Night hiking: key equipment and tips

A headlamp is a must-have on a night hike: it’s pitch black at night in the mountains, far away from the glow of any streetlights or houses. It’s also difficult to find your bearings on unfamiliar routes, even on a comparatively bright, clear night with a full moon. Here are some equipment tips and suggestions of things to consider when planning a night hike.

Equipment tips for a night hike

Headlamp

Be sure to pack a headlamp. It gets very dark at night in the mountains; only on clear nights with a full moon is it slightly brighter. But even then, you’d be glad of some additional illumination to light the way. It can be handy to opt for a headlamp with different light settings, so you can adjust its brightness. A lamp with a red light, which minimises glare, is also a good choice at night. Headlamps can be powered by disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries or both, depending on the model. Pack spare batteries or check that the batteries are fully charged. If you don’t have a headlamp, you can use a torch instead, but holding this for hours on end is a tedious business. What’s more, you won’t have your hands free – so you won’t be able to hold your hiking poles, for example, or navigate a map with ease.

Clothing

While you don’t need special clothing for night hiking, do remember that it gets much colder at night than during the day. On a night hike, you’ll also be out during the coldest time of the night; temperatures are at their lowest shortly before sunrise. You should always include a waterproof jacket in your backpack, but be sure to take a fleece or down jacket with you, too. It’s best to wear zip-off trousers, so you can start with them long and then shorten them as the hike progresses.

Hiking boots

Make sure that your footwear offers a good grip, even on damp surfaces. Rocks may be covered with dew at night, and you’ll slip on them if your boots don’t have a good tread.

Hiking poles

Hiking poles provide additional stability. In the dark, they make it easier for you to determine the depth of a creek that you need to cross, for example, and help you get to the other side safely.

Cap and gloves

To keep your ears and hands nice and warm amidst the cool overnight temperatures.

First aid kit

Check whether your first aid kit is complete and top it up if necessary. You’ll want to take a survival blanket with you on your night hike so that anyone who gets injured doesn’t get cold.

Reflective items

Even a small reflective sticker on your backpack or jacket will increase your visibility and thus your safety.

Planning a night hike properly

Day and night hikes are fairly similar when it comes to the planning process: check the weather, schedule breaks, and consider accommodation or shortcuts in case of emergency. But take a little more time to familiarise yourself with the terrain and any dangerous spots – in the dead of night, you’ll be glad to know what’s ahead. You need to take plenty of food and drink on any hike, but hot tea is a welcome addition on night hikes.

And don’t forget to tell someone your route and the approximate time when you plan to be back. It’s also advisable to do your night hike in a pair or small group.