This may be general knowledge to most or rather to advanced/regular hikers: necessities to bring along in your backpack. On my first ever hike (which was 3km long btw 😅) the only thing I had was just a cellphone. As the distance got longer I saw the need for a couple of essentials. This guide is to help beginners know what to bring along when hiking.

•WATER
First and foremost a bottle of water, depending on how much weight you can carry I'd say the bigger the bottle the better especially if you are doing a long and challenging distance.

•SNACKS
Bring snacks like nuts, seeds, granola,fresh or dried fruits something that can give you a boost of energy along the way. I personally do not recommend a heavy 'meal' during a day hiking trip; it can make you really sluggish, which is something you don't want especially if you still have a long road ahead. Eat well before and after your hike, only snack in-between. PS: for longer distances or hikes that are longer than a day you need plenty of food, this post is for short/day hikes.

•SUNSCREEN 🌝
This is absolutely 100% necessary. Apply a generous amount at home before embarking on a hiking trip. Please do bring it along to reapply along the way. You want to avoid sunburn at all cost; you can supplement your sunscreen by wearing hats, UPF clothing and staying in shaded areas as much as possible.

•WEATHER APPROPRIATE CLOTHES 🌤
Always check the weather forecast beforehand. If you are someone like me who likes hiking when the skies are clear, I'd advise to bring a long sleeve shirt/light jacket and wear long tights just as an extra layer of protection against sunburn. If you don't mind having a bit of a tan feel free to wear shorts.

• TISSUES
Always take care of business before you head out, but if you feel the urge to wee 🤭 have a tissue handy ladies and please discard it appropriately.

•MAP
Your phone is not always helpful particularly when it comes to the directions regarding a trail. I always print one before my trip