and fun, but I'll never trust my life with one, and I do own a couple. You can't beat a compass--- and the skills to use it.

I didn't put a cellular phone on the list, but I usually have it with me--- more for the fact that i don't want to leave it in my truck to be stolen by a two-legged reptile. If you get hurt and you have signal, it becomes really handy. Another good electronic is a GMRS radio. They are cheap and have good reach for the size. Establish the channel you will use with the same person that you leave your itinerary with.

 

[ROCK6]

Unfortunately I'm on-call 24/7, so the gov't Crackberry/cell phone is always with me...good emergency option, but a pain in the a$$ to always be chained to it:barf:

ROCK6

 

[j williams]

My kit is my Maxpedition bottle holder kit with cocoon pouch. Guyot/GSI combo in it, along with various other stuff. PSK in my pocket, fixed blade on my belt, FAK on the belt too.

 

[mapper66]

For winter day hikes:

Mountainsmith Day pack

2 Nalgenes w/water
MicroPur tabs

AMK ThermoLite 2.0 bivy
AMK Light and Fast Trail FAK, customized

Marmot Precip Jacket/Pants
Windstopper Vest
Thermal tops and bottoms
Extra wool socks

Zebralight H50-Q5 headlamp

Datrex Emergency Survival Food Bar

Map and compass (or 3), map case, alcohol pen

RC3
firesteel and vaseline soaked cotton balls
Small PSK

Whatever I am wearing.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

For a dayhike?

I am prepared to stay a night or two, which means:

Wahtever hiking clothes I have on, a fleece pullover and the folowing:

Steel cup
1 bottle of water
Pilots survival knife
Surefire G2 LED
Some 550 cord
Couple of energy bars
GPS and Compass
K&M matchcase
Cell phone
GMRS or Handheld CB sometimes.

Everything else, I can make or find

 

[antonio_luiz]

You are talking 'day hike' right - not mountain climbing or trail blazing.

Guess the conditions in sunny Queensland are very different as dehydration, electrolyte loss & sunstroke are our main concerns - even in wintertime. Not unusual to drink over a gallon a day. Lighting fires is restricted for much of the year so boiling the billy not always an option.

Hat, sunscreen, leather or suede shoes, sock protectors, shorts with extra pockets, t-shirt or thin long-sleeve shirt, sandwiches, chocolate, camelbak, camera, small bino's (maybe), field guide to birds, trekking stick. Maybe a map and compass if a new location

In case of emergency:- bandaids, space blanket and maybe a pressure bandage for snakebite, plastic poncho, waterproof matches or firesteel and a LM Wave. I always pay close attention to my surroundings and have never managed to get myself lost but these days I may include mobile phone and/or GPS. If summertime would also carry extra water (or purify tabs if location has creeks), powdered electrolyte & salted nuts.

 

[DaleW]

it depends on what kind of dayhike, but i will make a quick list of the two extremes. i pretty much always fall somewhere in between these levels for a dayhike. to turn the second list into an overnight bag, i wouldn't really add very much at all.

a quick 10-30 minute hike in the woods behind the house.....

all day hike lasting from morning to mid/late afternoon, often on sustained hard terrain.....

I wouldn't haul all this stuff for a quick walk in the woods and I EDC a knife, LED light, whistle, and some sort of fire starter anyway. I would normally carry some water too.

The cook kit is as much for a hot drink on a break as it is survival. I do think that a boiler of some sort should be included in any survival kit. It can be the bulkiest item in many kits, but allows purifying water and cooking food. Many, many types of wild plants are inedible unless cooked. The psychological effect of a hot drink is a very positive thing too and a lot of survival is from the eyebrows up.

My kit is arranged so that I can grab a few stuff sacks and drop them into a pack, knowing that I have the bases covered. There are a lot of small items on my list, but they are compact and light. My PSK is a little more than fist sized. The rest is a knife, a small first aid kit, some cooking items, a bit of food, some extra clothing and a poncho. It's all built around the list of essentials that all the hiking organizations recommend. They cover a few basic groups:

First aid
Signalling
Navigation
Extra clothing
Extra food
Shelter
Hydration
Fire starting
Cutting tool(s)

You might have heard of the ten essentials, or the "10+4" below -- it's all pretty much the same idea:

1. Map
2. Compass
3. Flashlight / Headlamp
4. Extra Food
5. Extra Clothes
6. Sunglasses
7. First-Aid Kit
8. Pocket Knife
9. Waterproof Matches
10. Firestarter
11. Water / Filter / Bottles
12. Whistle
13. Insect Repellents or Clothing
14. Sunburn Preventatives

And of course, you can get as messed up a mile from the trailhead as easily as ten miles out. If no one is around, it doesn't make a bit of difference. If you break your ankle and it starts to rain, hypothermia has the same effect no matter what the distance. You might be able to crawl a mile, but it isn't going to happen fast.

I carry the same PSK for a day hike as I do for a multi-day trip. Even if I'm out with my shelter and sleeping bag, I could damage or lose them. The scenarios I prepare for are:

1. Physical injury or illness that is immobilizing.
2. Losing my main pack in a stream crossing, fall, theft, or damage from animals
3. Fire damage to my gear-- shelter and sleeping bag being most likely.
4. Getting lost.

 

[DaleW]

You are talking 'day hike' right - not mountain climbing or trail blazing.

Guess the conditions in sunny Queensland are very different....

Most of my hikes are in the west slopes of the Washington Cascades and the Olympics. Rain is always possible and unplanned snow in Spring and Fall is a reality. The landscape is vertical and trails can be rough.

This trail is seven miles from the trailhead and could be part of a day hike. This is in late May, with 4 feet of snow a couple thousand feet above this spot. You are looking at the *trail*, not a stream bed; the snow run-off takes the easiest path, right down the trail. Now, you've turned you ankle in this mess and you are 8 miles from your vehicle. Imagine crawling down or hobbling along with a makeshift crutch. No poisonous snakes or really nasty bugs as you might have in Oz, but there are cougars and black bears. I went up this trail in 1965 as a Boy Scout

 

[PrimitiveMan]

If I gotta carry a gallon of freakin water to stay alive for a day hike, I'm just gonna stay home and eat nachos.

 

[ROCK6]

Most of my hikes are in the west slopes of the Washington Cascades and the Olympics. Rain is always possible and unplanned snow in Spring and Fall is a reality. The landscape is vertical and trails can be rough.

I grew up doing a lot hiking around that area...I remember my first big "backpacking" trip was up to Seven Lake's Basin. We've been all up through there and we use to get firewood as well (grew up near Belfair). You're right about the weather! You can start with it sunny in the upper 60's-70's and after a few hours be in a rain/sleet (even snow) storm with temperatures getting pretty chilly. Still an enchanting and beautiful place, but you still better be prepared for cold/wet temperatures and there were a few trails I remebered that you wouldn't want to hike down after dark

ROCK6

 

[SpookyPistolero]

That's a really pretty pic, Dale. I love rough trails! Plus it means most of the foot traffic stays away.

I really like that philosophy of keeping everything on your belt needed to make a cup of tea/coffee. Gives you something for a comfortable break or a safer survival situation. It's a notion that's easily described to folks new to such concepts.

My general dayhike kit contains something for all my need-groups, stuff that would suffice just in case I had to spend an unexpected night in the woods. I also try to carry enough such that if I meet someone in trouble on the trail (happens more often than one would think) I can offer some help.

-GI poncho (+ liner or wool blanket in winter)
-nalgene + guyot + nestling steel cup, water tabs
-fire kit (firesteel, matches, bic, fatwood, jute)
-paracord
-first aid kit (not four bandaids and some advil...)
-flashlight
-compass
-biodegradable wipes
-whistle
-incidentals (spork, duct tape, pipe, food, coffee/tea, etc.)
-wool watch cap, wool gloves

On my person:
-bandanna
-some kind of firestarter
-fixed blade knife, pocket knife
-pistol

The good thing is there really isn't much needed to add for an overnight, except a sleeping pad, maybe a bigger/spare blanket, billy pot, and bigger tarp.

 

[baldtaco-II]

I think I approach this a little differently from the rest of you. I do at least a couple of hours per day in the sticks with the dog so my bag often has all sorts of stuff in it. Some of it seldom gets used, like the eye bath, some gets used a lot just to do fun stuff, like green hairy string. Here's a list of some of the crap I've just tipped out of it.

Couple of knives
Pruning shears
Flask and extra cup
Couple of sit mats
Pliers
Wire
Couple of flannel beer mats as rags
Pair of cameras
Assorted needles and threads, a lump of beeswax and a few buttons
Small green DMT stone and some wet n dry
Green hairy string and random bits of parcel twine
Rubber gloves
Batteries
Kinder egg with something to smoke in
Eyebath
Fishing hooks, swivels, line,scalpels, tweezers, forceps
Puritabs and some baby bottle sterilizing tabs
Condoms
Zippo fuel, flints, flint and steel, a couple of clippers
Medical stuff
Instant coffee
Bin bags
Stock cubes and instant potato powder
An electronic anti allergy thing that plugs in the snout
Compasses
Watch
Rubber tubing
DEET and some bite n sting stuff
Dental floss
Steel mirror
Magnifying glass
Torches
Gardening gloves and spare fleece gloves and hat.
Silk tube scarf thing.

That's just what I happened to tip out today. Other days there will be more but that's the kind of crap that usually wends its way into my bag for a day. If I'm going to be out all day the flask will come out and one of these goes in. Perhaps ramp up the knife or bring a saw or ax. I'll start to think more about putting some thermals in there, which hats and gloves, blah blah, you can guess the drill. Other things just tend to live in my pockets or whatever in the outdoors anyway, like a whistle. My dog is trained to a whistle. Not much worse than hearing some 'tard trying to emulate the volume of a whistle whilst yelling the name of their recalcitrant dog in the outdoors [perhaps children?]. Anyway, point being there's other stuff I just have with me anyway.

Weight is not a really factor on a day roaming. I think I'd have to fill my day pack with water, tinned food, or bricks before it was heavy enough to warrant second thought.