Hiking Gear Rankings

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This is a must for any real hike. The backpack holds 2.5 liters of liquid (I like the water/gatorade mix), and has two easy to access pockets for all the other gear below. The backpack is really comfortable and light to wear, and this particular brand is very well priced. I like that the backpack has a chest and waist strap to keep in in place, and the open close function on the straw ensures no leakage.

One of my favorite parts of hiking is shutting off, listening to my music and pushing myself. The Bose headphones have long been a favorite but excel in a hiking environment. I love that I can connect via bluetooth (no wires) and also am able to use the phone function while my phone is actually packed away. On a hike of Camelback, the Bose came to the fore when one came out. I was able to use the "Find my Headphones" function to locate one of the buds that had fallen under a fence.

Confession that I do not really like Peanut Butter - but I am a big fan of the Isagenix Snack Bites. These are perfectly sized, 100 calorie bites, that I have used for energy pre, during and post hike. They are also easy to pack into the backpack and are individually packed so that they do not melt/get squashed on a more vigorous hike,

I like to be able to hike while listening to my music and tracking my heart rate, and also ensure my phone is not getting thrown around or damaged. This arm holder is perfect - the device has a velcro arm band to ensure it stays in place and also is water/sweat proof. The see through case enables you to view messages when you take a break at the summit.

There is a more detailed review of these but I truly love the Adidas Terrex range of shoes. Light weight, comfortable with great grip (Continental tires made) they make you feel more confident on the trail, whether trail running or hiking. The hiking shoes have a great ankle support for the trickier longer hikes.

This has been a game changer for early hiking (which is a must right now with the temperatures in Arizona). The lamp is so light you forget you have it on, and is a great price point. This is a small and easy to store/carry device, and is a very low price point. 

A lot of hikes recommend gloves but I am surprised by how few people wear them. I personally like that I get a better grip and also have no worries with touching hot rocks in the AZ summer. These are very robust and can handle any hike. The velcro straps make them easy to stay on.

These are more for the longer, tougher hikes where there is a danger of blisters - they pair well with the Adidas Terrex hiking style boots. Darn Tough are the only brand I have tried but I can't imagine there are many better!!

I use this one for the quick hikes - super easy and convenient. 

Well, I swore to myself I would never, ever (unless as an ironic item of clothing, or as part of a costume) buy a fanny pack. Hiking has changed that for me. I do not like having anything in my pockets (and actually prefer hiking in shorts with no pockets) so I need somewhere to hold everything - typically, wallet and keys. This is a great product, very well made and perfect for those needs (Especially if you do not have a hydration backpack)