What to Take on a Short Hike

What to Take on a Short Hike

You can’t swing a hydration pack on the internet without hitting a post on what to pack to go hiking. But those lists are always geared toward day trips, long hikes, multi-day hikes — this isn’t that list. 

You know the kind of walk this is. Clear path. Signposted turns. Plenty of people around. A lookout or a waterfall at the end so you feel like you’ve achieved something — and maybe a cafe stop for breakfast before, or lunch after. 

You’re not heading into the wilderness — but you’re also not just walking to the letterbox.

So you ask yourself — do I really need gear for a short hike?

The answer? Not really… Well… Sort of… It depends… 

Ok, yes — you do need a little bit. Not much. Just enough to keep you comfortable. 

You’re not preparing for every possible scenario here. You’re just trying to avoid the obvious ones — the ones that turn a nice, easy walk into something slightly longer, slightly more uncomfortable, and slightly more annoying than it needed to be.

If you’ve got the basics covered, you’re fine.

How much water do you need for a short hike?

Short answer? It depends.

Start with how long you think the walk will take.

Then quietly add a bit.

Because unless you’ve done a lot of hiking, it will probably take longer than you expect. Not because you’re unfit — but because you’ll stop, look around, take photos, double-check signs, maybe go the wrong way once or twice.

Then think about the conditions —

• Is it hot?
• Is there shade?
• Are you going uphill at any point?

You don’t need to calculate it perfectly. You just need enough that you’re not halfway through thinking, “I should’ve brought more water.”

For most short walks, a bottle is fine. Two if it’s hot or you’re stretching it out.

Do you need hiking boots for short walks?

No, you don’t “need” them. If you have them and want to wear them, great. Ankle support is always helpful no matter how easy the terrain. But if you don’t have them and just want to wear a pair of runners, those will probably work fine. 

Because you do need shoes that won’t immediately let you down — that means no thongs, no flip flops, no heels or wedges (yes, we’ve seen those before on trails). 

If the track has loose gravel, damp rock, tree roots, or uneven steps, you’re going to notice pretty quickly if your shoes aren’t up to it.

You don’t need proper hiking boots — but you also don’t want to spend the whole walk carefully placing every step because your shoes can’t grip.

There’s a middle ground — aim for that. Pick a pair of shoes that:

• Grip — so you don’t slip
• Fit well — so you don’t get blisters
• Support your feet — so they don’t hurt halfway through the hike

Should you bring food on a short hike?

Depends how short “short” is.

If you’re in and out in under half an hour, don’t worry about it.

If you’re going to be out for a while — or you’ve got kids with you — throw something small in.

Not a full lunch. Just enough to avoid that moment where everyone goes a bit quiet and irritable and no one’s quite sure why.

Do you need a backpack for a short hike?

If everything you’re taking fits into your hands and pockets and you’re happy to carry it like that, that’s fine.

A small backpack is fine if you want one — but you really don’t need to be carrying anything big. The bigger your backpack, the more stuff you’ll end up bringing. That’s why we keep ours small. 

What safety essentials should you carry on an easy trail?

Your phone. Charged.

That’s the main one.

If you want to be slightly more prepared, have something useful on it. 

There are plenty of hiking and mapping apps that will show trails and your exact location. You’re unlikely to need it on a maintained track with lots of people and signs — but it also doesn’t add any weight to have it with you.

The Emergency+ app is worth having — it can show your GPS location even without signal if you ever need help.

You probably won’t use it.

But it’s one of those things that’s very easy to have… and very helpful if you do end up using it.

What should you wear on a short hike?

Start with clothes that you might wear to the gym — clothing that you can easily move around in. 

• Put sunscreen on before you leave the car
• Throw a hat on

That alone solves most problems.

Then consider a light layer:

• Something you can tie around your waist
• Something you’ll forget you’re carrying

You probably won’t need it. But if the weather shifts or you stay out longer than planned, you’ll be glad it’s there.

What don’t you need for easy trails?

Most of the stuff people think they need — you don’t actually need for most short hiking trips.

You don't need big hiking bags, litres and litres of water, backup gear for every possible “what if” situation. 

You don’t need to pack for the worst-case scenario — you just need to pack for the walk you’re actually doing.

And while we’re here — leave the portable speaker at home.

It doesn’t sound as good out here as you think it does. And it carries a lot further than you realise.

What’s the bare minimum to bring on a short hike?

Just keep it simple — this is your check before you leave the car:

• Water
• Phone
• Hat
• Sunscreen already on
• Shoes with decent grip
• Light layer and a snack if you might need them

That’s it — enjoy the trail!