Hiking Gear: The Complete Hiking Gear List

This article contains affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

The living-room floor the night before a big hike: boots by the door, a pack half full, a pile of layers, a headlamp, a water filter and a bag of snacks that’s definitely too big. Hiking gear can get expensive and heavy fast, but what matters most is simple: footwear that fits, a pack that carries well, the Ten Essentials, a way to treat water and a way to find your way. Here’s that hiking gear list, with how to choose each piece and our picks, plus the recovery gear for the day after.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

The quick checklist: boots or trail runners and spare socks; a daypack (or a framed backpack for overnights); the National Park Service’s Ten Essentials (navigation, sun protection, extra clothing, a headlamp, first-aid supplies, fire, a repair kit, extra food, water and water treatment, and emergency shelter); trekking poles if you like them; and a phone or satellite messenger for emergencies.

Our top picks

Hiking gear compared

Gear	What it is	Key fact	About
Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP	Mid-height hiking boot	Waterproof membrane, Vibram TC5+ sole	$175
Altra Lone Peak 9	Trail-running shoe	Zero drop, 25 mm stack	$140
Osprey Talon 22	Daypack	22 L, fits up to a 3 L reservoir	$160–$175
Osprey Atmos AG 65	Backpacking pack	65 L (S/M), about 4.6 lb	$370 list
Black Diamond Trail	Trekking poles (pair)	480 g, 100–140 cm	$120
Sawyer Squeeze	Squeeze water filter	0.1 micron; not for viruses or chemicals	$46
Garmin inReach Mini 2	Satellite messenger	SOS and texts via Iridium; plan needed	$400 at launch
Suunto A-10	Baseplate compass	Jewel bearing, declination scale	$24
Black Diamond Spot 400	Headlamp	400 lumens, red mode, 3 AAA	$55

Boots vs trail runners

It’s the oldest argument at the trailhead, and research doesn’t crown a winner. In a study of long-distance hikers on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails, footwear type wasn’t significantly linked with sprains or other musculoskeletal injuries. A larger survey of Appalachian Trail hikers found that stabilizing footwear went with fewer complaints. So choose by the trail, the load and your ankles:

• Boots suit rocky, wet or snowy trails, heavier packs and hikers who like more support. The Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof is a classic: pig-suede leather and mesh, a waterproof membrane, an Air Cushion in the heel and a Vibram TC5+ outsole (about $175 at Merrell, in men’s and women’s).
• Trail runners are lighter and dry faster, which many long-distance hikers prefer on dry, well-made trails. The Altra Lone Peak 9 is a popular trail runner with a wide, foot-shaped toe box, zero drop (heel and forefoot at the same height) and about 10.3 ounces per shoe in a men’s 9 (about $140).
• Fit them right: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) suggests shopping at the end of the day, when feet are largest, wearing the socks you’ll use, and leaving about half an inch at the toes. Break new footwear in on short walks before a long hike.
• Socks matter more than the fiber: in a study of 203 hikers, wet socks almost doubled the risk of blisters, while synthetic vs natural fibers made no difference. Carry a spare pair and change when they get soaked.

Check the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof price on Amazon

Daypacks and backpacks

For day hikes, a 20–30 liter pack with a hip belt carries the Ten Essentials and water comfortably. The Osprey Talon 22 is a light, ventilated 22-liter pack with an external sleeve for up to a 3-liter reservoir, zippered hip-belt pockets, stretch side pockets and attachment points for trekking poles (about $160 to $175). For overnights, the Osprey Atmos AG 65 uses Osprey’s Anti-Gravity mesh suspension, an adjustable harness and hip belt, a removable lid and a built-in rain cover; the men’s version is about $370 list and about 4.6–4.8 pounds depending on size.

Keep the load down. At Philmont Scout Ranch, a heavier pack relative to body weight was linked with more injuries on 12-day treks, and in long-distance hikers heavier packs went with more tingling and numbness. Get the pack fitted to your torso, and carry only what you’ll use plus the essentials.

Check the Osprey Talon 22 price on Amazon

Trekking poles

A 2020 review found trekking poles reduce the load on the legs while slightly raising the cardiovascular effort, and with a heavy pack they may also improve balance and stability. A lab study of hikers going downhill with packs found lower forces at the hip, knee and ankle with poles. In the Appalachian Trail survey, hikers with poles reported fewer musculoskeletal complaints. The Black Diamond Trail poles are aluminum, adjust from 100 to 140 cm with FlickLock levers, weigh 480 g a pair per Black Diamond and come with trekking and snow baskets (about $120). Set them so your elbows bend at about a right angle on flat ground, a little shorter going up and longer going down.

Water filters and treatment

Never drink straight from a stream. The CDC’s backcountry guidance: boiling is the most reliable method (1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet); filters with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller remove parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium; and because most filters don’t remove viruses, add a chemical disinfectant where viruses are a concern. The Sawyer Squeeze is a 3-ounce, 0.1-micron absolute filter that screws onto its pouches or a bottle; Sawyer says it removes 99.99999% of bacteria and 99.9999% of protozoa, but not viruses or chemicals (about $46 with two 32-ounce pouches). Carry a sturdy bottle too, like the Nalgene 32 oz wide-mouth.

Check the Sawyer Squeeze price on Amazon

Navigation and emergency communication

• Map and compass: the NPS lists them first among the Ten Essentials. The Suunto A-10 is a simple baseplate compass with a jewel-bearing needle, map scales and a fixed declination correction (about $24 at Suunto).
• Phone and GPS watch: download offline maps before you lose signal, and carry a small battery pack. A GPS watch like the Garmin fenix 8 adds maps and routing on your wrist; see Forerunner vs fenix and our hiking wearables page.
• Satellite messenger: where there’s no cell service, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 sends two-way texts and an interactive SOS to Garmin’s 24/7 emergency response center over the Iridium network. It weighs 3.5 ounces, runs up to 14 days in its default tracking mode and has TracBack to retrace your route. It needs an active subscription (Garmin quoted plans from $11.95 a month at launch).
• Headlamp: the Black Diamond Spot 400 puts out 400 lumens on three AAA batteries, with a red night mode and a battery meter (about $55).

Layers and first-aid kits

The NPS’s “extra clothing” essential means a jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell and other layers, even on a sunny morning. Think in three layers: a base layer that moves sweat (synthetic or wool rather than cotton), a warm mid layer such as fleece or a puffy, and a waterproof shell. Add a sun hat and sunglasses for the sun-protection essential.

For first aid, the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker is sized by the maker for one or two people on one- or two-day trips, weighs about 7 ounces and is organized by injury, with blister care, wound care, medications, a trauma pad and a wilderness first-aid guide (about $34). Add your own medicines, and take a wilderness first-aid course before long trips. Our hiking injuries page covers what to do with what’s in it.

Recovery gear for hikers

After a long descent, calves and quads let you know about it. Many hikers use a Hypervolt Go 3, a 1.6-pound massage gun with five speeds and up to 4 hours of battery (about $149), or a TriggerPoint GRID 1.0 foam roller (about $40). The Hyperice Normatec Go calf compression sleeves pack into a car for a long trip, and the OOFOS OOahh Slide is a soft slide for the drive home. Some hikers wear a knee support such as the Bauerfeind GenuTrain for comfort on descents. These are for comfort, not treatment; pain that keeps coming back needs a professional. Compare them in our massage gun, knee sleeve and recovery shoe guides, and on our hiking recovery page.

How to choose hiking gear

• Start with fit, not features: footwear and packs that fit beat lighter or fancier ones that don’t.
• Match the trail: boots for rough, wet trails and heavy loads; trail runners for dry trails and light packs.
• Build the Ten Essentials first, then add comfort items.
• Weigh your pack and cut what you didn’t use last time.
• Test everything at home and on short hikes before a big trip.

Gear for kids is on our hiking with kids page, and the whole sport is on our hiking hub. Trail runners will find more on our running gear page and hydration vest guide.

Hiking gear FAQs

Are hiking boots or trail runners better?

Neither wins for everyone. Studies of long-distance hikers haven’t found that footwear type changes sprain risk much, though stabilizing footwear was linked with fewer complaints. Choose boots for rough, wet trails and heavy packs, trail runners for lighter loads, and always choose the pair that fits best.

What size daypack do I need for a day hike?

For most day hikes, 20 to 30 liters holds the Ten Essentials, water and a jacket. Go bigger for winter layers or for carrying a child’s gear too.

Does a water filter remove viruses?

Most don’t. The CDC says filters with a 1-micron absolute pore size remove parasites, but viruses need boiling or a chemical disinfectant. Sawyer says the Squeeze doesn’t remove viruses or chemicals.

Do I need a satellite messenger for hiking?

Not on busy trails with cell coverage. For remote or solo trips beyond cell service, a device like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 lets you text and send an SOS by satellite; it needs a subscription.

How long should trekking poles be?

A common starting point is the length that puts your elbows at about a right angle with the tips on flat ground, shortened a little for climbs and lengthened for descents. Adjustable poles like the Black Diamond Trail (100–140 cm) make that easy.