What to Pack for a Half-Day Hike (Without Overthinking It)

Every hike is different. But there are a few common items you can pack for almost every half-day hike that will make your time on the trail much easier.

Step one: Don’t overpack.

Half-day hikes are easy to overpack for. Another liter of water doesn’t add too much weight. Adding extra snacks seems okay.

And it probably is okay.

But there has to be a cutoff somewhere, or soon you are packing a 60L pack for a three-hour hike.

Base Kit

There are a few things I consider necessities:

• Water
• Snacks
• Appropriate clothing and footwear
• A good attitude

Let’s break those down.

Water

Water seems obvious, but many people bring too little or too much.

A common starting point is around 8–10 ounces per hour of hiking, but some people will need more and some will need less. Weather, elevation, exertion, and your own body all matter.

If you are a heavy sweater, bring more.

You know your body.

Bring what you need.

For many shorter hikes, a liter of water may be enough. For longer or more demanding hikes, you’ll need to adjust accordingly.

It is also generally a good idea to have a source of electrolytes available. I usually use a water additive, but a snack bar or another source of electrolytes can work as well.

Snacks

Once again, know yourself.

You may not need a heavy snack. Maybe just some nuts or a protein bar.

For me, anything under five hours and I usually don’t eat.

That comes from being on the trail and knowing myself.

That is not to say I don’t have something with me. I always have snacks in my backpack.

Things can happen.

The trail can demand more than you were expecting. Or the hike can take longer than planned.

Be prepared, but don’t bring more than you will reasonably need.

High-protein, high-calorie snacks are a good choice for hiking.

Appropriate Clothing and Footwear

Know the area.

Is the trail clear?

Overgrown?

Are there stream crossings?

On a well-maintained and open trail, shorts and a T-shirt may be appropriate.

On a trail that is overgrown or has a tight path, pants may be needed.

If you don’t know the trail, use caution. Pants are always a good choice for unfamiliar or overgrown areas.

When choosing clothing, think about comfort and moisture.

Sweatpants are great for comfort but can retain moisture and become heavy.

Jeans like to rub.

Again, that doesn’t mean you can’t hike in these clothes. If that’s what you have, then wear them.

Footwear can be tricky.

Some people prefer boots. Some prefer trail runners. For a half-day hike, almost any comfortable shoe can work, depending on the trail and conditions.

It comes back to knowing the area and knowing yourself.

A general rule is to wear footwear that fully attaches to your foot—both at the toe and heel.

No flip-flops or backless sandals.

Your feet may get wet even if there are no water crossings. If you are unsure what the trail conditions will be like, plan for the possibility of getting wet.

Good Attitude

Okay, this one seems silly… at first.

But your attitude can largely determine how your hike goes.

If you show up already dreading the hike, you’re probably going to have a bad hike.

Your attitude also affects those around you. When you complain, it can bring everyone else down with you.

Hiking is hard.

Things will hurt.

Try to focus on the good.

You’re in nature.

You’re with friends.

God has given you the ability to walk through His creation.

Let your fears and doubts go and enjoy the parts you can.

For everything else…

Save that for after the trail.

That’s when we all get together and complain about what hurts.

HAHA!

Additional Items

Once you have your base kit, adding simple comfort items becomes optional.

Here are a few things I like to bring along on almost every half-day hike.

Your list may vary.

Trekking Poles

Especially as I get older, these have become part of my core kit.

They help ease the strain on my knees.

They give me something to lean on.

Sure, they look silly.

But so does carrying a pack through the woods for fun.

If hikers stop doing things that look silly, we’ll just sit at home and watch videos of nature.

Journal

One of my goals for every hike is to spend time seeking God. Listening for God to speak.

Having a journal within reach allows me to capture those thoughts as they come.

Sometimes the thought comes on the trail and disappears just as quickly. Having somewhere to write it down helps me remember.

Hat

This could have gone in the clothing section above, but a hat, for me, is a special piece of kit.

I wear hats every day.

A hat is more than something to cover my head. A hat, to me, is part of me. The hat I choose is more than a fashion choice.

That hat becomes part of who I am.

For years, I wore a brown fedora on the trail.

I left it at a trailhead in a rainstorm earlier this year.

It had been my companion on the trail for 14 years.

I know that sounds silly.

But every scratch, repair, and stain meant something.

It was a memory.

Thankfully, I had a hat just waiting for its turn to hit the trail.

A black western hat.

Cattleman’s crease. Outlaw brim.

I know no one cares.

And that is kind of the point.

You aren’t hiking to impress someone.

Bring what makes you comfortable and happy.

The only question that remains is:

What are you bringing on the trail?