The 7 Core Pieces of Hiking Safety Gear I Refuse To Hike Without

If You Find Yourself Stranded, You're Gonna Be Glad You Packed These

Is it just me or do hiking gear recommendations and reviews kind of suck these days?

If you’ve been doing your research on hiking essentials, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll stumble across a list of “must have” items crafted by some big name site pushing you this wildly expensive gear you probably never needed to buy in the first place.

It’s enough to drive most people nuts. Because let’s face it, in today’s economy crazy expensive gear that you don’t genuinely need is not the vibe.

That said, there is a place for the staples. The tried-and-true hiking safety gear you really shouldn’t leave home without. Those? Those are actually worth investing in.

So if you’re new to the hiking space (or just want to enter the wilderness more prepared), I’m breaking down my ride-or-die’s.

Last week, I dove into the dangers of shaming newbie hikers and the hiking culture we’ve created where they’re afraid to ask questions.

A big part of that is gear shaming. Expert hikers make new ones feel like crap for either a) buying the wrong gear for a trek or b) entirely forgetting to pack something crucial.

But here’s my hot take: it’s not that hard to just take a moment and share what you know, especially when it could save someone from making a life-altering mistake.

And that’s exactly what I intend to do. We’re about to make safety sexy, y’all.

Also, before anyone comes at me, it goes without saying that a good pair of hiking boots and socks are essential for both safety and comfort, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Especially since shoe and sock type are highly dependent on where/when you’re hiking.

P.S. I’ll go ahead and link to the specific hiking safety gear that I personally own, in case that’s helpful! If you choose to snag something via my affiliate links, I may earn a tiny bit (doesn’t cost you a penny more). I’m trying to test out keeping this newsletter entirely free, so supporting me this way truly helps me do that.

1. A Top-Notch Headlamp

If there’s one piece of advice I could give any newbie hiker, it’s to get yourself a high quality headlamp. Why?

Because there’s nothing more beautiful than being on the summit of a mountain at sunrise, and you can only do that if you hike up in darkness.

But even when I’m hiking in the middle of the day, I still have my headlamp with me (along with a baggie containing spare batteries).

Because if you happen to find yourself on the trail after dark by accident, your headlamp will be your best friend to get back to the trailhead safely.

You don’t want to be counting on your phone flashlight to get you back to the car. Let’s be real, that thing sucks the life out of your phone battery like nothing else on this earth.

2. Bear Spray

Do we want to think about being attacked by a bear? No. But should we? Yes. And fun fact: bear spray can also be used on mountain lions. We love a tool that covers multiple bases.

Pro Tip: While I absolutely love hiking at sunrise, dawn and dusk are the most active times for bears, so in addition to carrying bear spray, it’s advised that you hike in a group and make regular noise (which will let the bear know you’re near so they can scoot away).

Believe it or not, bears are not interested in getting into it with you. But they would appreciate the warning that you’re close. So keep making regular noise throughout your hike.

3. Hand And Foot Warmers

I’ve tested the re-chargeable ones, and in theory they sound great. But in practice, they are always dying too quickly. Don’t bother with them.

Personally, I’m a sucker for the disposable HotHands packs. If you live in a colder climate, Costco typically carries them, or you can buy them on Amazon.

And apparently, you can even get disposable body warmers. I haven’t personally tested these, so I can’t recommend them, but I’ll need to give them a whirl. Anyone else given them a go before? If so, let me know in the comments. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

And hear me out: hand and foot warmers are relevant outside of winter, too. In high alpine locations, it gets cold around sunrise and sunset even in the thick of summer.

I can’t even tell you how many July sunrise hikes I’ve done in the Colorado alpine tundra where the temps were in the 30’s.

4. A Satellite Communication Device

Is this the sexiest piece of hiking gear? Not in the slightest. But it’s quite possibly the most important one you could bring with you.

Most parks, national forests, and wilderness areas are notorious for lacking service. And you don’t want to be in a situation where your hike lasts longer than you anticipated, someone is expecting a call from you, and your dang phone doesn’t work.

I bring my Garmin with me on all hikes, and it allows me to text via the app on my phone, even when there’s no service. There’s also an SOS button in case of dire circumstances.

You hope you’ll never need to use this piece of gear, but it’s crucial to have it (especially if you’re adventuring alone). Actually, I take back what I said earlier. Safety is sexy, so maybe this is in fact the sexiest piece of hiking gear I own??

Pro Tip: If you have an iPhone 14 or later, you may have noticed that it has an SOS feature. That said, you’re dependent on your phone’s short battery life, while the Garmin is able to stay charged for up to 24 days, depending on your tracking setting. So in my book it’s the go-to for longer hikes and backpacking trips.

5. An Emergency Blanket

While we’re on the topic of survival, if you’re hiking at altitude or anywhere where you can expect chilly conditions, BRING. THIS. WITH. YOU.

If you get lost or stranded overnight, having an emergency blanket to keep you warm in harsh conditions could save your life.

Now here’s the thing: I am not talking about an insulated, cozy blanket. I am speaking specifically about a special type of ultra-compact survival blanket that reflects your body heat back onto you.

And I mean, come on, it’s an iconic fashion statement in and of itself. On the trails, emergency blankets are the new black. New York Fashion Week couldn’t hold a candle to this look.

6. An Adventure First-Aid Kit

My hiking first aid kit is something that has saved me from many a blister on the trail (oh the curse of new hiking boots…even when you break them in, there’s still an adjustment period).

And it’s something I’ve whipped out for other adventurers I’ve encountered who hadn’t brought theirs along.

Let’s hope you never have to pull this thing out to use the tick remover. The horror. But hey, if you do, at least you know you’ve covered all your bases.

7. Sunscreen

I’m a mom living and hiking in Colorado, okay?! What did you expect me to say?

Hiking above treeline? Sunscreen. Hiking in the middle of the day? Sunscreen. Hiking with unruly children who refuse to keep their sun-protective layers on? Sunscreen. The moms who get it, get it.

The higher the altitude, the greater risk of burning, since the atmosphere is thinner. So if you’re hiking in the mountains, especially in a place like Colorado, bringing a super solid sunscreen with you is critical.

You know what? We also need to add an all-natural DEET-free bug spray to the list if you’re hiking near any water source (or near snow melt, because for some horrible reason, the mosquitos near snowmelt are another breed of vicious).

Pro Tip: Do not leave your sunscreen in your car. Sitting in a hot vehicle can reduce the sunscreen’s effectiveness in being able to block UV rays.

Bonus: Canned Oxygen If You’re Not Used To Hiking At Elevation

Since I live in Colorado, I don’t bring this on hikes where it’s just myself and my family. But if I’m hiking with someone who’s coming from out of state, canned oxygen is quite helpful.

And that pretty much wraps up my favorite go-to hiking safety gear. Am I missing any of your go-to essentials? Share in the comments. I’d love for this to be a grab-and-go resource for new hikers to make sure they’ve got everything they need before they hit the trails.

Also, let me know in the comments, would you all be interested in a list of hiking gear that’s overrated and not worth the money? If so, I’ll get working on that list!