Download the Windy.app Hiking Checklist. Everything you need to practice this sport

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Hiking or trekking, as it is called in Europe and Asia, is a great but not the easiest sport to practice as it may seem from the outside, especially if we are talking about backpacking with tent. It requires not only the skills and experience but also special equipment and clothing, consisting of a lot of essential things that are easier to forget than to remember, right?

To prevent this from happening to you, check out the Windy.app Hiking Checklist. The list will work primarily for hiking and trekking, but considering that the equipment and clothing are repeated with minor additions and exceptions, it will also be suitable for backpacking, thru-hiking, fastpacking (trail running plus ultralight backpacking), and other types of hiking.

We have tried to make the list as complete as possible with more than 100 items in it. So it is not necessary to bring all the things on the list but only the ones without which you actually can't do hiking. For example, you should not neglect everything about navigation and safety on a trail, even if it seems "unnecessary". Conversely, it is quite possible to neglect things like "a book of a favorite travel author", or even additional clothing you can leave at home. See for yourself according to your situation.

Download and print out the hiking checklist (573 KB, PDF, Google Drive) to make sure you have everything with you when it comes to the actual hiking and backpacking adventure.

1. Hiking equipment, spare parts, and repairs

• Hiking shoes
• Hiking waterproof boots
• Trail running shoes
• Sandals or other lightweight shoes after a hike
• Rubber hiking boots
• Hiking backpack: 10 l (22 lb) — ultralight backpacking and fastpacking; 20–30 l (44–66 lb) — day hiking, 30–40 l (66–88 lb) — hiking with an overnight stay; 50–60 l (110–132 lb) — backpacking; 70+ l (154+ lb) — thru-hiking
• Daypack of 20 l (44 lb) for backpacking
• Trekking poles
• Via ferrata climbing kit (if needed)
• Climbing equipment (if needed)
• Waterproof bags for clothes and valuables
• Spare parts for vital equipment or those that can break down
• Swiss Army Knife or multi-tool
• A small rope
• Scotch tape (including for climbing skin), glue, a big needle, and strong thread
• Gas burner, 230-430 ml gas cylinder, and utensil set
• Light aluminum dishes for cooking and eating
• Cutlery: fork and spoon
• Dishwashing liquid
• Thermos
• Water bottle for a 1-liter minimum
• Tent with a high degree of protection against moisture
• Foam mat or inflatable tent mattress
• Polypropylene seating mat
• Sleeping bag for at least 0 ºC (32 ºF) or below
• A small pillow
• Other

2. Safety, emergency, and other useful items

• Sportive sunglasses
• Regular spare glasses and contact lenses
• Climbing helmet
• Headlight
• Hand flashlight
• Extra batteries for lights
• Some reflective things for your clothes, hat, and tent
• Packable lantern for a tent
• Basic all-purpose first aid kit or emergency kit
• Dry or liquid alcohol or antiseptic wipes
• Water filter/purifier or chemical treatment
• Trail snacks
• Matches and lighter
• Firestarter
• First aid thermal (space) blanket
• Beacon light
• Whistle
• Signal mirror
• Knee pads, elastic bandages, and other means of body fixation
• Notepad, pen, and pencil
• Insect repellent
• Other

3. Clothing, accessories, and personal hygiene

• Underwear
• Base layer cloths
• Thermal underwear top and bottom
• Fleece sweater
• Down jacket or vest
• T-shirts with short sleeves
• T-shirt with a long sleeves
• Shorts
• Quick-drying light pants
• Pants for cold weather
• Three pairs of hiking or sportive socks minimum
• Warm wool socks
• Buff or any other neck warmer
• Wind and waterproof jacket
• Сap or hat
• Hat with mosquito net
• Raincover
• Gaiters for rainy, snowy, or muddy conditions
• Folded umbrella
• Gloves for climbing
• Working gloves for cutting wood and son
• Post-hike set of clothes
• High-protection sunscreen
• Lip cream
• Hand sanitizer
• Prescription medications
• Shampoo and soap
• Toilet paper
• Quick-drying towel
• Other

4. Navigation, mobile connection, and energy

• Windy.app Pro weather app
• Guidebook
• Paper and electronic maps of the region
• Route description on paper
• Public transportation schedule on paper
• Compass
• GPS navigator (GPS trekker)
• Mobile or satellite phone
• Binoculars
• Smartwatch with altimeter and track recorder app
• A small camera, GoPro, and the like
• Powerbank
• Spare battery pack for everything
• Portable solar panel
• MP3 player
• Headphones
• Other

5. Identity papers, money, and insurance

• National ID
• Drivers license
• International passport with a visa (if required)
• Any types of hiking permits (if needed)
• Emergency phone number and other contacts
• Your itinerary and contacts left to this service, friends, and hotel
• Credit card
• Cash in local currency
• Health, travel, and sportive insurance
• Other

Check other Windy.app checklists. Soon we'll share similar checklists for all other top 20 outdoor sports and activities you can practice with the Windy.app.

• The Windy.app Hiking Checklist
• The Windy.app Skiing Checklist
• The Windy.app Cycling Checklist

Cover photo: backpacker overlooking Zion Canyon in the Zion National Park, Utah, United States. Presley Roozenburg / Unsplash

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