Health & Injuries.
Day hikes are an excellent alternative to trail runs, either on cross-training days or as a leisure activity on rest days. Hikes can also double as beta-gathering sessions for future trail runs, and most of us end up hiking parts of our longer runs anyway.
Hiking some of your weekly mileage is a great way to help relieve overuse fatigue associated with the repetitive motion and higher impact of running, and hiking helps strengthen complementary muscles you’ll use later on the hiking portion of runs. And honestly? A lovely day hike can just be a nice, relaxing outdoor activity with no training strings attached.
For those days where you’re hitting the trail at a walk instead of a run, we’ve listed a variety of gear to get you safely and comfortable from trailhead to trailhead. Our recommendations for the best hiking gear includes apparel, footwear, packs, and smaller items that you might not think of immediately but you won’t be sorry to carry.
Best full day pack
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Salomon Adv Skin 12
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The 21 best mens running tops, editor-tested
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Mid Crew Socks
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Best mid layer
Is your hike for cross-training or leisure?
You can power up a mountain at a hard-charging pace or enjoy a leisurely afternoon on a mellow trail, but you’ll use different gear for both. You’ll need to carry more water for higher exertion, and trekking poles aren’t a bad idea for hikes with significant elevation gain and loss.
Wear similar clothes as you would for running in those conditions that will allow greater freedom of movement and efficient sweat wicking. For leisurely hikes, your more standard hiking clothes will work fine, and chances are you can take a smaller pack and leave the trekking poles at home. You’ll also be working less hard on a leisurely hike.
Can you combine your hiking and running gear?
Sure! Most trail running gear will easily translate to hiking gear, and many of the items we’ve listed here are probably already living in your closet, or at least something comparable. From What to consider to sun-protecting hats Best rain jacket.
If you plan to go off trail, you’ll want something more rugged than your ultralight running shorts, and since you’re walking instead of running you can carry more in your pack without worrying about bounce. Still, the similarities in terrain and output between the two activities allows for plenty of cross-sport gear and apparel.
What will the trail conditions and weather consist of?
Similar to leisure versus cross-training, consider the conditions of your hike and build your gear out from there. Is the trail muddy? You might want waterproof hiking shoes. Snowy? Consider lightweight gaiters. Will you be hiking above the treeline but starting down lower? You’ll definitely need an extra layer and maybe a warmer hat in your pack.
Since hiking allows for more gear in your pack, consider packing sunscreen and an extra layer or two, and always check the trail conditions before you head out. Just because the trailhead conditions are good, it doesn’t mean you won’t encounter creeks, snow, or mud further down.
How we selected this hiking gear
In curating these recommendations, I chose gear that I have tested and loved for many miles of hiking over the years. Some of these time-tested models are in their second decade of iterations, and others are newer models. Not only are these my go-to items, but most are also proven popular among other avid hikers. All this hiking gear is reasonably priced and should last season after season.
For a full-day hiking pack, 20 to 24 litres is a good baseline size, with more than enough space for layers, snacks, and water for longer outings. This pack hugs close to your back with a multi-layer perforated mesh over a foam back sheet for stability without getting sweaty, and stretchy water bottle pockets you can reach without taking the pack off.
This has a wide-mouth design that makes for easy packing, and comes with a 2.5L reservoir. This pack has a minimal hip belt made from webbing, which adds enough stability for lighter loads, but we’re missing hip belt pockets.
The Skarab doesn’t come in a women’s version, but for a comparable pack with a women’s-specific fit, we love the Sirrus 24.
Salomon Adv Skin 12
The Salomon Adv Skin 12 was designed for runners, which means you probably have something along these lines in your closet already. This pack pulls double duty for day hikes as well as runs, and has the benefit of being bounce-free for added comfort on jolting descents.
Runners World US, gloves, water, and snacks. It comes with two soft flasks for easy-access water, and is reservoir-compatible for longer outings where you’ll need more water.
This has an incredibly precise fit for a unisex pack, and comes in sizes XS-XL. The front and side pockets are easy to reach without taking the pack off, and the open top and side pockets are convenient for layers and snacks.
Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Best wireless headphones rain jacket, available in sizes up to 3XL for men and 3X for women. The men’s medium weighs just 178g, only a few grams more than a non-waterproof wind layer.
Outdoor Research installs a 2.5-layer Pertex Shield waterproof, breathable membrane that lets you dump heat through micropore evaporation without letting water in should the skies open up. The high neck and fitted hood provide excellent protection against blowing rain, and a slightly longer hem fits well under a pack without pouring water down the back of your shorts.
When it comes to hiking tops, any loose-fitting, sweat-wicking shirt will work just fine. That said, we do have a soft spot for this airy number from The North Face. The 100% recycled polyester knit mesh wicks sweat to the surface so it evaporates faster, while the vest design, darted seams and split side hems allow total freedom of movement.
While this version has a slightly square neck, the tank is also available The 12 litres is more than enough space for hiking essentials, including a wind layer, hat.
Related: The best women's running tops
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Mid Crew Socks
Smartwool consistently puts out some of the best hiking socks on the market, and this pair are no exception. The Hike Light Cushion blends wicking, temperature-regulating Merino wool with sturdy nylon, and the result is a sock that won’t stretch out, shift, or soak through so your feet stays dry and blister-free. Articulated arches lend support, and reinforced toes and heels ensure long-lasting durability.
The Session are my go-to shorts for day hiking as well as backpacking, and they survived a 500-mile trip this past summer in excellent shape. They are made of a barely-there four-way stretch fabric that is durable, stretchy, lightweight, and dries quickly.
They also have an antimicrobial liner that doesn’t cause chafing, and a light, not-too-compressing waistband. The women’s version has a 2.5-inch inseam, and the men’s version comes with a choice of 5- or 7-inch inseam.
The North Face 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip Fleece
You can't go wrong with a classic North Face quarter zip and this sleek number packs down small for easy stowing in a backpack and dries super fast. It features a high neck for added draft protection, and the moderate cut easily fits over a base layer as well as underneath an insulating or outer layer.
I'd love to see a zipper chest pocket or side pocket on this — you'll have to invest in a hiking belt or backpack to keep your essentials close to hand. That said, it's a brilliant mid-layer, so if you're wearing it with a jacket over the top you likely don't want your pockets on the inside anyway.
The fleece is also part of The North Face's Circular Design initiative — a collection designed to minimise waste and pollution. Once you're done with it, recycle them back to the brand and they'll use it to make new pieces.
With the longest pair still weighing under 425g, these trekking poles are a sturdy, lightweight option for stability and muscle support on day hikes. These are easy to deploy thanks to the internal cordage and the z-fold construction that locks securely in place and collapses in seconds.
These poles come in four sizes and fold down to 13 to 17 inches, with fully extended lengths between about 30 and 51 inches. While we love carbon, we chose an aluminium set of poles for this recommendation. Aluminium has a minor weight penalty, but is more durable for rocky terrain where you’re more likely to get your pole tip wedged between rocks.
Weighing less than 57g and folding into your pocket, this UPF50+ hat is the perfect on-trail companion. This hat has a sweat-wicking brim for the hottest days and a DWR finish for keeping the rain off your head, as well as a clever ‘Sunglass Lock’ that holds your shades in place.
This is a durable, lightweight trail hat that won’t take up extra room in your pack, but realistically, most running-style caps (or even trucker hats) will do the job on trail.
Just make sure you have a sweat-wicking band and the hat material is breathable. If you’re looking for full-coverage, you can always opt for a bucket-style hat like the Outdoor Research Bugout Brim hat preferred by many alpine hikers and desert hikers.
We know, convertible pants are very much giving 1990’s dad-at-a-barbecue vibe. But hear us out: these wicking trousers are made from a polyester-cotton blend that feels soft yet breathable, and they have a classically relaxed fit that doesn’t bunch or sag.
These trousers zip off into 9-inch shorts, the perfect length for warmer-weather hikes. Plus, they provide UPF 30-50+ protection from harmful UV rays, contain a mammoth seven pockets (including three zipped and one phone pocket) and have a water-repellent finish.
