Hot Climate Hiking Checklist

Track & Canopy · Updated 2026-10-16 · Tick items as you pack — print or save as PDF from your browser.

Water and electrolytes

Carry more than feels sensible on the trailhead drive. The return is not the time to learn.

  1. Two-litre minimum capacity per person Essential
  2. Second bottle or collapsible for reserve Essential
  3. Electrolyte tablets, one per hour planned
  4. Light filter for confirmed seasonal sources
  5. Frozen bottle as slow chill in the pack
  6. Sip-timing reminders for the group's slow drinkers

Sun covering

Fabric does the cooling job that sweat pays for. Cover the hours the sun owns.

  1. UPF long-sleeve top, loose and light Essential
  2. Leg coverage: convertible or loose long trousers
  3. Broad-brim hat with chin strap
  4. Sunscreen for hands, neck and ears
  5. Neck gaiter that soaks and cools

Foot care in heat

Hot feet swell, damp skin tears, and the halfway boot decision ends most long days.

  1. Broken-in boots or shoes, sized for afternoon swell Essential
  2. Merino or synthetic socks, never cotton
  3. Anti-chafe balm for hot-spot-prone skin
  4. Blister kit: tape, needle discipline, moleskin
  5. Camp or track sandals for the car-side swap

Cooling kit

Cooling at stops is a scheduled job: wet the fabric, find the air, take the load off.

  1. Cooling towel for the neck and wrists
  2. Small pack fan for long shade stops
  3. Wide-brim shade umbrella for open sections
  4. Ice brick in the pocket for the first climb
  5. Bandana or hat sock to soak at the source

Timing and navigation

Heat shortens options. The route must be obvious and the clock rules agreed early.

  1. Offline map plus paper backup with shade marked Essential
  2. Watch with a timer for the turnaround call
  3. Head torch for a late exit, always in the hot-day pack
  4. Compass and the skill to use it together
  5. Planned bail-out points at every shade stop

Heat-day emergency kit

The hot-day ten minutes extra: the things that change an outcome between first aid and recovery.

  1. First aid kit with the heat section checked Essential
  2. Emergency blanket, heat version kept accessible
  3. PLB or satellite messenger on long remote hot walks
  4. Spares: strap, tape, cordage in a seal bag
  5. Written trip plan left with a phone number
  6. Whistle per person, on the strap not in the bag