Check out my trusty backpack when we were in Nepal.
Is your backpack ready for hiking and exploring the mountains or great outdoors? Here are 8 items you can always leave in your backpack to make it faster to get out the door and onto the trails.
I love hiking and strangely I even enjoy preparing for the hike as I gather together everything I’ll need to explore the mountains safely. Over years of packing for hiking I’ve realized there are a bunch of things I can just leave in my backpack. These are all things I need every time in the mountains, but I don’t need other times. They are also things that won’t ‘go bad’ if left in my backpack. Leaving these 8 pieces of hiking gear in my backpack makes it faster to pack and get the kids out the door sooner.
The Best Hiking Gear
This list includes those essential items to bring on a day hike with kids that you can just leave in your backpack. The list of essential items to bring on a hike with kids includes a lot of stuff and it can be time consuming to get it together every time you go for a hike.
Instead what I do is leave the essential items that are not perishable in my backpack. That allows me to get ready to go hiking faster. The time factor is important, especially if you are attempting to get kids out the door.
Check Your Supplies Monthly Or As Needed To Keep Your Backpack Ready For Hiking
I want to make sure to note that you should check these items regularly. You don’t need to pack them everytime, but you should refresh or fill them up periodically.
For example, check to make sure you have enough sunscreen, and that your first aid kit is up to date. I also like to make sure I have enough plastic bags and maybe add a few each time.
Keep Your Backpack Ready For Hiking – 8 Items To Leave In Your Backpack
Sunscreen – I like to keep a small bottle in my backpack at all times. Personally, I don’t like to bring along a big, heavy bottle of sunscreen as that is just extra weight. I get a small plastic bottle and fill it with sunscreen. Then when it is running low I just add more to it.
Insect Repellent/Bug Spray – Just like the sunscreen, I always leave a bit of insect repellent in my backpack. However, I don’t just stick this in my pack as it is toxic and I don’t want my bag to become toxic in case I put food in there too. My solution is to keep this in a small Ziploc bag.
Fire Starter – This could be some matches in a ziplock bag or a lighter.
Whistle – This is not something that you are going to be using around the house. Most likely it is better if it is in your backpack so that the kids can’t paly with it and burst your ear drums. This is handy in case you get lost or need help when out hiking.
This is one of those items to bring because you should always make sure you are safe when hiking, especially with kids.
A first aid kit, whistle, and some sunscreen are items you can leave in your backpack.
First Aid Kit – This can be something small you put together with essential items like bandages and pain killers. If you or someone with you has allergies then you can pack something specific. Here is an example of the ultimate hiking first aid kit.
While you may leave a few first aid items in your backpack at all times, it is good to refresh your supplies periodically, check that the medications don’t expire, and restock items you used.
Printable Hiking Gear Lists
Plastic bags – These are not going to go bad, so I just leave a few in my backpack all the time. Before heading for a hike or maybe after grocery shopping I will add a few more bags to my backpack to make sure I always have enough.
I do check them to make sure that they don’t have holes before putting them in. After all a bag with holes is not going to help carry trash or used diapers.
My trusty backpack serves as a good seat in southern Utah. I had first checked to make sure there was nothing I could crush inside of it.
Emergency blanket – Luckily, this is one of those items that I have never had to use. Despite that, I always make sure to bring one along when I go hiking and just leave one in my backpack.
These are small and will easily fit in a small pocket of your backpack. Note – they don’t last for years and years, so you should replace them every few years.
Carabiner – I like to leave one or two carabiners attached to my backpack all the time. These are handy when you go hiking for clipping on random stuff like water bottles or hats.