Day Hiking Resources

The general rule is to carry at least one quart or liter of water for every 2 hours of hiking, but conditions can require more. Most day hikers use plastic water bottles, but some prefer the convenience of a hydration bladder carried in their daypack.

If streams or lakes are along your trail, then a lightweight water filter is a good choice. Drinking Sierra water from a lake or stream without filtering is not recommended. There are a variety of types of water filters from pumps to straws to UV systems. Straws, like the LifeStraw, make a good emergency backup but can't be used to refill your water bottle. The SteriPen Adventurer, a UV water purifier, works well and is lightweight, but requires practice to learn to use properly. The popular Sawyer Filtration System is lightweight and easy to use. Filters with handle pumps are a little heavier than the Sawyer system, but are popular choices. Among the best is the MSR MiniWorks EX Backountry Water Filter.

Hats

It is always a good idea to protect your head from the sun, especially at higher elevations. Look through the wide selection of hats from Sunday Afternoon and find one that matches your style.

Footwear

Hiking boots are great on rough terrain, but for easy walks on well-groomed trails, tennis shoes or other types of walking shoes work just fine.

Raingear

Only pack rain gear if you are heading out on a long hike or if weather reports suggest likely showers. A simple rain poncho works well.

Follow that wise advice about bringing layers of clothing rather than one heavy coat.

Choose a daypack that will stand up to the use you have in mind. Often times a lightweight sack is enough to carry your lunch and a few other items. Outside pockets are handy, of course. Comfort is the key.

Some hikers like the convenience of a built-in pocket for a hydration bladder. Bladders usually hold 2 liters. Other hikers like to carry their water bottle in an outside mesh pocket. Comfortable shoulder straps are important. Don't choose a pack with little, thin, strips of nylon that dig into your shoulders.

Osprey is a trusted brand of backpacks and day packs. North Face makes day packs too, but they are rather expensive. A reliable source of quality daypacks is REI.

Hiking poles are highly recommended. They offer stability on rough terrain, permit safer stream crossings, and protect weary knees on downhill slopes. Be sure you buy sturdy, adjustable poles.

The rubber tips are great on pavement or rock, but in rugged, mixed terrain slip them off and use the points to dig into the trail for a solid purchase. We have long been fans of the Exerstrider brand, but there are many good choices available.

A good trail map is worth carrying on anything but the shortest walks. Tom Harrison Maps have become the favorite of back country hikers. Maps are available for most areas of the Sierra.

Another good choice is to download an app for your smartphone. One of the most popular today is the Gaia GPS which has maps you can download for the area in which you will be hiking. The app will track your progress and show you where you are on the trail (or off the trail).

For serious hikers a hand-held GPS might be the right answer, but it's an expensive investment. While the most popular brand is Garmin, there are others available.

Carry a small, basic first aid kit. Likely you will never use it. However, those with special medical needs should carry any required medications, such as an EpiPen or an asthma inhaler.

For serious emergency situations the best resource is an emergency GPS messenger. They operate using satellite communications almost anywhere you have reasonable exposure to the sky.

GPS messengers are costly and require an annual subscription to keep them activated, but the peace of mind they offer is often worth the expense. Among the most popular is the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. With the push of a button it can send an SOS message to emergency responders. It also has the capability to send several pre-written messages to relatives or friends, such as, "Doing great. Right on schedule." Newer models allow you to send and receive messages.

More advanced systems such as the Garmin Inreach Explorer have the SOS function along with 2-way messaging and other features. Link it to your smartphone for easiest use. Of course, as you add functions, the price of devices goes up accordingly.

A surprising number of hikes have good cell reception, so carry your phone with a fully charged battery.

Bring a camera for all those memorable shots, but, of course, most smartphones take excellent pictures. Also, pack extra suntan lotion and if mosquitoes are buzzing (usually mid-June through mid-August in the Sierra) carry mosquito repellant. When mosquitoes are at their peak you might want a head net.

Don't forget essentials like toilet paper. Bury waste at least 6 inches deep far away from water and trails. Some national parks require you to carry out your used toilet paper. Bring a double layer of plastic bags for that purpose.

Snacks

A good supply of quick energy snacks provide great pick-me-ups along the trail. Nuts, trail mix, candy, dried fruit, cheese and crackers, beef jerky, and similar items are popular trail snacks. Pack a lunch with some specialty items if you are on a longer hike.

Guide Books

Perhaps you want to drop a guide book into your daypack such as a wildflower identification book or a guide to Sierra trees.