Trail Running and Hiking Gear: What you Absolutely, Positively Need.

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  Trail Running and Hiking Gear: What you Absolutely, Positively Need.
 
The Lower Falls - Calf Creek Recreation Area
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah

So have you ever headed out and felt like you forgot something?

And I'm not talking about one of those dreams that you forgot to put your shorts on either.

I've actually hiked in flipflops along Calf Creek outside of Escalante, UT and while some munch ies would have been really nice, I was kicking myself for only bringing one water bottle on the sandy 5½ mile round trip... which leads me to THE LIST... this list of course changes based on season and location, but there is one constant:

WATER - I don't care where you are, or what you are doing.  It is no fun if you are thirsty and dehydrated.  Besides, it can be down-right dangerous.

If you run or hike more than a few miles you need to bring wa ter.  For runners, this is more important than trail running shoes because regular running shoes work just fine, and then there is the whole barefoot movement, which by definition means no running shoes. 

So how to carry the water?  Well I think it kinda depends on how much you plan on consuming... anything over 3L I like to bring two hydropacks in a backpack with waist and compression  straps.  Keep in mind I've hiked with 8L in Colorado and Utah... which = 8 Kg or just over 17½ lbs!  That's a LOT of 'extra' weight to be lugging up 10,000+' of elevation gain!

I typically run 3-5 mi at altitude, and usually only carry 0.5-0.75L of water in a bottle (and I really hate running with a water bottle in my hand).  I've also used those hydro-belts with the 4-6oz containers (also totaling about .7L), but I also hate losing stride as I try to jam thos e things back into the belt...

And that brings me to the next two most important items for hiking/running... and their order depends on where you are (as well as time of year)... and that would be sunscreen and bug spray.  And to me sunglasses are sunscreen for the retinas, which are VERY important!  If the sun is up, I don't go anywhere without my shades.

It is both unhealthy and painful if you get sunburned, and premature-aging is not looking wise beyond your years...
If your summiting a 14'er, not only  is there 39% less oxygen there (along with 100% fewer mosquitoes) there are 39% less air molecules to reflect the UV radiation, so you can burn 3x's faster!

Its equally joyless feeding the 'skeeters or green flies in the woods of the NE as it is in a horse meadow at 11,000'.  And in some places, you run a very real risk of getting a mosquito-born illness.

My top 3 absolutely, positively, must have gear picks are:

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
  and
• Sunglasses...
  because putting sunscreen on your retnas is slightly impractical. 

So, let me rephrase that.

My top 4 absolutely, positively, must have pieces of gear are:

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Sunglasses
  and
• Ankle Braces...

OK, One More Time.

Again.   

So my top 5 absolutely, positively, must have pieces of gear are: 

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Sunglasses
  and
• Ankle Braces...

Ankle Braces?

Well, I've destroyed my ankles enough playing soccer  while growing up that its not a matter of "if" but "when" I'll sprain my ankle again, and I really want to prevent ankle sprains, not get another one.  No matter how many strengthening or proprioception building exercises I do to help recuperating from an ankle injury, I am still at a high risk of spraining my ankle again.

After the top 5, and much farther down the list, I would add in technical clothing to keep me dry and a hat (as my head is clean-shaven, so I need some sort of protection up there... but I digress)

Notice, missing here are the trick shoes (remember that whole barefoot running thing... no shoes) or a multi tool with GPS or even ankle braces, well, ankle braces did make the list... While good shoes (or a good pack with snacks) can make hikes or runs more enjoyable, I've done both barefoot (esp. on a beach) or in sandals or gone without snacks till I got back (because it was such a short duration).  And while a GPS or a map is a great idea on new trails, they are not needed on trails that you have memorized.

So what is your in you absolutely must have list?