Summer Day Hike : A Gear Guide and Packing Checklist

May 25, 2020Lauren

Memorial day has welcomed us into the summer hiking season – our favorite! We get a lot of questions about what gear we use, what to pack, what to wear, and essential items we always have with us on hand on the trails. I remember my very first hike in the Pacific Northwest, and I honestly don’t think I even had a backpack *gasp* But over the years and many trails we’ve set foot on, we have learned and grown as hikers and gear users…(err that sounded weird)….So we decided to create a packing checklist and gear guide for you with our favorite gear, clothing, and brands we absolutely love and would 100% recommend you have to hit the trails with this and every summer!

research – know before you go

Before you begin packing up your bags and preparing what clothes you will be wearing on the trail, it is so important to do as much research as possible about the trail you are going on so that you come better prepared. Our go to is to look up WTA Trip Reports to make sure people have hiked the trail recently, and to see what the trail conditions are. Our other go to place is the AllTrails app, which is another amazing platform to research trails that are accessible and to know about the trail conditions. A lot of Washington trails aren’t even accessible due to snow and ice until late June, and even into July. So make sure to do your research!

hiking clothes

I cannot express enough on how important it is to dress in layers. Especially in the Pacific Northwest – where mountain weather is truly unpredictable. I usually like to wear shorts to the trail and wear warm layers on top for the beginning of the hike and then I can strip down as I get warmer throughout the hike.

Breathable tanks are my favorite, topped with a long sleeve base layer, and then a sweater on top. I always pack an extra pair of warm socks (feet can get wet very easily, especially from snow melt earlier in the season), a warm hat like a beanie (it gets pretty chilly sometimes when you go up higher in elevation), a rain jacket (remember when I told you about that unpredictable mountain weather) and a pair of pants or leggings. Throw on a pair of lightweight wool socks and comfy hiking boots and you’re ready to go. Bonus points if you’re hiking up to an alpine lake – bring a swimsuit! (and do a nice a little swan dive for me).

rain jacket

the north Face – Women’s Dryzzle Futurelight

This jacket is perfectly lightweight and breathable, an essential jacket to have during the summer. Super breathable, super waterproof, windproof, and super soft and cozy. It truly is the perfect jacket to pack with you during your day hike in case you run into rain, which is very common to do so in the Pacific Northwest!.

tank tops

Topo Designs Tech Tank Top

the north face active trail tank

I enjoy wearing a tank top under all my layers that is super breathable in the summer. Then, if you do get hot tackling those elevation gains, you can have your lightweight and easy breezy tank top to strip down to so you can cool off. Having something that is also moisture wicking is ideal so that your sweat doesn’t saturate the fabric. You will be more comfortable since your body will be able to regulate its temperature efficiently and keeps the fabric you are wearing nice and dry!

trail shorts

the north face women’s paramount shorts

These North Face shorts are super comfortable and lightweight to have for hiking in the summer. I absolutely love how soft to the touch they are and also the earthy tone look they have. Anything with pockets is also a plus so you can store any extra little things you want to have easier access to (like a phone or small camera). Again, always choose something that is going to be lightweight, comfortable, and have moisture wicking to help you stay cool and comfortable on the trail.

patagonia women’s baggie shorts

base layer

rei co-op lightweight base layer

If you don’t end up feeling the need to wear a base layer that day since it seems like it will be pretty warm out, I recommend always packing one with you. There has been too many times to count where we have hiked up to a lake or higher up in elevation – and yeah the hike is very grueling, hot, and sweaty – but once you reach the top, it gets chilly! You will be happy to have packed something warmer with you so you can have more time to enjoy the view you just worked your tail off hiking up to, instead of having to turn back right away from being too cold. Always better to come prepared in my opinion!

sweater

the north face canyonlands fleece

This fleece is one of my all time favorite sweaters to wear in the summer. It’s extra soft and cozy while also having this modern and aesthetically pleasing asymmetrical cut zipper. Any sweater that has the thumb holes, take my money. I am always so disappointed and sad when any sweater I try on doesn’t have thumb holes. They truly help keeping you a little more warm in those higher elevations without having to actually wear gloves in the summer.

pants / leggings

vuori women’s daily leggings

I cannot say enough how much I adore Vuori’s clothing. It is THE MOST soft, comfortable, and dreamy fabric my hands have ever touched. These leggings are my absolute favorite. The cost might be steep, but I would pay that ten times over again, because these are just that good. Having a warm pair of leggings or pants with you will ensure that if you get cold wearing shorts on the trail, you can just throw on your pants and voila, comfortable and warm again.

beanies

coal fine knit beanie

The quality of coal beanies is always top notch – so very, very soft and warm. I love how it also fits nice and snug to your head so it doesn’t feel like the wind will blow it off my head! It comes in a huge variety of colors for you to choose from!

camp brand goods heritage beanie

hiking boots / shoes

blundstone premium leather pull on boots

The one question that I get a lot is what hiking boots do I use? And these are the ones that I ALWAYS hike in. Hundreds of miles on rocky terrain, sandy beaches, muddy water logged trails. My feet have been happy, dry, and comfortable. I have had my Blundstone boots for 4 years, and they are still holding strong! They now are buttery soft leather since they are so worn in, and so darn comfortable! Did I say how comfortable they were?

They have great traction on the trails, but if it does get too icy or snowy, I recommend you throw on micro spikes on top (like you would have to do with any other hiking boot). They are pretty lightweight for a boot which is very nice, and I love how you can just slip them on and off so easily without any tying or untying of shoelaces. Now Blundstones might not be for everyone, but by golly they definitely are for me! I see myself hiking in Blundstones for a very, very long time.

wool socks

rei co-op coolmax ultralight quarter socks

We probably own 20 pairs of REI socks. We love them so much! Especially these ultralight coolmax quarter socks for the summer! The quarter height is the perfect sock height and the coolmax technology is so great for summer hiking. It keeps my feet nice and cool, while also keeping them warm if the mountain climate changes.

smartwool hiking socks

We always are in complete awe when we put on our Smartwool socks. We laugh because it literally feels like you are walking on a cloud, and makes hiking on rough terrain a little more comfortable! Not to mention how crazy warm and cozy they are! We love packing a pair in our bag in case our feet get wet or cold during our hike.

hiking gear – essentials

There are usually six essential items we always have with us while doing a day hike. These items help us feel safe, secure, and brings us peace of mind while hiking in the Pacific Northwest Wilderness.

  • backpack
  • water (hydration pack or reusable container)
  • microspikes
  • first aid kit
  • bear spray
  • head lamp

backpack – day pack

First off a backpack to store all the items I want to pack and take with us on the trails. We have been big fans of REI backpacks from their comfort and durability. I like going with a darker color like black, so when I plop it down on the ground (whether it’s dirt or mud) it can stay looking nice!

rei co-op ruckpack day pack – 28 l

hydration pack

Second is water! I used to just take a hydroflask filled with water, but once I bought a hydration pack for my backpack, I never turned back. It is a literal game changer. It is so nice and convenient to have a straw right there to sip on whilst hiking at the same time. Rather than having to stop, pull out the hydroflask (or your reusable container of choice), unscrew the lid, take a glug, and continue hiking.

gregory 3d hydro hydration pack – 2-3 l

With a hydration pack, I feel like I drink more water and am reminded more often that I need to keep drinking and stay hydrated (which is SUPER important during those hot summer hikes to avoid dehydration). A luxury item I also like to take with is when we have to stop at a gas station on the way to a hike, I love having a gatorade with us. It may put on some extra weight in our backpacks, but those electrolytes really work wonders.

microspikes

Third item is microspikes! This is also dependent on what trail you are going on (always be sure to get recent trip reports from WTA or AllTrails). But, even in the summer, it is not rare to encounter snow and ice higher up in altitude. So be prepared and bring your microspikes.

kahtoola microspikes

first aid kit

Fourth is a first aid kit. This is very important for your safety and should always be something you bring with you. I have had moments where I have slipped and fallen and a rock came loose and gashed my finger open (I have a scar from it). And we luckily had everything we needed to disinfect and bandage up my wounded finger. You never know what could happen, so stay prepared.

hart outdoor day hike first aid kit

bear spray

Fifth, bear spray. It does seem like a steep cost just to have a can of bear spray. BUT your safety and well being should be worth the investment! There are black bears in the summer where we hike, which usually are not aggressive. But you never know if you could come across a protective mama bear or an aggressive one. There are also mountain lions, which we have not encountered yet. But really, you are better safe than sorry!

counter assault bear deterrent spray

headlamp

And lastly – a headlamp (or flashlight). Sometimes you may end up staying out later than expected, and it gets real dark, real fast in the forest. So take something with you to help you illuminate the trails, and safely guide you along.

black diamond headlamp

hiking gear – nice to haves

The next few items are ones that we usually bring with us as well! But definitely wouldn’t be considered essential if you just wanted to bring the bare minimum. But these make our hiking experiences a little more comfortable and are nice to have during a long day of hiking.

pocket blanket

matador pocket blanket

This little guy packs a big punch! This Matador pocket blanket is a waterproof blanket/tarp that packs away into a tiny little pack that could fit in your pocket! So, packing it is really no bother at all! This is great to have for when you reach the summit and want to have a nice little area to sit on. It also is so great for when the ground is wet! So you can set it down, and have something dry to sit and relax on. There is also a tiny little metal “stake” to pin into the ground so it doesn’t blow away. Truly awesome!

towel – functional

matador nanodry towel

The same company as the pocket blanket, Matador also came out with a pocket towel. Another genius and functional solution that makes packing a towel not a bother it all.

towel – aesthetic

slowtide turkish towel

nomadix towel

For something a a little more photo worthy, and aesthetically pleasing, I love the look and functionality of these blankets. They come in all different colors and patterns. They are quick drying, and also not only great for drying off after jumping into that alpine lake, but also something great to bring with you to have something to sit on. Also great for yoga or just bringing with you for a picnic on the beach.

bug spray

kinfield deet free bug spray

I absolutely love this company! Not only is their branding so on point, but Kinfield uses clean-free and deet-free ingredients for their bug spray. I love how small and compact the bottle is so it’s so easy to throw into my backpack to take with us to keep those pesky bugs away.

hand sanitizer

dr. bronner’s organic hand sanitizer

Staying safe and healthy on and off the trails is on everyone’s minds at the moment. I strongly recommend bringing hand sanitizer with you to to protect yourself and others from the spread of germs. I love the efficiency of having spray sanitizer and how it smells like peppermint instead of those harsh smells other hand sanitizers bring along with them.

sun protection

sunscreen

alba botanica spf 45 sunscreen

This sunscreen is the perfect size to throw into my hiking bag. I love how portable and lightweight it is as well as it’s clean ingredients. It’s so important to keep our skin safe from harmful UV rays to prevent potential sunburn and dehydration. Did I mention, it also smells amazing! I also have the lavender one as well.

spf chapstick

burt’s bees all weather spf 15 chapstick

Our lips always find a way to start feeling chapped on the trails. So we always carry chapstick with us! It truly sucks to have chapped lips and no chapstick in sight. I’ve been there! (Ugh my lips are chapped just thinking about it). This is such an easy to throw into your bag and take with you, so just do it! Bonus points if it has sunscreen in it as well!

ball cap

tin lid black timeless hat

Summer time is ball cap season! It’s perfect for blocking the sun, keeping you cool, and hiding that crazy, messy hike hair! You know what I’m talking about!

tilley tmh mountain hat

I had been looking for a wide brim trail hat for a long time, and could never find the right one. Until I found this Tilley Mountain hat! Of course it looks cute on, but my favorite feature is the string attached to it. I never really have to worry about it flying off my head since the string would save it from doing that! And if it gets too hot or I just don’t want it on my head anymore, I can throw it off without a care and it will still be attached to me!

sunglasses

shwood camp trail sunglasses

This company based in Portland, Oregon Shwood makes quality sunglasses that not only are great looking, but also are super comfortable. I have these camp trail sunglasses and they are the best! I love the real wood accents on the side of them, as well as them coming with their own mini sleeping bag case to rest in when not in use! So cute.

storage + Snacks

It’s important to pack snacks if you plan on doing a day hike to help keep you fueled all day. Before our hikes, we love fueling up on breakfast and then having snacks in our packs that will keep us going and satisfied throughout the hike.

Some other snack ideas:

  • Trail Mix
  • peanuts
  • deli meat + cheese (ok this might not seem like a good idea to pack on a hot summer hike, so pro-tip : put ice in your hydration pack to keep your water nice and cold all hike long and to pack delicacies next to like meats and cheeses and it keeps them nice and cold)
  • apples
  • peanut butter packet
  • watermelon
  • strawberries
  • carrots
  • granola
  • some unhealthy items to reward yourself at the summit with like chips or a snickers bar, you deserve it

stasher bag – reusable snack bags

Instead of buying a ton of plastic bags that you will just throw away, try using Stasher Bags! They are reusable and perfect for packing snacks in to take with you on the trails!

hydration

hydroflask

If you don’t end up using a hydration pack, we love Hydroflasks! They keep your drink extra cold all day long! It can also be a great vessel where you can add enhancement tablets like electrolytes to! Also a great option for backpacking, when packing a hydration pack with 2 to 3 L of water is too heavy of an option.

nuun electrolyte tablets

During the summertime, we love having electrolytes with us! Sometimes I tend to feel a little lightheaded while hiking in hot weather, which definitely means dehydration! So I glug down some electrolytes and feel a whole lot better! Also be sure to keep drinking water to stay hydrated!

snacks

perfect bar protein bar

Our go to protein bar to have on the trail are Perfect Bars. They are so darn good, and they have a ton of hidden veggies and can help replace a meal. We love gobbling one down before we hit the trail so we stay full climbing up the mountain.

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