Hiking Essentials – Prime Finds
As you already know, we took a vacation to Montana for some hiking and exploring in Glaicer National Park recently and I thought today I would round up our hiking essentials I grabbed for this trip. Hop over to Tanya’s Prime Finds post to see what others are priming.
A lightweight backpack is definitely a must if you are going any distance on a hike. Since we were also traveling by air, I wanted something that folded up fairly small. This backpack checked all the boxes and, bonus, I have been able to fold it back up into the little pouch! The girls and I used this same backpack when we hiked Bryce Canyon Zion National Park in June as well. It is the perfect size to fit plenty of water, snacks and then hold the layers as the day warmed up.
One thing we read over and over was the wool socks really help to keep your feet warm and dry. I grabbed this four pack and had zero issues with my feet getting cold or rubbing any blisters so I’m calling them a win.
I actually purchased some hiking shoes back in April when Jordan and I took off for a weekend at Inks Lake State Park in Texas. They were comfortable and I had zero break in time which was a win plus they were fairly inexpensive. Had I known I would end up hiking 40+ miles in them over a 6 month period, I might have invested in a more expensive pair. Mine are definitely showing some wear and tear around the ankle. Keith & Jordan both opted for more of a hiking boot but the regular worked just fine for me.
While I could have just hiked in my fave leggings, I decided I wanted a pair of leggings to hike in that were a little more sturdy. This pair was an investment but they were exactly what I was looking for. The fabric is more sturdy with lots of pockets but they were also still lightweight and breathable. I was able to layer underneath as well if I needed to.
Everyone knew we were from the south apparerntly because this shirt is a southern thing. We love wearing these shirts for fishing, but honestly they are so comfortable for hiking too. I love that they provide sun protection as well and that’s one less thing I have to worry about. I did layer a Northface cold gear shirt underneath on one of our cooler starts. The bonus…Keith and I were kind of matchy matchy a couple of days which made for a conversation started with almost everyone we passed! Ha!
I ordered a lightweight rain jacket just in case but we didn’t end up needing any reain gear. Of course then I failed to send it back so it will definitely get some use on our fishing trips in the future I feel certain.
Keith totally made fun of me for purchasing these bear bells to attach to our backpacks but I did not care! Everything I read suggested them and I wasn’t taken any chances. We, of course, also purchsaed bear spray once we got to Montana as you cannot fly with that.
One of the biggest problems I always find when searching for hiking and fishing gear is they are not made for curvy girls. I did some research and found these Eddie Bauer pants on Amazon that also came in tall sizes. I still sized up but love the fit of these pants. They will also come in handy on future trips fishing and maybe I won’t be such a wimp when we head out on a cool morning!
Hiking is so much fun but sis is not a fan if I’m not prepared! We definitely did a great job preparing with layers each day and the only thing Keith was wishing he had on day one was a beanie to protect his ears as it was really windy. It was cool enough still that we didn’t worry about needing a cooler for our lunches or waters but grabbing some ice packs that are refreezable or just freezing a couple of water bottles also works well to keep everything cool in the backpack.
Do you have some hiking essentials I need to consider on my next vacation? I’m kind of obsessed with seeing all the pretty scenery right now and can’t wait to plan our next trip!