8 Life-saving Hiking Essentials Experts Say to Pack

It has been almost two years since that painful day when I was rescued while traveling to Solo in South Africa. Although I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, that Monday morning in Table Mountain National Park is forever etched in my memory. I made a lot of mistakes that day – for starters, hiking alone on a dangerous trail. On the bright side, I met Blake Dyson, founder of Love Our Trails and co-founder of Trail Search and Rescue, which rescues dozens of hikers every year (and even helps recover bodies). I asked him what safety gear and outdoor products make his job easier and what should always be in a hiker’s pack before hitting the trail.

I also talked to my childhood friend, Creed Zabel of Central Montana Search and Rescue. As much as I love Dyson and Zabell, I hope you never meet them, or run into their search and rescue partners off the trails. Fortunately, there are things you can do to drastically reduce your chances of being brought down the mountain on a stretcher, packing a few simple products like an emergency whistle and a waterproof headlamp. These experts start at just $8 at Amazon and could potentially save your life.

Garmin Enrich Mini 2 Satellite Communications

With over a thousand purchased in the last month alone, the Garmin Enreach Mini 2 is one of Amazon’s best-selling handheld GPS units. “It gives you the ability to call for help in an emergency, even if you don’t have a cell phone signal,” Dyson said of the particular model’s name. Plus, unlike smartphones, it can go weeks between charges. The only downside is that you need an active satellite subscription, but it’s still worth every penny for the peace of mind.

On a five-day hiking trip in Isle Royale National Park, he brought his Garmin Enreach Mini 2, “We ran into a ranger who said he was very happy to see that we had ended a missing person search (for someone) who had become separated from his hiking partner.”

Black Diamond Storm 400 LED Headlamp

Even if you’re only doing a day hike, Dyson recommends packing a headlamp. “Just in case you get lost, the timing is wrong, or someone gets hurt, you want to be able to see in the dark,” he said. “It will also make it much easier for rescue teams to find you.”

He personally invested in the Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 headlamp, but if that’s out of your budget, consider the Black Diamond Storm 400, which has more than 1,000 five-star ratings. It is also waterproof, dustproof and super compact. Why trust the Black Diamond brand? “They are reliable,” Blake added. If you don’t go with that, make sure you choose a headlamp with at least 350 lumens.

Anker portable charger

Dyson also recommends reaching for a power bank for easy charging devices and headlamps when needed. Ever since I discovered this Anker power bank that keeps my phone alive for days, I’ve been a huge fan of this brand, which is considered extremely reliable.

About the size of a credit card, this mini powerhouse is ideal for hiking when size and weight matter. It has over 7,800 five-star ratings on Amazon, with over 6,000 purchases in the last month alone. In particular, buyers appreciate its speed: it can charge a dead iPhone from 15 to 57 percent battery in 30 minutes.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Embrace your inner camel, because you can’t stress enough the importance of having water on you when hiking. But in addition to staying hydrated, you need to make sure the water you’re drinking is clean. “Contaminated water will cause disease,” Zabel told me before starting to sing the praises of the LifeStraw. He’s preaching to the choir – I’ve been using this popular water filter on my travels to remote locations for years.

Because it filters out 99.99 percent of bacteria, parasites, and microplastics, it allows you to safely fill your bottle at rivers and other water sources. Still on the fence about packing plastic straws? Just know that it’s reusable and has an impressive 4.8 star average rating from over 122,000 ratings on Amazon.

Emergency whistles with lanyards

Because I didn’t have a phone, screaming saved my life and got the attention of my rescuer in South Africa. However, in hindsight, blowing a whistle — something that would never add up without Dyson — isn’t much more effective. For starters, I don’t lose my voice, and secondly, the voice travels further. I love this emergency whistle because it can be heard a mile away. It comes with an adjustable, reflective lanyard, and it’s plastic, so it’s safe to use even when it’s cold out.

pteromy hooded rain poncho

It doesn’t matter how hot it is: “If it starts raining and it’s windy, hypothermia can set in quickly,” Zebel explained. That’s why he recommends packing this lightweight poncho to keep you dry, and most importantly, warm. It has over 6,800 five-star ratings on Amazon. “I like the fact that I can wear the poncho on both me and my bag,” said one shopper, who used it while hiking the Camino de Frances in Spain.

Having an extra pair of dry socks can also be a serious game changer. I personally hike with Darn Tough socks because they’re made from naturally moisture-wicking merino wool, and if you get a hole in them, Darn Tough will replace them for free.

Protect Life 100 Piece First Aid Kit

Both Zabel and Dyson can’t imagine hiking without a first aid kit. “It doesn’t have to be an advanced pack that you would expect a doctor or EMT to pack in an ambulance,” Zibel explained. “But it must have the essentials.”

This 100-piece kit weighs less than a pound and fits in a water bottle pocket. The handicap was designed by doctors and is a favorite among Amazon shoppers, with an average rating of 4.7 stars. One five-star reviewer has kept the kit in her purse for everyday use and called it “so useful,” adding that “it’s also nice that it can go through TSA.”

Osprey Rook 50 L Bag

Just as it’s important to wear the right hiking clothes for comfort, it’s important to have a pack that fits. “If your back and shoulders hurt, you’re going to be miserable,” before adding that a comfortable pack is also essential for carrying products on the list.

Want a great deal? Sign up for our T+L recommends newsletter And we’ll send you our favorite travel products every week.