Day Hike

[Quixoticgeek]

What's peoples kit list for a day hike?

Realising how little I take on day hikes, got me thinking that I could replace my heavy pack ~800g (Osprey Tempest 30[1]) with an Exped Cloudburst 25 for 280g...

So what do I need to take with me:

- FAK
- Survival bag - 8.6oz
- Something to sit on
- Paramo Quito Jacket ~500g (worn, or strapped to bag)
- 1L diet coke bottle ~35g empty 1.035kg full
- Sawer Mini ~65g
- Map
- Compass ~50g
- Phone, wallet, keys
- Lunch

So what do you take on a day hike? What would you add to the above?

Julia

[1]To think I'm thinking this is a heavy pack. I used to carry 3kg of Berghaus Vulcan round Europe...

 

[Mole]

list is quite variable depending on what doing and where going/how long/weather/time of year.

from, nothing to full winter hills kit...

I think if I was you, I'd ditch the heavy survival bag in favour of an AMK bag and save over 100g and some bulk. (or outwith winter and the hills, just ditch the bag full stop)

 

[el manana]

i wouldnt bother for day walks, that list will be quite light anyway, shedding a few hundred grams wouldnt be worth it. The angst and pain of 'going light' is only relevant to backpacking imo, it doesnt matter on sub 5kg loads. My list is pretty much the same, except i might have a bothy bag(if walking with the kids)

 

[Mole]

It's true - I either go with minimal skeleton kit, or don't really worry too much what weight I carry - I just take what I think I might need and see carrying the weight as training for backpacking.

 

[Quixoticgeek]

list is quite variable depending on what doing and where going/how long/weather/time of year.

from, nothing to full winter hills kit...

I think if I was you, I'd ditch the heavy survival bag in favour of an AMK bag and save over 100g and some bulk. (or outwith winter and the hills, just ditch the bag full stop)

That is an AMK bag.

J

 

[gixer]

Depends on the hike, weather, area, planned distance etc.

I'm fortunate in having a mountain right behind my house (Mount Hymettus 1026m), i'll often just set out with a water bottle.

At the other end of the scale if i'm going further away from home in bad weather i'll take a emergency bivvy bag, headtorch, whistle.
Tend to hike really warm so usually start off in colder weather with a fleece pullover but it ends up in the rucksack after 30mins.
If rain is forecast ill throw in a WP jacket, if not i'll not bother.

In summer it's basically as much water as a i can get in the rucksack and a bottle of sunblock.

My day hike rucksack is a Osprey Manta 25 and is pretty weighty for a 25L rucksack at 1125g.
I really don't bother with weight on day hikes though as i can't really fit enough in the bag to really make a difference weight wise.
Plus it's good training for multi-days

 

[Mole]

ah. well they do a much lighter one than that. (AMK bag)

 

[Quixoticgeek]

ah. well they do a much lighter one than that. (AMK bag)

Aye, they do several different versions, this is the breathable one. I got it as an experiment for a lighter bivvi bag, but while it breathes well, and is light, it's too tight on my hips to allow my winter bag to loft inside it. So it's relegated to emergency use. Will see if a summer bag fits if summer happens.

J

 

[BlueTrain]

This subject came up on another forum and some people seem to have a list of "essentials" as long as your arm. To me, almost nothing is essential for a day trip, although I still take things. It depends, of course.

I live in the suburbs outside Washington, DC, and there's a lot of green space near the house. It's wonderful for long walks. There are paths, some paved, and lots of woods. Most of it is low and wet in places. It's nothing like the parks and forests where I'd rather go, where there are deep woods and long trails (which of course only go uphill). On trips to the parks I take very little. A poncho, something to sit on, lunch or snack and water, and a few other things like a little first aid kit. I tend to take more when walking in the woods behind the house. I usually tend to stop and have a rest for a while and fix something hot. It really all about getting out of the house. But I also use those times to do little experiments and try out different pieces of equipment. You really have to get out into the woods to do that for realism. In the woods, you know, there's nothing flat, the water is always suspect and there's leaves and dirt everywhere. But there's no one to bother and you left your watch at home. In the parks and forests you went a long ways to be there and there's a lot of trail to cover before you have to go back home and there are rules. But the views are always better and you never get tired of them. Chances are, you won't see another soul.

 

[Stuart]

Am I the only person who doesn't take a first aid kit or survival shelter on a day walk? Most of mine are around Edale or Glossop, the Lakes maybe.

And what happened to cheese and pickle sandwiches, surely an essential?

 

[Teepee]

As said, all depends on the trip and time of year.

Bare minimum for summit day; 1l bottle and treatment method, FAK, map/compass, bivy/emergency blanket/tarp, 1000 cals of food, phone/spot, head torch, waterproof. Just enough to keep me alive if I become incapacitated and have to overnight/need rescue.

This year, I'll also have to start carrying a confidence rope.

 

[BlueTrain]

Well, I did mention that I always take along a poncho no matter what. I keep meaning to practice more with making a shelter but I rarely do. I even remember the few times I have. In fact, I keep investigating suitable shelters for use on a day hike but so far, I've not found anything more practical than my two-person tent.

I thought it was cucumber sandwiches. But if you can't get your hands on any lembas, I suppose cheese and pickle sandwiches are a fair substitute.

 

[el manana]

Last Saturdays day walk, Montane Ultra 22, Paclites, Event Air Jacket, Arc SV Atom, spare gloves (soon to be used as someones hanky), spare beanie, Tikka XP, CAR KEYS, compass, 2 x 500ml water bottles....long time since i done a day walk...i really wish my pack was that light all the time

Food was in a 2 litre Alpkit drybag...cheese and ham sarnies (mine and Eds), Salt & Vinegar nuts (mine and Eds), jelly babies (mine and Eds), Black Friars Bakewell flapjack (mine, Ed let me have that...)...

Speaking of which Poundland and Aldi dont have this many choices of flavours....

 

[edh]

Hmmm, I offered you a Nut bar

The snotty gloves are inevitable in winter...

 

[nic a char]

"And what happened to cheese and pickle sandwiches, surely an essential?"
yuk - save weight & don't take them