What Should I Bring For An Overnight Hike?

You would probably re-evaluate your footwear because you are going to be carrying a backpack. You would want to factor that in and perhaps wear a boot that is a little bit more stable than your light weight day hiking shoe. You have got to have a backpack. Buy a nice comfortable backpack. Rule of thumb is you shouldn't really be carrying more than a third of your body weight because after that you get into a pretty uncomfortable situation. That is a limiter right there, but then you would want a stove for cooking and there are a lot of great backpacking foods made out there. You would want to take a look at that and your head lamp. Your weather will dictate your sleeping bag, pad and your tent and where you are going. You would want to take a good hard look at the weather and see what the contingencies are for weather at that time of the year. If you are in an active thunder shower pattern or if there is a potential for snow if you are going early spring or late fall so. A pretty good knowledge of where you have been, where you are going, a map, a compass, and guide books are great. I think people should read them and leave them in their car and never take with them on the trail. Take a map and a compass. The reason I say that about the guide books is because I think you need to read the country and not the book. Pay attention to where you are and orient yourself that way.