What To Bring For Backpacking: A Complete Checklist

On a backpacking trip, you need a lot of equipment, especially if it’s for multiple days. There are a lot of things you might need, and if you forget something you might have a bad time. I’ve compiled a list of all the things you might need backpacking and divided them into different categories.

The checklist contains many different items you should consider when packing for a trip, so you don’t forget anything. Some of these items are essentials, and others are optional. You should choose whether to take optional items depending on your preferences and trip conditions.

Backpacking gear checklist

I’ve compiled a list of the items you need for backpacking, based on the list of items I take on hikes, and divided them into categories. Some of these categories are relevant for specific trip conditions, and hiker preferences, so use them for inspiration and to make sure you don’t forget anything.

If you’re an ultralight backpacker, this might not be the list for you. I’m not currently backpacking with ultralight gear. The list is designed so you don’t forget anything and isn’t tailored for reducing your total weight.

Food and water

backpacking can be high-intensity and take a long time, so you need to bring food and water with you. It’s important that you plan what foods you’re going to eat, whether and how you’re going to cook them, and how much water to bring, before going on the hike, so you don’t run out.

Exactly how much to bring is generally personal. Different people need different amounts of food and water. I’d suggest planning what you’re going to eat in every meal and between meals, and where to fill water (if you need to).

Here’s a list of different things you might need with your food and water:

  • Hydration pack / Water bottles (full of water)
  • Water filters (optional; for filling water)
  • Snacks – nuts, fruits, trail mix, etc.
  • Food supplies (depending on the duration of the hike)
  • Spices (for cooking)
  • Warm beverages – coffee, tea, etc.
  • Cooking set
    • Cooking stove
    • Stove fuel
    • Lighter
    • Camping pot
  • Eating utensils (bowl, fork, spoon, cup, etc.)

Clothing

The clothes you wear are really important in keeping you safe and healthy on the trail. While backpacking, you need to go on a hike wearing proper clothing and bring a change of clothes if you plan a multi-day hike.

With clothing, you need to consider footwear, underwear, and the normal clothing you wear.

Here are the different items of clothing you might need on a hike:

  • Hiking boots/shoes
  • Hiking sandals (for water crossing)
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Shirts
  • Pants
  • Hat
  • Laundry bag

In cold weather, you might need additional clothing items to keep you safe, dry, and warm. In winter you should go for thicker versions of the items we’ve discussed before, but you might also need some additional cold-weather clothing items:

  • Warm jacket
  • Wool hat
  • Raingear (backpack cover, rain jacket, rain pants)
  • Warm gloves
  • Gaiters (optional; for snow)
  • Thermal base layer

Backpacking gear

There are a few backpacking-specific gear items you might need for the hike. These don’t really fit into any of the other categories but do deserve their own category because they’re essential.

Here are the essential backpacking gear items to bring on a hike:

  • Backpack
  • Trekking poles

Health and first aid

While backpacking isn’t considered a dangerous activity when compared with other outdoor activities, you do need to have some precautions to make sure you’re safe on the trail. Having a proper first-aid kit, and some health-related items can be really important for that.

The first-aid kit is mainly for emergencies, so you need to make sure you have everything you need there. Other items are related to your overall health, so make sure to bring what you need.

Here’s a list of the health-related items you might need on a hike, and the items you might want to include in your first-aid kit:

  • A first-aid kit
    • Bandages
    • Band-aids
    • Gauze
    • Pain relievers
    • Disinfectant
    • Tweezers
  • Prescription medications
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Insect repellent

Overnight gear

If you hike for multiple days and plan to stay outdoors overnight, you should pack camping gear with you, so you’re safe, comfortable, and warm overnight. Overnight gear varies, but it can get heavy if you bring too many things you don’t need, so try being minimalist here.

The overnight items you might need for multi-day backpacking:

  • Backpacking tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Warm clothes for the evening
  • Sleeping bag liner (optional)
  • Tent footprint (optional)

Navigation

Most trails are clearly marked, but it’s sometimes hard to remember where you need to go, and the markers themselves are sometimes old and difficult to see. Getting lost on a hike isn’t a fun business, so you need navigation tools to make sure you’re on the trail, and to get back if you get lost.

Many navigation tools nowadays can be digital, and many actually use their phone as an all-in-one navigation tool. If you do, you still need to make sure to download all the resources beforehand, like the maps and route descriptions, because reception can be really bad on trails.

Here’s a list of the navigation items you might need on a hike:

  • Map (can be digital)
  • Compass (can be digital)
  • GPS (can be in your phone or watch)
  • Route description

Hygiene products

It might feel hard to keep clean when outdoors, but it’s really important to stay hygienic on a hike. Many hikers get ill because of unhygienic behavior, and that can ruin a fun trip.

Here’s a list of common hygiene items you might need on a hike:

  • A towel
  • Toilet paper
  • Wet wipes
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (for overnight)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Menstrual products
  • Trash bags
  • Dish soap

Tools and accessories

There are additional tools and accessories you might need for specific situations on a hike. If you’re out at night, if you need to fix something, or in other different situations, having the right tools can save you a lot of time and worry.

Here is a list of common tools and accessories for backpacking:

  • Headlamp
  • Extra batteries
  • Power bank (with cable)
  • Multi-tool
  • Useful tools like a rope and tape
  • Sewing kit

Personal

Wherever you are, there are some personal items you need on you at any time. Here’s a list of personal items you should not forget when you go on a hike:

  • Personal Identification
  • Cellphone
  • Money

Conclusions

In this post, we’ve covered the different items one might want to bring for a backpacking trip. Of course, you don’t necessarily need all the items on the checklist, but they can serve as a reminder so you don’t forget anything when going on the trip.

Of course, everybody is a bit different and has different preferences. Some would want to bring additional items to make themselves more comfortable, and others prefer to minimize weight and reduce the number of items.

In any case, have a fun trip!

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