5 Must-Have Pack Items for Hiking in the Summer

There are two types of sun protection: chemical sunscreen and physical sunblock. Chemical sunscreen is absorbed into the skin and bloodstream – it converts the UV rays into heat and then releases it from the skin. Physical sunblock sits on top of your skin and blocks the UV rays. So which one is better? Maybe it’s a personal preference, but I’d rather avoid putting products into my body when it has the same effect outside.

I’m going to focus on physical sunblock as it seems to be the more popular option for sun protection products in the outdoors industry and what I usually use. Physical sunblock, sometimes called mineral sunblock, offers instant sun protection (chemical sunscreen needs to be applied 15 mins before sun exposure. It is usually thicker, harder to fully absorb into your skin, and comes off faster when you’re sweating… so don’t forget to reapply!

On average, 20% is the highest amount of Zinc Oxide I’ve found in sunblock. Zinc Oxide is a skin protectant and one of the two types of active ingredients in sunblock to protect from UV rays so the higher the concentration the better. The other active ingredient is Titanium Dioxide. These minerals act literally as a sunblock – they sit on top of your skin and reflect away the rays.

I’ve been a fan of ThinkSport for body sunblock for years and absolutely love their Everyday Face sunblock. Heck, everyone I’ve introduced it to loves it too so I’m confident you’ll enjoy it as well. It’s actually the reason that sparked this blog post – I’m so thrilled about this product and want y’all to try it out too this summer! *not sponsored but includes affiliate links*

What sets this apart from the other sunblocks I use? There’s a silky, velvety feeling when you apply the sunblock on. It does not feel thick like some of my other favorites. The natural tint blends very well with all skin tones (that I’ve seen) so you don’t need to worry about being white from other sunblocks that are not fully rubbed in. It’s free of biologically harmful chemicals, does not contain any known chemicals harmful to coral reefs, achieved the highest level of biodegradability testing, and has no parabens or BPA. Also, a little goes a LONG way, keep that in mind when applying.

Don’t get me wrong, I still like most of the other sunblocks I’ve recommended (Juice Beauty is still a favorite because it’s organic), but this one is great for the face because of the lightweight feel to it. My favorite moisturizing sunscreen for daily living is Elemis Pro-Collagen SPF – it really keeps your skin elastic and I highly recommend this one for a face moisturizer!! I also really like the Shiseido Annessa SPF50.

PS – The highest amount of Zinc Oxide in sunblock I’ve found was 23% but I just didn’t like the formula of that particular sunblock. 25% is the highest allowed concentration.

There’s a misconception that short sleeves are better for warm-weather hiking but it took me years to learn that you’re better off hiking in a long sleeve when it’s sunny! The right sun hoodie shirt makes all the difference: the most important factors to consider are weight and breathability.

When you’re in the sun for extended periods of time, wearing a long sleeve will shield your skin from the sun and keep you cooler because you’ll be “shaded”. It also reduces the risk of sunburn! You will likely still get warm hiking in a long sleeve but a breathable fabric will ultimately help your body stay cooler than hiking in a short sleeve. If you don’t believe me, I challenge you to try it out. Don’t get me wrong, I still like to un-layer once in a while for an instant breeze but I never hike without a base layer long sleeve and I strongly recommend you to look into this more.

UPF are the shirts that will protect you from the sun — it’s simply the protection rating system for clothes (like SPF for sunblock)

Best Sun Shirts for Hiking

My 3 favorites below are all the lightest and most breathable fabrics for sun hoodies, moisture-wicking, soft, and odor-controlling! Sun hoodies are better than just long sleeve sun shirts because the hoodie protects the side of your face from the sun as well.

• Pulse Hoodie from Rab
• Himali Eclipse Sun Hoodie – use code followtiffsjourney for 10% off your entire order
• Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie

Staying hydrated is extremely important in the heat and wearing a long-sleeve shirt is not a substitute for this. I cannot tell you how much water to pack for a hike as you know your body best, but if you’re hiking near rivers, lakes, or any water sources, a water filter can come in very handy for both day hikes and overnight trips!

BeFree is my favorite because it’s lightweight (about 2 oz), collapsible, filters up to 2 liters of water per minute, and just so dang convenient! It filters up to 1000 liters of contaminated water without using chemicals and removes harmful organisms like bacteria and protozoa 99.9% surpassing EPA standards. It’s easy to use if you’re on the go – like any normal water bottle, you just screw off the top (filter is attached on the inside), scoop up water, screw the top back on, and drink directly from or squeeze into another bottle – I use it both ways! 😉

Remember that when you sweat, your body loses salt too so make sure you replenish that with some electrolytes.

I know, I know… your first thought is you don’t want to look like a dork – but every smart hiker owns a sun hat. The wider the brim, the more protection you get all-around. I’ve been wearing these more to protect the side of my face and my neck. The two hats I alternate between are both from Sunday Afternoons: the Charter hat is great because it has structure and I can tuck my hair in a bun under to cool down my neck but the Adventure hat has a slightly larger brim, is better to fold/pack away and has neck coverage.

If you’re heading to a lake, a quick-drying towel is a must! Yes, you can simply wait to dry off in the sun or use your dirty hiking clothes, but I find it’s nice to always have a small, clean towel… you just never know.

They’re usually very compact, can hang from the outside of your backpack, and dries within 15 minutes. I like the Sea to Summit Dry Lite Towel (mine is size S) for a smaller size towel and the Matador NanoDry Package Shower Towel for a larger size which packs down the same size and feels just as light!