What to take backpacking

What to take backpacking is a question asked by a lot of folks just wanting to start but don't have any idea where to start. I am assuming that is what you are here for or else you want to learn what you can cut down on in your pack. We are here to help you with that.

First things first. You will need food, water, shelter and fire, those are your main priorities. Second you will need a way to transport those things and that is where the backpack comes in. We are going to start with the most important and work our way down from there. One thing to keep in mind is that one item can sometimes do the job of several of several items thereby cutting down on the items you need to take. Also this list is not the same as my backpacking essential list although close.

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Backpack:
Let's start with the base of it all, the backpack. The type of backpack will depend on you, whether internal frame or external frame, the size however will depend on your length of stay in the wilderness. I carry a Mountainsmith Maverick which is about 3630 cu. in. and that is good for up to 5 days on the trail. Now on to what goes in or on the pack.

Food:
You will want to find food that is high in nutrition and lightweight and always take one extra days worth. You may want to consider drying and dehydrating food for your hikes. It saves money and weight. You can also find plenty of good food in your local supermarket to take such as; Lipton soups, ramen noodles, crackers with tuna, rice, jerky, snack bars Gorp and a whole lot more.

Water:

• Take as much as you think you will need and then take some more. You will drink a lot on the trail or at least you should.
• Water Bottles- I recommend Nalgene bottles just because of durability and weight. Others suggest plain old water bottles from the convenience store. Take as many as you need for your water supply.
• Water purifier or filter- To filter your water. Read purifier vs filter if you are not sure which one you want.
• Purification tablets- As a backup to your filter. A must have.

Shelter:

• Tent- Take a tent that is the right size for your needs. If there are two of you then a two person tent, by yourself just a one person tent or a bivy. The reason being is because if it gets cold at night your body heat will heat the tent much easier and quicker than one that is too large. It is not unheard of for the get the tent 10-15 degrees warmer inside than outside. I have experienced this myself.
• Rain fly- Make sure it is with your tent
• Stakes- Don't forget these
• Tent poles- Can't put it up without these
• Footprint- Ground cover under the tent saves the tent floor from holes.
• Repair kit- Duct tape will also work in a pinch

Fire:

• Matches- Waterproof your matches or make sure they are in a waterproof container.
• Lighter- The easiest way to start a fire
• Fire starters- Cotton balls soaked in Vaseline, pine cones, etc
• Flint- Should be in your survival kit anyway

Sleeping Bag:
If you are not sure of what kind of sleeping bag to get, read synthetic or down and best sleeping bag.

Sleeping Pad:
Comfort, comfort, comfort. What more do I need to say. We use the Big Agnes Aircore pads and can't say enough good things about them.

Tools:

• Survival knife- Not sure which knife to take? Read best survival knife
• Multi-tool- A good multi-tool comes in real handy for any repairs

Lighting:

• Headlamp- Make sure you get a good headlamp. These leave your hands free to do other tasks.
• Flashlight- Backup for the headlamp. Get a headlamp and flashlight that use the same batteries if at all possible
• Batteries- Use Lithium, they are lighter and last a lot longer. Always carry plenty.

Clothing:

• Hat- You lose most of your body heat off of the top of your head. Especially some of us.
• Rain gear- Keep yourself dry, its a lot more comfy.
• Poncho- Alternative to rain gear, can also be used for a tent footprint.
• Gloves- Not just for keeping the hands warm, also good for cutting wood. Stops blisters.
• Long underwear- Stay warm at night and cool mornings. Get lightweight ones.
• Extra underwear- Or go natural
• Swimsuit- Or buy hiking pants with zip-off legs that are also swimming shorts. That what I wear.
• Fleece pants and shirts- warm and lightweight
• Extra clothes- keep it all lightweight. You need to layer your clothes if at all possible.

Feet:

• Hiking boots- Get the best hiking boots for you needs. Get hiking boots that are 1/2 size bigger. Comfort is King!!
• Hiking socks- Get the thick ones, you won't regret it. Carry at least one extra pair.
• Gaiters- Protect you shins. Also keeps pebbles and dirt out of your shoes.

These are optional.

Cooking:

• Stove- Carry a durable and lightweight stove. Make sure you know what type of fuel it needs. We carry the Jetboil. It eliminates the need for other pots, pans and bowls and saves space.
• Fuel- Carry more than what you expect to use.
• Pots and pans- Use titanium
• Bowl- Use a titanium or lightweight plastic bowl
• Cup- Drinking coffee, tea or whatever your heart desires
• Pot holders- Don't burn your fingers. Actually bandannas would work perfectly here
• Dish scrubber- Again we use a bandanna
• Biodegradable soap- Use the same soap that you use for baths.

Personal:

• Pen and paper- You never know when you might need them. Love notes?
• Toilet paper- Use the camping rolls, they save space. Put them in a water tight container.
• Biodegradable soap- You figure it out
• Washcloth- Again a bandanna. We carry two each. One personal, one for cleaning other things. Very lightweight and space saving.
• Tooth paste- Use the natural kind in the travel size
• Tooth brush- Get the fold up kind, very compact.
• Shampoo- You could use the biodegradable soap
• Towel- They make specialized towels for hiking. Lightweight and compact
• Lip balm- optional
• Watch- Self explanatory
• Money- Hmm, don't know why
• Permits- Fishing, camping, etc.
• Emergency Phone no's

Other Items:

• Bandanna- Probably the most versatile item other than duct tape. We carry two, one on the pack and one in the pack. One for cleaning ourselves the other for cleaning everything else.
• Hiking Poles- See using hiking poles too see why
• Camera- For the memories
• Rope- At least 50ft. of parachute cord. Available from your local army surplus store. Lightweight, strong and usually cheap
• Binoculars- If you plan on sightseeing
• Duct tape- Multiple uses
• Moleskin- Should be part of your first aid kit
• First Aid Kit- Self Explanatory
• Survival Kit- In case you get lost
• Insect repellent- Not sure what kind? See Deet safety
• Map- Make sure you have the right topo map and know how to read it. Navigation will be a must when you are on the trail
• Whistle- To call for help. Plastic without a pea only.
• Compass- Get a good quality or better compass and learn how to use it
• Sunglasses- To protect the eyes

Your backpacking gear list can be quite long, but if you look at it carefully you can see which items can be used for various tasks, eliminating the need for some. Try to use each item for multiple tasks, that is one of the secrets to keeping your pack weight down. We carry a little over 30-35lbs for a 5 day hike, that is with all the food and water. Buying the right lightweight items can also keep you pack weight down to a minimum. Do some careful shopping and you will be one the right track to a fun and successful hike. Enjoy the trail!

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