Backpacking Essentials
I live in a small mountain town, Durango, CO. The Rocky Mountains are right in my backyard. I love that there are so many hiking trails right in town. But just a short drive in any direction, there are so many more trails. During the summer, I love hiking and backpacking. We take as many weekend backpacking trips as possible—my favorite summer activity.
Well, what is backpacking? It is a long hiking trip in which you carry enough gear to set up camp for a few nights as you complete your long hike. Read my blog post about things you should know before taking your first backpacking trip. I go into more detail about what to expect when backpacking and some tips I wish I had known before my first backpacking trip.
Now that you’re up to speed on what backpacking is, let's look at the essential products that you NEED to be prepared for your long hiking trip and sleeping in the woods.
Backpacking Backpack
A backpacking backpack is a large backpack that holds all of the things that you need for backpacking. Most backpacking packs have a zippered pocket at the bottom so that you can easily remove your sleeping bag or tent so that you don’t have to remove everything from your pack to set up camp. Most backpacking packs are expandable to pack your essentials in ways that ensure they are comfortable on the body as you hike. My go-to backpacking packs are Osprey brand backpacks. I have the Osprey Kyte 45L in small/medium. My husband has the Osprey Volt 60L, but they no longer make that style pack. The following comparable style is the Osprey Rook 65L. I love Osprey brand backpacking backpacks because they have a structured back that keeps it super comfortable when wearing the pack while you hike. It’s a little heavier than ultra-lightweight packs, but that’s important to me, so I choose the structured pack over something super lightweight.
Tent
When selecting a tent, it is essential to consider your tent's weight and packability. Most ultralight tents are super expensive for something that weighs less than a couple of pounds. I don’t want to invest in something so light, so I have a two-person tent weighing 4 lbs. My boyfriend carries all of our food in a sizeable, bear-proof container. I hold the whole tent. The food and container weigh more than the tent, but the bear-proof container doesn’t fit in my backpack. We will both get this container to carry our food, as we should, in case of emergencies.
I recently started sleeping in a hammock, so long as there are enough trees; I choose a hammock over a tent every time. Sleeping in is much more comfy and tends to weigh less than most affordable tents.
Some backpackers will take a footprint (or a tarp) to sleep on and use the rain fly as their “tent” for an ultralight setup. Another way to bring down the weight of your pack is to split up a tent between you and your hiking partner. I like to have a whole tent when I bring my dog backpacking. This keeps her safe and secure while we sleep.
Sleeping Bag
I sleep cold, so I want a warmer sleeping bag. Unfortunately, ultralight down-filled sleeping bags are costly. So I have one that weighs 3 lbs. Mummy-style bags are so helpful for staying warm. I choose a sleeping bag rated for low temperatures and lots of layers to sleep in.
Sleeping Pad
A sleeping pad is an insulating layer that also provides an extra layer of comfort. I do a lot of backpacking in the southern Rocky Mountain area. When they call them the Rocky Mountains, they mean rocky. There are rocks all over. So, finding a spot to set up a tent without rocks is impossible. So, having a sleeping pad is necessary to keep me warm and comfortable at night. A sleeping pad is helpful for both tent or hammock camping.
10 Essentials
The 10 essentials are things that every hiker and backpacker should have with them during every hike, short and long. These things include a first aid kit and a change of clothes you need just in case something happens to prepare for anything during your hike. Other things, like water and snacks, you will more than likely use every hiking trip.
Food
Backpacking food should be non-perishable and lightweight. If you’re hiking in bear country, having a bear-proof canister is necessary and often required by the National Forest Service. Read my blog post about bear safety for more information. I like bringing dehydrated meals that require boiled water to cook. I like easy, no mess, which means I can mix it with boiled water in a freezer bag and let it sit to rehydrate the food so I can eat. Keep in mind that you are hiking many, many miles during your trip when you're backpacking. So higher calorie meals may be ideal.
Some examples are:
Oatmeal
Granola with powdered milk (I use water first thing in the morning when it has been colder from the lower temps overnight)
Freeze-dried backpacking meals
Knorrs sides and canned/pouch chicken
My dad makes his dehydrated backpacking meals
Ramen
Trail mix
granola bars
Beef jerky
Candy is a great way to get some quick energy from the sugar
Instant coffee or collapsable pour-over/coffee filter system to brew coffee
Electrolyte packs
Water
A hydration pack and a water filter are a must. This water filter comes with some squeeze bags to help filter water. I’ve found that the water filter fits perfectly on a Life Water or Smart Water bottle. I like to have the capacity to carry 4L of water (4L hydration pack and two 1L water bottles), so if I am going to have a water bottle anyway, I may also use that for my water filter.
Backpacking Stove
I have this simple backpacking stove, fuel canister, spork, and cup as my cook kit. I typically only boil water for my meals and eat them from freezer bags. So, the only thing that I have to clean is my cup when I drink coffee.
Clothes
My gear choice for an overnight backpacking trip is to hike in shorts & a tee shirt/tank top (unless there’s no tree cover, I hike in nylon pants and a super lightweight/moisture-wicking long-sleeve tee shirt.) I have rain gear and a long-sleeved tee shirt that is accessible if I get cold while hiking. I will have pants and shorts if it's a more than one-night trip.
Then, I pack my base layers, leggings, fleece pants, puffer jacket, and extra socks. I tend to sleep in almost all of the clothing I bring to take off layers if I get cold while I sleep. I do not sleep in the socks I wear while hiking. I set them out to dry overnight and sleep in a different pair. I have hiking socks and sleeping socks. Any active-wear style or wool socks will likely dry quickly and not hold onto odors, so it is the easiest way to bring minimal gear and still have an extra pair if you get your hiking socks wet!
Check out these Backpacking Blog Posts:
Springtime Backpacking - 4 Things to be Prepared
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