Hiking equipment varies from trail to trail. You may not require walking poles on the Flathead Lake Trail, but may consider them for Phillips Trail. For your safety Mike recommends these items when hiking most all trails.
Hiking Equipment Essentials:
For just about anyone, hiking any trail Mike recommends this short list of 11 items:
- Map : Know where you are hiking.
- Compass : Again, know where you are.
- GPS: Mike recommends GARMIN
- Bear Spray
- More food and water then you need.
- Headlamp or flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Fire starter with Matches
- Knife
- Sunglasses, sun cream and a sun hat
- Spare warm clothing. Consider packing clothing you can layer.
Again, this a a basic list that Mike recommends. Additional gear is listed below.
Keep in mind you need to pack, carry everything you choose to have so choose wisely.
Hiking Equipment
- Lip balm : to prevent your lips from chapping.
- Spare batteries : in case your headlamp runs out of juice.
- Water filtration Water bottle : this will be useful if you run out of water.
- Shelter : this can be in the form of a tent, a bivy, a storm shelter or even just an emergency reflective blanket.
- Sleeping bag : in case you get caught in low-light and need the camp the night out.
- Whistle : Good way to get attention, can be life-saving if you get lost.
- Bug Spray : very useful for when the critters come out to play.
- Binoculars : you may be able to see an escape route that you can’t see with your naked eye.
- Trekking poles : these can be used for stability while walking while also making great splints should there be any injuries.
- Trash bag : remember : Leave No Trace!
- Dry Bag: Keeps thing dry when all is wet.
- Rain gear : you can never be too prepared for the rain.
- Piece of cord/rope : you will undoubtedly find a use for this, whether it’s a new shoelace or tying your whole shoe back together.
- Blister kit : this will be your best friend when those little blisters start to form.
- Toilet paper : you never know.
Itinerary of your hike : Leave one with a friend, and one in your car at the trail head. - Emergency contact info : have a piece of paper on you with this information, also any medications you may need to take.
- Flare: Mike keeps a flare in his pack when hiking trails. The purpose of the flare is you can start a fire in rainy or snowy weather.
The key here is to bring what you may need and hope you don’t need it…
Enjoy the Trail.