When choosing what to pack for your backpacking trip, think about how many days you are hiking, the weight you’re carrying, and the season. You will need to make adjustments to any list depending on your own personal needs. Follow this link to view our current gear list.
Bring the Right Shelter
On the trail, you are going to want to pack the best sleeping system for you. Consider how you sleep when choosing a sleeping bag or a quilt. Temperatures for the season will dictate the temperature rating of both your bag/quilt and pad. When packing a tent, think about the weight and how much room you need for you, your partner, and your gear.
- Tent
- Sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag / quilt (rated for the temperatures you’re hiking in)
- Pillow or stuff sac
- Optional: Ground sheet
- Optional: Extra tent pegs
Consider Food & Water
Depending on where you are hiking, bear safety for food storage is an important consideration. You will need to identify the best solution to pack your food when in bear country. Even when not in bear country, you need to pack out your garbage and keep mice out of your food. Also think about how you want to filter your water as more water sources will require purification. Make sure you pack enough calories and don’t forget about managing your electrolytes.
- Food storage (e.g. Ursack or BearVault)
- Water filter / purification
- Water bottles (e.g. Smart water bottles)
- Stove (e.g. Jetboil Stash)
- Spork
- Titanium mug
- Freeze dried meals
- Snacks (e.g. nuts, jerky)
- Electrolytes
- Ziploc bag for trash
Pack the Right Clothing
Packing clothing is probably the toughest part of packing for a trail. You have to consider the weather, which is not always predictable. Don’t underestimate the importance of dry socks. Reserving one pair to only wear around camp is a recommended luxury item. Please don’t carry your entire wardrobe. Re-wear clothing and stop in a town to do laundry and take a shower.
- Hat / Toque / Beanie
- Shorts / Pants
- Short sleeve / long sleeve shirt
- Fleece and/or Puffy
- Thermal layer
- Socks for hiking
- Socks for camp
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Shoes for camp / Water crossing (e.g. Crocs)
- Underwear
- Gloves
Helpful Gear to Include in Your Packing List
We use trekking poles not only for stability but also for our tent. Some items on this list can be optional based on your preference. We often pack most of these items on our trips.
- Trekking poles
- Dry sacs or pack liner
- Rain jacket / Rain pants
- Sun shirt
- Gaiters (e.g. Dirty Girl)
- Head lamp
- Battery pack
- Sunglasses
- Lighter
- Charging cables
- Knife
- Bug jacket
Bring a Hygiene Kit
Pack the amount of toilet paper you think you will need and bring extra. A rash cream of some sort will be helpful with chaffing from your pack or in other sensitive places. Don’t forget to put any smelling products, such as toothpaste, in your bear safe storage at night.
- Ziploc bags (Protect your clean toilet paper and another for used paper)
- Toilet paper
- Chapstick
- Diaper rash cream or body glide
- Mini toothbrush (or saw off the handle)
- Mini toothpaste
- Trowel / Spade
- Pee cloth (e.g. Kula)
- Feminine products
Pack for Safety
Make sure you pack with safety in mind. In bear country (particularly grizzly bears), you are going to want to pack bear spray. Sunscreen is something you might easily forget and will remember once you start to burn. Always travel with an SOS device and tell someone your travel plans.
- Bear spray
- First aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Map and compass or GPS
- SOS device (e.g. Garmin inReach)
Entertainment Bundle
Don’t forget the importance of giving yourself something to do when you are stuck in your tent during a rainstorm. When the temperatures drop and you hide out in your tent, having a little something tucked in your pack to help pass the time is helpful. Choose something small and light to enhance your trip.
- Journal with pencil
- Deck of cards
- Kindle
- Camera
Final Reminder
It is easy to make a list and stuff everything into your backpack. It is another thing to carry the weight for several days over several miles. Be wise about what you truly need. Don’t be afraid to cut something from your gear if you need to. Make sure you have the right gear for the right weather on the right trail.