Oh, the great outdoors. It’s the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city and reconnect with nature. But what happens when your day hike goes wrong, and you find yourself stranded in the wilderness overnight? That’s precisely what happened to me, and boy, did I learn the importance of packing the right hiking gear.
It all started as a simple day hike, but the weather had other plans. A sudden snowstorm hit; before I knew it, I was lost and alone in the wilderness. I realized I was in for a long night. But thanks to my trusty pack and strong mindset, I was able to make the best of the situation.
Mission Specific
I used to go for speed and miles in the woods. These days, my goals remain simple: hiking, crafting, cooking, and foraging. Regardless of all the gear, a person doesn’t need much — or the latest and greatest hiking gear — to have fun in the woods.
Coming from a hiking and backpacking background, I always gravitate toward lightweight gear. While this term may have several meanings, my style is extreme. Gearing up to battle with Mother Nature is unrealistic for me. If I did, I’d be day hiking with at least 100 pounds of gear. That said, all the hiking gear here is perfect for a day in the woods and can be utilized for survival.
Coming it at a mere 4 ounces, the SylvanSport Hacky Pack is an ultra-lightweight storage option.
Hacky Pack
Having a backpack is an essential, no-brainer piece of kit on a hike unless you fancy a haversack. However, a small, super lightweight pack can be multi-functional. Small packs keep you lowkey and prevent overpacking. I discovered SylvanSport gear a few years ago and was particularly impressed with their Hacky Pack. This backpack is lightweight, durable, and perfect for carrying a day’s worth of gear. It also comes with two side mesh pockets for water bottles, a hidden back pocket stash, and a hydration bag slot. Cool fact: The backpack can quickly transform into a 4-inch ball, making it more portable.
The pack compresses down to a 4-inch ball when not being used.
Its impressive 4-ounce weight is what initially caught my attention. Although it’s not as large as my Gossamer Gear backpacks for longer trips, the Hacky Pack is still impressive, with a capacity of up to 40 pounds. Heck, I don’t even have enough gear to fill it up for an overnight summer trip, let alone a day trip. The compact SylvanSport Hacky Pack will help you get your pack and hiking gear weight down. It keeps essentials close and easily accessible on the go and offers the added bonus of a trailside hacky sack.
The Tuff Possum Multipurpose Sit Pad not only provides back support for the pack, but it can be used as a signal and sit pad, and has many other uses.
The Frame
The Hacky Pack is a frameless pack, which is where the Tuff Possum Gear Multipurpose Sit Pad comes into play. It offers padding and rigidity to the pack, and comfort in camp or on trailside breaks. The blaze-orange color is a signaling panel, while the pad aids in fanning the flames and branding up a fire. The sit pad provides an excellent place to put tinder and kindling when snow or dampness is imminent. The Velcro opening easily stores tinder like birch and poplar bark, lichen, and grasses.
Gear is useless unless it’s available when you need it. The right storage pouch can make things more accessible when it counts.
Belt Pouch
Truly a lifeline, I use the Tuff Possum Pocket Possibles Pouch for all my ditties and essential stuff. I carry it in my pack to the trail, and then it always stays on my belt. Survival hiking gear is useless in a pack that may be out of reach for whatever reason. Signaling, first aid, and fire-starting gear should be accessible at all times. The pouch is the last thing I take off for the night in the wilderness and the first thing that goes on in the morning.
Shelter Now
When a simple day hike takes a turn for the worse, finding shelter becomes a top priority — and a reliable tarp can be a lifesaver. Lightweight, easy to set up, and offering critical protection from the elements, a tarp is an essential piece of hiking gear to have on hand. Set it up quickly and take cover — it’s a small investment for big peace of mind.
Surprisingly, not many day hikers don’t keep a tarp with them — they should. The Coalcracker Bushcraft T6Zero comes in at 6 ounces and sets up in minutes. It’s a 5×7-foot tarp with two tie-outs that can be attached to a tree quickly. It fits in a cargo pocket and makes a good pillow on breaks. I’ve spent about 50 nights under this bad boy in snow, wind, and typhoon rains in the jungles of the Philippines.
Hydration
While hiking, I use a simple aluminum water bottle and a Platypus 2-liter water bag. The bottle can boil water in a pinch and is an easily accessible trail drink stored in the Hacky Pack side pocket. The Platypus has a larger reservoir and makes a great pillow set on top of a pair of shoes.
Because they’re heavy and clog in silty water, or freeze in the winter, I haven’t used a filter in several years. Instead, I use iodine tablets worldwide and a bandana to filter sediment if the water is nasty. I also take advantage of any fire to boil water whenever possible.
Multiple types of fire starters are a must.
Firestarters
There’s no better place for redundancies than with fire. Matches, lighters, Ferro rods, and manufactured tinder should always be carried on a day hike or multi-day expedition. I favor Uberleben Ferro rods and their Tindar Wick for my style of woods rambling.
Signaling
In my book, having two or more ways of signaling is paramount. Run your own experiment and see how loud and for how long you can yell for help. Do that, and you’ll appreciate a loud whistle. Blowing a whistle in groups of three is one of the universal distress signals that experienced hikers, pilots, rangers, and SAR personnel are trained to recognize. Additionally, I always carry two signaling mirrors on a carabiner and in my Wazoo Cache Belt.
There isn’t much you can’t do with the right cutting tool.
Tools
Using cutting tools and cooking are a big part of my focus outdoors. Preparing wood and food for a cook fire takes skill and practice to become second nature. As a knife and tool aficionado and survival instructor, I carry fewer tools than most people. I always have a Victorinox Camper Swiss Army Knife in my pouch. In colder months, I add a tomahawk and a 3- to 4-inch fixed blade in the Eastern woodlands. Paired with a stout baton, I can get a lot done.
From late spring until late fall, I carry a long blade, usually an authentic Parang or Bolo. It serves as my chopper and wood splitter and replaces a fixed blade for food prep and crafts. With my long blade, I can always get super-fine, curly shavings that quickly take a spark from a Ferro rod. Having spent considerable time in blade cultures worldwide, I’m comfortable having one primary tool to maintain, which saves weight when afoot.
Hiking Gear Accessories
Gaiters: You won’t catch me in the woods without my Outdoor Research gaiters for my trail runners to keep debris, snow, and nasty ticks out of my footwear.
Leather Gloves: A pair of these are indispensable for a woods trip. They’re helpful for wood preparation and cooking. I’ve used them as knee pads, potholders, and insulation. They also add safety to tasks like building shelters and working with sharp objects. Leather gloves give temporary superpowers, making hands immune to heat and sharp abrasive things.
Bandana: Here’s a versatile accessory that’s a must-have outdoors. Due to its countless uses, I carry it in my pocket or possibles kit. It can serve as a headband, sweat rag, washcloth, toilet paper, and face shield from the elements. It can also be used as a sun protector, signaler, bandage, potholder, water catch, and stage one of water filtration. All in all, a bandana is a true unsung hero of camping and survival gear.
Neck Gaiters: Like bandanas, neck gaiters can do the same and may have a slight advantage because they are tubular. These camp gems can replace a beanie, and two can offer maximum face, neck, and head coverage. I use two Wazoo Gear neck gaiters for cold weather and emergency signaling.
Earbuds: Listening to music on your phone can provide a much-needed distraction and a sense of familiarity that can help your psyche.
First Aid: I don’t carry a massive first aid kit. I take Gorilla Duct Tape (all weather), hand sanitizer, triple antibiotic ointment, Carmex, and superglue. Anything outside of that realm, and I probably need primary care beyond the scope of a first aid kit.
Rain Gear: The Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite waterproof hooded rain jacket is hard to beat for a budget-friendly yet effective rain jacket. It’s made with breathable, non-woven fabric, features a full-length zipper and adjustable hood, and is both wind-resistant and packable.
With a little strategic planning, gear can be multi-functional and light weight
Final Thoughts
If your day hike goes wrong, having a reliable back-pack with the right hiking gear can help you survive the night and return safely. Always pack essential gear, practice skills beforehand, and expect the unexpected. You never know what Mother Nature has in store for you.
Read More From Issue 66
Don’t miss essential survival insights—sign up for Recoil Offgrid’s free newsletter today!
- Editors Letter: SERE Skills for a Shifting World
- Lock Picking 101
- Gear Up: Ice Breakers
- OFFGRID Adventures: Wilderness Escapes Off the Beaten Path
- TOPS Knives El Pionero
- Surviving Unseen
Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)
Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.
The post Day Hike Gone Wrong appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.
[#item_full_content]
[[{“value”:”
Oh, the great outdoors. It’s the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city and reconnect with nature. But what happens when your day hike goes wrong, and you find yourself stranded in the wilderness overnight? That’s precisely what happened to me, and boy, did I learn the importance of packing the right hiking gear.
It all started as a simple day hike, but the weather had other plans. A sudden snowstorm hit; before I knew it, I was lost and alone in the wilderness. I realized I was in for a long night. But thanks to my trusty pack and strong mindset, I was able to make the best of the situation.
Mission Specific
I used to go for speed and miles in the woods. These days, my goals remain simple: hiking, crafting, cooking, and foraging. Regardless of all the gear, a person doesn’t need much — or the latest and greatest hiking gear — to have fun in the woods.
Coming from a hiking and backpacking background, I always gravitate toward lightweight gear. While this term may have several meanings, my style is extreme. Gearing up to battle with Mother Nature is unrealistic for me. If I did, I’d be day hiking with at least 100 pounds of gear. That said, all the hiking gear here is perfect for a day in the woods and can be utilized for survival.
Coming it at a mere 4 ounces, the SylvanSport Hacky Pack is an ultra-lightweight storage option.
Hacky Pack
Having a backpack is an essential, no-brainer piece of kit on a hike unless you fancy a haversack. However, a small, super lightweight pack can be multi-functional. Small packs keep you lowkey and prevent overpacking. I discovered SylvanSport gear a few years ago and was particularly impressed with their Hacky Pack. This backpack is lightweight, durable, and perfect for carrying a day’s worth of gear. It also comes with two side mesh pockets for water bottles, a hidden back pocket stash, and a hydration bag slot. Cool fact: The backpack can quickly transform into a 4-inch ball, making it more portable.
The pack compresses down to a 4-inch ball when not being used.
Its impressive 4-ounce weight is what initially caught my attention. Although it’s not as large as my Gossamer Gear backpacks for longer trips, the Hacky Pack is still impressive, with a capacity of up to 40 pounds. Heck, I don’t even have enough gear to fill it up for an overnight summer trip, let alone a day trip. The compact SylvanSport Hacky Pack will help you get your pack and hiking gear weight down. It keeps essentials close and easily accessible on the go and offers the added bonus of a trailside hacky sack.
The Tuff Possum Multipurpose Sit Pad not only provides back support for the pack, but it can be used as a signal and sit pad, and has many other uses.
The Frame
The Hacky Pack is a frameless pack, which is where the Tuff Possum Gear Multipurpose Sit Pad comes into play. It offers padding and rigidity to the pack, and comfort in camp or on trailside breaks. The blaze-orange color is a signaling panel, while the pad aids in fanning the flames and branding up a fire. The sit pad provides an excellent place to put tinder and kindling when snow or dampness is imminent. The Velcro opening easily stores tinder like birch and poplar bark, lichen, and grasses.
Gear is useless unless it’s available when you need it. The right storage pouch can make things more accessible when it counts.
Belt Pouch
Truly a lifeline, I use the Tuff Possum Pocket Possibles Pouch for all my ditties and essential stuff. I carry it in my pack to the trail, and then it always stays on my belt. Survival hiking gear is useless in a pack that may be out of reach for whatever reason. Signaling, first aid, and fire-starting gear should be accessible at all times. The pouch is the last thing I take off for the night in the wilderness and the first thing that goes on in the morning.
Shelter Now
When a simple day hike takes a turn for the worse, finding shelter becomes a top priority — and a reliable tarp can be a lifesaver. Lightweight, easy to set up, and offering critical protection from the elements, a tarp is an essential piece of hiking gear to have on hand. Set it up quickly and take cover — it’s a small investment for big peace of mind.
Surprisingly, not many day hikers don’t keep a tarp with them — they should. The Coalcracker Bushcraft T6Zero comes in at 6 ounces and sets up in minutes. It’s a 5×7-foot tarp with two tie-outs that can be attached to a tree quickly. It fits in a cargo pocket and makes a good pillow on breaks. I’ve spent about 50 nights under this bad boy in snow, wind, and typhoon rains in the jungles of the Philippines.
Hydration
While hiking, I use a simple aluminum water bottle and a Platypus 2-liter water bag. The bottle can boil water in a pinch and is an easily accessible trail drink stored in the Hacky Pack side pocket. The Platypus has a larger reservoir and makes a great pillow set on top of a pair of shoes.
Because they’re heavy and clog in silty water, or freeze in the winter, I haven’t used a filter in several years. Instead, I use iodine tablets worldwide and a bandana to filter sediment if the water is nasty. I also take advantage of any fire to boil water whenever possible.
Multiple types of fire starters are a must.
Firestarters
There’s no better place for redundancies than with fire. Matches, lighters, Ferro rods, and manufactured tinder should always be carried on a day hike or multi-day expedition. I favor Uberleben Ferro rods and their Tindar Wick for my style of woods rambling.
Signaling
In my book, having two or more ways of signaling is paramount. Run your own experiment and see how loud and for how long you can yell for help. Do that, and you’ll appreciate a loud whistle. Blowing a whistle in groups of three is one of the universal distress signals that experienced hikers, pilots, rangers, and SAR personnel are trained to recognize. Additionally, I always carry two signaling mirrors on a carabiner and in my Wazoo Cache Belt.
There isn’t much you can’t do with the right cutting tool.
Tools
Using cutting tools and cooking are a big part of my focus outdoors. Preparing wood and food for a cook fire takes skill and practice to become second nature. As a knife and tool aficionado and survival instructor, I carry fewer tools than most people. I always have a Victorinox Camper Swiss Army Knife in my pouch. In colder months, I add a tomahawk and a 3- to 4-inch fixed blade in the Eastern woodlands. Paired with a stout baton, I can get a lot done.
From late spring until late fall, I carry a long blade, usually an authentic Parang or Bolo. It serves as my chopper and wood splitter and replaces a fixed blade for food prep and crafts. With my long blade, I can always get super-fine, curly shavings that quickly take a spark from a Ferro rod. Having spent considerable time in blade cultures worldwide, I’m comfortable having one primary tool to maintain, which saves weight when afoot.
Hiking Gear Accessories
Gaiters: You won’t catch me in the woods without my Outdoor Research gaiters for my trail runners to keep debris, snow, and nasty ticks out of my footwear.
Leather Gloves: A pair of these are indispensable for a woods trip. They’re helpful for wood preparation and cooking. I’ve used them as knee pads, potholders, and insulation. They also add safety to tasks like building shelters and working with sharp objects. Leather gloves give temporary superpowers, making hands immune to heat and sharp abrasive things.
Bandana: Here’s a versatile accessory that’s a must-have outdoors. Due to its countless uses, I carry it in my pocket or possibles kit. It can serve as a headband, sweat rag, washcloth, toilet paper, and face shield from the elements. It can also be used as a sun protector, signaler, bandage, potholder, water catch, and stage one of water filtration. All in all, a bandana is a true unsung hero of camping and survival gear.
Neck Gaiters: Like bandanas, neck gaiters can do the same and may have a slight advantage because they are tubular. These camp gems can replace a beanie, and two can offer maximum face, neck, and head coverage. I use two Wazoo Gear neck gaiters for cold weather and emergency signaling.
Earbuds: Listening to music on your phone can provide a much-needed distraction and a sense of familiarity that can help your psyche.
First Aid: I don’t carry a massive first aid kit. I take Gorilla Duct Tape (all weather), hand sanitizer, triple antibiotic ointment, Carmex, and superglue. Anything outside of that realm, and I probably need primary care beyond the scope of a first aid kit.
Rain Gear: The Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite waterproof hooded rain jacket is hard to beat for a budget-friendly yet effective rain jacket. It’s made with breathable, non-woven fabric, features a full-length zipper and adjustable hood, and is both wind-resistant and packable.
With a little strategic planning, gear can be multi-functional and light weight
Final Thoughts
If your day hike goes wrong, having a reliable back-pack with the right hiking gear can help you survive the night and return safely. Always pack essential gear, practice skills beforehand, and expect the unexpected. You never know what Mother Nature has in store for you.
Read More From Issue 66
Don’t miss essential survival insights—sign up for Recoil Offgrid’s free newsletter today!
- Editors Letter: SERE Skills for a Shifting World
- Lock Picking 101
- Gear Up: Ice Breakers
- OFFGRID Adventures: Wilderness Escapes Off the Beaten Path
- TOPS Knives El Pionero
- Surviving Unseen
Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)
Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.
The post Day Hike Gone Wrong appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.
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