What’s in my Hiking Backpack?
By: Maryann Atseyinku
Tags: Travel, Fitness Tips, Nigeria, Hiking, Outdoors

Ensuring I get the best I can on a Hike I come prepared.

This is a question I don’t get asked a lot. And because people don’t think to ask they come ill-prepared for a hike. Rather than a checklist of items, I decided to dissect my Hiking Backpack for you.

They say if you have an early start, you should prepare the night before. Let’s pretend I don’t hastily pack 5 mins before I leave for the muster point. (I have packed for a hike too many times I do it with my eyes closed *smile*)

So I usually have 2 bottles of water, a soda, an energy drink, a pack of biscuits, a camera, a phone, a power bank, some Bin bags, a face towel, sunscreen, my wallet and more recently portable speakers, comfortable shoes and a whistle.

Two bottles of water.

Because it’s important to stay hydrated. You don’t want to run out of water and find yourself drinking from a murky stream, justifying it in your head that if the locals can drink it, it won’t kill you either. It won’t, don’t worry. Two 350 -500ml bottles can usually last me up to 6 hours, taking sips. Two is ideal. Better than one.

A soda.

You need glucose in any form for energy. Most hikers don’t eat before a hike and your energy has to come from somewhere. As with the water, I sip sodas at rest points to refuel. RIP to my no soda diet, hiking destroyed that.

An energy drink.

This is a backup for the soda. One cannot sip either alone on a group hike. You’ll always have to share. I usually save my energy drink for the final stretch of the hike to fuel up before heading home. Have you ever been hyper on a hike but walked into your house like you just survived a near death experience? I have. Energy is needed to get home as well depending on how intensive the hike was.

Water and soda is a must! Photo Courtesy: AnnaTakesShots

A pack of biscuits.

This is for the hunger pangs and sugar refuel. But usually I don’t get hungry on Hikes. I may get Hangry. Sweets like chocolates might help too.

A Camera.

Because I live for the breathtaking scenery. I take shots. I have a DSLR (Persephone) and she’s a chubby girl. She adds weight to my backpack and when I sling her on my neck. I have a modified shoulder sling that works fine most of the time. Other times I leave her at home and use my phone instead.

A Phone.

One of the most important items and it’s not just because of social media addiction. It’s needed for emergencies. I have made calls to check for lost hikers and also when I got lost. Or when Otedola needed to confirm that contract. I track my Hike with an exercise app. I play music to keep me moving, I use the camera for taking some great pictures. Best to have a phone with a good battery life. And a back up power bank so you don’t get stuck with no way to get help. The most important thing is to keep your phone away when moving. I have seen brand new phones roll into densely covered ditches, roll down steep rocky hills destroying the screen and some just slip out unnoticed and it’s lost forever.

A Whistle.

Great for alerting people and probably scaring away animals. But I got one as a hike leader for administrative purposes. But it has been useful for solo hikes.

A Face Towel.

For wiping off sweat. No need looking like your struggle in those selfie shots. Looking effortless is the goal. And there’s also the first aid application as a tourniquet or for stopping a bleed.

Sunscreen.

Black people need sun protection too.

A Wallet.

You need your ID for many number of reasons. And you need money in case you need to make a hasty escape. Hikers have gotten Okada (motorcycle) rides from the hills back into town. Or bought fruits and vegetables direct from the farmers we encounter. But you should keep cash because you don’t want to be stranded at the end of a hike.

Don’t be a part of the problem. Keep your waste till you are back down. Photo Courtesy: AnnaTakesShots

Bin Bags.

Let me not bore you with the bleeding heart speech but don’t litter on Hikes. It damages the environment, hurts animals and indirectly poisons us too when these materials get to the aquifers. Leave no trace! The rule is put any waste you generate back into your bag till you get to a bin back on ground level. I take a bin bag to keep the waste apart from my stuff in my backpack and also take on waste from other hikers.

These are the main things I carry in my backpack and it might make my bag a little heavy sometimes but I imagine they are weights making my hike more intensive. Plus it makes a great uneven pillow when you need a rest. But on occasion I take my own portable speaker for music. Music is great motivation and also chases animals away before you arrive. I recently started packing a pair of slippers which I leave in the car. Hiking boots can take their toll on your feet. Imagine all the jumping, running and uneven cracks you squeeze your feet into. It’s a relief to take the boots off and you can take them off as soon as the hike ends and slip into something more comfortable.

There you have it. The things I ensure I have packed in my Hike Bag for every Hike. Do you pack some more items than I do? Let me know in the comments! Have a good one!