What do you carry on dayhikes?

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

I was reading a thread about a dayhiker who had to be rescued in the Whites. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts and carried no extra food, water or any sort of shelter. This made me think that since this site is often read by those who are new to hiking, it might be a good idea to list what we carry on dayhikes.

The Dinos carry:

• Multitool - knife, small LED lite, tweezers, scissors, a punch for emergency pack strap repair, a needle with nylon braided thread
• two ponchos - in addition to being our raingear, they can be an emergency shelter.
• a small spool (200') of polyester kite twine - mainly for tarp rigging, but strong enough when multiple strands are used to hold a rotund dino's weight. Can be used for splinting as well
• a pair of DWR (water-resistant) nylon windsuits. These are very light and compressible. They can replace wet clothing and be layered over other clothing for warmth. Once, we stuffed the suits with dry leaves and pine needles to avoid hypothermia - we had started out in shorts and T-shirts on a sunny day in the mid-70s - the wind picked up to a steady 20 miles an hour and the temp dropped about 30* in about an hour, . While a windsuit stuffed with duff isn't the most comfortable item you will ever wear, it is surprisingly warm.
• Small first aid kit - tiny tube of sun screen w/ DEET, single use neosporin packet, tiny tube of vasoline (chapstick, skin protectant & can be used to start a fire), 2 3/4" bandaids (fabric kind), one 3" square of gauze, duct tape.
• A small roll of toilet paper - field stripped
• extra gorp and a lightweight dried food that can be prepared in a freezer bag with cold water (usually dried hummus or dried bean mixture)
• a small eyedrop bottle filled with bleach (emergency water purification)
• two emergency 'space' blankets (not comfortable, but will keep you from freezing to death) Can be used as ground cloth.
• two fleece beanies - covering your head is first thing to try when you start getting cold
• more clothing for warmth depending on season / area
• a large-marble-sized ball of dryer lint and candle wax (homemade firestarter), two waterproof strike anywhere fireplace matches & a small lighter.

[Appalachian Tater]

I was reading a thread about a dayhiker who had to be rescued in the Whites. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts and carried no extra food, water or any sort of shelter. This made me think that since this site is often read by those who are new to hiking, it might be a good idea to list what we carry on dayhikes.

The Dinos carry:

• Multitool - knife, small LED lite, tweezers, scissors, a punch for emergency pack strap repair, a needle with nylon braided thread
• two ponchos - in addition to being our raingear, they can be an emergency shelter.
• a small spool (200') of polyester kite twine - mainly for tarp rigging, but strong enough when multiple strands are used to hold a rotund dino's weight. Can be used for splinting as well
• a pair of DWR (water-resistant) nylon windsuits. These are very light and compressible. They can replace wet clothing and be layered over other clothing for warmth. Once, we stuffed the suits with dry leaves and pine needles to avoid hypothermia - we had started out in shorts and T-shirts on a sunny day in the mid-70s - the wind picked up to a steady 20 miles an hour and the temp dropped about 30* in about an hour, . While a windsuit stuffed with duff isn't the most comfortable item you will ever wear, it is surprisingly warm.
• Small first aid kit - tiny tube of sun screen w/ DEET, single use neosporin packet, tiny tube of vasoline (chapstick, skin protectant & can be used to start a fire), 2 3/4" bandaids (fabric kind), one 3" square of gauze, duct tape.
• A small roll of toilet paper - field stripped
• extra gorp and a lightweight dried food that can be prepared in a freezer bag with cold water (usually dried hummus or dried bean mixture)
• a small eyedrop bottle filled with bleach (emergency water purification)
• two emergency 'space' blankets (not comfortable, but will keep you from freezing to death) Can be used as ground cloth.
• two fleece beanies - covering your head is first thing to try when you start getting cold
• more clothing for warmth depending on season / area
• a large-marble-sized ball of dryer lint and candle wax (homemade firestarter), two waterproof strike anywhere fireplace matches & a small lighter.

I would consider carrying a small packet of alcohol gel instead of the antibiotic ointment and the dryer lint. You could use it to clean a wound and start a fire. You can wait until you get home from a day hike to apply antibiotic ointment.

[taildragger]

Waterproof matches
poncho
para-cord
dri-clime jacket
knife/multi-tool
headlamp
Vittles
beer

I figure that will get me through most situations

[dessertrat]

I almost never carry rainpants, but a raincoat or windbreaker and some long pants are a good idea anywhere, or at least an emergency poncho (very light) and some long pants and a long sleeved shirt. They don't have to be heavy, just something more than bare skin. A knit or fleece hat is probably the most important piece of clothing you can carry, also.

Also, a water bottle, a first aid kit, some matches or a lighter, a knife, and an LED light are musts. These are in case you get stuck overnight somewhere, you can at least light a fire for signalling and/or warmth. A little bit of extra food, even if only a candy bar or two, are a good idea.

AND A CELL PHONE! I know some people will argue, but if you really need it, you should have it. The people without enough sense to leave it off unless it is a real emergency will not listen to anyone else's advice anyway.

All of this can fit in a small backpack. Sorry to those who insist on just a fanny pack.

[Wonder]

Jacket
Water tablets
emergency blanket
knife
headlamp
energy bars

[Seeker]

depending on where i'm going, and how many people i expect will also be around, i might bring:

-my daypack
-a military poncho and a few feet of para cord
-the repair/first aid kit, lighter, toilet paper, swiss army knife, moquito repellent, and aqua-mira water purifying drops from my regular pack
-one extra meal

[Creek Dancer]

In addition to some of these items, I always carry a whistle, a map and compass.

[saimyoji]

SAK
1st aid: blister, pain, bleeding
emergency poncho
warm Jacket (depends on temps)
zip off legs to my shorts
water treatment
cell phone
map/compass/whistle
stove/pot for coffee/tea/cocoa (I like to enjoy my hike )
camera
***Emergency survival cards*** These go with me everywhere. You never know.

food/water for an overnight

Many times I'll be doing shakedowns, so I'll just carry everything minus food/water.

[ChinMusic]

To me it depends totally on the location and distance.

I'll carry many of the items listed above on some hikes. On others I will basically just have food, water, and car keys.

[Lone Wolf]

beer and beef jerky

[warraghiyagey]

beer and beef jerky

Beer in camel pack? Or do you have one of those cool beer can/hats.

[Lone Wolf]

Beer in camel pack? Or do you have one of those cool beer can/hats.

cans of Busch beer in my day pack. i don't use one of them weenie camelback thingys

[warraghiyagey]

cans of Busch beer in my day pack. i don't use one of them weenie camelback thingys

Weenie? Ouch!
Busch? I guess they don't have Natural Ice in your area.

[jlb2012]

cans of Busch beer in my day pack. i don't use one of them weenie camelback thingys

Is there any piece of gear that you don't use but yet you don't consider to be weenie?

[Lone Wolf]

Weenie? Ouch!
Busch? I guess they don't have Natural Ice in your area.

Natty Ice is schwag

[taildragger]

Is there any piece of gear that you don't use but yet you don't consider to be weenie?

I don' think that he'd consider this weenie

Attachment 2520

[Lone Wolf]

Is there any piece of gear that you don't use but yet you don't consider to be weenie?

I don't use hammocks. they're alright. just not for me.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

I don' think that he'd consider this weenie

Attachment 2520

Does this come in an ultralite model?

[Alligator]

I was reading a thread about a dayhiker who had to be rescued in the Whites. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts and carried no extra food, water or any sort of shelter. This made me think that since this site is often read by those who are new to hiking, it might be a good idea to list what we carry on dayhikes.

...

The information provided does not go into detail as to what he was carrying. Further the articles states that he had "layered up". I'm not saying he was prepared/unprepared, but from the information folks are drawing conclusions.

[taildragger]

Does this come in an ultralite model?

You don't want it to be ultra-lite, thats just too painful to be fun