One of our favorite parts of traveling together is finding a new trail to conquer. From alpine lakes to desert canyons, we’ve slowly dialed in our hiking gear over the years—through trial and error, muddy boots, sudden rainstorms, and some seriously sore feet.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or planning a full-on backpacking adventure, here’s a look at our must-have hiking gear—the stuff we actually carry in our packs, wear on the trail, and reach for trip after trip.

Hiking Gear

Backpacks

We both use the REI Co-op Trail 40 Pack, and honestly, it’s one of the best purchases we’ve made for hiking. It fits everything we need for a day hike or an backpacking trip, and the built-in rain cover has saved us more times than we can count—especially during our rainy Olympic Peninsula hikes.

Hiking Shoes

Sharlene swears by my Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots—they’ve kept me dry crossing streams in the Rockies and steady on slippery roots in the Pacific Northwest. Brandon wears the Wolverine Wilderness Hiking Boots, and he’s a big fan of how sturdy and breathable they are. They broke in quickly and have held up on everything from New Mexicos White Sands to muddy Appalachian trails.

Hiking Socks

We’ve tried a bunch, but the Darn Tough Hiking Crew Socks are our absolute favorite. They’re cozy, durable, and somehow never smell as bad as they should after a long hike. We have over 5 pairs each and use them even when we are not out hiking. Worth every penny.

Water Storage

We typically carry hydration bladders inside our packs (hands-free sipping = game changer), plus a couple of Nalgene bottles for backup and Royce. Staying hydrated is non-negotiable, especially on longer or more exposed trails.

Navigation

We always download trail maps on AllTrails Pro before heading out—it’s saved us multiple times when we’ve lost cell service. We also brought a compass and a small GPS device in the past on longer hiking trips just in case. Better to be prepared than lost in the woods.

Headlamps

We grabbed our headlamps on Amazon a couple years ago, and they’ve worked great ever since. They’re super handy for early morning trailheads or hiking back after sunset. If you’re camping, they’re a must.

Bear Spray

When we’re hiking in bear country, bear spray is non-negotiable. Since you can’t fly with it, we usually buy a canister at our destination. Before flying out, we try to pass it along to another hiker—once we gave ours to a couple who were just starting a van life journey at Glacier National Park then heading up to Canada. It’s a small gesture, but we’d rather hand it off then throwing it out.

Sun Protection

Brandon burns really easily, so sunscreen is always in our pack. He’ll bring whatever we’ve got at home, but I prefer Blue Lizard. For sunglasses, Brandon rolls with a budget-friendly pair from Walmart, and I use my polarized Ray-Bans that I’ve had for years. We also wear sun shirts or shade hoodies on exposed hikes (more on that below).

Emergency Kit

Our first aid kit includes the basics: bandages, pain relievers, blister care, knife, etc. We hope we never need to use it, but it’s one of those things you’re grateful to have when you do.

Hiking Poles

Sharlene is a big fan of hiking poles, especially on steep or slippery trails. They help take pressure off our knees and give us more confidence on sketchier descents.

Hiking Clothes & Shoes

Jackets

In rain, we never hit the trail without our Columbia Pouration II Jackets. We bought them in early 2024 and they’ve been with us on every trip since. Lightweight, waterproof, packabe, and breathable—it’s our favorite.

Shirts

I usually hike in the Old Navy CloudMotion T-Shirt—it’s comfy, lightweight, and breathable, and if it gets chilly or rainy, I just throw my rain jacket over it. Brandon isn’t picky and often hikes in cotton shirts from his closet, but he also likes the CloudMotion tee when he packs them.

Shorts & Pants

Brandon loves his Old Navy Essential Woven Workout Shorts for warm weather hikes. If we’re heading to a lake or river, he’ll switch to his Old Navy Swim Trunks so he can jump in without worrying. When it’s colder, he goes for his Abercrombie Essential Sweatpants. As for Sharlene, she wears leggings from Amazon in all weather. They’re comfy, durable, and budget-friendly—a winning combo.

Pullovers

If we’re hiking somewhere super sunny and there’s not a lot of tree cover, we both wear the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie. It keeps us cool and protects our skin from harsh UV rays.

Trail Food & Snacks

Backpacking Meals

We’ve dipped our toes into the world of backpacking meals and were pleasantly surprised by the Mountain House Chicken Tikka Masala and Pad Thai with Chicken. Both were flavorful, lightweight, and filled us up.

Snacks

We always bring a mix of trail mix, Clif Bars, and fruit bars (we love That’s It bars!). If we’re hiking all day, we’ll pack sandwiches too. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a PB&J at a summit.

Electrolytes

Sharlene loses salt quickly in the heat, so we like to bring Skratch Labs electrolyte packets on warmer hikes. They don’t have that weird salty taste some other brands do. Sharlene’s favorite is Strawberry Lemonade. We also use Skratch for our marathon training runs, so it does double duty.

Other Gear We Love

Dry Bag or Backpack Rain Cover

Our REI packs come with rain covers, but if we’re doing a shorter hike or expecting to be near water, we throw in a dry bag to protect our phones, wallets, and cameras.

Binoculars

These aren’t always in our pack, but when we’re in areas with lots of wildlife, they’re worth the extra weight. On our trip to Glacier National Park, we used them to spot grizzlies and moose from a safe distance— one of those wow moments we’ll never forget.