5 more hiking essentials – Final instalment of what I carry

You may recall my previous post, 5 Hiking Essentials. Where I offered you 6 items that you should always take on a hike (either I can’t count or one was a bonus!). If you haven’t already, then go read it. Or wait till you’ve read this and then go read it. Your choice. Well here is a follow up. 5 More hiking essentials.

5 More Hiking Essentials

What is different here is that, although you might wish to carry these items, or need to at some times, they are not as important as the previous list.

1. Camera
2. Sunscreen
3. Insect repellent
4. A knife
5. Food and snacks

Camera

If you are a regular reader of this blog then you’ll know a camera is usually the first thing I pack, but then photography is my passion. If it isn’t yours, then the camera might not be so high on your list of more hiking essentials. But it should be in there somewhere. Even if it is just your phone. There is little more annoying than getting somewhere and being greeted by the most amazing vista and not being able to capture the scene for posterity.

I use either my Canon 70D or a Panasonic Lumix GF3 (more updated versions can be found on Amazon).

Sunscreen

Being from the UK our summer lasts all of about a fortnight, but that doesn’t mean the sun can do you harm still. I am terrible for forgetting this if I am honest. Being of an olive complexion it is rare that I burn, except for my nose. But I know I am doing damage to my skin, and potentially worse! Getting a small tube to throw in your bag for the occasional time you need it, is well worth doing. Bit of advice here, don’t just look at SPF, you also want to check the UV levels of protection.

This is the one my family and I use: Nivea Sun Protection

Insect Repellent

I’m lucky, I don’t often suffer with insect bites, unlike Zoe, bar the occasional horsefly bite, usually on my bare legs in summer. But they little blighters do have a tendency to be really annoying still. So when the flying bugs come out some kind of insect repellent is really useful. You can even buy clothes that are impregnated with the stuff (no idea how that works).

I’d love your recommendations here. Let me know what you use in the comments below.

A Knife

As young lad I used to love penknives, I recall saving up for a Swiss army knife. You know the one with a number of different blades. I’ve no idea what happened to it, but I still like looking at knives (and if that doesn’t get me on a no fly list I’m obviously not popular enough for the CIA). Anyway, an item that can be extremely useful in a bag for a hike is some kind of knife. You never know when you might need to cut a tourniquet or hack your way through a bramble patch, like a machete wielding explorer. Really though they can come in handy and are worth including as one more hiking essential

Personally I think this one looks great: Grizzly Bushcraft Buddy

Food & Snacks

I love my food, a little too much really, but when out on long walks, I don’t really eat much. However I will always have some food in my bag if I am on a longer walk. All too often it is not one of the better healthy snacks out there, a bag of crisps, or if I’m feeling healthy a bit of fruit. Really long walks will usually be some sandwiches too. Although I am interested in trying some of the hiking snacks out there.

I like the idea of taking a flask and making up some Spaghetti Carbonara while in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks for Reading

So there you have it 5 More Hiking Essentials for you to throw in your kit bag (or place neatly, maybe I should write how to pack a rucksack, although I might have to learn then). I hope it helps. What other essentials do you pack? Leave me a comment to let me know.

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