Backpacking Gear List
A handy list of items that I recommend for backpackers to aid them in their deep nature exploration...
curated from over a decade of exploring the natural world on foot carrying only the essentials on my back.
curated from over a decade of exploring the natural world on foot carrying only the essentials on my back.
When backpacking, whether alone or with a buddy, gear selection is critical in order to be resourceful and resilient. This list is a guide for gear selection and packing for your trip. Keep in mind, the more luxury items you bring, the heavier your pack.
Ultralight quality gear can be expensive, but saving up for these investments is worthwhile as having a lighter pack will drastically improve your experience. If this is your first time backpacking, I recommend renting gear from REI or local outdoor gear stores, or borrowing from your adventurous friends.
Ultralight quality gear can be expensive, but saving up for these investments is worthwhile as having a lighter pack will drastically improve your experience. If this is your first time backpacking, I recommend renting gear from REI or local outdoor gear stores, or borrowing from your adventurous friends.
Essential items
- Compass
- Drivers license/photo ID, credit card and cash
- Ground cover - I have used plastic window insulation cut to size of my tent footprint.
- Headlamp - bring extra batteries if you plan to do a longer trek; I always bring a back-up headlamp or light just in case, light is very important!
- Maps & route description - if using your phone (I use Backcountry Navigator on my Android and CalTopPro on my iPhone), be sure to bring printed maps/route descriptions for back-up; you can buy maps for the area from most local outdoor stores, the ranger station/park headquarters, or print them out for free online using CalTopo.
- Pack
- Pocket knife
- Rain cover for pack (or trash bag if going super ultra light)
- Rope
- Sleeping bag/quilt - I prefer down
- Chose one that is rated for the correct temperature to keep you warm on your trip; my summer bag is rated 15°F, my winter bag is rated 0°F.
- I use a silk liner during both summer and winter, and carry two ultralight blankets during winter for extra warmth, one made of yak wool and another made of silk/sheep wool.
- Sleeping pad - chose one with a high R-value; I highly recommend investing in an ultralight pad. I love my regular wide Thermarest NeoAir XLite, and sleep like a backcountry queen because of it!
- Tent, bivy sack or cover tarp - I have an REI Half Dome 2 plus, an ultralight StratoSpire 2 Tarp Tent (44 oz), and a Marmot Tungsten Ultralight 1 Person Tent (41.5oz). When solo hiking, I often just carry an extra tarp for insulation or in case of rain, and a mosquito net if I expect bugs.
- Toiletries - toothbrush, floss, hand sanitizer, sunblock.
- Trekking poles - I recommend carbon fiber.
- Water bladder (2-3 liters) or water bottle(s)
- Water filter - I use a Katadyn hiker pro.
- First aid kit - only one person needs to carry this for the group.
- ace bandage
- anti-itch cream
- antibiotic ointment
- antidiarrheal
- antihistamines
- antiseptic wipes
- any necessary medication
- band aids, assorted sizes
- burn gel
- duct tape wrapped around a sharpened pencil
- emergency blanket (one for each person)
- emergency calories - I typically leave one or two energy bars in our first-aid kit, depending on the length of the trip.
- gauze (6 rolls & 6 squares)
- hemostatic powder (e.g. Celox)
- ibuprofen
- iodine or water sanitation tablets - in the event your filtration system fails.
- latex gloves (1 pair)
- moleskin
- N95/KN95 mask (2)
- paper - 1 piece, usually 8.5x11", for writing notes in an emergency.
- plastic tweezers
- plastic zip-top bag - for containing note if conditions are wet.
- small mirror (for signaling)
- splint - not essential, you can make one with your sleeping pad.
- super glue
- tent/sleeping pad patch kit
- trash bag (one for each person) - good for keeping things dry in unexpected rain.
- waterproof matches
- whistle
Semi-essential items
- Bear canister - you can rent these from the ranger station, REI, or local gear stores.
- Bug spray
- Cook set - titanium pot(s), sporks.
- Fuel - I use isobutane.
- Gaiters - only if you expect muddy conditions or snow.
- GPS SOS Device - I use a Garmin InReach Mini.
- Mosquito head net
- Stove - I have an MSR PocketRocket and have also used and enjoyed the Lixada for ultralight adventures.
- Toiletries - toilet paper, toothpaste, soap.
Luxury items
- Battery pack - really only necessary for trips >1-2 nights.
- Camp towels
- Cup
- Day pack
- Ear plugs
- Journal and pen
- Lightweight sandals - for hanging out at camp.
- Phone and phone power cable - for navigation and taking photos.
- Sleeping eye mask
- Solar panel - really only necessary for trips >3-4 nights; use it to charge your battery pack and devices.
- Solar powered lantern
- Swim goggles - level up your swimming experiences!
- Trowel - to dig a hole for using the bathroom; you can also use your trekking pole, or a stick.
Clothing essentials
A weather forecast is essential to help you determine which clothes will be required for your trip. If expecting anything below 55°F at night, I recommend packing the cold weather necessities. If camping in below-freezing temperatures, choose the thickest weight wool layers and the heaviest fill down jacket you can afford. I prefer wool over synthetic fibers. Avoid cotton.
- Down jacket
- Long pants - made with technical fabric, convertible is nice for warm days.
- Long-sleeve wool layer
- Rain layers - top and bottom; I almost always carry the top layer even if rain is not expected; it helps with bugs, breaks wind, and is an extra layer of insulation.
- Technical underwear (2 pairs)
- Wool socks (2 pairs)
- Wool t-shirt
- Cold weather necessities - wool beanie or balaclava, warm gloves, wool scarf, additional long-sleeve wool layer, thermal wool bottoms, extra pair of clean wool socks for sleeping only.
Food
This is entirely dependent on how many days you plan to be out. For longer trips, I pack only dehydrated food, most of which I dehydrate myself, dried fruit and nuts. For shorter trips, I am known to splurge and carry fresh vegetables and canned food. If going ultralight, pack only food you can eat without needing a stove or rehydrating. It's important to bring food that you love!
Here are some examples of food I bring on trips of varying lengths:
(Items marked with * are only recommend for very short overnight trips as they are heavy!)
Super quick trail ramen recipe: black rice ramen noodles, dried mushrooms, vegetable bouillon cubes, seaweed, dehydrated coconut milk, canned or smoked fish, and fresh or dehydrated veggies. You can mix up the spices and try it with Indian curry, or simply stick to Asian flavors.
Homemade electrolyte mix (World Health Organization oral rehydration recipe): 50.7 g NaCl, 56.6 g trisodium citrate, 29.25 g KCl, 263.25 g cane sugar
Here are some examples of food I bring on trips of varying lengths:
(Items marked with * are only recommend for very short overnight trips as they are heavy!)
- Cacao, 100% - for drinking chocolate and eating.
- Crackers - nut, seed, or rice.
- Dehydrated coconut milk
- Dehydrated corn chowder or pea soup
- Dehydrated hummus
- Dehydrated vegetables - summer squash, zucchini, sweet peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, arugula, sweet potatoes.
- Dehydrated/dried fruit - strawberries, bananas, pears, apples, oranges, mulberries, goldenberries, goji berries.
- Dried mushrooms - any (I really like shitake).
- Electrolytes - usually only for hiking in really warm conditions or if I go more than 8 miles/day.
- Energy bars
- *Fresh fruit - apples, pears, oranges.
- *Fresh vegetables - avocados, Persian cucumbers, spinach or arugula (usually keeps for first two days), sweet peppers, carrots, zucchini.
- Grains - quinoa, brown rice, wild rice (I usually precook it an dehydrate it), corn tortillas.
- Muesli - usually a combination of oats, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, coconut shreds, flax seed, chia seeds.
- Noodles - rice noodles, udon noodles.
- Nut butter - almond or peanut butter.
- Nuts - almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, pistachios.
- Oil - olive and coconut.
- Proteins - dehydrate beans, tempeh (I usually dehydrate it), tuna jerky, dehydrated tuna, smoked salmon, canned fish.
- Seaweed - nori, wakame.
- Seeds - pumpkin, sunflower, flax, chia.
- Spices - salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, curry powder, garlic powder, vegetable bouillon cubes.
- Tea
- Trail mix
Super quick trail ramen recipe: black rice ramen noodles, dried mushrooms, vegetable bouillon cubes, seaweed, dehydrated coconut milk, canned or smoked fish, and fresh or dehydrated veggies. You can mix up the spices and try it with Indian curry, or simply stick to Asian flavors.
Homemade electrolyte mix (World Health Organization oral rehydration recipe): 50.7 g NaCl, 56.6 g trisodium citrate, 29.25 g KCl, 263.25 g cane sugar
Packing tips
- Keep the heaviest items (e.g. bear canister, fuel) in the middle or center of your pack so your hips can bear most of the weight.
- Try to pack everything inside of your pack if possible, do not let things dangle or hang loosely from your pack because this can cause you to lose balance.
- If your tent, trekking poles, tarps, etc. are on the outside, strap them on as tightly as you can.
- Once everything is in your pack, use the compression straps to keep everything snug and close to your body.