Essential Gear to Take on Day Hikes

Day hikes are a great way to get some exercise while enjoying some fresh air and sunshine in a beautiful natural setting. If you're anything like me, a short day hike is preferable to a backpacking trip because a) you can travel light, and b) you don't have to sleep on the cold, hard ground with bugs crawling all over you. A day hike will get you back into town in time to enjoy dinner in a nice restaurant as your reward for getting outdoors for some invigorating exercise.

Here are the things I consider important to take along on day hikes.

First and foremost, a good pair of well-fitting hiking boots is essential if you're planning to do anything more than take that flat nature trail to the visitor center. Hiking boots will provide much needed traction and ankle support. Make sure to break in a new pair before you hit the trail or you'll be saying "ouch" a lot. Actually, mountain terrain has a tendency to create blisters even with well-fitting boots, so take along some bandages and moleskin just in case.

Wear several light layers of clothing that can be removed easily if the weather changes. Experts recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants, which can be tucked in to keep ticks from hitching a ride. A hat and sunglasses are also essential gear for day hikes.

Water is mandatory for even short day hikes. A Camelbak water pack is ideal because you can strap it to your back and sip through the tube even while you're huffing up the mountain. You can also buy water bottle holsters that attach to your belt, though these won't hold as much water as a Camelbak will.

If the area where you'll be hiking has a trail map, by all means take one along! It's your best insurance against getting lost, and if you get tired during your day hike and want to find a shorter route down the mountain, you'll know which trail to take. All national parks and many state parks have trail maps available at the entrance or the visitor center.