13 pieces of outdoor gear I can't live without while hiking and biking in the summer

Most people consider there to be ten essential items you should carry when hiking. This includes sunscreen, a map, a fire-starting device, and so on. But if there's one item that's most essential within the ten basics, it's a first-aid kit.

I'm currently obsessed with the First Aid Mini from VSSL. This tube-shaped package is less than seven inches long and includes more than 40 pieces of first aid supplies like bandages, antiseptic wipes, a thermometer, and medical gloves. If you opt for the large first aid kit, it includes additional supplies and an ingenious built-in emergency light.

All VSSL kits are completely waterproof and extremely durable, too. I leave mine in the pocket behind my car's passenger seat and toss it in my backpack when I get to the trailhead. The brand also makes several outdoor supply tubes, including ones designed for hiking, camping, or creating the perfect outdoor happy hour.

One of my favorite things to do as I hike is to jot down a few notes on everything from terrain to natural features to trail splits and challenging climbs. To do that, I carry the small and lightweight Trail Log from Pendleton.

In addition to a few lined pages to track your hike statistics, like distance and elevation gain, the book includes lined pages for notes and blank pages for sketches and observations. I've never been much of an artist with pen and paper, but it's quite relaxing to spend a few minutes sketching the scenes and viewpoints in front of me when I stop for a snack.

I personally like the National Parks edition, which has a vintage summer camp-style design and includes information about visiting National Parks like unique wildlife and Leave No Trace principles. Since the book is relatively inexpensive and lightweight, it makes an excellent small gift for people spending more time on the trails this summer.

Given how expensive phones are, most people opt to use a protective case the first day they unbox their new phones. But when you spend as much time outside as I do, your phone takes an absolute beating even if you try to be careful. All it takes is one fall on a mountain bike or one wrong step at your campsite to turn your phone screen into a pseudo-spiderweb.

The best way to resolve this is to spring for an ultra-rugged phone case from Lifeproof. I have the FRE case on my iPhone XR and it's protected my phone during an accidental lake swim, several paddleboarding sessions, and not one but two mountain bike crashes.

It's not the cheapest case on the market, but it does what it promises in extreme conditions, which is why you'll find it on the shelves at popular outdoor stores. It adds a little bit of bulk, but I can still easily slide it into the pocket of my hiking shorts.

Though I'm able to tan, I still often notice my skin burn quite quickly while I'm on the trail, no matter how much sunscreen I reapply. As a result, I've started hiking in a lightweight sun shirtwith UPF protection. I used to think that if my skin was covered, I was safe but I've since learned that's not true. Some common fabrics offer very little sun protection — for instance, cotton has a UPF of just five.

My current favorite sun shirt is the Eileen from prAna. It's lightweight enough that it feels no more insulative than a T-shirt and I stay cooler overall since less of my skin is exposed to the sun. I wore a UPF shirt on a recent three-day backpacking trip at an elevation of 10,000 feet, and I was the only person in our group of six who didn't come away with sunburned forearms and shoulders.

Avoiding sunburn is a significant factor in preventing diseases like skin cancer later in life, and I now consider UPF clothing a crucial part of my outdoor hiking kit.

For multi-day hikes, I'm willing to sacrifice some comfort to sleep in the great outdoors — I don't expect my sleeping bag and pad to feel like my pillow-top mattress at home. But one thing I no longer have to compromise on is having a good cup of coffee in the morning. Though instant coffee is much better than it's been, it's still not nearly as good as making coffee from fresh grounds.

This is why I've added the Pipamoka coffee brewer to my backcountry pack. It's a single-serve coffee maker that brews coffee in an insulated thermal mug so I don't have to carry any additional cups. The Pipamoka is hand-powered and uses vacuum pressure to pull hot water through coffee grounds (like a reverse french press) and can be used to make cold-brew and espresso in addition to hot coffee.

It's useful for ultralight backpackers, too, as it weighs under a pound and is just 2.85 inches wide by 7 inches tall — much smaller and lighter than most well-loved backcountry french presses.

What good is a high-tech coffee brewer without some good coffee to brew? I'm obsessed with the coffee club from Atlas Coffee Roasters. I've tried to cut down on my dairy intake by drinking coffee black, and the beans (or grounds) from Atlas make that quite easy.

The brand's coffee professionals blind taste test hundreds of coffees from around the world to narrow it down to their 12 favorites, selecting one each month to go out to subscribers. The coffees I've received have been incredibly flavorful, low in acidity and bitterness, and rich enough to go without milk or creamer.

When I want to make coffee on the trail, I put some Atlas coffee grounds in a plastic baggie and toss it in my backpack (or bear bin). Enjoying a good cup of coffee as you watch the sunrise over the mountains is one of the best parts of backpacking, especially when you have seriously good coffee to look forward to.

I'd seen Rumpl advertised on Instagram for years but hadn't tried one until this summer. The brand makes packable down blankets out of recycled materials. Each blanket comes in various nature and art-inspired patterns and is suitable for a variety of outdoor uses. Because they feel like a sleeping bag or down jacket, they're quite warm and many of the blankets have a built-in clip so you can wear them like a cape on chilly nights.

I've primarily used my Rumpl blanket after hikes as socializing outdoors is healthier than hanging indoors this summer. It works great as a picnic blanket, too. Rather than heading inside somewhere, my friends and I find a good spot outdoors to have a beer or snack by the trailhead when we finish our hike.

And because each Rumpl blanket packs into an included stuff sack, they're easy to bring on hikes to have something to sit on when we reach the summit. It's been a handy item to have for various outdoor adventures.

Unless I'm going on a multi-day hike with a heavy pack, I prefer not to wear hiking boots — they're often too heavy and hot for day hiking. I usually opt for hiking shoes (similar to trail runners) instead. Like hiking boots, hiking shoes have a very grippy outsole to prevent slipping and are often waterproof, but they have a low profile, rather than lacing above the ankle.

My current favorite pair is the Breeze LT Low GTX from Vasque. They're comfortable right out of the box — I wore them for the first time on a 16-mile hike — and have excellent traction on loose shale and uneven rock piles. The Breeze Low GTX has a thick cushioning on the footbed, ensuring enough support even for hikers with high arches, like me.

At $159, they aren't the cheapest hiker available but I'm willing to pay a little extra to be free of foot pain on longer and more challenging hikes. They're available with and without Gore-Tex, so if you hike in a mostly dry region, you can save $10 by forgoing the waterproofing.

I usually start my hikes early in the morning to avoid both the hottest part of the day and the crowds that often fill the trails around my home in Tahoe. Since I'm getting an early start, I sometimes want to take coffee with me or have it waiting for me when I get back to my car. I have nearly a dozen various travel mugs, but my current favorites are from Camelbak.

While I hike, I leave the Horizon 16-ounce Tumbler full of coffee in my car. It promises five hours of heat but seems to deliver more and fits snuggly in my car cup holder.

On the trail, I use the Hot Cap 12-ounce travel Mug to sip during my hike. I prefer the smaller Hot Cap mug as I don't like drinking a lot of coffee while being active, but it does come in a 20-ounce version. The leak-proof cap works exceptionally well; I sometimes toss the half-full mug into my backpack and I haven't had a single leak yet.

I always tell people Honey Stinger waffles are my favorite trail snack but the truth is, they may be my favorite snack, period. These lightweight sweet treats are easy to carry and come in a half-dozen flavors including Ginger Snap and Strawberry.

My favorite is the classic Honey, which has a thin layer of honey sandwiched between two thin, chewy waffles. Honey is one of the easiest carbs for your body to absorb, giving you a quick boost of energy when you hit a wall on the uphill part of your hike. Honey Stinger also makes other snacks worth checking out, like energy chews, organic cracker bars, and post-workout protein waffles.

I can't stress enough how seriously I take protecting my rather pale skin when I'm spending time outdoors, so I always have sunscreen in my bag. This year, I'm only using eco-friendly sunscreens that are better for my skin and won't damage the environment.

The two I like to have handy are the reef-safe and organic SPF 30 Sunscreen Stick from Protekt, and the Oxybenzone-free, reef-safe sunscreen spray from All Good. I find that sunscreen sticks and sprays are handier than lotions when I'm hiking alone, but both companies make various SPFs in different applicator formats.

Not every one of my hikes counts mileage in the double digits — sometimes I'm just doing four or five miles through wildflowers or taking my dog for an off-leash stroll on gentle trails. I carry the Matador On-Grid Packable Backpack on hikes like these as it's lightweight and compact enough for short treks when I only need a water bottle and a few other basics.

Rather than being styled for outdoor use, this bag has a more urban look, making it extremely versatile. I plan to carry it on international trips when I need something more substantial than a purse but don't fancy carrying around an obnoxiously bright or sporty backpack.

When I was a kid, socks were one of the most boring gifts you could receive on a birthday or holiday. But that's changed since I've become a serious hiker, and I'm always excited when a new pair of hiking socks arrives at my door.

I have a few pairs I like from REI and Smartwool, but I'm currently a fan of Swiftwick. I especially like its Pursuit Hiking sock, which comes in various cuff heights. Though they provide comfortable padding, they're lightweight and dry quickly, so I can wear them even on hot days where temperatures are climbing into the 90s.

It's nice to have one pair of socks I can wear from March to November instead of searching through my drawer for a specific pair light enough for summer wear.