- Camelbak Rim Runner - This 100 oz. hydration pack has a ton of room to carry all my essentials plus 100 oz. of water. After hiking Kelso Dunes and getting my bite valve covered in sand, making it impossible for me to drink out of the reservoir, I added the bite valve protector.
- REI Traverse Shocklight trekking poles - It took me a while to embrace using trekking poles until I did a steep hike in Glendale where my knees took a beating on both the ascent and descent. Now I carry them on every hike but don't necessarily use them every time. These particular poles are light enough to carry lashed to my pack without adding much weight. In hindsight I probably would not have gotten poles without built in shock absorbers since I keep these in the locked position all the time.
- Merrell Yakota Waterproof Trail Hikers - I love Merrell shoes and they are well worth the price!
- Redhead Safari Hat You can't beat the price on this hat and the vented crown keeps my noggin from overheating.
- REI Merino Wool Lightweight Hiking Socks - These socks keep my feet cool and provide good padding while wicking moisture away from my skin. I have yet to get a blister wearing these socks. I do not wear sock liners with them.
- REI Sahara Cargo Shorts - These shorts are comfortable and lightweight. The cargo pockets keep things like my camera and snacks close at hand. I also have a pair of Sahara convertible pants for colder weather or trails where I might need extra leg protection.
- Columbia Omni-Freeze Wicking T-shirt - These shirts are quick drying and have UV protection. They also have no seams in the armpit to help prevent chafing.
- Tifosi Podium XC Sunglasses - Lightweight, wrap-around style sunglasses that do a great job keeping the sun out of my eyes. They also don't give me a headache over extended periods of time like most other glasses do (thanks to my big head).
- REI Day Hiker First Aid Kit - I haven't had to use it yet but you should always carry one.
- PTEC Byte Headlamp - Lightweight, yet bright. Also has a red light to preserve night vision.
- Anker Portable battery - The most affordable portable battery I have found. This will recharge my cell phone while on the trail. I take quite a few pictures with my phone while hiking.
- Nikon P300 Camera - This camera packs a lot of punch in a small package. Beside the auto settings, I can also shoot in aperture and shutter priority, handy under some lighting conditions.
- Joby Gorillapod Tripod - Perfect for capturing that on trail selfie!
- Columbia Freezer Zero Bandana - This bandana is perfect for keeping the sun and sand off your neck. It is also useful for wiping sweat off your face.
- Garmin Forerunner 310XT - This trail watch records everything, including heart rate. Elevation, distance, time, speed, and degree of ascent or descent. Once I'm home I can upload the information to my computer and check out all the data (I love geeky stuff like this.) It can also retrace your previous steps to get you back to your starting location should you get lost. As an added bonus the heart rate monitor connects with my phone and MapMyFitness.
- Flip Flops - Nothing feels better than kicking off your hiking shoes after a long hike and putting on some comfortable sandals!
- Food - This varies greatly and will get its own blog post. Some of my favorites include: Clif Bars, Cheez-its, gummy bears, trail mix (avoid ones with chocolate since it will often melt here in Southern California), and dried fruit.
- Lifeline Double Insulated Bottle - I keep one of these in my car for after the hike. It keeps water cool, even after hours in a car on a sunny day.
This is all I can think of for now. If I think of anything else I will update this list. Let me know if there is anything missing from this list.
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