When heading out for a day on the water, or quick hike, or any other adventure it is as important to have the right gear on hand as it is for a longer duration outing. We will skip over the abundance of primary gear such as packs, rods & reels, boots etc and just focus on some of the smaller items that can keep you prepared, safe, and in the game. Having the right essentials, packed/stowed properly, will add minimal weight and bulk to your kit while providing piece of mind on a good day or life saving on a bad day. Read on to see some of my adventure essentials.
Polarized Sunglasses
If I am outside, I have polarized sunglasses on. The polarization cuts down on glare and harmful UV rays which not only protects my eyes from the damaging effects of the sun, but also allows me to see better in and around water (a true must-have for fishing). Most of my sunglasses are also non-glass which means they are shatter-resistant. Many non-glass lenses are polycarbonate, but some leading manufacturers such as Maui Jim have pushed the envelope with glass alternative lenses providing optical clarity rivaling glass but with the impact resistance of polycarbonate. Increasingly I use lower light lenses for trout fishing or cloudy days. Newer low-light lenses allow more light to come through but also reduce glare as a polarized lens should and allow me to see into shadows to spot spooky fish. Don’t forget the eyewear retainer; your sunglasses are an investment you want to keep.
Pocketknife or Multi-tool
Whole blog posts have been written on the importance of a reliable pocketknife, or multitool, so I won’t wax poetic too heavily on the virtues of such a trusted companion. But I don’t leave home without a pocket knife. Somehow it gets used every day. My multitool is close at hand in a pack, bag, or in my vehicle. When you need one, you really need one! Especially the plier function or the screwdriver. Spend the money to get a good one and learn how to make the most of these tools.
Flashlight or Headlamp
No matter how old we get we are still afraid of the dark. Flashlights are great tools, but sometimes you need to use both hands. Enter the headlamp. Whether I am rigging a line early in the morning, hiking into camp late at night, or dealing with a seasonal power outage at home, I rely on a good headlamp. When out and about I also keep fresh batteries with the light just in case. In camp you can strap the headlamp to your clear water bottle so that light shines into the bottle creating an ambient light similar to a lantern.
First-Aid Items
Bumps and bruises happen. So do seasonal allergies. With that in mind I keep a small bottle of anti-inflammatory on hand as well as a liquid bandage (almost immediately stops or slows the minor wound and is waterproof so unlike a bandage it wont slip off). I don’t leave home without some sort of seasonal allergy medicine because, hey, I like to breathe easier.
Sunscreen & Insect Repellent
Sunscreen, lip balm, and insect repellent should be obvious choices, but they only work when they are properly used. The first two are year round companions for sure. Insect repellent is more season and location specific, but I have relied on Ben’s 30% or 100% DEET for years of travel in Central America, and for early season hunts (as well as yard work). There may be better options out there, but when the bugs are bad (and in some cases bad for you i.e. malaria) I go with what I know works.
Water & Snacks
Even a quick outing is going to require you to refuel and rehydrate so appropriate snacks and water are always close by. Prepackaged snacks are easy and the wrapper means that even with less than clean hands I don’t need to worry about contamination. Please make sure to pack out that trash though! For longer trips I may double up my hydration from one Nalgene to two, or even a bladder system. The benefit of two bottles means that one can have water and the other packs an electrolyte solution or coffee. But that is just getting bougie.
Rain Gear
A rain shell is always in the bag for the obvious reason. But it also serves as a windbreaker even on cooler days, or extra sun protection on full exposure days. Current offerings from leading brands such as Patagonia, Marmot, The North Face, and Arcteryx are light weight, breathable, and will exceed performance expectations. On cold days they make fleece and other midweight layers even more effective without adding bulk.
Pack
All of those items can be easily stored in a bag or pack without taking up much space. With a little bit of planning, I have all of those on my person or in my Fishpond Flathead Sling for a full day on a mountain stream while still carrying all of the fly-fishing essentials. Small organization pouches help to contain a potential mess, keep the essentials close at hand, and make it easier to inventory between trips. A change of clothes does stay in the truck just in case of a fall in deep water or if my waders develop a leak; besides, changing in to warm, dry clothes makes the drive home that much better.
The added weight of all of this is much less than one might think. The added piece of mind is tremendous; more so when you actually have to make a repair or clean up an injury in the dark. This list is by no means exhaustive or set in stone. I make changes to my essentials based on the trip, the weather, and if I am responsible for other people. But the loadout is thoughtful, concise, and effective. So, what are your adventure essentials? Jesse Brown’s Outdoors is the perfect place to grab all of the gear you need!
By Wes Lawson