The best walking accessories and hiking essentials (2023)

Outdoor hardware and walking accessories have proliferated beyond head torches and compasses. Sometimes that's for the better, sometimes for the worse. For the better because the useful items help keep us safe and our outings more enjoyable. For the worse because there are a lot of gimmicks and garbage out there.

The fundamental essentials for hiking haven't changed. They might have evolved and been refined over the years, but a compass, for example, is still a compass. No fancy outdoor smartwatch has replaced it yet. Some items, such as trekking poles, have become very popular in the last 20 to 30 years. Others, like high-SPF sunscreen, have become a must for hikers.

The best walking accessories at a glance:

Best head torch: Black Diamond 500-R Headlamp - View on Black Diamond

Best first aid kit for hiking: Lifesystems Explorer First Aid Kit - View on Ellis Brigham

Best basic compass: Silva Starter 1-2-3 - View on Amazon

Best sunscreen for hiking: Lifesystems Mountain Sun Cream SPF50+ - View on Cotswold Outdoor

Given the absurdly broad category of walking accessories, in this article, we're looking at the key items you need beyond footwear, clothing, backpack, and sustenance, plus some useful but non-essential additions.

Best walking accessories in detail:

Winter hiking accessories

Irrespective of whether you hike in winter for the scenery, solitude, or the sheer challenge, there are some accessories that are important additions to your inventory.

Walking accessory buying advice

There are only a few walking accessories we class as absolutely essential. These are a head torch, compass and map, sunscreen and a first aid kit (including an emergency blanket). If you're hiking in winter, an emergency shelter, ice axe, and crampons also need to go into your rucksack.

Beyond that, everything else is optional. Important, perhaps (like trekking poles), but optional nevertheless.

How you like to hike and your budget influence what hiking accessories you take with you. There are multiple options for different types of hiking that achieve the same thing. For example, people going on fastpacking trips won't want to take a heavy stainless steel flask but a lightweight water bottle or hydration bladder instead.

Multitools are a handy accessory to carry – a lot of hiking gear lists include them. If you're doing overnight or multiday trips, they're certainly useful to take. But a multitool doesn't just mean a knife. For example, you can get sporks with bottle openers, which makes this humble piece of cutlery a multitool.

Trekking poles are incredibly popular because they aid balance and reduce strain on the body. To find out all about trekking poles, read our guide we created in partnership with LEKI.

How we test

This wide collection of products come recommended following weeks, months, sometimes years of testing by our experienced gear testers.

We love getting our hands on walking accessories, both conventional and innovative options, to always stay on top of the very best products currently on the market and to filter the accessories from the gimmicks.

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Chris Williams is a Digital Content Writer for Live For The Outdoors. He trained as a journalist in New Zealand and has been working on Live For The Outdoors since 2021.