What to pack for a backpacking trip.
If you are going out for the first time and wondering what to pack for a backpacking trip, this list will help you out. Making sure you have everything you need and nothing that you don’t need can set you up for a successful trip.
Obviously there will be a few things on the list you may not need and also some additions that are personal to you, but if you use this list as a starting point, you should be good to go from there.
Nothing beats feeling confident that you have everything you need with the lightest achievable pack weight, so get ready and make sure you’re prepared for your next adventure.
Deciding what to pack for a backpacking trip can be very daunting and intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. There are a lot of things to consider; time of year, how many days out, will you be sharing gear etc.? So, take this backpacking checklist and prepare with confidence.
THE 10 (13) ESSENTIALS for Backpacking
All experienced hikers, backpackers and adventurers know about the 10 essentials. I actually have 13 “10 essentials.” I’ll share my list, but aside from the obvious things like a first aid kit and compass, some of the items will be specific to you. You may carry a pair of emergency glasses if you wear specs, or if you’re a guy, you probably won’t need to include tampons.
- Iodine tablets: This is a backup in case something bad happens to your water filter. Always carry a backup of some sorts to purify water.
- Back up headlamp: with backup batteries for both.
- Sleeping pad repair kit: yes, I’ve needed this on a few occasions. When you purchased your sleeping pad, it should have come with a patch kit included.
- Small pack emergency Sunblock
- Emergency Tampons
- Bug net/head net
- Paracord/rope: strong enough for a bear hang.
- Emergency Poncho or emergency blanket: The strong lightweight one that can double as a tarp.
- Emergency fire starter with waterproof matches: I use cotton balls soaked in Vaseline.
- Compass with mirror: the mirror is used for signaling help in the event of an emergency.
- Emergency food; like a gel pack or bar.
The not-so- necessary Backpacking essentials
We all like to bring a so-called “luxury item,” something we don’t need but makes our trip that much more enjoyable. Here are a few of mine and some other things people might bring.
I usually bring one or more of the following:
A lightweight camp chair that doubles as a yoga mat and back up sleeping pad.
Some Scotch or whiskey: for after a rough day on the trail.
A pack towel: for lakes and swimming
Others have brought
A good book-you can always burn the pages you’ve read to save weight as you go.
Needlepoint project
Camera equipment
Music and headphones
CORE ITEMS you need for a backpacking trip.
Regardless of whether you are going snow camping in December or on a weeklong trip in the summer, there are certain pieces of gear that you will take on every single trip. You will always need things like a headlamp, shelter, food; and things like a stove and eating utensils. These core items are essential if you are wondering what to pack for a backpacking trip.
- Pack: fits well, comfortable. Make sure you go to a place like REI to make sure the pack is the right size for you. Also, you don’t need an enormous pack unless you plan on doing snow camping or plan on being out for multiple weeks with limited resupply options. I’ve been using the same Gregory Diva pack and will likely get the same one when my current backpack needs replacing.
- Shelter: I use a hammock/tarp combo, you may want a tent or bivy. make sure your tent is as light as possible for your needs, and always use the rain fly. Marmot has a good selection of ultralight backpacking tents.
- Headlamp: It’s a good idea to get a battery-operated headlamp along with some extra batteries. Nowadays, there are some really cool headlamps out there with a simple USB charging option. The issue with this is that then you need to carry a battery pack to charge it. I usually carry a battery pack to keep my phone charged for taking photos, but I usually run out of juice by the end of my trip. Petzel has a good battery-operated option.
- Sleeping bag: You can choose between a synthetic or down fill bag. I have a few down filled sleeping bags, a 0 degree and a 30-degree bag. I most often use the 0-degree bag unless I am out in the desert or someplace that’s guaranteed to be warm at night.
- Sleeping pad: There are a few options when it comes to sleeping pads, it all depends on what you are most comfortable with. Some backpackers prefer a foam mat that you roll up, I prefer the inflatable type because it’s more comfortable and packs down smaller. Exped is a good brand that always performs well.
- A piece of Tyvek: to sit on or put my pack on. Tyvek is that tear-resistant waterproof “paper-like” stuff they cover houses in during construction. A small piece of this magic paper is great to sit on or place your pack on…. especially if it’s wet or raining.
- Food: Always plan out each meal ahead of time so you don’t bring too much. Hot meals that you just add water to are best and lightweight lunches should be packed with fuel for the day. Here are some ideas for lunches on your trip.
- Bathroom Bag: contains toilet paper and things I need to go to the bathroom and hand sanitizer too. Also includes a Ziplock bag for bathroom trash.
- lightweight trowel: Most wilderness areas require you to bury your poop 6 inches in the ground. You basically dig the little hole first and use it as your backcountry toilet and cover it up when you’re done. This is an inexpensive but essential part of your gear. There are some fancy ones out there but all you really need is a basic plastic trowel.
- Trekking poles: This is another item you can’t do without, especially if you’re doing a lot of hills–your knees will thank you. Trekking poles are also helpful for water crossings and rock hopping. Leki is a solid brand with good options,
- Stove/Fuel: While we all probably love our Jetbiol cook systems, this is not a great option for backpacking due to the weight. A simple backpacking stove will do fine. Get one that has an ignition switch, so you don’t have to carry a lighter or matches. This is the Snowpeak stove that has served me well for over 10 years now. I would recommend getting a fuel mix that performs well at high altitude, it will say so on the canister.
- Cook kit: Don’t go overboard and bring a bunch of pots and pans, you really only need a pot to boil water in. Make sure you get something made from Titanium otherwise you’ll be adding quite a few pounds to your pack weight. I have used this Valtcan cook pot for a while now and serves its purpose,
- Cup/bowl/spork/cloth napkin: Again, try to go with Titanium here because it’s ultralight and durable. Titanium products can be a little spendy so plastic will do too. I went with this Titanium cup because it can be used on a stove if something happens to your pot. I use a small plastic bowl like this GSI one. Some hardcore ultralight backpackers use their cup as a bowl too, but I don’t like my morning coffee to taste like last nights mashed potatoes.
- Emergency kit: These are the 10 essentials I went over earlier.
- Toiletries: Bring the toiletries you need but be mindful at the same time. If you know you need lotion, don’t bring the giant pump bottle from your bathroom, decant it into a smaller container. Same goes for things like baby wipes, don’t bring a pack of 30 if you’re only going out for a weekend, take out what you need and put them in a Ziplock bag.
- knife: You just need a small lightweight knife for things like cutting food, rope or something like that.
- Water filter: How you choose to filter your water is a very personal decision but regardless of your method, you need to filter all water from lakes and rivers before drinking it. Boiling water for 5 minutes is also an option but not very practical unless it’s for coffee or cooking. So, what are your choices? You can carry iodine tablets which is the lightest option, but you need to wait a half hour before drinking and your water won’t taste very good. As far as filtering goes, you can use one of the pump type filters like this MSR backcountry filter. I use the simpler Sawyer squeeze system which is lighter but takes longer and requires more manpower than the pump filter option.
- Water bottle: Don’t bring your ultra-cool Hydroflask on a backpacking trip, it’s way too heavy. Bring a plastic Nalgene instead. I bring a bottle of Gatorade and use that to refill with water on my trip.
- Platypus: A Platypus is basically a strong plastic bag-like container that you can store water in. This is important if you need to go long stretches without a water source or you need to carry backup water in case you run out before your next water source.
- Rain Gear: Always carry your rain pants and rain jacket on all your backpacking trips regardless of what the weather report says. Make sure you gt a decent jacket that’s designed for backpackers like this one made by Marmot.
- Maps: Bring a paper map of the area you will be in. Don’t count on your Alltrails app out there.
- Permits (trail, fishing, fire) This is important people! Permits are required to protect the wildlife and wilderness areas we all enjoy…. and besides, no one wants a fine or to get kicked out of camp shortly after you get there.
- Bear canister if required- Please check your permits! If a bear canister is required, you need to carry one. These items can be bulky and heavy to carry but it’s our job to protect the bears. You also need to make sure the bear canister you get is approved for the area you will be visiting.
DON’T FORGET!
Don’t forget any personal items you may need for your trip. When deciding on what to pack for a backpacking trip, things can get personal so plan accordingly.
Camera batteries/charger
Medications
GPS Spot device
Eyeglasses or contact lenses
Personal identification
CLOTHING
The clothing I bring depends primarily on the weather and what kind of activities I will be doing. Make sure all your layers fit well, there’s nothing worse than trying to squeeze your way into your fleece when you have oversized clothing underneath. This is important when deciding on what to pack for a backpacking trip.
Baselayers
- Capilene top and bottom – spring and fall
Hiking
- Zip off pants/shorts: Pants that convert to shorts are the best for backpacking.
- Sports bra/tank
- Socks
- Liner socks: Using liner socks under your regular socks is essential if you want to prevent blisters.
- Hat
- Boots: Make sure your boots are comfortable and broken in before your trip. Also, it’s a good idea to get a 1/2 size bigger to prevent losing a toenail on the downhill, and to compensate for your socks and liners.
- lightweight polyester shirt
Camp:
- Camp shoes: have a pair that can double as shoes in the event you have to take your boots off for a high water crossing. As unattractive as they are, Crocs are perfect for this.
- Fleece jacket or top
- Fleece bottoms
- warm socks
- Down jacket for winter and spring: Marmot makes a good one that is also water resistant.
- Down sweater for summer and fall: same as a down jacket except it’s lighter and usually a pullover instead of zip up.
Other Clothing you may or may not need
- Beanie – fleece or wool is warmest
- Gloves or mittens
- swimsuit
- bandana
- underwear
Now you know
backing for your backpacking trip can be both daunting and exciting. Always make sure you have your 10 essentials because you need to be prepared if you get separated from your group; this especially applies when sharing gear to save weight.
Now that you know exactly what to pack for a backpacking trip, it’s time to hit the trail, be safe and enjoy your adventure.
