If you are going to go wandering about in the woods, you should have enough gear with you to get through a night or two and handle a sudden change in weather. Time and time again I have seen people headed up a mountain trail late in the afternoon with cotton clothing and *nothing* else. No map, no compass, water bottle, rain gear, and so on.
Just this July 4th, it was cool and cloudy. I had been up a trail with cloud cover to about 4500 feet, misty and cold at the top where there was a lake and snow fields on 6000 foot peaks above, with cold air falling to the lake level– low 50's F, possibly colder. I was cold when stopped for lunch break at the lake and added a polyfill vest and gloves to add some comfort, and I'm very warm-blooded. As I headed back down the trail there were several parties headed up wearing cotton tees, sweatshirts and the like with no equipment at all— just a barehanded stroll in the woods. In couple of the parties, one person had a small backpack. One poor college-aged girl was stumbling up the trail with sweatpants and flip-flops. It was a rocky, steep, muddy trail too.
I was concerned at the late hour. I got back to the trailhead at 5:30 and there were a number of people that weren't half-way up. It was looking like rain and the heavy cloud cover and steep terrain meant just a few couple more hours of real daylight. As I drove back down the pass, a big rain squall was working its way up. I wondered how wet and cold those hikers were going to be in a few minutes. Navigating that rough trail with no lighting, cold and wet in cotton clothing was a recipe for a disaster.
It happens every summer, with people not knowing their way around, getting stranded in the dark, losing one of their party or getting off the trail, getting cold and wet, making the wrong choices, and getting SAR more "practice" than they care to see. Sadly, a few die and it just doesn't need to happen.
You don't need $1000 worth of gear for a day hike. Some bottled water from the store, a $12 pack of purification tablets (that can be shared), a compass and map, a fleece, a paring knife from the kitchen drawer, a first aid kit put together from home supplies, a whistle and a flashlight from the hardware store, an old book pack, a Bic lighter and some matches in a pill bottle, a poly-fleece, and a rain coat could go a long way to protect a hiker. Just basic stuff. I could put together a kit for well under $50. Most people have the more expensive items like the rain coat and pack.
Here's the list I go by:
Navigation system: map and compass. Add GPS to suit. Know how to use them.
Lighting: headlamp, small back-up light, and spare batteries
Reserve food: a granola bar, several pieces of hard candy, etc.
Extra clothing: enough to handle a night out appropriate for the season. This is important for day hiking where a sleeping bag and shelter aren't included. Rain gear is assumed. Add a space blanket or emergency bivy plus some insulation, gloves, and beanie.
Sunglasses
First-Aid Kit
Pocket Knife
Fire starting: small lighter, matches, firesteel and some waterproofed tinder
Hydration system: water container and filter, or spare purification chemicals– for example, a few Micro Pur tablets taped to your water container.
Whistle
Insect Repellent
Sunscreen
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