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

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.

Text: Ivan Kuznetsov, an outdoor journalist, editor and writer from the Dolomites, Italy, and Karelia, Finland, with 10 years of professional experience. His favorite sports are hiking, cycling and sauna. Read his other articles

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