Solo Hiking Essentials
Let’s Talk Clothes!
It’s so important that you bring the right type of clothes with you when hiking, ESPECIALLY in the winter. You want your clothes to be moisture-wicking and quick-drying so that you don’t get wet and cold, which can quickly lead to hypothermia.
Here are some of my favorite hiking clothes:
Pants
These are perfect for fall and winter hiking or backpacking! They are midweight!
These are my favorite pants for cold winter hikes! They are fully waterproof and thick, so they will keep you nice and warm on trail!
These are my favorite hiking pants for the summertime! They are lightweight and very breathable.
Shorts
I LOVE THESE SHORTS! They are fully waterproof and have an adjustable belt AND pockets! Plus the color is super cute!
If I’m not wearing my Stio shorts, these are my other go-tos! They are water-resistant and super comfy, stretchy, and lightweight!
Layers & Jackets
I LOVE a good thermal! Especially the ones with the thumbholes.
This fleece from Stio is my absolute favorite! I always bring it with me when I go hiking or backpacking!
This jacket is fully waterproof and insulated, while still being very lightweight!
Fully waterproof! Plus I absolutely love the coloring on it!
This is a great jacket to get for colder hikes! Important to know, however, is that it is NOT waterproof. I got caught in a blizzard with this on and it fully soaked through.
Protect yourself from the sun! This is my favorite sunshirt I own, plus it has thumb holes!
Moving on to Gear!
This list is comprised of my favorite hiking gear accessories that I bring with me when hiking solo!
This has SO many features (honestly, I haven’t even used all the features on it yet), my favorite and most used feature is being able to send messages to family/friends when I’m in the backcountry and have no cell reception.
It also has an SOS button, so if you are in an emergency you can get rescued!
I started carrying bear spray with me fairly recently, and it definitely comes in handy! I hike and backpack all the time, and I’ve only ever seen one bear while out in the woods, but they are there, and it’s important to be prepared.
To be honest, I mostly carry bear spray so I feel safer about people rather than bears.
Having a short-range form of protection is super important, in my opinion.
I purchased this bag in the summer of 2024 while I was living and working in Colorado! It quickly became my go-to hiking bag and I love it!
If you’re a solo hiker, especially a female, this is a great investment! Basically, it’s a very loud alarm!
You never know when you might need to use a pocketknife to cut something! This is my favorite!
Sadly, I don’t have a photo of me using my LifeStraw, but these are WORTH the investment! It allows you to drink water from any lake, river, stream, or water source, and it filters out the bad stuff so you don’t get sick!
This is a GAME CHANGER for hiking with my camera! I used to use a camera strap but my neck would hurt so much from it. This clip can attach to any bag strap and allows you to easily slide your camera in and out, so you can capture ALLLL the pics!
Discount Codes & Disclaimer!
DISCOUNT CODES
- Stio – FREESPIRIT (20% off)
- AllTrails – FREESPIRIT30 (30% off premium membership)
Disclaimer: these links to products are affiliate, therefore I receive a commission on any products ordered
Happy Hiking!
I hope this list of clothing and hiking gear helps you when selecting what works best for you! Happy Trails!
