Best Hiking Gear

Essentials
These are the core pieces of hiking gear I rely on for safety and comfort on my hikes in all conditions.

Backpack
Osprey Hikelite 26 - This pack is very light, big enough for everything on a day hike, and has an effective trampoline back that allows airflow to go over your back, keeping it dry. The downside with the 2026 version of this is that you can’t remove the hip belt, which for a day hike is generally overkill. So what I do is clip the hip belt backwards, over the back of the pack, and problem solved.

Continue reading to learn more about the best hiking gear, written by Cris Hazzard.

写真サムネイル ブログ執筆者
Professional Hiking Guide and Author
Cris Hazzard
I'm Hiking Guy, aka Cris Hazzard, a professional hiking guide and author.
/
ウェブサイト

Hiking Guy: Best Hiking Gear

Man outdoors wearing a plaid shirt, backpack, and visor with a rocky background.
Cris Hazzard
Last updated:
October 7, 2026
|  5 min read
Sawyer water filtration system with a clear, flexible pouch and attached blue and black filter for portable water purification.
Sawyer water filtration system with a clear, flexible pouch and attached blue and black filter for portable water purification.

Best Hiking Gear

Essentials
These are the core pieces of hiking gear I rely on for safety and comfort on my hikes in all conditions.

Backpack
Osprey Hikelite 26 - This pack is very light, big enough for everything on a day hike, and has an effective trampoline back that allows airflow to go over your back, keeping it dry. The downside with the 2026 version of this is that you can’t remove the hip belt, which for a day hike is generally overkill. So what I do is clip the hip belt backwards, over the back of the pack, and problem solved.

Continue reading to learn more about the best hiking gear, written by Cris Hazzard.

Cris Hazzard
Professional Hiking Guide and Author
Cris Hazzard
I'm Hiking Guy, aka Cris Hazzard, a professional hiking guide and author.
/
ウェブサイト
写真サムネイル ブログ執筆者
Professional Hiking Guide and Author
Cris Hazzard
I'm Hiking Guy, aka Cris Hazzard, a professional hiking guide and author.
View Author Profile
Popular posts
メディア
View all blog articles
Campfire conversations with our community, from Squad MembersSquad Members and Ambassadors to Brand Partners and the Sawyer team.
We build products withindustry-leadingstandards and technology, designed to keep you outdoors for longer. Explore what others are saying about Sawyer.
News fromSawyer HQin Tampa Bay, FL, including product resources, updates in technology, and recent brand developments.
NewThere’s nothing like seeing hearing from those who are personally touched by the promise ofclean water. Explore their stories and lift your soul; you’ve made this work possible.
Stories and experiences encompassing a spread of outdoor enthusiasms, from theBackcountry to the BackyardTM. What keeps you outdoors?
Trail tips and packing list guides for backcountry travel, gear choices.Trail guidesfor hiking, biking, thru-hiking and more.
Read aboutproduct reviewsfrom various media outlets, customers, community members, and outdoor gear websites.
Next Blog Post
A right facing arrow
You are here:
Home
/
ブログ
/
メディア
/
Hiking Guy: Best Hiking Gear

Hiking Guy: Best Hiking Gear

Man outdoors wearing a plaid shirt, backpack, and visor with a rocky background.
Cris Hazzard
Last updated:
September 28, 2026
|  5 min read
Sawyer water filtration system with a clear, flexible pouch and attached blue and black filter for portable water purification.
Sawyer water filtration system with a clear, flexible pouch and attached blue and black filter for portable water purification.

Best Hiking Gear

Essentials
These are the core pieces of hiking gear I rely on for safety and comfort on my hikes in all conditions.

Backpack
Osprey Hikelite 26 - This pack is very light, big enough for everything on a day hike, and has an effective trampoline back that allows airflow to go over your back, keeping it dry. The downside with the 2026 version of this is that you can’t remove the hip belt, which for a day hike is generally overkill. So what I do is clip the hip belt backwards, over the back of the pack, and problem solved.

Continue reading to learn more about the best hiking gear, written by Cris Hazzard.

写真サムネイル ブログ執筆者
Professional Hiking Guide and Author
Cris Hazzard
I'm Hiking Guy, aka Cris Hazzard, a professional hiking guide and author.
/
visit author Website
写真サムネイル ブログ執筆者
Professional Hiking Guide and Author
Cris Hazzard
I'm Hiking Guy, aka Cris Hazzard, a professional hiking guide and author.
learn about the author
Popular posts
メディア
View all blog articles
Campfire conversations with our community, from Squad MembersSquad Members and Ambassadors to Brand Partners and the Sawyer team.
We build products withindustry-leadingstandards and technology, designed to keep you outdoors for longer. Explore what others are saying about Sawyer.
News fromSawyer HQin Tampa Bay, FL, including product resources, updates in technology, and recent brand developments.
NewThere’s nothing like seeing hearing from those who are personally touched by the promise ofclean water. Explore their stories and lift your soul; you’ve made this work possible.
Stories and experiences encompassing a spread of outdoor enthusiasms, from theBackcountry to the BackyardTM. What keeps you outdoors?
Trail tips and packing list guides for backcountry travel, gear choices.Trail guidesfor hiking, biking, thru-hiking and more.
Read aboutproduct reviewsfrom various media outlets, customers, community members, and outdoor gear websites.
Next Blog Post
from the squad
A placeholder image thumbnail
browse all articles
ここソーヤーでは
Explore Related Content
Sawyer Squeeze Filter with Cnoc Bladder
ピカリジン虫除けローション

Recent Media Mentions

Set of eight pastel-colored icons on a light blue background featuring arrows, a scroll, a handshake inside a pentagon, a backpack inside a shield, a starburst shape, a medical kit with a cross, and an exclamation mark inside a triangle.
October 7, 2026
New York Times: Wirecutter: The Best Gear for Your Go Bag
For this guide we focused on gear that could be easily carried in a backpack, emphasizing lightness and portability wherever possible.
Read Blog Article
Yellow bottle of Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent Trigger Spray for clothing, gear, and tents with black spray nozzle and usage instructions.
October 7, 2026
Gun Talk: Ticks Alpha Gal And Why Every Hunter Needs Permethrin
KJ sits down with Travis Avery from Sawyer Products and Colton Cozza of Gunpowder Inc. to break down protecting against ticks.
Read Blog Article
Sawyer water filtration system with a clear, flexible pouch and attached blue and black filter for portable water purification.
October 7, 2026
Hiking Guy: Best Hiking Gear
This is the best hiking gear I actually use after hundreds of miles on the trail.
Read Blog Article
Close-up of a human finger with four ticks arranged from largest to smallest along the fingertip against a blurred background of grass.
October 7, 2026
The Post Journal: The Smallest Threat In The Woods
There is plenty to think about when preparing for New York's early archery season.
Read Blog Article
Sawyer water filtration system components including a blue filter unit, a squeeze pouch, a cleaning syringe, and a black drinking straw.
October 7, 2026
Best Reviews: Best Water Filter Straws
Water filter straws, as their name implies, are drinking implements that integrate a filter or system of filters to trap pathogens and impurities.
Read Blog Article
Collage of hiking gear featuring a man wearing a blue waterproof jacket in the center, a black and gray Black Diamond headlamp top left, a gray and white Osprey backpack bottom left, a blue Benchmade folding knife top right, and a red Katadyn BeFree water bottle bottom right.
October 7, 2026
Travel and Leisure: I Asked Professional Hiking Guides What They Never Hit the Trail Without
I realized I needed a compact list of professional hiker-approved essentials to pack, whether I’m taking a day hike or heading out on a longer journey.
Read Blog Article
Sawyer water filter system including a blue cylindrical filter, a blue squeeze pouch, a clear plastic syringe, and a black cleaning rod.
October 7, 2026
Propel RC: Best Water Purification Tablets and Straws
This guide covers the best water purification tablets and straws you can actually trust, drawn from both formats in one place.
Read Blog Article
October 7, 2026
Section Hiker: How To Clean Sanitize And Store A Water Filter In The Off Season
A simple 3-stage process to preserve your water filter for future use.
Read Blog Article

Other Categories

チームから
メディア
インパクト・ストーリー
アウトドアライフ
ヒント＆ガイド
レビュー
ここソーヤーでは

You Might Also Like

Two bottles of bug spray.
The Independent: The 6 Best Bug Sprays For 2026 After Real-World Outdoor Testing
Rachel Cavanaugh
Woman in mountains with backpack drinking from orange Sawyer Mini on clear bottle
The Gear that Changed My Patagonia Expedition
María José Correa
Woman in pink leggings with paddle next to boat in water
Katie Spotz: A Row to Change the World
ケイティ・スポッツ
Woman smiling with tortilla made with filtered water, bucket system in background
World Water Day 2026: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows
ソーヤー
Sean Jansen journaling on beach with Squeeze system at his side.
Tideline to Alpine: On Foot Around the Historic Range of the Southern California Steelhead
ショーン・ジャンセン
Woman standing triumphantly at trail terminus on Mexico-US border with Mexican flag
The Making of a Legacy: Pioneering The Baja Sierra Trail
ゼルジン・アケツァリ

アウトドア企業以上の存在

ソーヤーのロゴ
Follow us on Instagram
A blue arrow vector icon pointing left
A blue arrow vector icon pointing right