In this list, I will cover 15 day hiking hacks that I wished I had known to benefit you greatly.
These helpful hike hacks can help you become a great hiker in no time, whether you’re doing a small route or climbing Kilimanjaro.
Let’s dive right in.
1. Wrap Duct Tape Around your Water Bottle
Wrapping duct tape around your water bottle is a great way to save space on day hikes. It’s lightweight and can be used for many other purposes, so it won’t take up much room in your pack or pocket.
The added bonus of using duct tape is that you’ll have some emergency repairs available if needed during the hike!
Learn 21 survival uses for duct tape that you didn’t know.
2. Prevent Blisters with Duct Tape
Blisters can be a real nuisance when on your backpacking trip, especially if you’re on an extended hike. The best way to prevent blisters is by wearing properly fitted shoes and socks that wick away moisture.
However, sometimes even the most well-fitted pair of boots won’t stop your feet from developing painful hot spots or blistering after hours of walking in rugged terrain.
Duct tape can come to the rescue here! You should always keep a small roll with you while out day hiking just in case any hotspots develop during your adventure – better safe than sorry!
Before heading out for each leg of your journey, apply some duct tape over areas known for their tendency to rub against footwear such as heels and toes.
This will provide extra protection against friction and reduce skin irritation which leads to those pesky blisters we all dread so much.
3. Use Two Pairs of Socks
When day hiking, one of the most important tips to remember is that wearing two pairs of socks can be beneficial in preventing blisters and other foot-related issues.
By putting on an inner sock made out of a breathable material like wool or polyester followed by a thicker outer layer such as nylon or Goretex, your feet will have extra protection against abrasion caused by friction when walking long distances.
In addition to providing increased comfort while you hike all day, double layering also helps ensure your feet stay warm and dry no matter what weather conditions they may face during your journey.
From cold mountain streams crossing paths with cold weather down into hot desert terrain where temperatures can reach upwards near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, an extra pair will help!
Wearing moisture-wicking fabrics for both layers means any sweat produced won’t accumulate around them either since it will evaporate quickly away instead.
4. Keep Track of How Much Sun you Have Left
One of the most important things to keep in mind when day hiking is how much sun you have left. It’s easy for time to fly by on a hike, especially if it’s an enjoyable one! Having your eye on the clock and making sure that you don’t run out of sunlight before getting back can be tricky.
Each finger width from the horizon towards the bottom of the sun equals 15 minutes of daylight.
5. Know Your Directions
Navigating your way while day hiking is key to having a successful and enjoyable experience. Knowing the direction, you’re going in can help prevent confusion, frustration, or even getting lost!
One of the best ways to get acquainted with directions when out on a hike is by using natural clues like sunrises and sunsets.
The idea behind this is that we all know that each morning the sky begins to light up from an Eastern point.
Then, once it starts to set, it’ll go toward the West. Additionally, sunset patterns are helpful too – simply reverse whatever route was taken during sunrise hours until reaching familiar territory again once more.
As far as compasses go, this nifty piece of equipment comes in handy when trying to navigate.
6. Cave Light
A cave light is an ingenious way to turn your phone flashlight into a torch for day hikes. With this simple hack, all you need is a plastic water bottle and some duct tape or other adhesive of your choice.
First, cut the bottom off of the water bottle with scissors and make sure it fits snugly over your phone’s light source (usually near the camera lens).
Then, tape the phone in place or use your hand to hold it in place. Finally, turn on the flash feature on your phone and the bottle will act as a torch.
7. Combat Stinky Boots
Stinky boots are a common problem among hikers, but they don’t have to be. With the right preventative measures and treatments you can combat stinky hiking boots both during your hike and after it’s over. One of the best ways to avoid smelly feet in your shoes is by wearing moisture-wicking socks that fit well inside them. This helps keep sweat away from your skin so bacteria don’t get trapped between layers or linger on fabric surfaces for too long. You should also change out of wet socks and wet clothes as soon as possible when taking breaks while hiking—especially if you’re going through streams or mud puddles along the way! Additionally, make sure there’s enough room in each shoe around all sides so air circulates properly – this will help reduce odors caused by dampness & perspiration build up throughout extended wear periods outdoors (or at home). At night before bedtime, take off those smelly kicks and sprinkle some baking soda into them – not only does it help deodorize sweaty footwear naturally; it’s an inexpensive solution with no harsh chemicals involved!
8. Waterproof Everything
Waterproofing your gear is essential for any day hiker. Water and moisture can ruin electronics, clothing, food supplies, maps, and other important items you may be carrying with you on the trail.
The most effective way to waterproof everything in your pack is by using a combination of a plastic bag and wax or silicone/rubber coating sprays designed specifically for outdoor equipment like tents or jackets.
9. Prevent Wires from Tangling
One of the most annoying issues that can arise when day hiking is having your wires become tangled. This problem often appears with headphones, cables and other similar items which need to be kept in an organized fashion while on a hike.
Fortunately, there are some simple hacks you can use to prevent this from happening, such as using hairclips!
Hairclips not only make it easier to keep all your cords together but also help avoid knots or tangles along the way too.
To do this simply attach two small clips at each end of the cord bundle then twist them around until they hold tightly into place – making sure not to over-tighten so that no damage occurs either.
Once done, these should stay secure for quite some time, even during strenuous activities like running up hillsides, etc.
10. Make Socks Dry
One of the quickest ways to make your socks dry during a hiking trip is by using hand warmers or other heat sources like campfires, bonfire pits, and even hot rocks from around you if it’s safe. Simply place the sock near one of these sources for about 10 minutes until they are nice and toasty!
11. Save Battery
When you’re out on the hiking trail it can be difficult to maintain your cell phone or GPS battery charge. If you want to save some power, one of the best ways is simply flipping the batteries, so they don’t accidentally turn on in their pocket.
This simple step reduces wasted energy and will keep any devices running longer during a day hike. Having an extra bit of juice available could make a huge difference when needed most!
12. Use Pill Bottles
Pill Bottles are a great tool for storing items while day hiking. They provide an airtight, water-resistant container that can be used to store matches and other small items such as first aid supplies or energy bars. Pill bottles also have the added advantage of being lightweight and easy to carry in your pocket without taking up too much space. To use pill bottles for storage, simply fill them with whatever item you wish (in this case, we suggest using them for matches), then securely close the lid tightly so no moisture can enter inside.
13. Use Baby Wipes
With a pack of travel baby wipes, you can keep yourself clean, which is especially useful on along hike. With a brief wipe-down at night, you might be amazed at how much fresher you feel.
Of course, if you’re traveling light, you won’t want to carry wipes because you’ll have to pack them out as well.
14. Easy Fire
Bring a DIY fire starter if fires are allowed, and you’ll have flames dancing in no time. The cost of store-bought fire starters is high, but manufacturing your own is simple.
Simply soak cotton balls or cotton pads in Vaseline until they’re completely soaked, then store in Ziploc dry bags. When one of them is lit, it lasts a remarkable amount of time.
15. Ask Others
The final hiking hack is to be friendly and stop to chat with fellow hikers heading in the opposite way. They may offer useful trail information, safety tips, or recommendations for a picturesque viewpoint or interesting site just off the beaten path.
Assist fellow hikers by sharing your knowledge and suggestions.
Final Words
That’s all there is to it! We hope you find this list useful in your hiking adventure and don’t forget to pass it on to other hikers! Physical preparedness is key, and hiking is an amazing way to help with that and at the same time help with your wilderness bushcraft skill.
Now, we hope you learned something from this article, and if you liked it, please consider following us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Also, consider sharing this content and subscribing to get 100+ free survival ebooks.
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