by Captain Airyca
by Captain Airyca

Basic Hiking Gear

Basic Hiking Gear | The Captain's Log | www.captainairyca.com

What should you bring with you when you go into the woods? Pictured below is my basic kit. (Which is always a work in progress!) There are a lot of other important things you can carry with you to make a trip safer and more comfortable, but these items are ones that I find essential to day hikes or longer.

Things a kit like this should cover:

SHELTER – WATER – FIRE – FOOD – FIRST AID – NAVIGATION

Basic Hiking Gear | The Captain's Log | www.captainairyca.com
Rubbermaid tote NOT included in essentials 😛

So starting at the top left to right I have:

  • Rite in the Rain notepad and pen
  • BK11 and Sagewood Gear sheath – one of my favorite smaller fixed blades for basic bushcrafting
  • Nalgene 32 oz water bottle – Water is life!
  • Paracord
  • Handkerchief
  • Lighter
  • Alan wrench – for Becker knives
  • Ferro rod
  • Pitchwood – easy to carry tinder you can use multiple times
  • Knife sharpener
  • Leatherman Wave and a variety of bits
  • Electrical tape – also doubles as medical tape, sticks to lots of things and is small and easy to carry
  • Another pen
  • Wet Fire starter – just in case
  • Leather gloves
  • Ibuprofen
  • Aleve
  • Benadryl
  • Bandaids
  • Neosporin
  • Moleskin
  • Steristrips
  • Dental Floss
  • Nail Clippers
  • Chapstick

Not pictured:

  • Plastic Bags (garbage sized and quart sized ziploc)
  • Feminine hygiene products (i.e. gauze)
  • Bahco Laplander Saw
  • Appropriate clothing for the weather
  • Sunglasses
  • Food (almond butter, jerky, etc.)
  • Flashlight (and backup light on key chain)

Things I need to add:

  • Compass/Signaling items

Comment below and let me know what you think! What are your woods essentials?

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