Sedona Day Hiking Essentials

Osprey Daylite Plus Everyday Backpack You’ve got to be able to comfortably carry everything else on this list and I love this daypack because it has a padded back and roomy capacity without being bulky. It’s got a sleeve for a water reservoir (more on that in a minute) and adjustable straps that can make more space for your stuff.

LifeStraw Go Series Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Ever since I picked up E. coli while traveling, I’ve been a bit nutty about water. This LifeStraw water bottle has become my go-to while traveling because it’s durable, prevents the use of plastic water bottles, and filters out 99% of the bad stuff you’ll find in water around the world. And it fits perfectly in the pocket of my pack, which is important to me as someone who likes to have her hands available to hold her camera instead of a bottle!

Osprey Hydraulics Water Reservoir For longer hikes, I slide a water reservoir into the pocket of my day pack and can carry 2-3 liters of water (depending on the reservoir) and use the drinking hose for easy access without removing my pack!

Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe Shoes are a very personal thing because everyone’s feet are different, so I strongly suggest going to someplace like REI where you can try them on. But in Sedona, sneakers aren’t going to cut it! I wore these Merrell hiking shoes and they’re far more grippy on the rock, which is so important for hiking safety. I saw several hikers in sneakers skip out on certain parts of hikes because their sneakers lacked the stability and the traction of hiking-specific shoes.

Packable Rain Jacket I live in Florida, the land of the pop-up summer rain shower, so a packable rain jacket lives in my purse every summer and it’s the perfect addition to my daypack for hiking. I love how scrunchable it is and how easy it is to pack down and how little space it takes up in my bag.

Smartwool Smartloft Vest I am obsessed with this vest and wore it every single day in Sedona! As long as my core was warm, I was comfortable. It’s cozy with a shockingly slim profile that’s easy to pack without taking up valuable bag space.

Headlamp A flashlight is fine, but I prefer the hands-free capability of a headlamp. Pick one that has a red light feature for use in the evening. Red light is easier on the eyes and can help you see better at night.

Garmin In Reach You hope it never happens, but if you get hurt or lost and need serious assistance the Garmin In Reach can get you help when cell service fails you. This portable satellite communicator has two-way messaging (subscription required) and can share your location with friends and family back home to set their minds (and yours) at ease.

Snacks Whether you’re planning a day-long hike or a short one-hour jaunt, pack more snacks than you think you’ll need! Trail mix is a good option and I love high-protein snacks that are easy to eat like protein bars. Bring a variety of goodies to satisfy your cravings and share with your hiking buddies. I’m also a big fan of electrolyte packets to add to my water because I tend to get dehydrated easily.

Sunscreen As someone who’s no stranger to skin cancer, I’m the sunscreen queen! Anytime I’m outdoors, I’m decked out in face and body sunscreen and typically wearing an SPF shirt. Not only do I apply sunscreen before a hike, I bring it with me to reapply even if I’m only planning to be out for a short time. Because you just never know when your hike might take longer than planned!

Waterproof Lighter Campfires are prohibited in Sedona due to fire risk, but a waterproof lighter is something I always have in my daypack just in case!

Multitool Another just-in-case item in my pack is a multitool (or a knife is a fine option if that’s what you have). To be fair, the bottle opener is probably the most used item on my multitool, but the tweezers are also great for things like removing splinters and the whistle is a great attention-getting device if things go sideways.

AllTrails I love the AllTrails app not only for finding cool hikes but also for its map capability. Because let’s be honest, your girl isn’t Magellan! Before any hike, I download its offline map in case I have poor or non-existent service. This came in handy while I was hiking in Sedona because the signal can be pretty poor.

First Aid Kit Never leave home without one! Does anyone else remember those old American Express commercials? Just me? Anyway, a first aid kit is not just a hiking essential, it’s an everyday essential. I keep one in my car and my suitcase when traveling in addition to my pack when I’m hiking.

Solar Charger Power Bank Between using my phone for maps on AllTrails and taking way too many photos and videos, I run the battery down quickly. Since I solo hike, I never want to be without a phone charge just in case things go sideways and this solar charger power bank, which can also be USB charged, comes with a flashlight and can charge my phone 2+ times.

Hat What type of hat you wear depends on the temperature and time of year you’re hiking. In warmer weather, I prefer a baseball cap. In colder weather, a knit hat will keep your noggin warm. When I visited Sedona in November, I needed the knit cap in the morning (it was in the 40s Fahrenheit) and ended up switching to the baseball cap later in the day as it warmed it (it got into the 70s). I used a carabiner clip to clip my baseball cap to my pack when I wasn’t wearing it.

Hand Sanitizer Speaking of things I clip to my pack, hand sanitizer is another one. It keeps it more easily accessible and I find that I use it more frequently when I don’t have to rummage for it.

Hand Towel Always carry a towel. IYKYK. Some people carry a bandana, but I like a moisture-wicking towel. It’s good for wiping sweat or drying your hands if you wash them.