Beck and I have done so much hiking over the years. We love nothing more than seeking out the best hiking trails on the planet and sharing our experiences with you so you can follow in our footsteps. After so many years of hitting the trails, we’ve tried and tested loads of different hiking gear. With trial and error, we’ve both found our favourite pieces of hiking kit.
In this guide, we’re going to tell you about all of our favourite hiking gear, that we personally use and recommend. First, we’ll talk about our favourite gear for day hiking, which covers most of the bare essentials. Then, we’ll talk about our favourite gear for multi-day hikes, which covers our favourite hiking-friendly camping equipment.
Bear in mind, that this guide isn’t a checklist for every single piece of hiking gear that you may need. Essentially, we just wanted to share with you some of our favourite hiking gear, that has always ensured we’ve been prepared and comfortable out on the trails.
Check out our favourite travel gear, camera gear and packing list
Table of Contents
Hiking Gear For Day Hikes
We’ll start by telling you about some of our favourite hiking gear that we wear and pack for any day hiking.
Backpack: Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to backpack for day hikes – both Beck and I use and love this backpack. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything you need without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Waterproof Backpack Cover: Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab
Comfortable hiking boots are at the top of the list when it comes to hiking gear essentials. And, they don’t come much more comfortable than the boots in the Merrell Moab series. Of course, there are many different options to choose from in the Merrell Moab Series. Some important specs to choose between are whether you want the low-cut or mid-cut length and whether you want the basic waterproof membrane or gore-tex.
Personally, I wear and can’t speak more highly of the Men’s Merrell Moab 2 Mid Goretex Hiking Boots. Bear in mind, that these aren’t winter boots, but perfect for hiking in all other seasons.
Waterproof Jacket: The North Face Venture 2
A waterproof jacket is another essential piece of gear for hiking. To see out the wet spells during a hike, you’ll want to have The North Face Venture Jacket 2 packed. This jacket also acts as a fantastic windbreaker, which has kept us warm on many a windy summit.
Hiking Trousers: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible
The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Trousers are a popular piece of hiking gear. The versatility of changing between trousers and shorts is fantastic, whilst they’re lightweight, breathable and comfortable. Indeed, I love wearing these three-season hiking trousers! Bear in mind, that these hiking trousers are only water-resistant. For winter, you may want more heavy-duty waterproof hiking trousers.
Water Filter Bottle: GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is a wonderful water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
Hydration Bladder: CamelBak Crux 3L Water Reservoir
The CamelBak Crux 3L Water Reservoir is the best hydration bladder on the market. Certainly, there is nothing worse than having a leaky hydration bladder. Camelbaks are world-famous for their high-quality water reservoirs. I love using the larger 3L bladder, but if you want a smaller size, you’ll want to buy the CamelBak Crux 2L Water Reservoir.
Trekking Poles: Black Diamond Alpine
There are many reasons why you might benefit from using trekking poles. Personally, Beck and I use trekking poles on long-distance and high-elevation day hikes as well as on multi-day hikes to reduce the stress on our knees. The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles are some of the best trekking poles on the market.
Neck Gaiter: BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. Personally, Beck and I use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and help us keep warm in cooler climates.
Hiking Gloves: The North Face Etip Gloves
The North Face Etip Gloves are a great pair of hiking gloves. The Etip function allows you to continue to use your phone whilst wearing the gloves. This is really handy if you need to use your phone for trail navigation. Bear in mind, that these are not winter gloves – you’ll need something with more insulation for cold weather in the mountains.
Hiking Gear For Multi-Day Hikes
Now we’ve covered some of our favourite hiking gear for day hiking, let’s talk about some of our go-to hiking gear for multi-day hiking. Below, we’ll focus on backpacking (camping) gear that’s good to use on multi-day hikes.
One of the most important specifications for backpacking gear on multi-day hikes is the weight. Of course, the more lightweight an item, generally the higher the price. Honestly, most travellers are simply priced out when it comes to the top-of-the-range ultra-lightweight backpacking gear.
Personally, we don’t use state-of-the-art ultra-lightweight camping equipment. But, we’ve managed to use ultra-lightweight gear that doesn’t break the bank. Below, you’ll find some of the best value for money ultralightweight gear that we use and recommend.
Backpacking Backpack: Osprey
Osprey is one of the best at making comfortable and durable backpacking backpacks. For years, Beck and I have both used Osprey backpacks for both day hikes and multi-day hikes. Currently, the most popular Osprey backpacking backpack is the Osprey Rook for men and the Osprey Renn for women.
Backpacking Tent: The North Face Stormbreak 2
The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a high-quality two-person backpacking tent that is much cheaper than top-range ultralightweight options. Sure, at 2.41kg, it isn’t the lightest option. But, you’ll pay a fraction of the price of the higher-end ultralight backpacking tents.
Sleeping Bag Liner: Sea to Summit Reactor
We know that every milligram counts when it comes to packing for a multi-day hike, but you shouldn’t compromise on hygiene or warmth. The Sea to Summit Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner gives you that extra layer of cleanliness and warmth. Best of all, it’s super compact and lightweight.
Inflatable Pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros
The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Inflatable Travel Pillow is the best inflatable pillow to take on multi-day hikes. It’s incredibly lightweight and compact – when it’s deflated, it literally fits in your pocket!
Headlamp: Petzl ACTIK CORE
If you’re going on a multi-day hike, you’ll need a good headlamp. The Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp is a reliable, lightweight and high-rated headlamp. Beck and I also pack our headlamps for day hikes if we’re exploring caves.
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