If you’re like me, you think that getting outdoors is more interesting than going to the pub and you have zero regret for any money you spent on hiking gear over the years. I suppose it’s okay to enjoy both but I’m just saying – hiking gear is a much better investment. However, there are certain items in my backpack that I recommend more than others and many of these come without a hefty price tag. That’s not to say “cheaper is better” but I appreciate a bargain and don’t believe a price tag is always a reliable indication of quality or practicality. And let’s assume that you already have the shoes and backpack and focus on the hiking accessories that not everyone carries on the trail.
My Top 6 Must-Have Hiking Accessories
1. A Portable Stove for Coffee and Food on the Trail
If you’ve followed any of my social media accounts over the years, you will know that I rarely go hiking or camping without coffee and a hot meal. It just makes sense to do this and the weight is no longer an excuse with the arrival of portable stoves and lightweight pots!
I even use this portable setup on brief forays into the outdoors. For example, I often take a walk to a nearby hill and spend thirty minutes making coffee. When it rains, I have a lightweight tarp at the ready in my backpack and a warm jacket for when it gets cold. I just cannot express how much I enjoy making, eating and drinking something warm on my trips and this really does add some excitement or interest to spending time outdoors.
I bought this nifty little teapot recently but the MSR mini cook set is amazing value and I also have my eyes on this really cool toasted sandwich maker. If you just wanted a small portable stove, take a look at the MSR Pocket Rocket or something similar (and cheaper) like this tiny Rapid stove by GoSystems.
2. A Tick Remover to Be on the Safe Side
Ticks are something we all hate to think about but they inhabit the wild places in Ireland. You will find these pests in moist, shady areas around Ireland. They cling to bushes and tall grass and almost always inhabit the ground level. You might have also noticed these ticks on your family
pet and this is because they enjoy spending time in gardens and next to forests or stone walls. Anyway, you get my point, you will encounter them at some point.
I was plagued by ticks while camping on the Kerry Way (Sorry, Kerry) and many more parts of the country. They are also such an unpleasant thing to find and trust me, you will be thankful to have invested in a tick remover when they come. A tick remover is a very small and simple device that can help remove these ticks quickly and safely. The stainless steel tick remover is effective but this tick remover card works just as well.
3. A Portable Water Filter to Help Avoid Illness
I’ve been relatively fortunate to avoid injury on most of my hiking trips. However, I did fall ill with giardia in both America and Ireland after drinking contaminated water. I was unable to hike for several days afterward and truly regretted not having filtered my water.
In case you might not know, a lot of fresh water sources in Ireland are relatively safe but there is always a risk involved. There is also no way of knowing when or if a water source is contaminated and drinking this unfiltered water is never worth the risk.
A water filter is also something that you will keep for many years. While some of my past water filters were small, lightweight and cheap, they were often slow or somewhat unreliable. This is why I like the TrailShot filter by MSR which is so small it can fit inside a jacket pocket and can be used to drink directly from a river or bottle of unfiltered water.
4. The 2-Litre Platypus Water Bottle for Sheer Convenience
I don’t like to preach about the environment or the principles of ‘Leave No Trace’ but, that’s not to say I don’t follow or appreciate such guidelines. In fact, I carried the same 2 litre plastic water bottle for much of my walk around Ireland and always bring my re-usable coffee cup to the shop. It’s a way for me to “do my bit for the environment” but the plastic water bottle caused problems on my walk around Ireland and other long distance trips.
It’s a health issue. Plastic water bottles have a tendency to fill up with grime/bacteria and they are simply not designed to be washed and re-used. A platypus water bottle is far more durable and easier to clean on a regular basis. And you need to pay attention to this on a multi-day trip in particular or risk falling ill – as has happened with me in the past.
But that’s just part of the story…
The Platypus water bottle holds 2-litres of water and packs down to a really small size. This means you can easily fit two of these into your backpack and you will certainly need more than two litres of water if you plan to hike or cook in the mountains/wilderness. A platypus is also very useful in hot weather, for they can attach a straw system which will save you reaching for a water bottle every few minutes and hence, keep you hydrated.
5. A Head Net for Mosquitos/Midges
I’m not sure whether you know this but midges have the potential to destroy what should be a straightforward hiking trip. It’s true that both mosquitos and midges are unable to keep up while hiking but in midge-country they’re a huge nuisance anytime you stop. They’ve literally ruined more than a few of my wild camping trips and remain the biggest frustration that I can recall from any of my hiking trips in Ireland.
The worst part about it? A mosquito head net is one of the lightest and smallest items you can carry. They are also super cheap and no fancy design or style is necessary for this little life saver. In fact, I now keep one of these nets in the side pocket of each backpack to ensure I can at least stand a chance with these relentless pests in the future.
And the one I always tell my friends about…
6. A Pair of Adjustable Hiking Poles to Protect from Injury
I wrote an article 3 years ago in which I talked about my experiences with and without trekking poles. I used to think they were unnecessary and looked rather silly. But long story short, I came to the conclusion that trekking poles are 100% necessary for mid-long distance hiking. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the vast majority of my hiking injuries in the past were as a result of not using hiking poles. Whether you want to climb a peak or tackle a section of the Wicklow Way, hiking poles help with your posture, while reducing the amount of wear and tear in terms of your body.
By the way, I also use my hiking poles for putting up a tarp when it rains and for crossing rivers and bogs or any other time I might need some extra balance. But which poles?
I suggest the Leki Journey hiking poles or iff you are looking for a more affordable option the Rock n River twin pack. Either way, these hiking poles are adjustable which also means you can fold them up and pack them away when you’re not using them.
Some Other Hiking Accessories on My Wishlist
A Sit Mat – I know this seems rather silly to some hikers but I’m getting a little tired of sitting on the ground. It also makes sense that a rest-break should be comfortable and this is not always possible hiking in the mountains and certainly not when it’s raining!
High-Tech Watch – It’s certainly not essential but it would be fantastic to have a watch on which I could check the altitude or temperature.
Vibrant-Colour Rain Cover – A super bright rucksack rain cover is ideal for hiking at night and on stretches of roads in particular.
Waist Bag – You’ll appreciate this one if you carry a camera. The pockets on a backpack are rarely useful for carrying a camera and I’m eager to try this waist bag by Osprey.
Aside from the wishlist, I never go hiking or camping without the above items in my backpack. While it’s true that some of these are not essential such as the platypus or portable stove, they certainly make life easier and a hiking trip – more enjoyable.