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By
Amy Graff
Sure, you’ll carry a peanut butter sandwich and a bottle of water on a day hike, but there’s more. What if you get a blister or, worse, lose your way? For your comfort and safety on the trail, we’ve come up with 10 essentials that fit well in a packfor instance, one like Mountainsmith’s pocket-rich Clover (above). It’s $60, available at www.ebags.com; AAA members get 15 percent off.
1. GoLite’s Gamut Jacket blocks wind and rainand makes a great picnic blanket. $100. www.golite.com.
2. Coghlan’s Wind and Waterproof Matches, just in case. Two packs for $3.99. www.campmor.com.
3. Lost? The Suunto A-10 Compass (and a trail map) can point you back to where you want to go. $13. www.rei.com.
4. Plastic residues won’t leach into your H2O with a stainless steel Klean Kanteen. $24. www.kleankanteen.com.
5. Nuts, dried fruits, spices, and nothing more are packed into Larabars. $2 at many markets. www.larabar.com.
6. Scraped knee? Bee sting? Never fear: Lifeline’s First-Aid Kit is here. $6. AAA Travel stores, (888) 386-5386.
7. Leatherman Juice S2’s four ounces of steel are all you need to slice salami and tweeze a tick. $40. www.toolup.com.
8. Teko’s Ultralight Crew socks combine organic cotton and recycled pop bottles. $17. www.tekosocks.com.
9. With four LED bulbs, Petzl’s Tikka Plus Headlamp can help you find your way in the dark. $35. www.rei.com.
10. Neutrogena SPF 55 Sunblock fends off sun damage with its Helioplex formula. $10. www.drugstore.com.
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