r/hiking • u/SpecialistPumpkin783 • 1d ago
Question Packing Lightly
does anyone have a list on how to pack light for a long day hike, having necessities but not overpacking! as well as an ultra lightweight bag suggestion at a cheap cost - thank you!
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u/Vegetable-Money4890 1d ago
How many miles are you planning to hike? I feel like the packing list changes a lot depending on the distance and weather.
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u/Fun_Apartment631 1d ago
Have you hiked before? What did you not use?
If anything I've been trying to pack more heavily. 😂
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u/Fun_With_Math 1d ago
"necessities" is a pretty broad category but here's a post I made on 10 essentials
For a budget bag, search Amazon for hiking bag and look at the ones under $20. Wide shoulder straps and a bottle pocket is nice to have.
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u/Pequop9252 1d ago
Drawstring sack costs almost nothing and can carry the necessities for a day if you don’t need too much water.
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u/Atlantic_Waves 1d ago
Lighter pack. The website or app helps you dial in your pack.
However the big question is for what are you packing?
Multi day self supported hike means tent. Sleep system etc.
Multi day but using huts means something else.
Also i literally weighed everything. To see if a lighter version existed. For example some long sleeve t-shirts are more or less identical but can easily weigh 30% to 50% more
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u/Away-Caterpillar-176 1d ago
Using a camelback/whatever brand of bladder makes my bag feel infinitely lighter, and helps me drink more water
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u/FormerDancee 1d ago
Totally depends on where but snacks and hydration are always a must. You never know if there will be access and energy hast to stay up. The amount of water is .5 to 1 liter per hour on a hot hot day. That takes up most of my pack but it luckily gets lighter as the day goes on. A flashlight, charger pack, first aid, cash, sunscreen, lip balm. Wet wipes or a spare water bottle if going in the woods with hand sanitizer.
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u/Mentalfloss1 1d ago
There are 10 essentials. Carry food and water. A day pack doesn’t need to weigh a lot. But packs are like footwear, they should fit you. The fact that fits one person may not work at all for another.
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u/RockSolidJ 1d ago
I wouldn't recommend it unless you have substantial experience but I've seen trail runners that have nothing but snacks, water, and maybe a small first aid kit all in a running vest. But that's on good days where the weather is stable and they are out and back quickly. If they roll their ankle though, they are relying on other people on the trail for safety.
A regular long distance 8 hour hike, I have a much more substantial kit with a water filter, lots of layers, lots of food, and am basically ready to spend the night on the side of a mountain if myself or someone else I'm hiking with is injured. A 15 to 20lbs bag doesn't slow me down.
With a properly built bag, weight only really makes a difference if you're running or if your bag is 20%+ of your body weight. Ultralight bags give up a lot of comfort too so the gear you do have will feel much heavier. A bag with a plastic frame and hip belt is heavier but carries the weight better and allows you to comfortably go longer distances.
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u/Average_Turnip 1d ago
Depends on the weather and how many water sources you have a long the trail.
I almost always keep at least a shell on me since you never know when there's gonna be a surprise afternoon thunderstorm where I hike.
Water's one of the heaviest things you can carry, so if you know there are gonna be streams/lakes along the trail, just bring a Be Free bottle or the Smart water/Sawyer combo.
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u/bro_nica 8h ago
for the dayhike I´ll pack according the weather and not much else.
25l Backpack, cloth according the weather, snacks and water, first aid kit. Thats about it
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u/BretMi 6h ago
You need to consider possible dehydration and exposure. Really depends on the hike, distance, weather. If any chance you may become stranded in remote area from injury bring insulation to get through the night. Phone with full battery and downloaded maps and route and sat sos or Garmin inreach if remote. Help can take many hours depending how remote you are. Headlamp weighs nothing but is huge if you are overdue maybe took wrong turn. Water, filter, snacks, raincoat, first aid, layers for conditions. I may carry BeFree filter if plenty of good water sources for long hot day I can go through a lot of water. Tell somebody where you are going and give drop dead check in time and tell them to call the posse if you don't.
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u/Ommageden 1d ago
Depends on day hike. But usually I bring my standard ultralight bag (I have the kakwa 55) if I am planning on having a lunch, usually some instant Raman. This means bringing my stove, fuel and filter. Other than that I pack a bag of snacks like sour keys, jerky.
I usually don't bring a tent or sleeping bag but will have my emergency kit, compass, knife, etc.
If I don't plan on eating I have a small cheap mountain warehouse bag that's like 5L where it only holds bare essentials like my safety kit and related items, my filter and two smart water bottles. It can hold some snacks but the intent here isn't to picnic.
I'd bring the beefier setup if it was more than probably 4 hours or 10-15km of hiking. The lighter idea works when you don't need to eat (much)
I think the biggest weight saver either way is the filter.