What You Need in Your Backpack Beyond the 10 Essentials

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So you’re all set with the 10 Essentials and ready for a grand adventure in the woods. Well, almost! While the 10 Essentials are absolutely vital to every hike you go on, no matter what the environment or season, it’s important to individualize the rest of what you take in your pack, to suit your specific hike. In some ways, gear is just as much an a’la carte endeavor as it is a fixed menu, so to speak.

I think this will become easier to understand with a scenario: If I’m going to hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in July, it’s pretty much a guarantee that I’m not going to need any special gear for snow, even at the highest elevations in the Park. Conversely, if I’m heading to Rocky Mountains National Park in July, I may actually need some extra gear, like microspikes, to safely traverse a snow field.

And even within the list of the 10 Essentials, there is oftentimes variability in the best choice for your environment. For instance, July is typically hot as Hell in the Smokies but chances are high that I’ll be exposed to an afternoon thunderstorm at some point. Because of that risk, I will make sure to bring well-ventilated rain gear (a breathable rain jacket and my rain wrap) to keep me comfortable, but not suffocate from the heat and humidity the rain brings with it.

And I’ll definitely bring my Liteflex Umbrella, because there’s a good chance I’ll never even pull out my rain jacket if I have my umbrella, as long as it’s not windy. An umbrella is, hands down, one of my favorite pieces of gear for rain and sun protection.

If I were in the Rockies though, I might trade out the rain wrap for my rain pants since the rain in that region, especially at higher elevations, will likely be colder in July.

I’d probably bring a warmer jacket for the Rockies too, since elevations there are higher than the Smokies and it will be colder (Fun Fact: Air temperature lowers about 4 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, for every 1000 feet of elevation gain).

And finally, one more example that pertains to variability in clothing choices: For hot, desert environments, like Grand Canyon National Park, a cotton t-shirt is likely a better choice than a synthetic blend. Why? Because it would actually feel good to have a cotton shirt soaked in sweat at the bottom of the typically rain deprived, scorching hot Canyon, rather than something synthetic that’s doing its best to wick moisture away from you.

Side note: Cotton socks are never a good choice since the goal with any footwear is to keep your feet as dry as possible to prevent blisters!

You don’t need to go crazy and buy gear for every type of terrain and environment you might encounter.Initially, consider what type of area you’ll hike in predominantly and focus on that. As the seasons change and/or you venture into new territory, buy additional gear accordingly.

I hope this makes a bit more sense to fine tune your gear and clothing, based on where you’ll be hiking and what season you’re going to be on the trail.

Finally, let’s look at a few extra items beyond the 10 Essentials. These are things I always have in my pack and I honestly consider them as important as the essentials.

THE “EXTRAS” I HIGHLY RECOMMEND

SATELLITE MESSENGER/LOCATOR BEACON

These are devices that will alert emergency services that you need help and provide them with your location. There are several devices on the market, each with pros and cons.

As a frequent solo hiker who has a husband and three kids expecting her to make dinner in perpetuity, I deem this a non negotiable in my own pack. Every solo hiker should carry one, in my opinion, as it’s the closest thing you have to another human alerting emergency services that you need help. Even if you always hike with someone else, it’s highly recommended to carry one in case you have an emergency.

I actually own two devices, and the one I use depends on where I’ll be hiking and what functionality is most important for that particular terrain:

1. The ACR ResQLink is great when I’m hiking in the Smokies during the warmer months. The abundance of leaves on deciduous trees can present a pesky obstruction to satellite signals, and this device sends a very strong signal which gives it a big advantage over the other one I own.

It has a one-time purchase price and a battery that lasts for 5 years, but there is no recurring subscription fee attached to it. For that reason, if it’s challenge financially to purchase a satellite device, I’d opt for this one since it will end up being significantly less expensive than the other one I own and recommend.

ACR ResQLink Device

2. I also own a Garmin InReach Mini device. My husband and I took a 10-day backpacking trip, minus our kids, to hike the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier, and that’s when I purchased my InReach. It was very beneficial to have the two-way texting feature this unit provides to communicate with my brother and his wife who were watching our kids.

Because we were backpacking in an area with greater exposure to the sky, I was reassured we had a strong signal to alert SAR teams (and to communicate back home). This unit does have recurring costs to activate any of its features though. They can be paid as needed on a monthly basis for a higher fee or you can activate it at a lower cost with an ongoing subscription fee.

It’s also incredibly beneficial in an emergency situation, to be able to message emergency services and let them know why you hit the SOS button.

I especially enjoy taking this unit on my solo adventures, so I can message my husband when I get to camp at night, if I’m going to be late coming off the trail, etc.

I do not, however, use this device for navigation. Instead I use Gaia GPS on my phone. It’s much easier to use for navigation than the InReach and offers layering options that the InReach doesn’t have. For instance, with Gaia, I have access to a National Geographic map layer. So any map that that Nat Geo makes, I have instant access to through the app. It’s an incredible value and money well spent for a subscription. Readers of my blog can access a 20-50% discount for a Gaia subscription.

While either of these devices are pricey, it’s impossible to put a price on your life (or someone you’re hiking with), so they’re worth it, in my opinion, if you hike frequently.

WHISTLE

Many backpacks have whistles on the sternum strap, but if yours doesn’t, make sure you carry one with you. The sound from them doesn’t carry nearly as far as they claim, at least in thick woods, but for the negligible weight they add to your pack it’s definitely worth keeping one with you. They’re useful if you’re lost or injured search and rescue is trying to locate you, or if you’re trying to scare off wildlife, such as a bear. The whistle pattern for signaling help is 3 short bursts.

Emergency Whistle

PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER FOR CELL PHONE

Portable external battery charger

If you like to take pictures with your phone, use a navigational app, and/or are going to be out for several days on a backpacking trip, an external battery charger is very worthy of the few ounces it adds to your pack. This is a lightweight and well reviewed one that will charge an iPhone about 4 times.

You might also want to read this post that I wrote about battery chargers and what features to look for, based on your needs.

HIKING POLES

Not everyone uses hiking poles, but I can’t imagine hiking without them. In addition to taking some of the load off my joints and making me a stronger and more efficient hiker on uphill sections of trail, they also improve my balance and stability significantly. Many a times, I’ve nearly fallen on a slippery rock or root, but my planting one of my poles in the ground quickly has prevented many a bruise from happening!

I am a huge fan of the LT5 hiking poles from Gossamer Gear because of their durability, cork handles (they don’t hold odor and they feel great to my hands), and featherweight qualities. They’re pricey though, and I think it’s perfectly acceptable to start with something more affordable.

These poles made by Montem receive lots of praise in the hiking community and they are what I’d recommend for a more affordable option.

Montem Trekking Poles

UMBRELLA

As I mentioned above,my Liteflex Hiking Umbrella is one of the most useful pieces of gear in my pack. It’s both instant shade in sunny, hot conditions and instant cover in rainy conditions (assuming it’s not windy, in which case it is too fragile to use and doesn’t do much to block the rain, anyway). I even wrote a review of this umbrella and how to use it and keep your hands free for your hiking poles right here .

My umbrella is specifically made for backpacking, since it’s lightweight and has a reflective canopy, but there’s no need to splurge if you want to carry something you already have at home. Not a necessity, but I consider it a “must take” on every trip.

Gossamer Gear Chrome Dome Umbrella

IDENTIFICATION BRACELET

These bracelets gained popularity with runners, but they can serve as an added layer of security in many situations, especially hiking. Road ID is the most well known brand and they provide an instant identification system for yourself or whomever you choose to have wear one (I think kids would be the perfect candidate for them, and they even make a kid-sized version of them). They also alert others to any allergies the person wearing them might have.

HAND AND FOOT WARMERS

Depending on the weather I’m hiking in, hand and foot warmers will often go in my pack. My hands and feet are incredibly sensitive to cold, and if I were ever injured and sedentary in cold weather, I’d pat myself on the back with my toasty warm hands for remembering to pack these with me!

Bear Spray

If you hike in bear country, I recommend carrying bear spray (especially if you’re in grizzly territory). I live in the land of black bears and while 99% of the time they run as soon as they see me, I was bluff charged once and it was enough to convince me to always have it in my pack, especially on my solo hikes.

Just as importantly as carrying it is knowing how to use it. Here’s a short video from a Ranger at Banff National Park in Canada outlining what you need to know.

That’s it! While these aren’t considered essentials, I think it’s important to really fine tune your pack for each and every hike and not treat your hike or your gear as a “one size fits all” endeavor.

And by the way, free to drop a comment if you’d like to add any thoughts or ask a question about this lesson, or any of them going forward.

Next up in our lessons: What you should always do before leaving on a hike besides packing up all the appropriate gear. This is one that people often neglect, and it makes all the difference in a situation where you might need help. I have some great examples to emphasize in that lesson, so stay tuned and be on the lookout for another email soon!

Happy trails,

Nancy