Backpacking Packing List
A Packing Checklist and Tips for Backpacking and Camping
Below is a list of items generally needed while backpacking. Items may need to be added or amended depending on the terrain and climate being covered. For example, someone hiking through the canyon lands in Utah will not need an ‘ice axe.’ Several notes and tips are included along with a guide on how to pack at the end of the article.
Clothes
Taking the right clothes, made of the right materials will not only ensure comfort, but possibly someone’s survival in an emergency situation. Wool or polypropylene materials will resist odor and maintain their warmth even when wet by moving moisture away from the skin. Avoid cotton, especially as base layers. Another important note, while goose down as fill for coats and sleeping bags is terrific insulation, very packable and extremely light; down becomes worthless when wet. Hikers in wet climates should avoid goose down and instead use synthetic filled garments and sleeping bags.
- Base Layer – T-shirt
- Mid Layer (long sleeve half-zip)
- Fleece Jacket/Pull-over
- Socks, wool is best – Minimum of two pairs (consider liners)
- Underwear – avoid cotton
- Hiking pants and shorts
- Base Layer Bottoms – long underwear
- Gore-tex jacket and pants for wind and rain/snow protection
- Liner Gloves
- Toque
- Sun Hat
- Sunglasses
- Hiking and Camp Shoes.
For climates below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, one might consider:
- Puff Coat – down or synthetic, see above.
- Softshell or Fleece pants
- Waterproof Mittens
- Booties
- Balaclava
Shelter and Sleeping
Packing for the worst possible weather in the area for that time of year will safeguard one from the elements.
- Sleeping bag – Pick one suitable for the climate encountered. Down filled bags are terrific, but again consider synthetic filled bags for wet or snowy conditions.
- Sleeping Pad
- Tent
- Pillows take up a lot of room; consider stuffing the sleeping bag stuff sack with extra clothes to make a pillow.
Kitchen and Food
Kitchen supplies and food tend to be the heaviest gear on backpacking trips. Using a meal plan that requires minimal gear and water can greatly reduce pack weight.
- Stove
- Fuel – check with the stove manufacturer for stove efficiency and burn rates. Remember that altitude will greatly increase cook times.
- Dromedary
- Food (about one half-pound of food per person per day)
- Bear bag
- Utensils
- Bowl with sealing lid
- Water Purification – Chemical, pump or UV style. If boiling, take extra fuel.
- Hydration bladder or water bottle. Size and quantity will depend on the distance between sources. At about nine pounds a gallon, water is very heavy.
Gear and Trail Items
- Navigation (maps, compass, GPS, etc.)
- Permits
- Headlamp with extra bulb and batteries.
- Flint and steel
- Knife – Leatherman style works well for a variety of tasks.
- Pack towel and/or handkerchief
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Toilet paper for emergencies
- Small shovel
- Camera
- First-Aid with moleskin
- Bug repellent
- Trekking poles
- Ice axe and crampons?
- Static and dynamic ropes?
- Climbing harness, chalk Bag and hardware?
Backpacking Packing Tips
The comfort associated with backpacking will greatly depend on the gear taken and how it’s packed. A properly packed bag will carry more comfortably and keep gear dry.
The two basic principles of a well packed bag are compression and weight distribution. Bags should be stuffed, rather than packed – much like one would stuff a sleeping bag. Stuffing the bag will help with compression and make the pack carry more comfortably.
The weight of the equipment should be considered and packed accordingly. The very bottom should be packed with lightweight gear – usually the sleeping bag and pad. The middle of the pack should be separated into two parts. The section closest to the body should hold the heaviest items – like food, water, rope, etc. The section farthest from the body made up of medium weight gear. Stuffing the tent and fly around the heavy items usually works well. The very top section should hold medium to light items. Remember that items like a knife, map and flashlight should be left accessible and items like fuel should be packed below the food in case of a leak.
The last item anyone wants to be wet in the field is their sleeping bag. Consider buying a waterproof stuff sack for the sleeping bag or placing a trash bag as a liner to a regular stuff sack. Stuffing the bag inside both the trash bag and stuff sack will permit better compression and watertight storage.
Large 55 gallon drum liners work well to line an entire pack in wet environments. With a creative mind and careful packing, one can keep the wet gear separate from the dry on the trail or everything ‘drier’ in wet environments.
Packing well makes a huge difference – but cannot be covered in an entirety in this article. Always consult the area rangers, a local gear shop or a guiding service for the specifics of a trip.
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