What to Pack for a Hiking Tour

Whether in the mountains or on a trip through the local forests, when hiking you usually have some luggage with you. Depending on the tour sometimes more, sometimes less. But since you have to carry everything you take with you, you should always limit yourself to the bare essentials and keep your backpack as light as possible. We tell you what should not be missing in your hiking backpack.

As little weight as possible

When packing your hiking backpack, you should always keep an eye on the weight. If you limit yourself to the essentials, you'll spare your back and avoid tedious rummaging through stuffed backpacks.

As a rule of thumb, the weight of your gear should not exceed 20 to 25 percent of your body weight. Whether or not you can push this limit depends on your personal fitness level.

>> What size should a hiking backpack have?

Change of clothes

What is necessary for a hike depends on the planned tour. Based on the weather, you should wear the appropriate clothing, or have it with you. With the layer principle you are particularly flexible. The layers that you don't need at the moment are stowed in your backpack. This is especially true when hiking in the mountains. It is often colder on the mountain than in the valley and the weather can change more quickly. Therefore, even on warm days, pack a warming layer and, if necessary, a rain jacket. In summer, suitable sun protection and headgear are also important. When hiking through snow, on the other hand, gaiters are recommended.

Depending on the tour, a change of clothes (e.g. shirt or socks) may also be useful. This applies, for example, to people who perspire easily. But also in heavy rain it is pleasant to be able to exchange soaked clothes for dry ones. The wet or sweaty items can be easily stowed in waterproof pack sacks without getting the rest of the backpack contents wet. The practical bags also help to keep order in the backpack and find individual items more quickly.

Provisions for the road

On a day trip, food should not be missing. Here it is worth taking a look at the route description in advance. If there are no refreshment stops, you need to take more with you. This also applies to drinks. Especially on warm days and on strenuous tours, it is important to have enough to drink, whether in a water bottle or in an integrated hydration system with a bladder. With practical water filters, the water supply can be refilled on the go without hesitation.

To avoid waste, it's best to pack your provisions in a suitable lunch box. Alternatively, you can also take a small garbage bag with you, in which you collect the garbage and take it back down to the valley.

Prepared for everything

On longer tours, headlamps are useful companions. Especially in autumn and winter, it often gets dark faster than you think. Also a first aid kit should not be missing in any hiking backpack. The more demanding and longer the tour, the better equipped it should be. Blister plasters are always a good idea as well.

On the way, you often pass beautiful places that invite you to take a break. But there is not always a bench to sit on. This is where seat cushions come into play. These can be packed small and are a practical seat, especially when the ground is still damp.

Especially on mountain tours, hiking poles are also helpful. Foldable poles and telescopic poles can be easily attached to the outside of the backpack when they are no longer needed. If you use your smartphone as a route planner or for orientation, make sure that the battery is charged and lasts long enough. If in doubt, pack a power bank or a spare battery.

Packing List

Here we have summarized at a glance what you should have in your hiking backpack for a day tour:

(Photos: Tatonka)