Your Essential Guide: What to Pack for Nature Walks, Hikes & Treks

Nature Walk Checklist: What to Pack for Outdoor Adventures?

After sharing one of my hiking experiences, I wanted to address a curious topic.

What do I take with me when I go hiking, trekking, on any nature walk, or camping?

The answer is both very simple and not simple at all, because needs can vary for each, especially for camping. I'll talk about that next week.

Let's go from simple to complex and start with a nature walk.

What should we take with us for a few hours' walk by the sea or in the forest?

What do we need? (I recommend the best possible route for fresh air, new scenery, and getting to know your surroundings; you'll find plenty of route suggestions in VAGMAG)

Let's start with three essential items that are constant regardless of individual needs or the type of travel.

The Unbreakable Trio: Phone, Wallet, Keys

• Phone: A phone has now become much more than just a communication device. It can be difficult to carry a camera on rugged trails, so it has many functions, from taking photos to being used as a map in case you get lost. I definitely recommend a durable phone case for your nature walks!
  

• Wallet: A wallet is now a basic item we consider necessary to step out. Always have your ID with you, and if you're abroad, your passport. I'd like to remind you to research the legal requirements of the country you're traveling in and the necessity of having your passport with you for any control situations. Honestly, since I no longer use cash and IDs have shrunk in size, I can say I only use a cardholder now.
  

• Keys: And of course, your keys! Every nature walk and every trip eventually returns home. That's why I want to remind you to take your keys with you. Since I'm a very forgetful person and can't find items like keys or wallets by "asking someone to call them" like a phone, I solved this problem by using an Airtag. If you don't want to add another worry to your mind and want a bit of peace of mind, you can try this.

  
  

Moreover, VAGY cardholders and keychains are not only practical and stylish but also highly functional for Airtag use. If you want to feel relaxed when you leave home before heading out for a peaceful walk in nature, I definitely recommend them. Honestly, we produced them for this very reason, based on our own needs to pack for nature walks.

A small reminder from the travel magazine editor who believes she can do many tasks at the same time but can't, yet is too stubborn to admit it.

Beyond the Basics: Fueling Your Adventure

If your essential items are covered your phone in a sturdy and reliable VAGY phone case, your VAGY cardholder with only the cards and ID you need, and your Airtag-compatible VAGY wallet with its stylish design that makes you feel at home then we can move on to other necessities. In fact, you're already ready for a short walk!

First, let's remember that time spent in nature is for enjoyment, relaxation, and exercise. While we want to leave behind difficulties like workplace disagreements, misunderstandings with our partners, and all the traffic of city life, none of our belongings should physically burden us. We already carry a body; we carry a body that weighs as much as we do.

The distance to be covered and the mode of transport must always be considered. If you're driving to your walking spot, why not have water and your favorite green tea in your thermos for after your walk? If you're cycling, I recommend taking a small backpack to do this. Carrying water in your hand for an hour and then carrying the empty bottle back might not be very practical.

So, after essential items, come essential needs: eating and rehydrating after losing water during the walk.

Small and clean snacks, a bottle of water, your favorite drink in a flask, perhaps even wristband towels or a spare t-shirt can be further down the list. These are all things I would recommend to improve the quality and continuity of your experience. If the nature walk is close to a settlement, you often don't even need to worry about these, as there are usually places nearby where you can get supplies.

Nature Walk, Hiking, and Trekking: What's the Difference?

• A nature walk refers to relaxed strolls, usually lasting a few hours, near a settlement. It's ideal for getting fresh air, discovering new scenery, and getting to know your surroundings. It generally doesn't require special equipment.

  
  

  

  
  

• We define hiking as nature walks where the route is ideally more immersed in nature and planned to last several hours, or even half a day. It's done on more defined trails or marked paths. Essential needs (water, snacks) become "must-haves" for this activity.
  

  

  
  

• Trekking, on the other hand, means spending a longer time in nature than both nature walks and hiking; it can last for days or even weeks. This is a more challenging activity done in rougher terrain, requiring experience, first aid knowledge, and physical endurance. While hiking means "walking" or "rambling," trekking encompasses expressions like "going" or "migrating." The degree of difficulty and the time spent in nature are the fundamental differences.
  

  

Level Up Your Gear: From Trail to Trek

When hiking, in addition to the three essential items we mentioned, water, snacks, and perhaps a small sandwich are no longer preferences but rather "must-haves" on the list.

I'm sure you'll find the best-prepared, most delicious sandwich recipes in Maggy's Gastronomy Quarter. You might even see snack ideas based on different cultures soon for example, I can't say I've seen the packaged and easily accessible dried meats I see in every market in Spain commonly consumed in my own Turkish culture. Therefore, when you stop by a market before a walk in the place you're traveling, you'll decide whether you want to stick to your habits or try new flavors. I'm always open to new things, so I'm eagerly awaiting Maggy's articles discussing different cultures, especially her 10-month backpacking trip to Asia!

In my previous articles, I talked about the Camino de Santiago journey, one of the most enjoyable and well-known trekking routes in the world.

For hiking, it's important that your chosen sports shoes, t-shirt, and other items are practical, but for trekking, this is crucial.

For both experiences, safety precautions are essential; if possible, go with experienced people, or if it's your first time, join professional teams.

For trekking, you need to choose your gear by focusing on your route, the number of days you'll be spending, and your needs. Before creating a list or choosing your items, I should remind you that, besides the basic trio of phone, wallet, and keys, selecting appropriate clothing is important. You should adjust your food and drink according to your plan and route. It's important to choose foods that provide energy and are worth carrying.

The selection of a suitable backpack for trekking can now be considered a "must-have" on the list. Choosing weather-appropriate clothing, preferably waterproof ones, would be wise. Shoe selection is vital for trekking because your daily city shoes simply cannot adapt to trekking conditions. Additionally, if necessary, you'll need to include items like a sleeping bag and tent in your plan. Another point to remember when spending time in nature is that you must keep your trash with you until you find a suitable place to dispose of it.

Beyond the Pack: Preparing Your Body

In this article, I only wanted to talk about what I take with me before these types of walks, to make it feel like we're packing my backpack together. However, I want to remind you with just one sentence that physical preparation is just as important as equipment preparation for hiking and trekking.

If you're not trained, I recommend enjoying a pleasant nature walk with tea or coffee in a flask while admiring the scenery, rather than a challenging first and only tough walk.

If you proceed this way, you'll want to take your experience a step further on your next and subsequent walks.

Isn't it always like this? We want to consume what we love immediately. If there's a dish we like, we always want to eat it; if we like someone on social media, we consume all their content in one day. Then what?

Then we don't even want to see it again; the mention of that food makes our stomachs turn because we've consumed more than we even wanted. Haven't our fast consumption habits brought fast fashion and fast food into our lives for these reasons? To get maximum benefit in a short time. I also wanted to talk about its relationship with love at first sight, but I'll leave the rest of the thought process to you. You'll have plenty of opportunity and time to think about these things during your time in nature with your perfectly packed backpacks not too much, not too little.

That's what we're trying to do at VAGY too, actually neither too much nor too little. Our goal is to create quality experiences that simplify your travels.

P.S.Not sure when you're reading this, but every season we celebrate our VAGMAG journey with a little surprise:At the end of each quarter, three lucky subscribers win a VAGY item we've loved and talked about.

This might just be your moment.

Our quarters follow the rhythm of life: – Dec, Jan, Feb: Sports, Winter – Mar, Apr, May: Culture, Spring – Jun, Jul, Aug: Gastronomy, Summer – Sep, Oct, Nov: Nature, Autumn

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Never feel alone on any of your travels or walks again; VAGY is always with you.

Remember to drink plenty of water after long walks, leave your troubles behind on that walk, and return refreshed.

Time flies, the road always goes forward.

with care, Idalia