Backpacking* (backcountry camping) is a rewarding pursuit, but it can be an intimidating hobby to enter into. You are basically loading up your back like a pack mule with everything you need for camping and heading out into the woods. What is the best backpacking tent? How do I choose from all of the different hiking packs? How much backpacking cooking gear do I need and what will I eat? These are all questions beginner backpackers will be asking themselves when getting started. There is also the expense of gear to consider. There is a saying that you can’t have backpacking gear that is high quality, lightweight, and cheap. You have to choose two!

*Not to be confused with travel backpacking or tramping of the European/Southeast Asian variety

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Backpacking Gear List

I started buying backpacking gear about 10 years ago, and went with mid-weight inexpensive items as I wasn’t yet convinced that my backpacking gear wouldn’t end up in the same dusty pile as my ice skates and tennis racquet!  Since then I’ve been slowly upgrading my gear to more expensive, lighter items made specifically for backpacking.  I’ve found that camping and kayaking equipment are easily re-sold, which helps fund new gear purchases!  I’ve tried to include weight and cost, where I can, in case that’s helpful.  I almost never pay full price, though – look for frequent 20% off sales from both Backcountry.com and REI!

Backcountry Backpacks

I have two hiking backpacks for overnight camping trips. My larger pack used most often is a Mountainsmith 65L pack. I get a lot of comments on how large my pack is, but it’s very comfortable and nicely distributes the load. Someday I may upgrade to a lighter, smaller pack, but this works for me! (REI Outlet/discontinued, $100, 66oz)

Shop Mountainsmith Backpacks at REI

My smaller hiking pack is the Osprey Sirrus 36. (Check the latest price at REI) I purchased this for my hike on the Haute Route, where I didn’t need to carry a tent, backpacking cooking gear, or a sleep kit. Osprey is a leader in backpacks and they’ve thought of everything – I’m amazed by the number and placement of little pockets all over! If I were to go full ultra-light, I could definitely use this pack for backcountry camping trips, too!

Backpacking Tent

There are hundreds of choices for the best backpacking tent. For years, I used an REI Half-Dome tent that weighed 5 pounds. I finally upgraded to a lightweight backpacking tent a few years ago with the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL Tent (41 oz.) It’s much lighter than both my solo -tent and my previous 2-person tent.  A little delicate though, especially with a dog!

Backpacking Sleeping Gear

At one time, I had as many as three different sleeping bags, although my first, an REI 20* bag, was a great all-purpose bag. I sold my zero-degree bag after using it only once in several years, so I’m down to two bags. I now have a 26-degree Big Agnes down sleeping bag ($280, 34oz) and a 45-degree Mountain Hardware summer down bag. I also use two (yes, two!) sleeping pads. I have a Thermarest Neo Air mattress and a ThermaRest Z-Lite Foam Pad. Combined, they make for a really comfortable (and warm) night’s sleep.

Shop Thermarest mattresses on Amazon

Backpacking Cooking Gear

This is the fun stuff in my opinion! I’m always adding to my cooking kit after heading out in a group and seeing what everyone else uses.

Check out my favorite backpacking meals!

• Cookset – I love the  GSI Pinnacle Soloist – it has everything I need in a tidy little package (10.9oz)
• Stove – SnowPeak Giga Stove – fits right inside the cookset (3.25oz)
• Bear Vault – BV450 – holds about 4 days’ worth of food and doubles as a stool (33 oz) – since I get very lazy at bedtime, this saves me from finding trees for a bear hang.

Additional Backpacking Essentials

• First Aid Kit (10 oz) – includes Band-Aids, Neosporin, Tylenol, Aleve, Pepto, water treatment, tweezers, Ace bandage, etc. –  mostly single-use packages ordered from Minimus.biz.
• Toilet Bag – TP, trowel, hand sanitizer, and wipes.  Handy to keep in a separate stuff sack easily accessible at all times! (11 oz)
• Sea to Summit Quick Dry Towel – for more options, the Brokebacker has rounded up the best travel towels for backpacking.

What to Wear on a Backpacking Trip

This is some of my favorite clothing for backpacking trips. What I actually pack is dependent on weather and trip length:

For UK hikers, Becky The Traveller recommends the best packable rain jacket!

• Marmot Precip Rain Jacket
• Marmot Precip Rain Pants – the only rain pant I’ve found in a petite length!
• Mountain Hardwear Convertible Hiking Pants – again, special shorty sizes!
• Patagonia Nano-Puff Hoodie
• Half Buff – great headband/bandana
• Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Trail Running Shoes
• Dirty Girl Gaiters – a new addition to my collection, looking forward to not having shoes full of rocks and sticks!
• Base Layer bottoms and tops (hint: petite women can often save money by buying kids’ versions of outdoor gear)

Personal Items or Toiletries (not to be confused with the toilet bag!) ~12oz

• This contains the basic essentials for me – SPF face lotion, Kleenex, Toothbrush/toothpaste, Contact Solution and Case, eyeglasses, prescription meds, and face wipes.

Luxury Items!  Depending on the trip, there may be room for additional “luxury” items, such as a Kindle, iPod shuffle, photography equipment, or my Aveda Foot Relief cooling lotion. This stuff is magical on sore hiking feet!

As for camera equipment, as much as I love photography, I’ve stopped carrying a tripod after two back-to-back trips where I was unable to stay awake past dark.  I also usually end up just using my camera phone on backcountry trips, due to the weight of my SLR.

Backpack Gear Weight

All told, my pack usually weighs somewhere between 30 and 40 pounds, depending on the season and length of the trip.  For reference, at the end of our Isle Royale trip (no food and water left), my pack weighed 30 pounds.

Every time I go out with a group, I come home with at least one new item on my wish list! One thing I’m missing is a water treatment system.  So far, I’ve gotten by using Aqua Mira tablets, but likely my next purchase will be a SteriPen, which will also come in handy for foreign travel where drinking water isn’t always safe.

I would love any comments or thoughts on how to lighten the weight of my backpacking gear. I feel like most of my stuff is pretty lightweight, but it sure adds up quickly.