Backpacking Packing List

Welcome to Travel Tuesday! I’m finally writing posts again!!! (Or trying to…)  This week’s is a little different in that I’m not actually [virtually] bringing you anywhere, but after the Rae Lakes Loop trip we took last year, I thought it’d be helpful to put together a backpacking packing list!

Basic Backpacking Packing List

_{This is an un-sponsored post and I bought these items with my own money — there are some affiliate links, meaning that if you use them to purchase something, I get a small percentage with no extra cost to you!}

The Basic Essentials

I’ve included the Ten Essentials here, but figured I’d elaborate some more for backpacking vs hiking in this post!

• Tent or hammock

  • I have an ENO Doublenest Hammock that I like for hammock-camping in! There are a lot of other hammock options out there but this one has been serving me well so far (currently actually functioning as a couch in my family room since we don’t have a cough yet).
  • I recently did (finally) purchase a tent since I don’t always camp in areas with suitable trees! I’m all for the-lighter-the-better but still love a great deal and am trying not to murder my bank account, so the Naturehike Cloud Up is a great choice for this! Good for 3 seasons, super easy set up/breakdown, fairly compact, and does actually fit 2 people (although it can be a tighter fit depending on size of said people) — all for $120 (there are sometimes sales — I got it for $109)!

• Backpack

  • I have a few backpacking packs — one that I purchased on super-sale (Osprey Aura AG 65) and one that I won at REI (the REI Flash 65 Pack — they don’t make this anymore).

• Sleeping bag (or quilt)

  • I have a super-fance custom quilt from Hammock Gear that I use as my sleeping “bag.” It weighs only 17.67 oz and comes with a cotton bag + stuff sack and if you want to stuff it down further, it can fit into a 8.5L stuff sack. The specific specs I wanted were:
    • Temperature rating to 20°F (-6°C)
    • Short (for 5’2-5’7″)
    • Wide (so it could accommodate “ground dwelling” + sleeping in a hammock)
    • Zippered footbox style (can help retain heat or laid flat like a blanket; if sewn, would be great for below-freezing temperatures)
    • Ground Pad attachment kit (so I can secure it to my sleeping pad!)

Muffin adores my quilt as well!

• Sleeping pad

  • It looks like Amazon doesn’t carry the exact sleeping pad I use (Thermaarest Z-Lite Sol Sleeping Pad) anymore, but this one is a close second!

• Stove + fuel

  • The MSR PocketRocket 2 is amazingggg. Folds up super compact + weighs only 0.16lb!
  • The fuel typically doesn’t cost too-too much either. I got 8oz for $6 at my local REI.

• Water filter and/or water treatment tablets

  • After the Rae Lakes fiasco , one can never have too many water filtration devices. We had the Sawyer Mini Water Filtration system between 3 of us (never ever do that), so refilling was quite slow-going.
  • I found out about LifeStraw back at Expo East once upon a time and tried drinking water from a murky looking bowl using a LifeStraw. The water came up clear and tasted amazing. I was sold.
  • So sold, in fact, that I also have their LifeStraw Flex with Gravity Bag.

• Hydration pack/water bottle(s)

  • My hydration pack came with the purchase of my Osprey pack. (Mine is 3L but here’s a 2L option!) After 4.5 years, I finally caved and bought a bite valve cover — although not mandatory, I would highly recommend this if you don’t like accidentally eating dirt/sand because the bite valve was touching the ground.

• Camp pot/reusable utensils

  • This is a great affordable option for cookware that’s lightweight, easy to clean, and packs neatly into itself. I would not recommend using it over a campfire since plastic handles + fire are not a great combo, but it works great over the camp stove!

• Base layers

  • My go-to more affordable brands for base layers are the 32 degree base layers from Costco (at $7-11 for 2, it’s a steal! Please note that the $7 one is if you fit kids’ sizes and don’t mind fun snowflake patterns).
  • Uniqlo also has great base layers! I particularly love their HeatTech collection because I’m always, always cold. (SO recently asked if I possessed a circulatory system. :[ )

• Hiking layers (e.g. clothing with UPF sun protection)

  • I have wool blend socks from Costco!
  • At present, my 3 favorite brands for pants include…
    • prAna – They’re Fair Trade certified and their clothing is sustainably made with responsible plastic-free packaging. (I love their Jenna pants although I think they retired that particular style.)
    • Coalatree – Their Trailhead pants are <3. Super comfy, functional pockets, water resistant, and also big on sustainability, with most of their products made from organic/recycled materials.
    • I’m also pretty in love with North Face’s Paramount Active Mid Rise Pants  — perfect fit, super soft, UPF 50+ sun protection, and functional pockets!

• Some kind of insulated layer (e.g. down/synthetic down jacket or vest, gloves, hat)

  • I have a Patagonia Nano Puff that I scrounged up the money to buy on super-sale!

• Rain jacket

  • I have North Face’s Venture 2 Rain Jacket (obtained with a giant discount when they were supporting health care workers).

• Sun protection (hat/sunglasses/sunscreen)

  • Biore makes my favorite sunscreen! Effective, goes on clear, no greasy feeling or white cast. What’s not to love!?
  • I like Tifosi’s sunglasses since they’re comfortable + protect against UVA/UVB rays.
  • I have Sunday Afternoon’s Eclipse hat, which has mesh ventilation + a tech sweat liner as well as a clamshell brim so you can easily fold it up for compact storage. It’s also UPF 50+ (highest sun protective rating achievable).
• Light Source
  • I have a solar-powered “puff” that I keep attached to my pack — it’s super bright and can charge up during the hike. Since it’s collapsible, it barely takes up any space and only weighs a couple ounces!
  • I also have the Nitecore NU25 headlamp that charges via USB — it has a regular light with different brightness options as well as a red light (so it won’t disrupt your night vision)!

• Hiking boots/shoes

  • I’m still wearing my KEEN Terradora Mid WP hiking boots (got them in 2018) and they’re mostly still going strong (2 tiny symmetric holes on the tops)

• Food, snacks, water

  • We made do with Mountain House freeze dried meals but at$10-11 each, that pricing is rather steep. Since I have a dehydrator, I’m going to be looking into making my own meals from now on — stay tuned for future recipes!

• Kula Cloth

  • Mayhaps not an absolute “necessity,” but I always bring mine when I hike/backpack! Kula Cloths = reusable antimicrobial pee cloths! They use only non-toxic fabrics + eco-friendly materials that are manufactured/milled sustainably in the United States. (Yay for being environmentally friendly!) I have a “space”-themed one and one with s’mores on it, but they have a ton of other options as well!

• Is there anything you’d add to this list?
• Anything that you like bringing that’s not a necessity but vastly increases your quality of life?
• Stay tuned next week for some backpacking tips for beginners!