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Backpacking Gear Checklist

Backpacking through the wilderness is one of the most fulfilling outdoor activities that you can do. But, without the right gear in your pack, a great journey can quickly become a frustration-filled trek. It’s important to consider all aspects of your trip as you pack your gear, including the weather forecast, the length of the trip, and the trail’s terrain. As a rule of thumb, the longer your hike will be, the more you’ll need to pack. But, it’s important to know what items are absolute essentials. When backpacking, proper preparation is critically important.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of all the gear you may want to bring on your next backpacking outing. You may not need everything on this list, but you should review each item and determine your exact needs.

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Trail Gear

Your backpack should have between 30 and 80 liters of carrying capacity. The longer your trip will be, the larger your pack should be. For day hikes, day packs and hydration packs are a great alternative to larger hiking backpacks.

When you’re backpacking, your pack carries everything you need for survival in the wilderness. It needs to be big enough to carry your supplies, provide reinforcement to distribute the weight across your body, and have an organized design that allows you to access essentials on the trail without unpacking your shelter. When choosing a backpack, consider what size of backpacking pack you need (general rule of thumb is 30-50 liters for 1-3 nights, 50-80 liters for 3-5 nights, and 70+ liters for more than 5 nights), whether you want an external frame, internal frame, or frameless backpack, and what organization and ventilation systems you want. Larger backpacks have specific fits based on the size and proportions of your torso, so it’s never a bad idea to get fitted for a pack, or to take your own measurements.
A day pack helps you carry just the essentials for a shorter hike. If you’re not planning on spending the night outdoors, a day pack up to 30 liters can provide the weight distribution and ventilation of a larger pack and help you carry a day’s worth of essentials. If you are hitting the trail for multiple nights, you still might want a detachable day pack so you can venture out easily once you set up camp. In the latter case, you would want as lightweight a pack as possible to keep extra ounces off your back, which might mean a basic pack without much weight distribution or ventilation.
No matter how long you’re planning to hike, you need to bring water. You can find minimalist hydration packs that hold only a bladder and a couple snacks and essentials, or full backpacks with built-in hydration systems. Make sure you know how much water you need to carry at once, how the pack will fit your torso, and what kind of tubing setup works best for you. You can choose from hydration backpacks or waistpacks that will carry anywhere from half a liter to 3 liters of water.
It might be tempting to leave this behind to save ounces, but when you’re stuck in a storm, being able to protect literally all of your belongings is a big deal. Many backpacks come with rain covers, but consider picking up a lightweight tarp if you don’t have one. Pack rain covers will often be fitted to hold tightly around the pack, but if you are making your own, bring clips to keep it in place .
Headlamps offer hands-free illumination that can be extremely helpful if you’re still on the trail at night, or setting up or cooking in the dark. Consider how bright you need your light to be, what kind of batteries you prefer, whether you like LED lighting, and whether it’s important your headlamp be water-resistant (if you might be setting up in the rain: it’s important!). Choose between LED, rechargeable, battery-powered, strobing, colored, flood, and spotlight headlamps. When backpacking weight is one of your biggest considerations. If you prefer using a flashlight over a headlamp, we recommend a light weight compact flighlight or penlight.
Trekking poles can help you navigate rocky terrain, and are especially helpful with the added weight of your backpack throwing off your center of gravity. Many backpacks have special places to clip your trekking poles, but you still may want a foldable or adjustable pair for easy storage when they’re not in use. Consider whether you want a pair of poles or a hiking staff, and make sure the poles are the right height for you to have a right angle at your elbow when you’re using them. Ultralight poles can be especially nice for backpackers, thanks to their lighter weight in your pack but also in your hands over extended hikes. Trekking poles usually have aluminum or composite pole bodies with cork, foam, or rubber grips.
A packable lantern can help liven up your campsite after the sun sets. A good lantern for backpacking will be battery-operated (so you don’t have to lug your own fuel too), lightweight, and easy to pack, meaning it either folds down or can clip to the outside of your pack. Look at both the dimensions and the ounces of the lantern when choosing an option for backpacking, and consider battery life and rechargeability (many lanterns are solar powered, so you can recharge them without additional gear).
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Shelter

Anytime you are in the wilderness, having some form of safe shelter is vitally important.

A backpacking tent should keep you warm and protect you from the elements, bugs, and passersby—all while being as lightweight as possible. If you are backpacking with a friend, you can get a multi-person tent and split the materials up between your packs. Consider the size of your group, your expected conditions, design features like ventilation and number of doors, and how lightweight you can afford to go. Backpacking tents can be found in 2-, 3-, and 4-person models in various sleeping capacities. Learn more about how to choose a backpacking tent for hiking and extended excursions.
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Sleep System

Getting 7-8 hours of high-quality sleep is very important when backpacking. Sleep deprivation can be very dangerous, especially in wilderness survival situations.

A sleeping pad puts an extra layer of insulation and comfort between you and the earth. Your pad should be large enough for you to fit on top of, but make sure it isn’t too large, especially if you’re backpacking with a small one-person tent setup. Sleeping pads range from self-inflating pads to air pads to foam camping mats. Mats are popular with backpackers because they are lightweight, and many packs have straps specially for attaching these mats to the outside of your pack.
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Cooking Supplies

Some people enjoy cooking as part of their camping experience. Others would rather spend time hiking than cooking. Consider how much cooking you want to do as you go through this list of cooking supplies.

Just because you’re out in the wilderness doesn’t mean you can’t have hot coffee and a hot meal. Backpackers often opt for a lightweight portable stove that folds practically into the palm of your hand, with a single pot that fits the stove and fuel canister. Make sure you have a plan for wind protection if you’re heading into windy conditions, and confirm whether a single pot with a single burner will accommodate your planned recipes while you’re out in the backcountry.
Your stove won’t be much use without cooking fuel. If you already have a stove, check what type of fuel it needs, and bring enough for your planned recipes (with some to spare). If you’re choosing a stove, take fuel type into account: your fuel should be affordable, accessible in most stores, lightweight for backpacking, and easy to set up with your stove.
Backpacking is all about saving space, so a mess kit with stackable or collapsible cups, bowls, and utensils can make a huge difference. Choose a mess kit that will accommodate the number of people in your party, with lightweight material that won’t give you any more ounces than strictly necessary. And if you know you won’t need an element of the mess kit, don’t hesitate to leave it at home!
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Food Supplies

You should plan on bringing snack foods and meal foods. High-calorie, high-protein snacks like almonds, beef jerky, and protein bars are ideal for eating on the trail. Your meals should consist of items that can be cooked with limited prep and kitchen supplies.

Many larger packs have small packs on the hip belt that you can access without removing the pack. This is a great place for protein, jerky, trail mix, and other energy-boosting, easily digestible snacks that you might want in the middle of a long hike. Bring some for when you set up camp, or check what you can fit in those hip belt pockets if you have them!
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Backpackers can’t carry a refrigerator. This means you need to plan meals that will stay fresh for however many days you’ll be in the wilderness. Backpacking foods should be high in protein, lightweight, and easy to prepare. Beans and rice, boxed meals, and dehydrated breakfast meals and entrees can be a great way of getting your nutrients without trying to carry half the kitchen on your back. Your favorite herbs or spices might be a small but impactful way to spruce up these meals and make them your own!
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Hydration

Staying hydrated is critically important on the trail. When planning your water supply needs, determine if there is a source of water near your trail. It is also important to drink water before you feel thirsty. As a rule of thumb, you should be drinking a half-liter of water per hour of activity. When backpacking for a few hours up to a day, a hydration pack is one of the most practical ways to stay hydrated.

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If you’ll be out in the wilderness for a few days, you can’t reasonably bring all the water you’ll need with you. Water filters and purification can help you turn lake an driver water into safe drinking water. If you’re traveling through developing nations or other areas with heightened risk of virus in the water, you’ll want a water purifier; otherwise, a water filter will keep the protozoan cysts and bacteria out of your potable water. Water filters are available in pump, gravity, ultraviolet, bottle, squeeze, or straw-style setups. If you're really tight on space, there are several lightweight water treatment additives that can effectively purify water.

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Appropriate Clothing

The weather forecast is going to determine what type of clothing you should bring. But, be prepared for unexpected changes in weather. When deciding on footwear, you should look at the terrain of the area you’ll be hiking.

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Having a good pair of men's or women's hiking boots is a must if you're going on a serious backpacking trip.

Your boots should be durable, protective, and provide plenty of traction on a variety of terrain, including trail, rock, and wet surfaces. Ankle support is important on long treks. Hiking socks are typically made from wool and are thicker than regular socks, so keep this in mind when sizing your hiking boots. If you have room in your pack for a lightweight pair of slip-on shoes for when you’re at camp, those can be a nice addition.
Backpacking and hiking socks should be made from warm, water resistant material such as wool, polyester, nylon, silk, or spandex. Your socks needs to go higher than your boots—don’t bring ankle socks to wear with boots that go higher than your ankle! Make sure your hiking socks fit properly to prevent blisters, and choose how much cushioning you want based on your expected condition and your time on the trail.
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Navigation

Although modern GPS systems are generally very reliable, it is important to pack back-up methods of navigation. Familiarize yourself with these methods before beginning your trip.

Make sure you have a solid plan for navigation in the backcountry. A GPS system can be a very helpful way to navigate—just check whether you’ll have signal, and bring plenty of batteries for a system you’re relying on to do such an important job. You can get a GPS watch, handheld GPS, satellite phone and GPS locators, or GPS mapping software.
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Whether you’re traveling through an area without GPS signal, or you just like the feeling of being off any screens when you’re backpacking, a compass and mapcan combine to make for a very reliable navigation system (if you know how to use them). Make sure to practice your navigation skills before you hit the road, and mark your planned journey out in advance. You can choose from simple, inexpensive compasses to high-end, professional compasses to help you chart your path.
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Emergency Supplies

It is important to be prepared if you are in an emergency survival situation. These items will keep you safe if such a situation does occur.

First-aid is absolutely essential when you’ll be venturing into the backcountry for a few days. A backpacking first-aid kit should be small enough to fit easily into your pack, but still cover the essentials. Choose a first-aid kit based on the number of people and number of days you’ll be covering. Essential first-aid supplies include wraps, splints, wound care, thermometers, tweezers, and medications for common issues like coughs, headaches, and indigestion. Make sure to add any special items or medications that you need, and replenish supplies between trips.
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Water treatment pills or tablets are a lightweight way to give yourself some peace of mind. A broken water filter can ruin your trip, but with a backup plan, you give yourself more options. These systems will neutralize bacteria and viruses in water to make it safe for drinking through the rest of your trip. topograph
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Hygiene

Although ‘roughing it’ is part of the camping experience for many, maintaining basic hygiene on the trail is an important part of safe backpacking.

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Tools

It’s important to pack a basic toolkit to fix any equipment malfunctions.

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Extras

Below are some additional odds-and-ends that some backpackers may find useful (or entertaining) to bring with them. You won’t want to bring all of these as they’ll add significant weight to your pack, but your favorite item or two can greatly enhance your backpacking experience!

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10 Essentials

The National Parks Service has published a list of the “Ten Essentials” for backpacking and wilderness exploring. The Ten Essentials is a collection of first aid and emergency items that will help you deal with unexpected events (including minor injuries, weather changes, and delays). Depending on where you’re camping, you may or may not need all of the Ten Essentials, but it is a good idea to review this list before packing. Consider pairing this list with the above checklist.

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Packing Tips

Pack Appropriate Food -- Food can take up a lot of weight and space in your pack, so it’s important to carefully consider what kinds of foods you want to bring. We suggest healthy, calorie-dense foods like nuts, seeds, and animal proteins. Avoid sugary and excessively salty foods -- they taste great, but these types of foods can take a toll on your performance. Many backpackers make meal plans before packing. Structuring your meals can be very helpful in portioning and packing your food.

Keep It Light -- Eliminating a few ounces here and there can save a lot of weight in your pack. While it’s important to be well-prepared, you should not carry things that you don’t need. Additionally, look for lightweight alternatives wherever possible. By switching to a lightweight shelter and sleeping bag, for example, you can save a lot of weight in your backpacking setup.

Pay Attention to Fabrics -- Depending on where you’re backpacking, you’ll need to pack different clothing. But, try to find fabrics that help your body thermoregulate in both hot and cold conditions. If backpacking in cold conditions, pay careful attention to your clothes’ warmth-to-weight ratio. While you want to be as warm as possible, avoid heavyweight fabrics like cotton and duck canvas.