The ten essential items have evolved into ten essential systems. I always carry them. As for additions, many first aid kits do not have aspirin or antihistamine included. I learned from my first aid training that you should add these to your kit. Aspirin is for heart attacks, maybe not you but for your companions or even a hiker you meet. Same with antihistamine, could save someone from a bee or wasp sting.

I also pack a Rab siltarp. Its lightweight, and can be deployed as a sun or rain shelter. I've done a few rescues as a firefighter and often run into patients completely exposed to the elements (especially as you've said the sun). I have the same bivy and combined with the tarp I imagine will make the situation more comfortable if your waiting for help.

I’d add a days supply of routine medications if needed and bug spray

Shemagh, Tourniquet, 4 inch fixed blade knife, Paracord and Poncho that converts to a shelter, steel container to boil and collect water, signal mirror.

speaking of dog first aid kits. The ruffwear evac kit is very packable in the off chance you need to carry your dog out while still carrying your pack. I have started bringing it as my dog is about 30lbs and trying to fit him in my pack would be hard and depending on the injury they sit better in the backtrack harness. Highly recommend and pray you don't need to use it for anything serious.

Hello Devin, you always have an answer for all things outdoors. All the best to you and your family. Stay safe 🙏, out there. 🤗

quick little suggestion... I put my various liquid stuff (sunscreen, bug repellant, etc) in a sealed zip-log baggie. I've had these little bottles explode on me (in my pack) smearing the pocket with all that goop

Very good list. I would add; duct tape around a lighter, duct tape is great on hot spots for preventing blisters, as well as repairs, paracord is very versatile, a god GPS app and extra phone charger, extra socks, and TP, always. A day hike for some people is a 2 or 3 mile out and back, for others it might be a 25 mile Rim-2-Rim or a 16 mile 14er. Plan your hiking supplies accordingly.

I always pack a spare pair of socks. Dry feet are a good thing.

Last week I did an 11mile up and down of a local eastern mountain, Trail is rated as difficult by the park. My day pack had just about everything you had plus a small cook set. But the baffling thing I noticed while hiking down the mountain was all the people coming up who didn't have anything. No extra layers, no snacks I could see and no water. Heck grandma and grandpa that I ran into looked like they just got off the tour bus, bought a hiking stick from the gift shop and decided to go up the mountain like it was a local park. I need to get an emergency locator beacon just incase I have to deal with the unprepared and stupid.

Would definitely try some of the products you recommended

I tend to go heavier on navigation and signalling, as that's what's needed to avoid an emergency or get you out of it. Noting that most folks who need a rescue are day-hikers; getting lost is the main reason they need rescuing; and if you need a rescue, getting found is your job. So, on the navigation that would be a compass with rotating bevel and mirror sighting (like the Suunto MC2), pacing beads, area contour maps, a notebook and pencil, and a GPS (as well as my phone). On signalling, the headlamp, emergency bivy and whistle will serve you super-well, (I carry those too) as would the mirror on the compass and your phone. I add colourful surveyors tape to that mix and a chemlight. Surveyors tape can be used signal to aircraft ("HELP" or just three XXXs in the ground) as well as to hang dead reckoning markers on trees/bushes to guide foot searchers to your position (and to help you find your way back to a trail). The chemlight also can be used for signalling and marking your location. Stay safe out there xx

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful

Great gear loadout!!! I bring the same ... in the same pack but smaller (the Gregory Nano 16)... Plenty enough. Thanks for sharing.

Essential items... An emergency signal whistle! (cant rely on having one on the sternum strap and they are not powerful enough) Map and compass and know how to use them

I also took spare shoelaces, socks, underwear, and a singlet on a recent day hike. Amusingly the singlet was the only of those items I used.

For comfort I tent to stay away from shoulder straps when day hiking for fun. " Everyone walks to a different drummer ". For day hikes I do something different.. I use a Mountainsmith Drift ( Lumbar pack , 5 liters ) or a Mountainsmith Day ( Lumbar pack ,13 liters ) as day packs. The liter size depends on the Three W's.( Where , When and Weather ). I really enjoy the freedom of a day pack without shoulder straps. Probably nothing more then something physiological.

Poop kit: tp, trowel, sanitation &/or wag bag

That first aid kit for dogs is awesome. Unfortunately I can't order from the website, otherwise I would love to have it.

Personal location becon or satellite communicator ? Rei hires them I've heard. ....... First aid kit: "stop the bleed" eg: emergency bandage/Israeli bandage, CAT tornaquet etc and training! "open the airways" antihystamines, in case of allergic reaction to insect bite or plant etc Training. leukotape and gauze (the first aid equivalent of ducttape and wd40). Anti-inflammatory 'pain killer' such as ibuprofen. Any prescription medications in case you are delayed. Love the tips on water, very important :) A contractor style heavy duty garbage bag is excellent emergency shelter, cheaper that a bivy and lighter... leaving more for that all important personal emergency locator. As others have mentioned navigation, including non electronic backup and knowledge on how to use.

Would add a navigation system - map and compass and/or GPS. Otherwise, good load out.

Thanks fo for the vid, great pack load out!

I take a little bit less if I'm familiar with the hike and area, however with day hiking I think pack weight is so low anyway, might as well play it safe. I sometime get a gut feeling right before I leave for a hike, 7/10 times I'm right and never regret the extra gear.

Did you have items for navigation and protection I missed?

Good afternoon. Today I watched you rvideo. My I ask where is your food, cook system?

Great video, although I kept expecting you to keep pulling more and more stuff out of the pack (like a magician). I usually take a sit pad with me, nothing fancy, but at my age I'm none too comfortable sitting on the ground or a rock.

Some additional items I always have are paracord and an extra pair of sock liners and socks.

You don't carry a Personal Locator beacon?

Nice video, sir! Good to see somebody with a few essentials for some basic what-ifs. Sometimes it seems the “pack your fears” mentality can go a little far with its reductivism.

I would carry a small tarp as an emergency shelter with that Bivy.. Lightweight maybe 5x7.. Those two items in conjunction can be adequate in worst case scenario for cover.. Also a ferro rod and tinder.. Part of emergency fire kit witht that lighter.

Okay that's funny I just bought that day pack today in that color to match my 45L pack 🤣

can you plz give tips for date hike with little kids? i have a 4 and a 6 yr old girls, how long should the hike be, how can we make it safe? should we worry about stranger danger? It worries me as a woman with two kids if my husband is not available to come with us so I often opt to not go unless I'm able to arrange with friends... what should be in my kids' backpacks if it's just a 1 or 2 mile hike? etc..

Hello, nice recommendations. Take Care.

I carry backpackers tarp from Walmart a long with space blanket

Check out the Ruffwear dog shoes. No more ripped paws.

I need navigation a map or something GPS on the phone make sure your phone to charge

Is it a bad sign that when you pulled out the little first aid kit I immediately thought, "I......*think*.....I have one of those somewhere in one of my multiple gear totes." Sooo much gear in the spare bedroom (and garage)!

Way back in 1964 I hiked a lot. Summer. Winter. Hike. Hike. Hike. Here is what I carried:

I don't think it's necessary to buy a separate first aid kit for your dog. Most of the human first aid kits have everything and then you can add a couple of items that will make it dog friendly. I usually recommend just adding rolled gauze (enough to wrap up a leg) and the self-adhering bandage. This saves money and space in the pack.

Great. video. I’m just starting to hike. I’ve noticed people have dogs. unleashed. Have you ever had an issue with your dog being attacked?

If cellphones went down who would you communicate with even when a garmin inreach?

I always feel like I’m overpacking on a day hike. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one 🤣. Why don’t you like bladders on overnights?

Shoes, sox, pants, shorts, shirt ,hat, glasses? Longer than "expected".

What’s a good rule of thumb for the amount of water to carry? I realize it may vary by body size, temperature, etc. but how much should we be drinking?

With this vid’s ad you could say you are giving Backcountry...Exposure...

I went back through some of your other videos to make sure you hadn’t already answered this one but couldn’t find it so... What kind of food do you usually pack for a one day or relatively short overnight hike?

That’s pretty much what I bring in general except I always take a lighter, and an extra pair of socks....I hate wet feet. Lol

Is that pack a Citro 24 hydration pack?

map!

Kind of overkill for anything under 2 hours. Maybe for a full day "day hike" 8+ miles.

For day hiking, you really do not need most of this gear. I have been day hiking in southern California for years, all over the local mountains and deserts. All you really need is a small waist pack, some snacks and a water bottle, your phone and a map. Geez...just trying to sell you a bunch of junk you don't need. We do 10 hour hikes, 14-16 miles, lots of elevation. Gimme a break. Think for yourself people.

Bottle of water and toilet paper... Period.

Geez...I don't know if all these hiking advisors on KZfaq are just trying to get views, sell products or if they are really serious about all this gear you need for a day hike. Give me a break. I have been day hiking for more than 20 years and you don't need to carry all this stuff. Some food, water, cap, map and a few other items and you will be fine. I do 16 mile / 8 hour hikes with just my water bottle and some snacks. Less is better. If things go wrong, improvise. How much safety do you need? You can always bring a mule and pack it down with 50 pounds of gear "just in case" you need it. Total insanity.