While this isn't everything you'd find in my hiking backpack, these are a few of my favourites I rarely leave home without.
Nalgene Waterbottle
It's hard not to be one those folks who has an enormous water bottle collection. And while I not necessarily am... I certainly have a collection of a similar kind. Beverage containers! Mugs, tumblers, water bottles, you name it. When it comes to adventuring in the outdoors, one thing I will unquestionably always have, is a water bottle. My very first Nalgene water bottle was this little guy right here, who I picked up in Revelstoke, British Columbia, during our honeymoon a few years ago. Some time later, I've added only one more Nalgene water bottle to the collection, being twice the size. And yes, I have a water bottle for my bicycle and beverage containers for every other occasion or liquid, but it's fun and a collection to call my own. I take hydration seriously and that's why I will always have my Nalgene water bottle near by, along with electrolytes and energy gels. You never know when you'll need them!
Buff
Perhaps one of my favourite and most versatile products I own... my Buffs! A material covering to protect and serve with the changing elements and seasons. I often keep a Buff around my wrist or neck when out exploring. I'll use it as a hair tie, wear as a headband to keep sweat off my face, around my neck for warmth, or over my mouth and nose for those windy dust filled days. I have Buff sin multiple colours, patterns, and thicknesses for different temperatures. Some are designed for warmth, while others are designed to be moisture wicking for the hotter season. They add a pop of colour to my adventures and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Jetboil
An item that came into our lives 'later in life' if you will. A few years ago, when I was younger, a few pounds lighter and perhaps more naive about the outdoors, I set out to hike part of the famous Mantario Trail with one of my friends. I was a pretty traditional camper, learning most things I know about the outdoors from my dad. I don't believe that there is a right way or wrong way on how you your food in the outdoors, as long as you do it safely, of course. On this trip, I was set to cook dinner the old fashioned way, over flame and campfire. While my boiling water took forever and I was hungry, my friend quickly whipped out her handy new Jetfoil. I had never heard of such a thing. With a cooking containment system that was lightweight, easy to use and brought water to boil in 60 seconds? I was hooked. When I returned from my trip, my husband and I went to the store and invested in one ourselves. A self contained system with two different sized fuel canisters. We've used it on many of our trips and continue to do so.