We love to hike! It’s the most common way we explore a new park. You can often see things from the trail that you can’t from the road. These are a few items that make our hikes more enjoyable in addition to the basics (packs, trekking poles, etc.).
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Apparel
Having comfortable and reliable hiking clothes can make or break your hike or trail run. Sometimes we’ll wear running clothes hiking, but these often don’t have great options for pockets.
Accessories
These sunglasses have been great! I like the style/design and I like that they come in a pack of three. I keep one in the camper at all times (to make sure I have a spare along on a trip). Typically, I don’t wear them running, but I wear them hiking and on a daily basis when out in the sun. I always have them handy when driving on a sunny day.
Sunglasses (Amazon link)
I was skeptical at first when I ordered these headbands. Headbands typically tend to slip out of my hair but somehow, these work! I’ve had them for over a year, and I’m really happy with them. As a bonus, they also are wide enough to double as an ear band to keep your ears warm if it’s a little chilly outside.
If it is chilly enough that you need an ear band, we’ve really liked these Columbia ear bands. They keep your ears warm without the bulkiness of a hat.
Headbands (Amazon link)
Columbia Ear Band (Amazon link)
These convertible gloves are also great for cold weather hiking or trail running. These gloves have five covered fingers with an additional flap to pull over that turns them into mittens. The mitten flap adds an extra layer on top of the gloves. It’s like having a windbreaker for your fingers.
Convertible Gloves (Amazon link)
We use these hats more for trail running than hiking, but they’d also work well for a hike. They pack/fold up small and travel well. We also like that they come in bright colors for added visibility. They can also be washed if they get sweaty and smelly.
Folding Ball Cap (Amazon link)
I have a great pair of waterproof hiking boots that I wear in all seasons. I pair these boots with my wool socks, and I’m all set for a winter hike. In fact, I actually wear these socks around all the time during the Winter.
Omni-Wool Hiking Socks (Amazon link)
These are my current hiking boots. I wear them year-round. I really appreciate that they’re waterproof, which is great for creek crossings or walking on a snowy trail. They are zero-drop style shoes, and they do run a bit small, so consider ordering a size up.
Xero Xcursion Fusion Hiking Boot – Women’s (Amazon link)
Xero Xcursion Fusion Hiking Boot – Men‘s (Amazon link)
If you’ve got trail running on your mind, these are my favorite trail runners. I’ve had them for a few months, and they clearly stand out as the best pair of trail-running shoes I’ve ever owned. For me, they have the perfect balance of flexibility and protection for the additional rocks and roots along the trail. They are also zero-drop, minimalist shoes, but I found that the sizing is spot-on on these. I ordered my usual size, and they fit great!
Xero Scrambler Low Trail Runner – Women’s (Amazon link)
Xero Scrambler Low Trail Runner – Men’s (Amazon link)
Shorts/Pants
I’ve become a big fan of Columbia brand clothing over the years. I feel like it’s good quality, typically at a reasonable price. These Columbia hiking pants have the ability to roll up into capris, so they’re great for days that start out cool and then warm up.
Columbia Hiking Pants (Amazon link)
I also really like these hiking shorts from Columbia, but they can be tricky to find. They’re often out of stock, so I’ve also gotten a few pairs of these Amazon hiking shorts. The Amazon shorts aren’t as stretchy, but I do like the pockets.
Columbia Hiking Shorts (Amazon link)
Amazon Hiking Shorts (Amazon link)
Water Containers
Water Bottles
For shorter hikes and for everyday use, I like these Pogo 32 oz. water bottles. One of my favorite things about them is that they are dishwasher safe!
Pogo 32 oz Water Bottle (Amazon link)
Reservoirs
I like hiking with a water reservoir. I keep it in my pack and sip on water as I’m hiking. Personally, I feel that I drink more this way instead of stopping to drink out of a water bottle. I’ve been really happy with Hydrapak reservoirs because they can be turned inside-out to dry out after washing. I like the smaller (1.5 liter) reservoir for trail-running and the larger (2.0 liter) reservoir for bigger hikes.
Hydrapak 1.5 Liter Reservoir (Amazon link)
Hydrapak 2.0 Liter Reservoir (Amazon link)
I also really like that you can buy bite valve covers for Hydrapak reservoirs. This is a big deal to me because I like to be able to take a break and set down my pack beside me without having to worry about my bite valve touching the ground.
Miscellaneous
We’ve had Garmin watches for 5+ years. We used to have Garmin Forerunners, which were great for tracking runs and everyday wear, but we few years ago we gave the Garmin Instinct a try, and we’re hooked! We’ve been very happy with these watches from a running, hiking, and everyday-wear perspective. We now have Garmin Instinct 2 watches, which an updated model of the original Instinct. I like the “S” version, which is slightly smaller and fits my smaller wrist better. There are also versions with solar charge options.
Garmin Instinct 2S (Amazon link)
Garmin Instinct 2 (Amazon link)
I don’t typically listen to music while hiking, but I will sometimes listen to music while trail running. I like these headphones because they do not block your ears. With the music volume low, I can still hear and be aware of my surroundings. This is a newer model than the one I bought several years ago, but it is very similar.
Shokz Bluetooth Headphones (Amazon link)
This is a fun little tripod for cell phones. It’s light, doesn’t take up much space, and has bendable legs for positioning. We’ve even wrapped the legs around our bike handle bars for a photo while taking a break on a bike ride. We set it up, turned on the self-timer, and got a great photo!
Cell Phone Tripod (Amazon link)
I like to hike with a headlamp even if I don’t plan to be out after dark. These headlamps are rechargeable and have a red-light option for preserving night vision when star gazing.
Focused Beam Headlamp with Red Light Option (Amazon link)
If you enjoyed this post, check out this one on cold-weather hiking tips: 5 Tips for Winter Hiking – Miles of Yellow Lines!