„Only where you have walked have you truly been.“

Goethe knew what most nature lovers and adventurers still say today. When hiking, you experience your surroundings in a completely different way than when travelling by plane, car, van or bike. But travelling without a vehicle also brings the greatest challenge: fitting everything you need to survive into a hiking backpack.VanSite gives you the best packing list for every hike.

Image by Jean-Frederic Fortier on Unsplash |

Planning: not all hiking is the same

Before we explain what gear you can't do without when hiking, think about how long your trekking trip should actually be. Do you just want to go on a day hike or explore the area for several days or even months?

Depending on how demanding the terrain is (mountain climbing, water crossings, etc.) and how long you plan to be on foot, you'll naturally need very different hiking equipment. Below we show you all the important items you'll need for both a day trip and a longer hike.

Note: Of course, before your multi-day hike you need to check whether you're allowed to camp overnight in the area. If you want to find out how and where you can legally camp in the wild, check out our blog posts on wild camping in Germany and wild camping in Europe.

Image by Andrew Ly |

Hiking gear: packing list for your day hike

A day hike is easy to plan for a regular weekend. The advantage is also that you don't need all that much. For a day trip on easy terrain, you should at least have the items from the list below.

Must-haves for a day hike

• Hiking backpack (min. 30 l) including rain cover

• Water bottle with water (min. 1.5 l)

• Food such as snacks, protein bars or a packed lunch

• Comfortable clothing suitable for the weather

• Rain jacket for camping in the rain

• Hiking boots suitable for the weather

• Map or map app for navigation

• First aid kit for emergencies

These items are basically essential on any trekking trip. Beyond that, there are a few more things that can come in handy while hiking:

• Thermal seat cushion for breaks

• Mobile phone for emergencies

• Pocket knife or multitool

• Trekking poles to take the strain off your joints

• Wallet with cash, ID and health insurance card

• Rubbish bag for your waste

• Headlamp in case it suddenly gets dark

Image by Muhammad Masood on Unsplash |

Hiking gear: packing list for your multi-day trip

On a day hike your backpack probably won't weigh more than 7 kg if you pack carefully. A hike over several days naturally requires much more extensive gear, which can easily weigh over 15 kg. Our packing list for an extreme hike covers everything essential for travelling on foot for several days.

Must-haves for a multi-day hike

Equipment:

• Hiking backpack (min. 60 l) including rain cover

• Water bottles (min. 1.5 l per day) or water filter

• Trekking food for several days

• Sleeping bag and/or bivouac bag

• Sleeping mat or hammock

• Tent or tarp

• Map or app for navigation

• First aid kit for emergencies

• Thermal seat cushion for breaks

• Mobile phone for emergencies

• Pocket knife or multitool

• Wallet with cash, ID and health insurance card

• Rubbish bag for your waste

• Headlamp in case it suddenly gets dark

• Camp stove and camping cookware

• Paracord or rope

• Firesteel or lighter

• Towel, preferably quick-drying

• Toiletry bag or hygiene products

Clothing:

• Hiking boots or hiking boots

• Slippers, hut shoes or sandals

• Functional shirt or long-sleeve top

• Fleece jumper or thermal jacket

• Hiking trousers with zip-off function

• Jogging trousers or leggings

• Rain jacket and rain trousers or rain poncho

• Jacket depending on weather

• Change of clothes (min. one complete set)

• Scarf or loop scarf

• Hat and gloves depending on weather

• Swimming gear depending on weather

A short day hike is easy to fit into everyday life and you don't need much gear. If you're planning a hike over several days, it really pays to think through everything in advance. With our packing lists you're now well prepared for your next hiking adventure.

Wondering what gear you need for camping? Then check out our post on camping accessories!