Here's Everything You Should Bring on a Backpacking Trip, According to the Experts (2024)

Gear

Since gear will be the heaviest items you pack in your backpack, it’s important to find the most lightweight options possible that won’t take up too much space either. The first few pieces of gear on your packing list should be a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. While your sleeping system should weigh around 7 pounds or less, ideally, your tent will weigh a bit more. There are several types of tents for backpacking, including freestanding and tarp tents that use trekking poles to stand up. No matter your tent preference, you should aim to get a tent that weighs less than 3 pounds so you can hit the trails without feeling too weighed down.

When it comes to buying a backpack, Grace stresses the importance of getting a pack that fits your body well and doesn’t weigh you down. “I'm 5-foot-3-inches, so it's always a challenge for me. I think it's really important, especially when you're talking about a pack, to try it on,” Grace shared. She also recommends purchasing a backpack from a retailer with a generous return policy like REI in case the backpack doesn’t end up fitting your body.

Even if you’re backpacking solo, Grace recommends getting a two-person tent. “It just gives you a little bit of extra room and you're not going to feel so cramped at night or if it's raining and you're holed up in your tent,” she said. This MSR FreeLite tent was one of the best two-person tents we tested, proving to be surprisingly spacious and easy to move around in. Weighing just over two pounds, it's exceptionally light and ultra durable, and it blew us away with the lightweight design. It also endured a night of heavy rain and wind with not a single drop of water making it into the tent.

The Therm-a-rest Hyperion mummy sleeping bag delivers a plush and warm sleeping experience thanks to its 900-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down material designed for temperature regulation and water repellency. Best of all, this spurge-worthy sleeping bag weighs just 20 ounces and fits into a compression stuff sack that gets it down to the size of a 32-ounce water bottle.

To complete your backpacking sleep system, we recommend Therm-a-rest's NeoAir Xlite pad. The inflatable pad easily fills with air to get 3 inches of soft cushioning between you and the floor of your tent for a comfortable night of sleep in the wilderness. With four different sizes, (large, short, regular, and regular wide) you can customize your sleeping arrangements and avoid getting a sleeping pad that takes up more space than needed in your pack.

Grace usually backpacks with her REI Co-op Traverse backpack in the now discontinued 35-liter size. However, REI still makes several sizes of their coveted Traverse Pack including a 32-liter pack (men’s version here) for overnight or day trips and a 60-liter backpack (men’s version here) for weekends or longer excursions. “I'm a pretty minimalist backpacker. I don't take a lot of extra things, but with my Traverse Pack, I've been able to take that out with creative packing for five days and four nights,” Grace said, singing the praises of the comfortable and thoughtfully designed pack. The Traverse Packs have ample padding in the back, shoulder straps, and hip belt; compression straps on top to pack down your gear; and a bottom sleeping bag compartment to keep you organized on the trails.

Although we don’t recommend bringing a full-size daypack in addition to your backpacking bag, we do think this Sea to Summit daypack is super helpful to have on hand, as it compresses down to the size of an egg — yes, an egg. This remarkably compact backpack is ideal for storing snacks, a water bottle, or sunscreen for a quick day hike up to a waterfall or lake during your longer trek. It’s virtually weightless and comes with a handy stuff sack and carabiner for easily attaching it to your backpacking bag.

Apparel

To prevent overpacking, keep it simple by sticking with the basics and wear or bring a base layer top and bottom, a mid-layer top, and one or two outer layers. Since it’s likely you’ll be wearing the same pieces of clothing for several days, it’s worth the investment to get a few high-quality layers. No matter the season, Grace will bring one or two jackets for backpacking trips. “I almost always have my puffer with me, and then I have the raincoat, and sometimes I have this other lightweight shell coat that's nice to layer with, and it packs down super duper small. So sometimes I take that and I can just hang it off my pack,” Grace said.

In addition to outer layers, Grace never forgets to pack extra socks from her favorite sock brand, Darn Tough. “I always just have one extra pair of socks with me during the day. Because sometimes if you're out a really long time, changing your socks midday really helps your feet feel better,” Grace said. “So when you stop for lunch or a late afternoon snack, taking off your socks, giving your feet a chance to breathe, and then putting on fresh socks makes all the difference in the world.”

A lightweight rain jacket is one of the best outer layer pieces you can bring while hiking, and we love Marmot's Women's PreCip Eco Jacket (men’s version here). It’s our favorite lightweight rain jacket that provides a strong protection against the elements without sacrificing mobility. Grace brings a rain jacket no matter the predicted weather for a trip. “I usually bring my raincoat because a raincoat works well as a wind [layer] and it's pretty light. So even if it's not going to be rainy, I like to have that extra wind layer,” Grace shared.

These Icebreaker tops (men’s version here) create the perfect foundation for layering while hiking. The crewneck long-sleeve shirts are made with a lightweight merino wool with off-the-shoulder seams to prevent chafing on your shoulders, which is ideal for also carrying a backpack for long periods of time. Plus, the quick-dry, thermal-regulating, and odor-resistant fabric makes the shirt ideal for combating sweat and varying temperatures while adventuring.

This lightweight and warm fleece jacket from REI (men’s version here) is our favorite fleece we tested for hiking. Its thin yet cozy material is ideal for trekking up a rocky hillside or descending into a valley when you don’t necessarily need to break out a puffer jacket. Since the materials aren't super thick, we found it was super easy to pack the jacket into a backpack without taking up much room.

Backpacking in cooler seasons or high altitudes? Be sure to bring a warm, insulated, packable jacket like L.L.Bean's PrimaLoft Packaway Hooded Jacket (men’s version here). Designed for hiking in colder temps, this jacket proved to have the perfect balance of warmth and breathability when we tested it during a hiking trip. Plus, it packs down to a fraction of its original size, which is perfect for backpacking.

A high-quality pair of hiking pants is crucial for a backpacking trip, so we recommend these from Helly Hansen (men's option here). The pants are designed with technical features like a four-way stretch fabric for mobility, boot hooks, and a DWR finish for staying dry during a trek. We're also big fans of the articulated knee design for maximizing mobility, comfort, and fit when climbing up or downhill.

According to Grace, Darn Tough socks (men’s version here) are worth their weight in gold for hiking. Despite the higher price for a pair of hiking socks, Grace recommends them not only for their functionality but also because the brand offers an impressive warranty program that covers damage. These midweight hiking socks boast a variety of helpful features, including the cushioned footbed, moisture-wicking merino wool fabric, and height 7.5 inches above the heel.

Shoes

Similarly to backpacks, Grace advises trying on a variety of hiking boots to find the right pair. Your hiking boots or shoes should have a relatively snug fit with some room up front to wiggle your toes. You want to avoid getting a pair that is too small, as that could cause some serious pain on long hikes. If you’re unsure of your size, consider going up a half-size to see if that offers a bit more room.

There’s no better feeling than sitting down after trekking for hours and peeling off your socks and hiking shoes. If you have room in your backpack, we recommend bringing a pair of sandals to wear around camp or for a short day hike to give your feet a nice break from close-toed shoes.

These Salomon hiking boots (men’s version here) are just as lightweight as a pair of trail runners but boast the sturdiness and support of a typical hiking boot. The brand’s Contagrip MA outsoles have intricate traction for stability on a variety of terrain and the upper has Gore-tex laminate waterproofing so you’ll never have to worry about soggy feet after walking through a stream or slipping on slick surfaces. Plus, the footbed and upper is designed to cradle and stabilize your foot so you’ll have plenty of comfort and support for all the miles you cover while backpacking.

The Merrell Speed Eco (men’s version here) are a great option for hikers looking for a lightweight and breathable hiking shoe for summer hikes. We love that the shoes are broken in and can be worn right out of the box. The EVA footbed and built-in arch support offer the ideal balance of cushioning and support, and the breathable material kept our feet from overheating during a hot Arizona hike when we tested them out.

You can never go wrong with a pair of Chacos Z/Cloud Sandals (men’s version here) for virtually any outdoor activity. Whether you’re day hiking along a river or setting up camp, these supportive sandals are built for adventure and only getting more comfortable the more miles that are put on them. The supportive cushioning, contoured footbed, and soft polyester Z-shaped straps make these sandals the best pair to toss in your bag for a multi-day backpacking trip when you might want a break from your hiking boots.

Food and Kitchen

The last thing you want to bring on a backpacking trip is food that goes bad easily, so stick to non-perishable or freeze-dried foods. Freeze-dried or dehydrated food is super easy to make in the woods — all you need is boiled water to rehydrate your meals. To boil your water, be sure to bring a lightweight camp stove and fuel, as well as a mini pot and utensils like a multi-use tool that can be used as a fork, spoon, or knife. Other must-have pieces of kitchen gear include a water filter so you can stay hydrated safely and a water bottle for storing your clean water.

For an all-in-one kit that includes fuel and a mini stove top, consider this compact, easy-to-put-together option from MSR. “It’s what I've had for the last four years. I've never had an issue with it. I love it — it's light and it's easy. The biggest issue I have is if it happens to be windy, you've got to make some type of windscreen, but then I just tend to use my feet, my body, or my food bag or all of the above,” Grace said. With an average boil time of just over three minutes, you’ll have your freeze-dried meals dehydrated quickly and efficiently.

This set of ultra-light cookware is fairly bare bones, which is exactly what you need when packing light for a backpacking trip. The set of two titanium pots weighs just over six ounces (about the weight of a cell phone) making them extremely light and easy to pack. With this pot and cup set, you can make your morning coffee or evening meals with ease thanks to the nesting feature and silicone tab lid for hassle-free cookouts in nature.

This heavy-duty filter from MSR can hold up to 10 liters of clean water in a reservoir so you can easily refill your bottle to stay hydrated. With the ability to filter 1.75 liters of water per minute, the bag just has to be filled with water and hung on a tree, and you can let gravity do its thing to filter the water through the straw-like tube. Plus, the bag and tube lay completely flat so you can place it in your pack without it taking up hardly any room.

After extensive water bottle testing, we love the Healthy Human Stainless Steel Water Bottle for hiking. The wide-mouth opening makes it super easy to drink the water and the bottle keeps water cold for up to 24 hours. Best of all, the stainless steel material is super lightweight so it can be clipped to your backpack or carried without feeling cumbersome.

Freeze-dried meals may not sound like the most mouth-watering food, but trust us, you’ll think differently after munching on Backpacker’s Pantry selection of meals like Pad Thai, lasagna, chicken risotto, Cuban coconut rice and black beans, or the gooey and comforting three cheese mac and cheese. Besides an array of entrees, the brand also has filling oatmeal and granola for breakfast or delectable desserts like crème brûlée and mango sticky rice.

Accessories

Small accessories can have a big impact when you’re out backpacking. When it comes to safety, you don’t want to mess around, so we recommend bringing a variety of just-in-case items like a first aid kit and a handheld GPS device. Other must-pack accessories include a lighter, toilet paper (be sure to check regulations on packing in and out toilet paper in your area), small trash bags, and a rain cover for your backpack. A small pocket knife could also prove useful.

When asked what the one thing she can’t backpack without is, Grace shared that a good headlamp is essential for camping at night. “Having that ability to see in the dark, you just need a good headlamp. You need a good source of light, whether that's a headlamp or something else,” Grace stressed.

Safety is imperative when you go off the grid, so consider bringing a handy navigation tool. With this device, also a satellite communicator, backpackers can send and receive texts, download maps, check the weather, or send out an SOS alert 24/7 to direct search and rescue in the event of an emergency. Even if you don’t have cellphone service, this tiny device operates via a global iridium satellite network so you can have peace of mind while enjoying all nature has to offer.

While you can certainly rock your natural musk after not showering for several days, it's helpful to have some biodegradable and unscented hygiene wipes on hand like this pack from Sea to Summit. In lieu of toilet paper, these wipes work for a variety of cleanliness needs, but be sure to pack out any used wipes to protect the environment.

A bright headlamp like BioLite's newest model is a must-pack accessory for safety after dark. This battery-powered headlamp has a thin but powerful light piece that lays flat on the band so the light doesn’t weigh down the headpiece or bob around. Depending on which setting the light is on, the battery has up to 60 hours of life to provide 425 lumens of light when you’re shuffling around camp at night.

Mother Nature can be unpredictable, so it’s important to always head out into the wildness overly prepared. This compact first aid kit comes with everything you need to tend to scrapes, cuts, blisters, and other minor injuries that can happen while hiking. The kit includes medical essentials like bandages of various sizes, antibiotic ointment, sterile non-woven sponges, antiseptic wipes, moleskin, and AfterBite wipes for insect bites. For preventive measures, supplement this kit with a bug spray.

Trekking poles can have a variety of purposes while backpacking, so we recommend bringing along REI’s Traverse poles. Whether you’re using the trekking poles for stability or for setting up your tent, these aluminum poles are conveinently ultra lightweight, weighing just over 1 pound for both sizes available. When you’re not using the trekking poles, they can collapse down to just a fraction of their maximum length for easily strapping them onto your backpack or storing at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What should I not bring backpacking?

  While it’s ultimately a personal choice on what to bring and leave behind for backpacking, there are a few things you can leave at home and probably not miss. It's wise to leave valuable jewelry behind because of the risk of losing or damaging it while roughing it outdoors. In addition, consider leaving behind bulky garments or more than one or two pieces of extra clothing to save space.

• How do I lighten my load for backpacking?

  The key to keeping your backpack light is to avoid overpacking by only bringing the necessities. Since some of the essentials like a tent, sleeping bag, and even your backpack can be on the heavier side, you can bring the total weight down by investing in lightweight gear. If you’re hiking with multiple people, consider dividing up the shared items like the tent, tarp, cookware, and food to distribute the weight evenly.

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