Backpacking Essentials Guide What To Bring On A Backpacking Trip

In this article, we’re talking all about one of the most popular activities among outdoorsman – backpacking. That’s right, we’re talking about exploring the wilderness with nothing but the pack on your back! And while backpacking can most certainly be a fun and exciting experience, it also requires a hefty amount of know-how. You can’t just go into nature unprepared, which is precisely why we have written this article. We’re going to help you understand the hiking essentials that you will need to bring on a backpacking trip. We’ve written this for the first time backpacker who doesn’t even know where to start.

Beginner Trip? As this article is titled “backpacking essentials”, we are going to assume that anyone reading this is more along the lines of a beginner backpacker. Therefore, we are going to be giving you the backpacking essentials for a beginner trip. A beginner backpacking trip will typically entail a rather simple route, and a rather short period of time, so the packing essentials list may be small. There are many campsites and parks which offer self-guided trails and designated campsites, and this is what we would recommend for a beginner backpacking trip. You should book your campsite ahead of time, and make sure you know the route to hike in and out. Of course, this is where we get into the main part of our article. It’s all about proper planning! For your first trip, or even a day hike, you need to know that you have everything covered before you set off. Know where you are going, know the route you are going to hike, and know what’s on your backpacking packing list. That’s where we come in, as we’re going to give you all the hiking essentials that you need to pack for your first backpacking trip. Before We Get Started: Your Main Concern Before we get into all the essentials that you are going to need to pack for your first backpacking trip, we need to talk about the concerns which will be guiding all of your packing decisions. As you might imagine, what you can pack on a backpacking trip is decided based on one major factor – the backpack itself. Therefore, all of your backpacking gear will be based on two key variables – weight and portability. You want to focus on packing supplies that are highly portable. This means that they are durable enough to stand up to the rough conditions you will be putting them through, but also able to be packed down enough so that they don’t take up too much space in your bag. Space is going to be a major premium! Related to portability is weight. The intensity of your hiking experience will largely depend on how much you actually need to lug around. The lighter your supplies, the easier the trip will be. This is why we’ve also focused on including essentials that are ultralight! After all, this isn’t car camping. You don’t have any extra space to put all your hiking gear. Everything you are bringing needs to go on your back. Do I Need Premium Gear? Another common question asked by beginners is whether they require “premium” gear for backpacking. Once you start sifting through the options, you’ll notice that prices vary quite considerably. You might wonder how much you actually need to spend. For the purposes of this article, we recommend you go “premium” in three areas: sleeping, clothing, and backpack. Simply put, these are the three areas that effect your comfort level so much depending on how quality your supplies are. These aspects are so key for backpacking that having the “higher end” version makes a massive difference. These supplies will keep you warm, comfortable, safe, and make it all easier to carry. In our gear guide, we’ll be focusing on premium options for these three areas, and affordable options for everything else. We know you don’t want to break the bank on camping gear or a rain jacket, and we understand!

Gear Guide Now that we’ve covered the basics of how to pack for your first backpacking trip, let’s get into the meat of this article. What do I actually need to bring? In this section, we’ve divided our list into all of the major categories that you need to consider. Each category is essential to your backpacking checklist, and we’ll show you exactly what you need in each category. Let’s start with most obvious gear:

Backpack – Osprey Kestrel 38 Men’s Hiking Backpack

Check Price Of course, this is a backpacking trip, so we’ve got to start with a backpack! A backpack is essential for three major purposes – space, comfort, and protection. In terms of space, it needs to be big enough to pack everything you need to bring, but not too big so that you are lugging around unnecessary weight. For a beginner backpacking trip, we recommend a backpack which has a 50- or 60-liter capacity. This will be enough space to pack food and supplies for up to around 3 days. Additionally, a hiking backpack is designed to be easy to carry. The straps and clamps are designed to most ergonomically be supported by your body, and they make it possible to carry heavy loads without putting unnecessary stress on your joints. Simply put, a hiking backpack is a must for this type of trip. And finally, protection. Whether you drop the backpack, it rains, or any other sort of damage occurs, you want the backpack to adequately protect what you are bringing. Backpacks perform the vital function of keeping all your other gear safe. These three key variables basically mean one thing – you don’t want to cheap out on a backpack! It performs such an important purpose that you really want to go all-in on quality. We recommend purchasing from a reputable manufacturer like Osprey. Osprey makes quality backpacks, which have ample space and all the design to make carrying a heavy backpack comfortable for long distances. They are also insulated, waterproof, and have many different compartments for storage. These are quality backpacks, and come in different sizes for anyone from a beginner to an experienced hiker.

Dry Bag – Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag

Check Price Although most backpacks are pretty waterproof, there are some things that you want to keep extra dry! Things like your clothes, sleeping bag, tent, and anything that can be damaged by water. It is good practice to pack these things into dry bags within your backpack. This ensures that no moisture can reach them. Even if you don’t plan on going in the water, there is always the potential of rain!

Tent – Coleman Sundome Tent

Check Price Next up, if you’re planning a backpack camping trip, you need a tent. Your main concerns with a backpacking tent are going to be comfort and portability. Of course, sleeping comfortably will make such a huge difference to your overall enjoyment of your trip. This means buying a tent that is big enough for everyone you are camping with, and also buying a tent that has quality of life improvements like a waterproof tarp, vents for air flow, storage compartments, and more. You’d be surprised at just how extensive these tents can get. This is another area where we recommend you not cheap out! It is so important that you buy a tent which not only gives you a comfortable sleep, but packs down small and is highly portable. We recommend a respected and established brand like Coleman. The specific make and model you buy will largely depend on how many people you are camping with. So survey the options, and pay special attention to the size of the tent when it’s packed up.

Sleeping Bag – Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag

Check Price A tent isn’t all you need for sleeping. You’ll also need a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. These are two vital pieces of gear for sleeping in the outdoors. Not only do they both keep you comfortable, and save you from having to feel the bumpy ground beneath the tent, they also keep you warm in cold climates. Of course, the warmth is more or less important depending where you camp and the time of year. Some sleeping bags are much more insulated and adept for cold weather, or you might need to get a sleeping bag liner to add on. Once again, space is a primary concern here. Depending on the quality of sleeping bag you buy, they can pack down very small! This is especially crucial in ensuring that it doesn’t take up valuable back pack real estate. This is why we recommend that you buy a premium option here. You really want a sleeping bag that packs down to the smallest size possible. Generally, buying a bag from a reputable brand such as Coleman is a good choice here. A sleeping pad is very important as well. As with the sleeping bag, you want it be able to fold into a small, compact shape for easy packing. Additionally, there is actually a lot of heat lost to the ground when you sleep. A sleeping pad helps to minimize the heat lost, and actually keep you warmer as you sleep. A great choice for both of these aspects is this sleeping pad from Therm-a-Rest. It folds down small and tight, and helps to minimize any lost heat.

Cooking Supplies – Terra Hiker Cookware Set

Check Price Another important category of camping supply are the things you need to cook and to eat your food. Depending on the type of food you bring, you might want to bring different supplies. Basically, space is once again a premium, so you really can’t be bringing too much. Bring a single pot for cooking food, and plate for each person present. Additionally, you can bring sporks, and a knife to cut the food. You shouldn’t need much more than that, and most of it is available in a camping cookware set. Additionally, depending on how much cooking you want to do, you can consider a portable camping stove. If you have room for this, it will make cooking much easier. However, space is an understandable concern. Some will opt to cook their meals over fires that they make at their campsites. Some will simply bring food that doesn’t need to be cooked. We will cover food in the next section.

Food – Mountain House Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food

Check Price And now onto something just as important as cookware – food! When it comes to bringing food for a backpacking trip, you want to consider a few key things. The first, and it’s a familiar one, is space. You want to bring food that doesn’t take up too much space, and isn’t too heavy. This can mean bringing food which is calorically dense, such as peanut butter, nuts, oats, and more. Another space-saving option is dehydrated food. With dehydrated food, all you need to do is add water and boil. Some of the options are actually pretty tasty! This is also an area where you get a bit of creativity. Pack food that you like to eat. So long as it is space efficient and calorically dense, you have a fair bit of options here. Pack not just for efficiency, but also for taste! Pack things you and your camping-mates actually like. And don’t forget the coffee! Next, you want to make sure that you bring enough food. This is where effective planning comes into play. We recommend that you plan based on meal. Lay out your entire meal schedule for the trip, and break down each meal by ingredient. This way, you completely outlay exactly what you need, and you are sure to pack enough to get you through the whole trip. Effective scheduling is imperative here.

Water – Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter

Check Price Just as important as food is water! For a camping trip, the most important thing is having some way to purify the water. There are many options these days, such as water filters, water tablets, and more. The important part is making sure that you are close to water source during your entire trip, so that you actually have water to purify. Bring a big water bottle with you, so that you can purify a few bottles when you set up camp, and then have them to get you through the hike the next day. Water is all about planning and storage.

Navigation – Garmin GPSMAP 64sx

Check Price Knowing where you’re going is key for any camping trip. If this is your first backpacking experience, you’ll probably want to pick a pretty easy hike. You should definitely know your route beforehand, and you should pick a pretty easy route overall. This minimizes your chances of getting lost. Many campgrounds have clearly marked trails, and even maps which are posted along the way. However, if you really want to be safe, consider a hiking GPS. Some hiking GPSs even come with a satellite phone, so that you can radio for help should you get lost. Along with that, they have all the typical navigational tools you would expect (maps, compass, altimeter, barometer, etc.). Definitely on the more expensive end of things, but might be worthwhile if you are particularly concerned about finding your way.

First Aid – Swiss Safe

Check Price First aid is one of those things you hope you will never need, but wouldn’t want to be without. First, we’d recommend you pack Polysporin and Advil. These two things are so helpful for any bumps, bruises, or pain you may encounter while camping. Outside of that, consider getting a first aid kit. A first aid kit has something for most any situation. Once again, you hope you won’t need any of it, but you don’t want to be without it when you do!

Knife – Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Bowie Knife

Check Price You may or may not need a hunting knife, but they can be valuable for protection, a sense of security, and also cutting brush and/or food. It’s one of those things that you hope to not need, but doesn’t hurt to have.

Toiletries

Check Price It goes without saying that toiletries are a must. If you can, buy the travel-size versions of any products. You can find these at any drug store, and they help to save valuable real estate in your bag. Be sure to bring toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, lip balm, sunscreen, bug-spray, and anything else you may need on a daily basis! Don’t leave any of this behind.

Light – Coleman OneSource Rechargeable Camping System

Check Price A light is pretty crucial as well. We recommend a headlamp and a flashlight! You never want to be stuck in the dark without a light source. The light source also helps you to navigate your camp ground at night. Fire is great for light as well, but it’s not portable. These two products are a must, and make sure that you pack extra batteries so you don’t run out!

Clothing – Timberland Boots

Check Price Packing the right clothing is absolutely essential for any camping trip! As you might expect, your main considerations are space and comfort. In terms of space, your main concern should be bringing only one of most types of clothing. While what you pack will largely depend on the climate and time of year, you should generally pack clothes that will keep you comfortable in any condition you may face. Consider bringing one of – t-shirt, LS shirt, jacket, rain jacket, long pants, shorts, hat, mitts, sweater, buff, and anything else that may be climate dependent. And bring a few pairs of warm socks and underwear! Try to pack clothing that is well-insulated and waterproof. Thermal, polyester gear tends to be both warmer, and will pack down smaller. Make sure that your outer layers are waterproof, so that the rest of your stuff stays dry. And don’t skimp on hiking boots! Hiking boots are one of the most important purchases you can make. They are one of the main factors in keeping you comfortable during the entire experience, and will assist you in keeping grip, traction, and support over various obstacles. A good pair of hiking boots is also water resistant. Find a pair that fits you well, and try them on first if you can. We recommend a brand like Timberland.

Making Your Decision We’ve given you a lot to pack for a backpacking trip, and it’s all pretty necessary. For most backpacking trips, you will find a use for everything on our list. However, there are a few factors which might make your needs more or less specific. Since there are generally so many options even within each category of camping supply, we’re rounding out our guide by showing you how to make the perfect choice for your own camping trip. Consider these factors to know exactly what you need to pack: Type of Hiking/Backpacking By far the most important factor in determining what you should be packing is what you are packing for. Your packing needs will change quite a bit depending on the length of time you are going for, the topography you are hiking, whether or not you are canoeing, and more. You need to consider the supplies we mentioned above, and adapt to the type of backpacking experience you are planning. We gave you a good general outline of what you need to bring, but you’ll have to also consider the specific conditions in which you are backpacking. Climate We mentioned climate many times throughout our supply list, but it is so important that it bears repeating here. You need to pack for the conditions. You need to be sure you are warm and secure. Nothing can ruin a camping trip quite like being too cold. Consider climate in the clothing you pack, your sleeping bag, your sleeping pad, the tent, anything else where warmth and insulation is required. Durability Finally, durability. Of course we have mentioned portability many times throughout our list, but you also want to be sure that the equipment you buy is tough and durable. You want it to be able to stand up to whatever you can throw at it. Camping is a rough activity, and you don’t want to break your gear in the process. While portability remains a top concern, make sure that you aren’t sacrificing too much durability in this pursuit. Thanks very much for checking out our guide to backpacking essentials! Good luck on your first backpacking experience! For more on the subject, check out our top 50 camping tips!

Backpack – Osprey Kestrel 38 Men’s Hiking Backpack

Dry Bag – Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag

Tent – Coleman Sundome Tent

Sleeping Bag – Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag

Cooking Supplies – Terra Hiker Cookware Set

Food – Mountain House Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food

Water – Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter

Navigation – Garmin GPSMAP 64sx

First Aid – Swiss Safe

Knife – Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Bowie Knife

Toiletries

Light – Coleman OneSource Rechargeable Camping System

Clothing – Timberland Boots

And while backpacking can most certainly be a fun and exciting experience, it also requires a hefty amount of know-how. You can’t just go into nature unprepared, which is precisely why we have written this article. We’re going to help you understand the hiking essentials that you will need to bring on a backpacking trip. We’ve written this for the first time backpacker who doesn’t even know where to start.

Beginner Trip?

As this article is titled “backpacking essentials”, we are going to assume that anyone reading this is more along the lines of a beginner backpacker. Therefore, we are going to be giving you the backpacking essentials for a beginner trip.

A beginner backpacking trip will typically entail a rather simple route, and a rather short period of time, so the packing essentials list may be small. There are many campsites and parks which offer self-guided trails and designated campsites, and this is what we would recommend for a beginner backpacking trip. You should book your campsite ahead of time, and make sure you know the route to hike in and out.

Of course, this is where we get into the main part of our article. It’s all about proper planning! For your first trip, or even a day hike, you need to know that you have everything covered before you set off. Know where you are going, know the route you are going to hike, and know what’s on your backpacking packing list. That’s where we come in, as we’re going to give you all the hiking essentials that you need to pack for your first backpacking trip.

Before We Get Started: Your Main Concern

Before we get into all the essentials that you are going to need to pack for your first backpacking trip, we need to talk about the concerns which will be guiding all of your packing decisions.

As you might imagine, what you can pack on a backpacking trip is decided based on one major factor – the backpack itself. Therefore, all of your backpacking gear will be based on two key variables – weight and portability.

You want to focus on packing supplies that are highly portable. This means that they are durable enough to stand up to the rough conditions you will be putting them through, but also able to be packed down enough so that they don’t take up too much space in your bag. Space is going to be a major premium!

Related to portability is weight. The intensity of your hiking experience will largely depend on how much you actually need to lug around. The lighter your supplies, the easier the trip will be. This is why we’ve also focused on including essentials that are ultralight!

After all, this isn’t car camping. You don’t have any extra space to put all your hiking gear. Everything you are bringing needs to go on your back.

Do I Need Premium Gear?

Another common question asked by beginners is whether they require “premium” gear for backpacking. Once you start sifting through the options, you’ll notice that prices vary quite considerably. You might wonder how much you actually need to spend.

For the purposes of this article, we recommend you go “premium” in three areas: sleeping, clothing, and backpack. Simply put, these are the three areas that effect your comfort level so much depending on how quality your supplies are. These aspects are so key for backpacking that having the “higher end” version makes a massive difference. These supplies will keep you warm, comfortable, safe, and make it all easier to carry.

In our gear guide, we’ll be focusing on premium options for these three areas, and affordable options for everything else. We know you don’t want to break the bank on camping gear or a rain jacket, and we understand!

Gear Guide

Now that we’ve covered the basics of how to pack for your first backpacking trip, let’s get into the meat of this article. What do I actually need to bring?

In this section, we’ve divided our list into all of the major categories that you need to consider. Each category is essential to your backpacking checklist, and we’ll show you exactly what you need in each category. Let’s start with most obvious gear:

Backpack – Osprey Kestrel 38 Men’s Hiking Backpack

1. Backpack – Osprey Kestrel 38 Men’s Hiking Backpack

Of course, this is a backpacking trip, so we’ve got to start with a backpack! A backpack is essential for three major purposes – space, comfort, and protection.

In terms of space, it needs to be big enough to pack everything you need to bring, but not too big so that you are lugging around unnecessary weight. For a beginner backpacking trip, we recommend a backpack which has a 50- or 60-liter capacity. This will be enough space to pack food and supplies for up to around 3 days.

Additionally, a hiking backpack is designed to be easy to carry. The straps and clamps are designed to most ergonomically be supported by your body, and they make it possible to carry heavy loads without putting unnecessary stress on your joints. Simply put, a hiking backpack is a must for this type of trip.

And finally, protection. Whether you drop the backpack, it rains, or any other sort of damage occurs, you want the backpack to adequately protect what you are bringing. Backpacks perform the vital function of keeping all your other gear safe.

These three key variables basically mean one thing – you don’t want to cheap out on a backpack! It performs such an important purpose that you really want to go all-in on quality.

We recommend purchasing from a reputable manufacturer like Osprey. Osprey makes quality backpacks, which have ample space and all the design to make carrying a heavy backpack comfortable for long distances. They are also insulated, waterproof, and have many different compartments for storage. These are quality backpacks, and come in different sizes for anyone from a beginner to an experienced hiker.

Dry Bag – Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag

2. Dry Bag – Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag

Although most backpacks are pretty waterproof, there are some things that you want to keep extra dry! Things like your clothes, sleeping bag, tent, and anything that can be damaged by water. It is good practice to pack these things into dry bags within your backpack. This ensures that no moisture can reach them. Even if you don’t plan on going in the water, there is always the potential of rain!

Tent – Coleman Sundome Tent

3. Tent – Coleman Sundome Tent

Next up, if you’re planning a backpack camping trip, you need a tent. Your main concerns with a backpacking tent are going to be comfort and portability.

Of course, sleeping comfortably will make such a huge difference to your overall enjoyment of your trip. This means buying a tent that is big enough for everyone you are camping with, and also buying a tent that has quality of life improvements like a waterproof tarp, vents for air flow, storage compartments, and more. You’d be surprised at just how extensive these tents can get.

This is another area where we recommend you not cheap out! It is so important that you buy a tent which not only gives you a comfortable sleep, but packs down small and is highly portable. We recommend a respected and established brand like Coleman. The specific make and model you buy will largely depend on how many people you are camping with. So survey the options, and pay special attention to the size of the tent when it’s packed up.

Sleeping Bag – Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag

4. Sleeping Bag – Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag

A tent isn’t all you need for sleeping. You’ll also need a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. These are two vital pieces of gear for sleeping in the outdoors. Not only do they both keep you comfortable, and save you from having to feel the bumpy ground beneath the tent, they also keep you warm in cold climates. Of course, the warmth is more or less important depending where you camp and the time of year. Some sleeping bags are much more insulated and adept for cold weather, or you might need to get a sleeping bag liner to add on.

Once again, space is a primary concern here. Depending on the quality of sleeping bag you buy, they can pack down very small! This is especially crucial in ensuring that it doesn’t take up valuable back pack real estate. This is why we recommend that you buy a premium option here. You really want a sleeping bag that packs down to the smallest size possible. Generally, buying a bag from a reputable brand such as Coleman is a good choice here.

A sleeping pad is very important as well. As with the sleeping bag, you want it be able to fold into a small, compact shape for easy packing. Additionally, there is actually a lot of heat lost to the ground when you sleep. A sleeping pad helps to minimize the heat lost, and actually keep you warmer as you sleep. A great choice for both of these aspects is this sleeping pad from Therm-a-Rest. It folds down small and tight, and helps to minimize any lost heat.

Cooking Supplies – Terra Hiker Cookware Set

5. Cooking Supplies – Terra Hiker Cookware Set

Another important category of camping supply are the things you need to cook and to eat your food. Depending on the type of food you bring, you might want to bring different supplies. Basically, space is once again a premium, so you really can’t be bringing too much. Bring a single pot for cooking food, and plate for each person present. Additionally, you can bring sporks, and a knife to cut the food. You shouldn’t need much more than that, and most of it is available in a camping cookware set.

Additionally, depending on how much cooking you want to do, you can consider a portable camping stove. If you have room for this, it will make cooking much easier. However, space is an understandable concern. Some will opt to cook their meals over fires that they make at their campsites. Some will simply bring food that doesn’t need to be cooked. We will cover food in the next section.

Food – Mountain House Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food

6. Food – Mountain House Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food

And now onto something just as important as cookware – food! When it comes to bringing food for a backpacking trip, you want to consider a few key things. The first, and it’s a familiar one, is space. You want to bring food that doesn’t take up too much space, and isn’t too heavy. This can mean bringing food which is calorically dense, such as peanut butter, nuts, oats, and more.

Another space-saving option is dehydrated food. With dehydrated food, all you need to do is add water and boil. Some of the options are actually pretty tasty!

This is also an area where you get a bit of creativity. Pack food that you like to eat. So long as it is space efficient and calorically dense, you have a fair bit of options here. Pack not just for efficiency, but also for taste! Pack things you and your camping-mates actually like. And don’t forget the coffee!

Next, you want to make sure that you bring enough food. This is where effective planning comes into play. We recommend that you plan based on meal. Lay out your entire meal schedule for the trip, and break down each meal by ingredient. This way, you completely outlay exactly what you need, and you are sure to pack enough to get you through the whole trip. Effective scheduling is imperative here.

Water – Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter

7. Water – Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter

Just as important as food is water! For a camping trip, the most important thing is having some way to purify the water. There are many options these days, such as water filters, water tablets, and more. The important part is making sure that you are close to water source during your entire trip, so that you actually have water to purify.

Bring a big water bottle with you, so that you can purify a few bottles when you set up camp, and then have them to get you through the hike the next day. Water is all about planning and storage.

Navigation – Garmin GPSMAP 64sx

Knowing where you’re going is key for any camping trip. If this is your first backpacking experience, you’ll probably want to pick a pretty easy hike. You should definitely know your route beforehand, and you should pick a pretty easy route overall. This minimizes your chances of getting lost. Many campgrounds have clearly marked trails, and even maps which are posted along the way.

However, if you really want to be safe, consider a hiking GPS. Some hiking GPSs even come with a satellite phone, so that you can radio for help should you get lost. Along with that, they have all the typical navigational tools you would expect (maps, compass, altimeter, barometer, etc.). Definitely on the more expensive end of things, but might be worthwhile if you are particularly concerned about finding your way.

First Aid – Swiss Safe

9. First Aid – Swiss Safe

First aid is one of those things you hope you will never need, but wouldn’t want to be without. First, we’d recommend you pack Polysporin and Advil. These two things are so helpful for any bumps, bruises, or pain you may encounter while camping.

Outside of that, consider getting a first aid kit. A first aid kit has something for most any situation. Once again, you hope you won’t need any of it, but you don’t want to be without it when you do!

Knife – Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Bowie Knife

10. Knife – Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Bowie Knife

You may or may not need a hunting knife, but they can be valuable for protection, a sense of security, and also cutting brush and/or food. It’s one of those things that you hope to not need, but doesn’t hurt to have.

Toiletries

11. Toiletries

It goes without saying that toiletries are a must. If you can, buy the travel-size versions of any products. You can find these at any drug store, and they help to save valuable real estate in your bag. Be sure to bring toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, lip balm, sunscreen, bug-spray, and anything else you may need on a daily basis! Don’t leave any of this behind.

Light – Coleman OneSource Rechargeable Camping System

12. Light – Coleman OneSource Rechargeable Camping System

A light is pretty crucial as well. We recommend a headlamp and a flashlight! You never want to be stuck in the dark without a light source. The light source also helps you to navigate your camp ground at night. Fire is great for light as well, but it’s not portable. These two products are a must, and make sure that you pack extra batteries so you don’t run out!

Clothing – Timberland Boots

13. Clothing – Timberland Boots

Packing the right clothing is absolutely essential for any camping trip! As you might expect, your main considerations are space and comfort.

In terms of space, your main concern should be bringing only one of most types of clothing. While what you pack will largely depend on the climate and time of year, you should generally pack clothes that will keep you comfortable in any condition you may face. Consider bringing one of – t-shirt, LS shirt, jacket, rain jacket, long pants, shorts, hat, mitts, sweater, buff, and anything else that may be climate dependent. And bring a few pairs of warm socks and underwear!

Try to pack clothing that is well-insulated and waterproof. Thermal, polyester gear tends to be both warmer, and will pack down smaller. Make sure that your outer layers are waterproof, so that the rest of your stuff stays dry.

And don’t skimp on hiking boots! Hiking boots are one of the most important purchases you can make. They are one of the main factors in keeping you comfortable during the entire experience, and will assist you in keeping grip, traction, and support over various obstacles. A good pair of hiking boots is also water resistant. Find a pair that fits you well, and try them on first if you can. We recommend a brand like Timberland.

Making Your Decision

We’ve given you a lot to pack for a backpacking trip, and it’s all pretty necessary. For most backpacking trips, you will find a use for everything on our list. However, there are a few factors which might make your needs more or less specific. Since there are generally so many options even within each category of camping supply, we’re rounding out our guide by showing you how to make the perfect choice for your own camping trip. Consider these factors to know exactly what you need to pack:

Type of Hiking/Backpacking

By far the most important factor in determining what you should be packing is what you are packing for. Your packing needs will change quite a bit depending on the length of time you are going for, the topography you are hiking, whether or not you are canoeing, and more. You need to consider the supplies we mentioned above, and adapt to the type of backpacking experience you are planning.

We gave you a good general outline of what you need to bring, but you’ll have to also consider the specific conditions in which you are backpacking.

Climate

We mentioned climate many times throughout our supply list, but it is so important that it bears repeating here. You need to pack for the conditions. You need to be sure you are warm and secure. Nothing can ruin a camping trip quite like being too cold. Consider climate in the clothing you pack, your sleeping bag, your sleeping pad, the tent, anything else where warmth and insulation is required.

Durability

Finally, durability. Of course we have mentioned portability many times throughout our list, but you also want to be sure that the equipment you buy is tough and durable. You want it to be able to stand up to whatever you can throw at it. Camping is a rough activity, and you don’t want to break your gear in the process. While portability remains a top concern, make sure that you aren’t sacrificing too much durability in this pursuit.

Thanks very much for checking out our guide to backpacking essentials! Good luck on your first backpacking experience!

For more on the subject, check out our top 50 camping tips!

Beginner Trip?#

Before We Get Started: Your Main Concern#

Do I Need Premium Gear?#

Gear Guide#

1. Backpack – Osprey Kestrel 38 Men’s Hiking Backpack#

2. Dry Bag – Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag#

3. Tent – Coleman Sundome Tent#

4. Sleeping Bag – Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag#

5. Cooking Supplies – Terra Hiker Cookware Set#

6. Food – Mountain House Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food#

7. Water – Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter#

8. Navigation – Garmin GPSMAP 64sx#

9. First Aid – Swiss Safe#

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10. Knife – Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Bowie Knife#

11. Toiletries#

12. Light – Coleman OneSource Rechargeable Camping System#

13. Clothing – Timberland Boots#

Making Your Decision#

Type of Hiking/Backpacking#

Climate#

Durability#

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