Spring hiking gear: top picks for hitting the trails this season
The snow is melting and flowers are blooming! It’s time to start trading some time from skiing down mountains to trekking in the forest. One of my favorite things about spring is that fact that I can start observing things come to life in nature. One of my favorite ways to enjoy nature around this time of year is to go hiking. The flowers are blooming and birds and other wildlife start coming out! As fun as exploring outside can be, being prepared and comfortable is essential! I recently just put together a list of my favorite items for getting outside and hiking in the outdoors this spring:
hiking shorts ($49.95): I just got these baggy hiking shorts from REI in the color desert sun! I am obsessed with these! They are comparable to Patagonia’s baggies but wayy cheaper! If you’re trying to keep costs low, these pants are the way to go! I love breaking out the shorts once the sun starts to come out. I’d much rather wear shorts and layer up on top if needed.
a good puffy ($89.95): I’ve been rocking this down puffy for two years and it is still in great condition. The best part is that it is again, a great price without compromising quality. A puffy jacket is a very smart investment to make if you are looking to get into the outdoors. The reason being, is that it packs up extremely compact. On my most recent spring hike, I started my adventure in my baggies and a tank, and ended up bundling up in a mid-layer and puffy by the end because clouds and wind rolled through! Its crazy how weather can change so fast in the outdoors, that you have to put on two more layers! Being prepared is essential. Puffy jackets are light, and take up very little space in your pack.
hydration: Staying hydrated is key! I like to bring a Nalgene full of water (for short hikes). I choose this bottle over my trustee Hydroflask for hikes because it is extremely lightweight. If you are on longer hikes, I highlight recommend a water bladder. I have this one! A water bladder is a lightweight pouch that stores water. It has a flexible tube with a mouthpiece that extends out of the backpack for convenience of not having to pull a water bottle out of your pack! If you are hiking around lots of water sources, I will bring my BeFree Water bottle and filter. This thing is great–so you don’t have to pack in as much water. It’s also great for emergencies or backpacking trips.
Binoculars ($95): I am not afraid to admit, that I am a little bit of a nerd! I always have been. When I’m hiking, I take time to look at birds, study the flowers, and other nature around me. I recently got Nocs Binoculars and they are so clutch! They are small enough to take on hiking trips and surprisingly good quality for the price! Also, the colors they come in are too freaking cute! They also sell handy straps, so you can keep them around your neck for quickly spotting creatures.
A properly fitting, supportive hiking backpack: I have been putting off investing in a day pack for a while…They are a little bit more of an investment than the other items on my list, but well worth it. I have a longer torso, so I went with Osprey’s SKARAB 30 litre pack. This size is great for long day hikes or single night backpacking trips. If you are curious to why you should invest in a good hiking backpack over a backpack that you already have, the biggest reason to, is for the way it helps you carry the weight in your pack. There are more straps to help disperse the weight, compared to a traditional pack that will just put a lot of stress on your shoulders. The storage capacity on hiking backpacks are also much better. You can check out my backpack here! PS, this pack comes with the water bladder that I mentioned previously! Win-win!
Trail runners: Hear me out…even if you don’t trail run, you may want to consider trailrunners over hiking boots. They are lighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and still have great traction. When the weather is nice, I ditch my hiking boots and opt for my trail runners. I currently run in Salomon SpeedCross shoes. If you’re about a wider toe box, you’ll love these.
