Packing the Ten Essentials whenever you step into the backcountry, even on day hikes, is a good habit. True, on a routine trip you may use only a few of them. Yet you’ll probably never fully appreciate the value of the Ten Essentials until you really need one of them.
The original Ten Essentials list was assembled in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers, to help people be prepared for emergency situations in the outdoors.
In 2003, the group updated the list to a “systems” approach rather than listing individual items (for example, map and compass now fall into the Navigation “system”.)
The updated "systems" approach made its debut in The Mountaineers’ seminal text on climbing and outdoor exploration, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (The Mountaineers Books), now in its eighth edition.
Updated Ten Essential "Systems"
Classic Ten Essentials
Beyond the Ten Essentials
The original Ten Essentials list was assembled in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers, to help people be prepared for emergency situations in the outdoors.
In 2003, the group updated the list to a “systems” approach rather than listing individual items (for example, map and compass now fall into the Navigation “system”.)
The updated "systems" approach made its debut in The Mountaineers’ seminal text on climbing and outdoor exploration, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (The Mountaineers Books), now in its eighth edition.
Updated Ten Essential "Systems"
- Navigation (map and compass)
- Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
- First-aid supplies
- Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
- Repair kit and tools
- Nutrition (extra food)
- Hydration (extra water)
- Emergency shelter
Classic Ten Essentials
- Map
- Compass
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Extra clothing
- Headlamp/flashlight
- First-aid supplies
- Firestarter
- Matches
- Knife
- Extra food
Beyond the Ten Essentials
- Daypack
- Lunch
- Snacks (energy bars, gels, chews, trail mix)
- Energy beverages or drink mixes
- Utensils
- Cups
- Toilet paper
- Sanitation trowel
- Hand sanitizer
- Insect repellent
- Whistle
- Binoculars
- Trekking poles
- Bag for collecting trash
- Route description or guidebook
- Interpretive field guide(s)
- Outdoor journal with pen/pencil
- Quick-dry towel
- Post-hike snacks, water, towel, clothing change
- Trip itinerary left with friend + under car seat
Here are some basic checklists to help you plan for your next outing.
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