If you are a seasoned hiker, you probably already have your own checklist of what to take on a ten-mile hiking trip. However, if you are a hiking newbie, you should know that a ten-mile hiking trip is not a walk in the park and it requires some preparation. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. What should you take on a ten-mile hiking trip? We’ve compiled a hiking essentials checklist for you.
Hiking should be pleasant and safe. In order to truly enjoy a ten-mile hiking trip, take into consideration your level of fitness, type of terrain, and the weather forecast. Some of the things that we recommend you bring on a ten-mile hiking trip are appropriate footwear, a hiking backpack, food and water, sun protection, and a first aid kit.
Our list of hiking essentials goes on and we will get back to it shortly. If you need a bit of inspiration for your next hiking adventure, take a glance at the best hiking trails in Spain or learn about the epic hiking trails in Ireland.
Table of Contents
How fast can you hike ten miles?
A ten-mile hike can take anywhere from four to ten hours. In order to calculate how fast you can hike ten miles take these factors into consideration:
- Your level of fitness
- Your pace
- The number of breaks you take
- The weather conditions
- The type of terrain
- The weight of your backpack
- The elevation gain
You can check out the hiking time calculator from TrailsNH. It takes some of the previously mentioned factors into consideration when calculating your hiking trip time.
Is a ten-mile hike hard?
There is no universal answer to this question. If you are a beginner hiker or out of shape, this might be a difficult hike to accomplish. In order to prepare for a ten-mile hike, increase your endurance by walking more than usual in the weeks leading up to the hike. Develop a workout plan that will help build up your core and shoulder muscles to help you carry the backpack. Work on improving your leg muscles by doing lunges.
Ten-mile hiking trip checklist
If you’ve prepared physically and set your mind on accomplishing a ten-mile hiking trip, now is the perfect time to present you with our ten-mile hiking essentials checklist. If you need even more info on what equipment you need for hiking, make sure to check the complete guide in our blog.
#1 A hiking backpack
You should have a sturdy backpack to store all of your gear. For day hiking you can choose one that holds from eleven to twenty liters of gear. You can go with a more serious backpack depending on your hiking needs. Keep in mind that the longer the hike is the more food, water, clothing, and gear you’ll need to carry with you.
#2 Appropriate footwear
You should choose hiking shoes or boots that are comfortable and lightweight to avoid blisters. Your hiking footwear should provide you with traction, support, and protection. Find out if you can hike in Nike Air Max 90.
Don’t make any hasty decisions when it comes to choosing well-fitting shoes or boots. They will carry the weight of your entire body, so choose them wisely. Most importantly, don’t buy a new pair of hiking shoes the day before hiking. You need to break them in so that they feel comfortable. Read our blog to discover if hiking makes your feet bigger.
#3 Food
Proper nutrition is vitally important when hiking. Hiking burns quite a lot of calories and puts quite a strain on your body. Try to bring calorie-dense food and snacks that are rich in protein. You can snack on nuts, dried fruits, energy bars, or jerky.
For lunch, some people like to pack sandwiches with hard meat and cheese, tortillas and bagels. The rule of thumb is to always make and bring more food than you might think you’ll need. When hiking, you get very hungry very quickly.
#4 Water
Staying well-hydrated while hiking is essential. Water helps your whole body run properly, it regulates your body’s temperature and keeps your muscles and joints working properly. When you plan how much water to bring on your hiking trip, start with at least two liters per person for the day.
Having enough water for your hiking trip is vitally important, but keep in mind that water bottles are one of the heaviest things that you will carry around while hiking. You should do a bit of research ahead of time to know what your options for refilling water are. Also, check out our purifying tips on how to filter water that will help you enjoy fresh, potable water when both hiking and camping.
#5 Sun protection
Don’t underestimate the power of the sun to burn your skin even when the weather looks cloudy. Think about protecting your skin from excess rays even when you think you don’t burn easily. Apply the sunscreen before you hit the hiking trail and bring the sunscreen bottle with you. Health experts recommend SPF 30 for extended outdoor activity.
You should reapply the sunscreen as often as every two hours depending on the time of day. SPF-rated lip balm is also a good idea. Consider buying sun-protection clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor. Quality sunglasses that are preferably polarized will protect your eyes from potentially damaging radiation and conditions such as snow blindness.
#6 First aid kit
Your first aid kit will be helpful to you only if you know how to use it. You should familiarize yourself with the contents of your pre-packaged first aid kit prior to your hiking trip. As you gain a bit more hiking experience, you can personalize the first aid kit to your individual needs. Nevertheless, keep in mind that your typical first aid kit should include adhesive bandages, gauze pads, treatments for blisters, and some over-the-counter pain medication.
#7 Extra clothes
Weather is fickle in the backcountry. That being said, always bring an extra insulation clothing layer. Rain protection and a down hooded jacket are sensible items of clothing that you should pack, regardless of the weather forecast. Avoid cotton clothes, simply because cotton takes a long time to dry and pulls heat from your body. Wear synthetic layers that manage perspiration and stop your clothing from becoming soaking wet.
#8 Illumination
Even when you plan to hike in the daylight, a hike can take longer than expected and you can find yourself out past the dark. Your phone does have a torch, but it’s always a good idea to bring some sort of a backup light source. Having a headlamp or a torch as daylight is fading will help you find your way in the backcountry.
Navigation tools are there to prevent you from getting lost or help you find your way again if you do get lost. These are the devices that will come in handy on your hike provided that you know how to use them:
- A topo map – a topographic map should accompany you on any trip into the backcountry. To keep your map dry and protected, put it in a waterproof map sack.
- A compass – a compass and a paper map are your essential navigation tools. They are reliable, and lightweight and they will never run out of batteries. If your compass has a sighting mirror it can also be used to flash sunlight to the rescue helicopter in case of an emergency.
- GPS devices and phone apps – GPS devices that are designed for outdoor use are usually rugged and weatherproof. Both GPS devices and phones run on batteries, so consider carrying extra batteries or a power bank.
- Altimeter watches – this is an extra navigational tool that measures air pressure and GPS data. It provides an estimate of your elevation by using a barometric sensor. It can track your progress and help you determine your location on a map.
- A personal locator beacon (PLB) or a satellite messenger – these gadgets are used in case of an emergency. As opposed to smartphones that offer limited connectivity, a PLB or a satellite messenger work in remote locations and send a message to emergency personnel if you need help in the backcountry.
#10 Tools and repair kit
A duct tape or a tenacious tape and a multi-tool knife are some of the most versatile tools to carry with you when you go on a ten-mile hiking trip. They can help both with gear repair and first aid. With the help of these tools, you can patch up tents and bags, repair sunglasses, or fix sleeping pad punctures.
In conclusion
We hope that you’ve found our ten-mile hiking essentials checklist useful. Once you’ve gathered the items on our list, you are equipped for a ten-mile hike and ready to set off. Keep in mind that if you are a newbie hiker, a ten-mile hike is a great test of stamina, so make sure to prepare for it both physically and mentally. Preparing for a ten-mile hike the right way will ensure the most comfortable hike and a truly enjoyable outdoor experience.
