Backpacking essential list

On this backpacking essential list you will find items that you need with you every time you go out on the trail. Without these items you are putting yourself and anyone else that you are with at risk. Mother nature may look sweet and serene on the surface but when it comes down to survival only the fittest survive. Not only should you be physically fit but you should have every survival tool at your disposal. She will throw everything at you when you least expect it and you need to be prepared.

The absolute most important thing that you must have on your backpacking essential list is the right mental attitude. Without that you are already lost. You also have to know how and when to use the items listed below before you even start, otherwise you are "dead in the water" so to speak.

Water is the most important physical item that you need. You will die without it and that makes it an absolute must have. You may not need to carry all that you need for the hike, but if you don't, be absolutely 100% positive there will be water on the trail. That brings me to the next item.

Water purification system.

Getting sick in the wilderness is not fun, nor recommended. Using a water purification system of some sort will reduce the risk of bacteria and protozoan cysts and viruses if you use the right system. Read Purifier vs Filter for more information. Use tablets, a water filter or a purifier on all your hikes.

First aid Kit.

Before you go on your hike make sure you have what you will need in your first aid kit. Many store bought versions may not have the proper items in the kit or have very cheap materials. Make sure you have good band-aids and tape. They need to be waterproof and have good flexibility. Bandaids with antibiotic ointment already on them work great for your kit. You should also have:

Sterile gauze pads
Antiseptic
2" gauze (roll)
Moleskin
Tweezers
Triangular bandage
Advil or Ibuprofen for soreness
Any other personal medication that you will need

Fire and fire starter:

Having fire on your backpacking essential list can mean the difference between life and death. Fire keeps you warm, boils your water, cooks you meals and makes excellent signals. If you bring matches make sure they are kept in a water tight container. A good fire-starter like a candle or kindling will definitely increase your chances of getting a good fire started. Some other fire starters to include on your backpacking essential list are pine cones and cotton balls soaked in Vaseline, some of our personal favorites.

Food:

Carry extra food whenever you go out. You never know what can happen. Take at least an extra day's worth.

Clothing:

Carry enough clothing to take care of the unexpected. You should layer your clothing and use synthetic materials. Stay away from cotton, when it gets wet it is useless. Take enough extra for at least one more layer. Carry a hat to protect your head and sunglasses for the sun or snow glare.

Map:

Another thing you need on your essential backpacking list is a good map. The chance of getting lost in the wild can be dramatically cut down if you carry a map and know how to use it. A map without knowing how to read it is just a good fire starter. This is also an absolute and with it you will need:

A compass:

There is a big variety of compasses on the market. Although it is recommended using a high quality compass such as the Silva Ranger, a less expensive one can save your life if you know how to use it. A high quality compass will give you so much more accurate information that it should be considered and looked at. It will give you accurate direction finding, elevation gain and adjustable declination whereas a lesser model will give you the magnetic north reading, which will help you find your way, and not true north which is what maps are based on.

Boots:

Another thing that is very important on your backpacking essential list is a good pair of hiking boots . Most hikes that are cut short is due to the fact that the hiker did not have the proper boots on his or her feet. Make sure you have the right foundation for you to walk on. One rule to follow is to get boots ½ size bigger than you normally wear. The reason for that is because if you do a lot of uphill and downhill this will save your toes when you're coming down the hill since your foot will slide forward in your boot every step. See Hiking boots buying guide.

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Flashlight and Headlamps:

Carry both. You could get by with just one or the other but what if you decide to do a night hike and midway your headlamp dies. If you carry a backup flashlight you could continue on or stop and set up camp without being in the dark. Always carry extra batteries and use Lithium Batteries. Lithium weighs less and lasts much longer than alkaline. Also, if possible try to find a flashlight and headlamp that use the same batteries just in case you don't have extra batteries with you then you can change from one to the other.

Survival Kit:

Carry your survival kit with you, you do have one don't you?, and know what is in it and how to use it. Read Hiking survival kit to see how to make one or buy one that fits your needs.

Knives an Tools:

One of your backpacking essentials should be a good knife, whether folding or fixed blade, although a folding knife is not recommended. You can use your knife for food prep., first aid, repairs, getting firewood and many other uses. See best survival knife for more info. A good multi-tool is also a bonus as it has all the tools you need for repairs and such.

Whistle:

You need to carry a good plastic whistle without a pea in it. Just think, if the pea froze up in the whistle, what good is it? You also know what happens when you put your tongue on a metal object in the middle of winter. So NO metal whistles. A whistle can be heard for a long way, much further than you voice.

Insect repellant:

Getting eaten up by mosquitoes and other bugs is possibly the most discouraging thing on a hike. Therefore carrying a good repellant with your backpacking essentials or wearing insect clothing is a very positive thing to carry with you. Horse flies are a different matter and you can read about them at Does Deet Repel Horse Flies

Food Storage Container:

Another thing that you will want to add to your essential backpacking list is a food container.Traveling in the backcountry can and probably will bring you to encounters with hungry critters. Some type of food bag that can be hung from a tree away from the camp is recommended. This food bag should have a top flap and drawstring to protect the food. In some areas of the country where bears are present a bear canister is required. This should be a required item whether the park requires them or not.

Summary:

As you can probably tell, we stress having the right equipment and the knowledge on how to use that gear. Otherwise your backpacking essential list will do you absolutely no good. A very high percentage of the hikers that get lost or killed while in the wilds is a direct result of not knowing how to read a map and compass or not knowing how to use their own equipment. Recreational hiking is a very rewarding experience, there is nothing that compares to the beauty of Mother Nature, and that does not need to be ruined by incompetence. The more you know, the more you will enjoy the hike.

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