My vacation excitement starts LONG before I actually leave. I don’t just spend a lot of time discovering fun places I want to visit, hikes I want to do or road trips I want to take ahead of time.. I also spend a lot of time making and ticking off lists. Especially packing lists, like my day hike checklist!
Organizing, I love it. So it rarely happens that I go anywhere without (too much) luggage. “Mies, do you have paracetamol?” Yep! “Mies, do you have a..” Sure do! “Mies, do you..” Yes! A handy trait when you’re a hiker, but in the beginning even I brought the wrong or unnecessary things along. That’s why I’m happy to share my experiences with you, and I’ve put together the ultimate checklist for a hiking backpack. That way, nothing will ever catch you off guard again!
General tips for hikers
- The basics are the most important. Make sure you have good shoes, suited to the terrain you’ll be walking on. We always hike in waterproof category AB or B boots, the classification used here in the Netherlands, where I live.
- Choose a daypack between 20 and 30 liters, with adjustable straps and preferably a breathable back panel or mesh, which keeps you from sweating unnecessarily.
- Al-ways check the weather forecast. In the mountains you can always get caught in unexpected rain showers, but it’s good to know roughly what to expect.
- Make sure you’re in good shape, or match the hike to your fitness level. That way you can be sure you’ll get back safely and won’t end up in the newspaper with an (EXPENSIVE) helicopter ride.
- Going hiking alone? Tell someone where you’re going and roughly what time you expect to be back. Hiking together? Never leave each other behind, under any circumstances. You’re only as fast as the slowest hiker.
- Use your common sense. Does something feel unsafe? Then it probably is.
- Match the contents of your backpack to the weather conditions, the type of hike you’re doing and your own needs along the way.
Day hike checklist
Once you’ve got the basics covered, you’re ready to fill your carefully chosen backpack for a day hike! These are all the things I al-ways bring along when we go hiking. Clothing:
- Rain jacket & rain pants or a poncho
- Layers, layers, layers.
(I usually wear a tank top and a thin cardigan, and I bring a long-sleeved shirt and a fleece jacket.) - A pair of dry socks
- My favorite Buff. A buff is multifunctional, but I usually wear mine over my ears. I’m very sensitive to wind, so a little extra protection in the mountains is really nice. Plus, that way my ears can’t get sunburned!
- Gloves & scarf. Nothing is as changeable as the weather in Norway. Ever since we unexpectedly ended up in a snowstorm, I al-ways bring gloves and a scarf.
- Sunglasses & cap
Food and drinks:
- Water bottle(s). I always bring a one-liter bottle, which you can refill along the way in most places in Norway. If you choose a place where that isn’t possible, make sure you bring enough water.
- Sandwiches
- Snacks: granola bars, trail mix (nuts and dried fruit), an apple, chocolate.
Personal care:
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Tissues
- First aid kit with paracetamol, cleansing wipes, (blister) bandages, gauze, tweezers, a tick remover, after bite/Azaron and tape.
- Antibacterial hand gel
- DEET
Other:
- Some cash and my debit card. You never know.
- Headlamp. For when you unexpectedly don’t make it back before dark, but also for when you unexpectedly come across an awesome hike to a cave along the way.
- A small dry sack. I keep my dry socks, phone and camera in it when it’s raining really, really hard.
- Reusable garbage bag. I use it to carry my own trash and any trash from others I find along the way back down the mountain. You can wash and reuse the bag, super handy.
- Phone with an emergency app. In Norway you can install the app ‘Hjelp’. With it you can send out an emergency signal if you get into trouble, even when your phone has no service.
- Power bank
- Pocketknife
- Camera (+ extra batteries)
- Hiking poles (optional). If you quickly get sore knees or like a little extra support while hiking, hiking poles are really nice to walk with! Most of them fold up and can easily hang on the side of your backpack.
- Navigation tools. A map, GPS, compass, whatever you like best. In Norway all the trails for day hikes are well marked, and you can’t get lost as long as you don’t stray from the trail. If you do plan to, bring enough gear to find your way back.
- Pen + little notebook
- My I <3 Norway moose, because I always faithfully take pictures of it on top of a mountain. 😉
Want to know what I bring on multi-day hikes? Check out my Fjällräven Classic packing list.
Personal travel advice
Would you like help putting together your dream trip to and through Norway? Or would you rather leave the planning of your trip entirely to someone else? Feel free to get in touch with me, and soon you’ll be Lost in Norvana too!
