Thank you to Sparrow Drone (Gerrit Burke) for taking the above picture of me while we were out hiking one day! Instagram Website

Essentials for Summer Hiking
Fall Hiking is one of the best times to find amazing views in Alabama. Typically the waterfalls are not running full force, but the cooling weather and changing colors of the trees is enough incentive for anyone to want to get out and hike.

There are essentials you need for fall hiking, but it’s important to remember the difference between every hiking trip when planning on what to bring. In the deep south, falls can vary from incredibly hot (100F+) to incredibly cold (below freezing). Its also hurricane season which means we can get weeks of rain as well as weeks where we have blue skies and low humidity.  Below are my gear suggestions for a perfect fall hiking trip.

This list can be found on Amazon
Men’s Essentials Click Here
Women’s Essentials Click Here

Above is a list of everything you need for summer hiking. Below is the reasoning behind each item.

• Day Pack (Men’s) (Women’s)

A backpack is essential for carrying your gear. If the backpack is too small then you won’t have enough space to store all your equipment. If its too large it’ll just be inconvenient and get in your way. I suggest around a 22L backpack. This size also works great as a “personal item” when flying.

• Smartwool Socks (Men’s) (Women’s)

Choosing the right sock is incredibly important. Depending on your hike you could be going through nice dry areas with flat easy terrain, a hot humid mucky swamp hike, or rocky mountains through streams. Smartwool socks are incredibly comfortable. Smartwool has several socks with different thicknesses that will be perfect no matter what fall weather throws at you. They are incredibly comfortable and out of all the clothing on this list, I would suggest buying these first.

• Breathable Underwear (Men’s) (Women’s)

Good underwear is the next article of clothing that I suggest buying first. Saxx and Exofficio are my go-to brands for hiking. These underwear are incredibly comfortable and yet very breathable. They are a bit pricey for a single pair, but they are an absolute game-changer in the outdoors.

• Cool Sturdy Hiking Shoes (Men’s) (Women’s)

Hiking shoes are very important. You need to choose a boot with a solid grip. Of all the hiking boots we’ve owned we’ve found that Keens and Solomons hiking boots offer great support as well as the best grip. These shoes even can grip to slippery, wet rocks. 

• Hydration Pack (Men’s) (Women’s)

Make sure you stay hydrated! A nice Hydration pack gives you easy access to water as well as a convenient way to store water in your backpack. You can pack 3 liters without a clunky bottle. Pair it with a backpack with a pouch for a hydration pack and the water is always available on the trail when you want it.

• First Aid Kit (Men’s) (Women’s)

Always keep a First Aid Kit on hand!

• Bug Repellant (Men’s) (Women’s)

Mosquitoes aren’t as bad in the fall months, but still can get you which can leave you with an incredibly annoying and can leave you with a not so-pleasant hike. We suggest packing 100% deet. That way your pack stays light and you still have the bug spray you need to keep the mosquitoes away.

• Water Filter (Men’s) (Women’s)

Water is always important. The water filter we suggest is light and easy to use. It can also be connected directly to your hydration pack allowing you to quickly fill the hydration pack with river water and have it filtered as you’re drinking it.

• Prana Hiking Pants (Men’s) (Women’s)

We love our Prana pants. They are incredibly comfortable, stretch in all the right places, and are durable. Really most any pants will do, but if you want to stay comfortable on the trail, Prana is the way to go (yes even for the guys!).

• Hiking T-shirt (Men’s) (Women’s)

Don’t go out of your way for an expensive t-shirt. Make sure it’s not cotton and you’ll be fine. Focus on your socks and underwear. It’ll be a much more comfortable hike if you do! If you have the money, we love our Mountain Hardware, Colombia, and Patagonia t-shirts!

• LIght fleece (Men’s) (Women’s)

The brand again is not important. My favorite is my Khul Fleece but really any pull-over will work. Just make sure you plan for the weather that day!

• Compass and Map (Men’s) (Women’s)

Always know where you are.

All of these essentials are easily found online. Click below for the men’s and woman’s lists I personally put together on Amazon.
Men’s list
Women’s list