If you are planning on hitting the trails this summer then make sure that you have all of the proper gear before you head out.
Below is a list of all of the items that I usually bring on a hiking day trip during the warm summer months.
I initially started with only a couple of these items but after months and months of hiking in the hot Arizona sun, I’ve put together a pretty solid lineup of items that I usually always bring with me.
I was once extremely prone to things like blisters and chafing and sometimes enduring those things for hours would just kill the fun in a hike.
But I started to learn how to utilize the right gear over time and now when I hit the trails I feel comfortable and don’t have to worry about little nagging issues.
I also feel extremely prepared when it comes to the things that really matter like hydration and emergencies. So here is a breakdown of all the items I bring along on a day hiking trip.
1. Hats
Hats are usually essential for summer hiking, especially in a place like desert. Don’t underestimate how intense the sun rays feel on your face when hiking in the day time.
If you are hitting a trail with little to no shade then you might want to look into a wide-brim booney hat that will provide optimal shade for your face.
The other factor to consider is that you probably want a very breathable hat for the summer. For boonie hats, this usually means a mesh portion built into the hat.
If I’m not rocking the boonie hat, I’m going for a lightweight cap like Nike Dri-Fit hats.
Sometimes the mornings can be pretty chilly during the early and late summer down in the desert. For these hikes, I will usually bring along a beanie that I might wear the first hour or so.
2. Sunglasses
Certain types of surfaces like sand, snow, and water can reflect a ton of light and cause eye strain over the course of a long hike. Sunglasses, especially polarized sunglasses, can help relieve a lot of that strain from your eyes.
Also, wearing polarized sunglasses can sharpen your vision and add a little bit more clarity to the beautiful scenery you are hiking in. In the desert around Tucson, I love the way my polarized glasses allow the greens to “pop” under the clear blue skies.
So I always recommend a good pair of sunglasses and I usually wear the Ray-Ban Justin Polarized Matte Black Square.
3. Sunscreen
Protecting your skin during the summer is extremely important. Beyond the risk of your face ending up looking like a crawfish, the long-term benefits of using a sunscreen can’t be denied.
I really suggest that you go with a high-quality sunscreen for protecting your face. Personally, I use a strong face sunscreen called Elta MD Skincare UV Clear (SPF 46).
Typically, you will want to apply this every couple of hours so it is nice to have a small container that you can take with you on long hikes.
Some sunscreens do poorly on the face when you are sweating a lot so it might require some experimentation to find the right type for you.
4. Lip Balm
Your lips can get sunburned extremely quickly and in dry desert climates, they can also get extremely chapped.
So I always carry some lip balm with me and make sure that it has some level of SPF. I use the Chapstick brand with SPF of 15 and eight hours of moisturizing power.
Go with a stick instead of a gel since the gels are more affected by temperature.
Interesting Fact: The lower lip is 12 times more likely to be affected by skin cancer than the top lip (Health Line).
5. Neck gaiter
Neck gaiters are extremely versatile can be very helpful blocking the sun from scorching the back of your neck and that is the number one reason why I wear them in the summer.
But they can also serve a lot of other purposes.
If you are hiking near a stream or river, you can also dip your gaitor into cold water and cool yourself down over the neck which feels heavenly during a hot hike.
Gaiters can also protect you from sand/dirt blowing in the air or potentially other elements. I’ve even used them to hold ice packs on my knees after a long hike.
And of course now they can be used to comply with the mask requirements during the pandemic.
6. Backpack
I have experimented with a number of backpacks and I really love my Teton Sports pack. It comes with a 2L hydration bladder that has been perfect for me (more on that below).
It is a smaller pack so it does not have large storage compartments but after my first dozen or so hikes I discovered that it’s rare to actually need a lot of storage space on day hikes.
At most what I’m packing is:
- Credit card and ID (not full wallet)
- Keys
- Hydration bladder
- Gatorade bottle
- Extra water bottle or two
- Bear spray
- Garmin GPS (exterior)
- Snacks
- Puffer jacket
- Beanie
- Gloves
All of those things can easily fit within my day pack so a large backpack is just not necessary.
7. Water
Water is obviously essential for hiking in the summer.
I usually fill up my hydration bladder with the full 2L of water and then also carry my Gatorade bottle. Some people prefer larger 3L hydration bladders but those can start to get pretty heavy.
One thing I should note.
When hiking in the summer we almost always get a very early start so that typically we are only in direct sunlight for maybe half of a hike. (If I were hiking later in the morning and afternoon, I would probably go for a 3L pack.)
On some hikes, I carry at least one bottle of water that I don’t plan on using just in case I run into someone in need of hydration.
If I’m doing a long hike such as something 10 miles or longer then I will usually bring two more bottles of water and have a back up plan for drinking from a spring or other water resource.
To relieve some weight off my back, I sometimes slip the water bottles into my pockets. If your shorts are stretchy enough, this is actually a great way to cut down the weight of your pack.
After 75+ hikes over the past year, I haven’t had one issue with dehydration or an under supply of water so I think we are doing pretty good with this plan.
8. Gatorade
Gatorade is extremely helpful in the summer because you will be sweating so much that there’s a good chance you will be running low on electrolytes. If you combine that with drinking excess water then you run the risk of running way too low on sodium (hyponatremia) which could be a huge problem.
So I always bring a Gatorade 20 ounce bottle with zero sugar and 10 total calories per bottle. My goal is usually to take a few big gulps when we arrive at the summit and a few sips here and there on the way up/down.
9. GPS/satellite radio
One of the best investments I ever made with hiking gear is purchasing a Garmin satellite phone (inReach Explorer+).
With the inReach Explorer+, you will need to pay for a subscription to utilize the phone but plans can be pretty cheap and we only pay $13 a month which allows us to send out multiple text messages.
It makes me feel 100 times safer out in the wilderness areas where I have no phone reception, especially when I solo hike.
I really like that it has direct access to an SOS line and text message capabilities so that I can get in touch with anybody. It also has some really great battery life.
I never want to go on a hike or road trip without it!
10. Bear spray
No matter where we hike, I always carry a container of bear spray.
In addition to reportedly being around 98% effective at warding off bears, the spray can be used on a variety of wildlife including mountain lions.
Note: Bear spray is not allowed on planes so keep that in mind if you are flying to your hiking destination.
11. Lifestraw
As a back up, we also always carry a LifeStraw which allows us to filter water from different water sources such as springs and creeks.
When I first moved out to Arizona, I was surprised to find out how many creeks were not okay to drink directly from due to the presence of bacteria. But carrying the Lifestraw with me makes me feel a whole lot better.
12. Snacks
Snacks are super important to me because they accomplish three things:
- Help restore electrolytes
- Give you much needed energy
- Give you something to look forward to
Outside of hiking days I try to eat as healthy as possible so that on a hiking day I can let loose a little bit.
I like to carry a mixture of salty snacks for the electrolytes and sweet snacks for the raw calories/moment of indulgence.
The key with snacks is to not eat too many calories in one sitting during your hike. It’s not hard to upset your stomach especially on uphill routes when you are exerting a lot of effort.
I try to keep my snacks to around 100 calories per serving so that I don’t overdo it. If I stop to rest at the summit then I might bump that calorie count a bit but I still prefer much smaller calorie intakes.
I usually bring enough snacks to get me through a hike and have a couple of additional items just in case I get stranded for a few hours or I find a straggler who needs some assistance.
Additional snacks I pack at times including:
- Gu Packets
- TrailMix bars (Probar)
- Nut butter
- Energy chews (Probar)
- Pop Tarts
- Beef Jerky
- Chips
13. UPF shirt
Suns out guns out is not always the way you typically want to go when hiking for hours in the summer sun. That’s because you are exposing a lot of skin real estate to the Sun’s UV rays.
One solution is to lather up both of your arms with enough sunscreen so that you are protected for the duration of your hike but I prefer a much easier route.
Personally, I love to wear long sleeve UPF shirts because I don’t feel the need to lather my entire upper body with sunscreen.
You could find these from a wide variety of brands. I’m a big fan of the North Face shirt with a UPF 50.
14. Apple Watch
I don’t currently wear a watch when hiking but Brad wears an Apple Watch. He uses it to track our hiking stats which is great because we each use two different tracking devices and can compare our stats when things seem a bit off.
It’s also great because he can monitor his heart rate and use that to help dictate the pace that we want to hike at.
It’s helpful to know what heart rate you hike comfortably at because you can slowly push yourself in a pretty scientific way without resorting to a quick and drastic overload on your body.
15. Gloves
If your hike involves a lot of scrambling or requires you to grip cables or chains, then it’s probably a good idea to have a pair of climbing gloves on you.
For the summertime, we use gloves with open fingers that have nice ventilation. Make sure the gloves are not too loose because if your gloves are too big that can be a problem when trying to grip cables and chains.
You might also think about getting wrist wraps that can add extra support to your wrists and allow you to put more weight on your hands when scrambling.
16. Camera gear
I do the vast majority of my trail photography with my iPhone.
Yes, the photo quality is not quite where it is with a DSLR but it gets the job done and allows me to enjoy the hike without carrying around a lot of extra gear that I have to worry about not damaging.
But sometimes I do want to bring along the DSLR and now I will typically use my new Cotton Carrier vest. It makes it really easy to bring along the camera even on tough hikes when you have to do a lot of scrambling.
Together with the backpack, it does add a lot to your upper body and I do worry sometimes that it will retain too much heat. But if you want a truly hands-free way of bringing along an expensive camera, this is the way to go.
17. Trekking poles
Trekking poles are interesting because they are not for everybody, and you definitely do not need them on every hike.
But I have found them to be extremely helpful when dealing with the following type of hikes:
- Steep terrain
- Loose rocks/scree
- Large rocky steps
- Creek crossings
I try to keep the length of my tracking polls at a 90° angle with my elbows when on flat surfaces. I push the length of the poles up a little bit when going down and shorten them when heading uphill.
They work the best on hikes where you have a clear ascent and descent. If you are doing a lot of up and down then your poles will not be at the optimal length a lot of the time so keep that in mind.
I do feel like trekking polls slow down my pace a little bit (on the way up) but it comes with the added security of better balance and less stress on your knees so I think it’s an adequate trade-off.
Plus, it’s nice having something you can wield were you to come across a mountain lion or snake.
It’s best to experiment with trekking polls before you try to use them on a really long hike because they are known to cause some shoulder issues with some people when they first start using them.
That was never a problem for me but I know it was for several other people.
In many cases, you may only need one trekking pole so don’t feel like you have to bring along two. For people who like to pack light, that might be the way to go.
Also, consider getting high-quality collapsible trekking poles that you can fold into your bag because there is nothing worse than having a trekking pole sticking out of your backpack, constantly falling out.
18. Shorts/pants
Some people recommend wearing pants in the summer especially in places like the desert where the sun rays can be intense. The logic is the same for long sleeve shirts — it helps reduce exposure to UV rays.
I tried wearing pants on summer hikes but quickly transitioned to shorts which I found to be much more comfortable.
I really like a lightweight, stretchy material on my shorts so that I don’t have any issues with restricted movement. I currently wear performance shorts by Express but I don’t think they make the type that I wear anymore.
Pants can still be very helpful in certain cases during the summer, though.
If you are hiking through an overgrown trail they can help eliminate a bunch of those cuts and scrapes you may get from things like desert scrub and they can also protect against tics.
19. Knee sleeves
If you will be dealing with a lot of elevation gain, and especially large drops, knee sleeves can help stabilize your knees a bit.
I love the PowerLix knee sleeves I bought and in addition to using them for the stability, I use them almost like kneepads sometimes. They can also be very helpful on overgrown trails since they help provide your skin with more protection.
The drawback to these during the summer is that they can sometimes be a little hot. For that reason, I sometimes only wear them for half of a hike.
20. Underwear
I like to wear Nike Pro Combat underwear which is very breathable and comfortable. I will only wear underwear that goes down to at least mid-thigh to alleviate potential chafing.
21. Body Glide
If you’ve ever dealt with bad chafing before, Body Glide will change your life. I apply this in the area directly surrounding my armpits (outside of where I apply deodorant) and also between my thighs/groin.
Basically, you should just rub it on anywhere chafing might be an issue. It works like magic and I have had zero chafing issues since I started using it.
22. Foot Glide
Body Glide’s little brother Foot Glide can also be helpful. I mostly use Foot Glide for my heels. I rub a good three or four layers on the back of my heel and surrounding areas and also on the sides of my feet.
Sometimes when going uphill I can feel my heel sliding frictionless in a way that I know would normally be producing hotspots which is pretty cool.
23. Blister protection
One of the biggest hiking issues I always had was with blisters. My feet can blister very quickly and this was a major problem when I first started to hike a lot.
But I was able to figure out a few items that completely reduced my blisters to virtually none at all.
In addition to the proper socks which I talk about below, I use silicone toe caps for my big toes. These are absolutely amazing at preventing bad blisters on the big toe which is usually where my worst blisters would occur.
You have to make sure you get the right size so that you don’t have any circulation issues and the only drawback to them is that moisture can accumulate inside the cap and your toe might be super pruney after a long hike.
Inside my backpack I also carry different items to help prevent or cover-up blisters that occur while hiking like blister bandages and moleskin. But it’s very rare that I have to actually use them.
Worth noting: sometimes I choose to go without these items and intentionally get my feet a little bit blistered on something like a 4 or 5 mile hike. I do that just to toughen up my feet and I think it’s a good idea to do that here and there.
24. Liner socks
During both the winter and the summer, I always wear liner socks. I’ve tried a few different types but the type I like the most is the Injinji Liner Crew Toesocks.
These are toe socks so they help reduce hotspots between the toes which I was sometimes prone to. They also just add a nice extra layer of general comfort when hiking on a lot of the rocky terrain that we hike on.
If you have never worn toe socks before it is feels very odd and unnatural when you first slip them on but you will eventually get used to the feeling.
25. Wool socks
I prefer to hike with wool socks (preferably merino wool). It may not sound ideal for the summer but they are known for wicking up moisture extremely well and helping to keep you dry and cool.
An added bonus is that they tend to be pretty thick and can help cushion your feet on long hikes.
The brands that I wear on a regular basis include:
26. Hiking boots
A solid pair of hiking boots is another obvious essential.
When it comes to summer, one of the big factors you want to think about is the breathability. Hiking boots with waterproof membranes will not have as much ventilation as other boots so you will want to keep that in mind.
I also like to go with at least a mid top boot not just for the ankle support but for the added protection against snakebites on the ankles. Every little inch helps!
I love my Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX hiking boots. They are waterproof so they don’t have the best ventilation for summer but I still don’t find them to be too warm. Plus they have amazing grip!
27. Phone w/map
I never hop on a trail without some pre-loaded map on my phone. The day may come when that is not possible but until then I always have a map downloaded to my phone in my AllTrails app.
I rely on AllTrails for my on-trail navigation and my Garmin for my on-trail communication.
Final word
I am definitely a more gear-obsessed hiker so naturally I like to test and try out all sorts of different accessories and contraptions. But while all of this might sound like a lot, once you get into a routine it becomes fairly easy to remember to use all of these things.
And when you see the noticeable results in comfort level when on the trails, it’s hard to imagine going back to the simpler days!