This post is about to be a doozy so bear with us. We are going to attempt a breakdown of our minimalist gear by hiking type.

This question came from a family member (shout out to Brittny!) and we instantly thought, what a great idea for a travel gear post. Then we started writing it and we thought...oh my gosh what have we committed to?!

The idea proposed by Brittny was this..."Do you have a breakdown of minimalist necessities for different types of hikes". So basically how do you know when to pack up for a Lewis and Clark style expedition and when do you just toss on some gym shoes and call it a day?

The overall concept seems pretty simple. What is our hiking gear and how does it vary depending on the type of hike?

Here's where it gets tricky. How does one even define a type of hike? We looked it up and of course, everyone had their own definition.

So stick with us as we not only try to come up with our own classification of hikes but also breakdown our go-to hiking gear accordingly. Alright, let's get started!

Disclosure: Links throughout the Mindful Nomadics site may make us a small commission at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.

Different Types of Hikes

After some internet searching, there are two popular ways people define different types of hikes.

One example is:

1. Day Hiking
2. Summit Hiking
3. Thru-Hiking

This isn't the worst system but it really leaves a lot out. A day hike can be anywhere from 15 minutes to 8 hours.

There are also some hiking trails where you can summit a mountain with little to no elevation gain depending on the steepness and where the trailhead begins.

Another way to divide hiking types is:

1. Easy
2. Moderate
3. Challenging

Again though this is way too ambiguous. What one person considers moderate someone else might think "holy crap I'm going to die". This actually happened to us in Washington when a hike was listed as moderate and IT WAS NOT MODERATE...it was very difficult and Kelsey was not happy.

Both of these options are okay but not complete. We think the two most important factors when defining a hike are distance and elevation.

So we're going to combine it all for our breakdown and add a few more words to each category.

The different types of hikes are

1. Easy flat day hikes under 2 hours
2. Moderate day hikes with slight elevation gain under 2 hours
3. Moderate day hikes with decent elevation gain over 2 hours
4. Challenging day hikes with significant elevation gain over 6 hour
5. Challenging Thru-hiking

Don't worry, we will explain these more as we get to each section. Keep in mind, some hikes might not fit perfectly into a category so feel free to use your own discretion.

Easy Flat Day Hikes

An easy day hike should be mostly flat and under 2 hours total. So if it's a loop or a down-and-back as long as it is 2 hours, it fits in here.

When deciding if a hike is flat or not you have to pay attention to its elevation gain and its milage. Just the elevation gain doesn't tell you enough information to know if it is easy or more difficult.

When we say flat we mean an elevation gain of about 200 ft in 2 miles. Anything around there is typically pretty good for an easy hike.

Another thing that makes a trail easy is the path itself. A paved trail or well-kept trail is easier than one with a lot of larger rocks to step up onto.

Hiking Gear

For an easy flat day hike, the main hiking gear you need is gym shoes and a water bottle. If you have those two things you are good to go.

Sometimes we don't even take the water bottle with us but will have it in the car for the end of our hike. This way after tiring ourselves out we can rehydrate but we don't need to carry it throughout.

If you want to go a little extra then you can opt for a trail running shoe. These are gym shoes but with a better grip on the bottom so you aren't slipping and sliding on the trail.

Moderate Day Hikes with Slight Elevation Gain

Our next hiking type is a moderate day hike with slight elevation gain under two hours. The reason to keep it under two hours is that most hikes over that need a little bit more gear.

The elevation should be under 700 for a two-mile hike. So there will be some uphill but it's not the majority of the trail.

Hiking Gear

This category is kind of the in-between so you get to pick between gym shoes and hiking boots. We typically wear our hiking boots but have also worn gym shoes and it's not bad.

The only thing with gym shoes is there might be a part or two where the boots will make it a bit easier thanks to their grip. Also if it's raining or if there is any water along the trail having something waterproof is really nice.

We suggest having a water bottle and this time, we say bring it along. Even though the elevation is not excessive, there might be times where you have a quick climb and the refreshing water will make a big difference.

Moderate Day Hikes with Decent Elevation Gain

To keep it simple, even flat hikes over 2 hours are in this category. We found that most hikes over 2 hours have a decent elevation gain but obviously there are exceptions.

The main thing to consider with this category is that you are on your feet a decent amount of time. Then when the elevation does get tough you want to be ready.

For decent elevation gain think over 1000 ft. Most of the time that type of elevation gain means steep parts along the trail and or it might mean the whole thing is gentle uphill.

Hiking Gear

Now we're getting into the fun part. This is where we start decking ourselves out for an adventure.

First off, put on those hiking boots. For the increase in mileage, you will want the extra padding and extra comfort.

For any steep parts, you'll want the ankle boots for extra ankle stability and grip. Plus hiking boots make you feel like a pro on the trail.

For a moderate hike over 2 hours, we suggest you pull out the big guns. Put the water bottle away and grab a water pack.

We have lightweight water packs that fit 2 L of water and have extra storage for emergency essentials. Even if you don't bring a water pack we suggest some sort of bag with water and a few necessities.

For hikes over 2 hours, we make sure to have these essentials:

• Water
• Life Straw
• Bandaids
• Pain reliever
• Emergency blanket
• Pocket knife
• Waterproof Matches
• Rag or handkerchief
• Bug repellent
• Sunscreen
• Solar-powered light
• Sanitizer
• Chapstick
• Snack

This might seem like a lot for minimalists but each item takes up little to no room and can come in handy when you least expect it.

Challenging Day Hikes

Really any hike over 6 hours can be considered challenging. Even if it's flat, that's a lot of time walking around on your feet.

Most hikes this long have a significant elevation change because it takes you to the top of a mountain or to a lookout point. For elevation gain, look for anything around 1,500 ft or more.

Hiking Gear

For these hikes, again put on the hiking boots. You'll want them and they can be helpful for these challenging trails.

For your pack, you can use a water pack but you might want to go for something bigger. Just make sure you have water, food, and your emergency essentials.

*if you forgot our list of essentials click here to go back to that section*

We have used our water packs but found it helps to have more space. We have also brought our main hiking pack but sometimes this is too much.

Just make sure to pick a bag that fits plenty of water and plenty of snacks. You also want room to store an extra layer of clothes like a jacket or socks depending on what kind of weather or climate you might be dealing with.

Challenging Thru-Hikes

Thru-hikes are where you hike, make camp for the night then hike again the next day. We consider any thru-hike to be challenging since you have to take all of your camping gear with you.

Plus if you are thru-hiking, the odds of it being less than six miles total is pretty rare. If you are going to camp for the night, you'll probably go out at least 3 miles.

Hiking Gear

For thru-hikes hiking gear, it's a very simple concept. Everything you bring has to fit in your pack and be carried by you.

You want a good hiking pack (we're fans of Osprey) and you want good quality lightweight options of camping gear. Start with the things you need then you can add in things you want as long as you have room.

You'll want hiking boots and weather-appropriate hiking clothes. You want to bring an extra layer just in case but as a minimalist make sure you are going to use it.

Don't overpack as you have to carry all your stuff the whole way!

We're not going to go too far into what to put into your pack because it really depends on you. Basically, anything you need to camp with is what you bring.

So there you have it. This is our breakdown of what a minimalist wears based on the type of hike.

We know it was a lot of information so if you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Also, let us know if there is any gear we are missing that would make our hiking adventures even better!