What to Pack for a 14er Hike
What to Pack for a 14er Hike? I get asked this all the time. Whether you are heading to hike your first or 58th 14er in Colorado, it’s important to have a bag full of the necessary items and gear. During my time hiking 60+ 14ers I have refined my bag and thought I would share with you all. Below is a list of gear that I recommend for a typical summer 14er hike.
What to Pack for a 14er Hike
Backpack: Although this is obvious, it’s key to have a backpack that suits your needs. I would recommend something in the 20-30L range and having a dedicated spot for a water bottle or water bladder is a nice bonus. Right now my go to has been the Dakine Helipro since its great for summer, spring and winter hiking goals.
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Clothing: When deciding what to pack for a 14er hike, clothing is without a doubt the most important part. You want to avoid cotton like COVID-19, so be sure to wear as many synthetic layers as possible. “Cotton kills” because once it gets wet it typically has a very hard time drying on its own which can turn deadly in the mountains. Leave your jeans at home.
- Base layer:
- Under armour/spandex
- Non cotton socks
- T-Shirt
- Pants or Shorts
- Secondary Layer
- Long sleeve shirt or light fleece
- Jackets – compressible/easily packed is key
- Hat & Gloves – Yes, even in summer hiking conditions, I always keep both in my bag, just in case. You can pack a light version of both to save weight and space.
- Optional: Depending on the time of year a heavier jacket might be necessary or more wind proof layers.
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Food & Water
These two are so obvious, but you would be surprised how many hikers forget adequate amount of both when packing for a 14er. Everyone is different, but I would recommend at least a nalgene (32 ounces) of water for an average day trip.
For food, nutrition is important, but so is the mental joy what you pack brings you. My go to is Sour Patch Kids and some kind of salty snack. Is the nutrition level of either of these things high? Not really. But when I am hours into a tough hike, the mental joy a Sour Patch Kid brings me far outweighs any lack of nutrition it is providing me.
For both food and water, it’s important to pack on the more liberal side as you never know when a day will run longer than you expected.
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Navigation
When packing for a 14er, having the proper navigational tools can be the difference between life and death. There are countless stories of hikers getting lost, taking the incorrect route and suffering very serious consequences. You don’t want to be another negative statistic so pack one or more of these items in your bag and know how to use all of them.
- Smart Watch with GPS/Compass
- Garmin inReach or Other Satellite Communication Device
- Paper map or map on your phone
- Compass
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: First Aid Kit
A first aid kit doesn’t need to be a heavy/big one you purchase at a store. It’s easy to make one yourself, pack it in a ziplock bag and call it a day. Have basic items like ibuprofen for those high elevation headaches, antacid, gauze, bandaids, hand sanitizer, water purifiers etc. This is the basic one that I use.
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Light Source(s)
As you get more experienced with hiking 14ers, chances are your days are going to last longer than any other hiking trip you have previously experienced. Starting before the sun rises and hiking after the sun sets requires the proper lighting to make this safely happen. I always have the following in my bag for lighting the way:
- Head lamp – this is the one I use
- Flashlight
- Phone (worst case)
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Sun Protection
The number of times the sun has kicked my ass over the years is quite frankly embarrassing. The majority of 14ers involve miles of hiking above treeline at high elevation where the sun is not anyone’s friend. I don’t care how “dark your skin is,” when you are at 14,000ft the sun will burn you very quickly without the proper protection.
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Optional: UV Buff
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Emergency Items
I do a lot of solo hiking and know that if something goes bad, I need to be able to take care of myself. Whether you are hiking with a friend or by yourself, I strongly feel that you should be able to handle a bad situation without the aid of others if things go poorly. Of course having help would be great, but to rely solely on others to protect you in a negative situation is extremely irresponsible in my opinion. These items help me stay prepared for when things do not go my way.
- Some kind of knife
- Lighter/Matches (fire starter)
- Cordage (has many uses)
- Bivvy – This can be a lightweight disposable one or simply an emergency blanket
- Whistle/Mirror – some sort of way to flag down help if things go really south
What to Pack for a 14er Hike: Optional Gear
As you hike more 14ers you will discover certain items that may be helpful for your personal style, the time of year or to help make your hike more enjoyable. Here are some of the items that I recommend.
- Hiking Poles – very helpful for loose/steep descents, your knees will thank me later
- Headphones – NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE wants to hear your music on the trail.
- Helmet – Only necessary for higher class hikes or routes with lots of loose rocks
- Toilet Paper – Duh…
- Camera Gear: Camera, Lens and GoPro I use.
- Waterproof stuff sacks – Great way to protect your electronics if rain comes
- Water Filter
- Bug Net – Really only needed in June/early July hikes in certain mountain ranges
- Gaiters (seasonal)
- Microspikes (seasonal)
- Snowshoes (seasonal)
- Mountain Ax (seasonal)
Now that you know what to pack for a 14er hike, you are almost ready to hit the trail. Be sure to do proper research about the mountain you plan on attempting and the weather for that day and you will be ready to hit the trail! Did I miss an item you always have in your bag? Leave a comment below!
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28 thoughts on “What to Pack for a 14er Hike”
List seems pretty solid! I’ll add two suggestions for consideration: I hate having to stop to get and open a water bottle/nalgene so a water bladder is my essential so I can stay on the move (especially if I’m using hiking poles). I use a 3L Camelback and sometimes carry a reserve bottle for replenishment on the all-day hikes. I like to drink a lot at altitude! Also, I never leave home without a small roll of duct tape. You never know when a redneck repair may be needed (broken sunglasses, poles, straps,etc) or a worst case scenario where a splint is needed or major blister or contusion has occurred. Happy trails!
Love the feedback, both are great ideas.
My wife and I have done 12 14ers. All in the summer. We’re looking to do our first winter 14er next month. We are going to skin up Quandary Peak. Any recommendations?
Quandary is a fun one in the winter, especially if you are bringing the skis to descend. Be sure to check avi conditions as there is a lot of higher prone terrain, mostly away from the main bowls but still possible to find yourself in that terrain. For the skin up, plan on a very hardpacked trail as its well traveled. Assuming you have multiple layers since you already skin, but wind is a real big factor on Quandary in the winter so just make sure its to your tolerance. Fun one though, enjoy!