Summer Backpacking Essentials
So, you’re ready to step up from day hikes and dip your toes into the world of backpacking. Congratulations! Dramatic views and peaceful nights are coming your way.
Before hitting the trail, it’s important to make sure you have the right gear for your trip – that’s where this handy, dandy checklist comes in. We’ve linked some of our favorite pieces of gear under each category, but it’s especially important to do your research and find backpacking gear that fits your style, needs, and budget. Taking the time to get the right gear will make your trip safe, enjoyable, and insanely memorable:
General Backpacking Gear
Backpack: A 60L pack is usually more than enough for 2-6 day summer trips. You pack should have a hip belt, chest strap, and comfortable shoulder straps
Rain Cover for Pack: To cover your pack in case of rain.
Trekking Poles: Optional, but we highly recommended on all backpacking trips. It will help you save energy and your knees from increased impact
Tent: Lightweight, but durable. Make sure your tent comes with a rain fly and footprint as well. We always bring a 2 person tent both when hiking alone or with a buddy
Sleeping Bag: In the summer months we exclusively sleep in a quilt. The one linked is a crossover between a typical mummy bag and a true quilt, so it gives lots of versatility. Whatever you choose, we recommend down over synthetic bags since it’s lighter weight and easier to pack up small
Sleeping Pad: Focus on finding the perfect mix between a warm, lightweight, (and most importantly) comfortable pad. You will have a miserable day hiking if you had a bad night’s sleep the day before
Clothing
(2) Synthetic Shirts or Tanks: Anything except cotton, which prevents your skin from being able to breathe and traps sweat. I bring two shirts and alternate each day
Comfortable & Quick Drying Pants or Shorts: Pants made for working out are best. Avoid denim or clothes you care about getting dirty. We usually bring one pair of pants and wear them each day of the trip
Extra Layer: Depending on the weather, we usually bring a fleece or packable synthetic jacket in case a storm comes in or it gets cold at higher elevation
Synthetic Underwear: Stay away from cotton. Merino Wool is best since it’s breathable and naturally anti-bacterial. Whatever you choose, just make sure it’s comfortable!
Light Colored, Synthetic, Long Sleeve T-Shirt: Optional, but we usually bring one of these when hiking in the desert or a mostly exposed trail to avoid sunburn
Baseball Hat: Keeps the sun out of my eyes and the hair out of my face
Sunglasses: Especially important if the trail is exposed and the sun is out
Rain Jacket: Even if the weather doesn’t call for rain, bring it anyway. Nothing is worst than getting caught unprepared in a pop up storm
Sleeping Gear: Something on the warmer side that’s comfortable and will be used each night at camp. Bring a separate shirt, pants, and fleece hat (for colder areas) that will only be used at camp
Footwear
Trail Runners or Hiking Boots: We will recommend trail runners until the day we die, especially for backpacking. An extra pound on your feet feels like 10 in your pack. Whatever you bring, just make sure it’s something that is both durable and will be comfortable on your feet for 8-10 hours
Sandals, Crocs, or Flip Flops: Absolutely necessary for shoes to wear at camp! We usually wear Crocs since they are closed toe and lightweight, but any sort of waterproof or plastic sandal will do
(2) Wool Hiking Socks: Choose something lightweight and breathable, but avoid cotton. We prefer crew cut socks when wearing both boots or trail runners. We bring two pairs and alternate every other day
Camp Socks: Something warm and comfortable to wear in your tent
Navigation
Paper Map, Print Off of Route, or Downloaded App: Have your itinerary written down to avoid getting lost in the first place, but be sure to have some way of being able to navigate yourself if your original plan gets derailed. Paper maps and compasses are the most reliable, but print offs of the webpage where you found the hike, or apps such as Atlas Guides or AllTrails will help as well. Just be sure to bring an external charger for your phone if relying on it for navigation. Also be aware that most hikes do not have phone service, so have all maps downloaded ahead of time.
Food & Hydration
(2) Waterbottles: We usually carry 2 one-liter bottles at a time, depending on the distance to the next water source. We fill one bottle with water and the other with powdered gatorade
Water Filter: Quick and easy way to gather more water while on the trip. If it’s a long way until the next water source, We will fill the bladder of my water filter and keep that in my pack as well
Coffee: This coffee is pre-portioned and really easy to throw in your food bag to make at camp. We also personally think it’s better than Starbucks…
Lunches: This one is always hard since you’ll want the right balance of something that’s filling, yet doesn’t require a ton of time to cook. We have been eating tortillas filled with Nutella and peanut butter recently, with bagged Tuna, and some freeze dried fruit on the side
Dinners: Keep it lightweight and easy to cook. Mountain House, Good-To-Go, and AlpineAire meals are great, but you could also do things like ramen noodles or boxed macaroni and cheese
Snacks: Little pick-me-ups for throughout the hike. We’ve been loving yogurt covered raisins and chocolate covered freeze-dried fruit recently. You could pack anything that’s quick and easy to eat
Camp Stove: Keep it small, lightweight, and easy to use
Lighter: Just a standard cigarette lighter to start your stove or a camp fire with
Fuel for Stove: The smaller the better, unless you are going to be out for an extended period of time without a resupply option.
Spork: Doesn’t need to be fancy. Just something that can be used to eat multiple types of camp meals
Pot: Lightweight pot that’s just big enough to cook your packed dinner. Stay away from cast iron or excessively large “mess kits”
Extra Food: Always bring an extra day’s worth of food in case you are out longer than expected
Bear Bagging Kit or Bear Canister: Look into the restrictions on where you are camping. We usually opt for the bear bag when possible since it’s lighter, but a bear canister will be needed in grizzly bear (or “problem” black bear) country
First Aid
Bandaids: A handful of bandages for small injuries
Ace Bandage: These are lifesavers on the off chance a more serious injury happens
Mole Skin: Blisters are common while backpacking and moleskin will do wonders on hot spots
Nail Clippers: Because nothing it worst then needing to clip your toenails on a backpacking trip
Tweezers: For removing ticks or splinters
Medicine: In addition to any medications you take daily, bring along ibuprofen and pepto bismol
Alcohol Wipes: Can be used to clean an injury or to disinfect things like your hands or spork before eating
Wilderness First Aid: Taking a WFA class can do wonders in helping you feel prepared and confident in case of backcountry injuries
Hygiene
Backpacking Toothbrush: Small and compact
Travel Sized Tooth Paste: The smaller the better
Camp Towel: Doesn’t need to be huge. Just something small to help if you spill water in your tent or need to wipe something down
Trash bag: Bring a 1 gallon plastic bag for trash you create over the length of your trip
Toilet Paper: Odds are you’re gonna have to go to the bathroom while out there… just be sure to pack it out! Bring more than you think you’ll need
Camp Trowel: For digging a cat hole to bury human waste
Misc
Stuff Sacks: Choose waterproof stuff sacks of varying colors and sizes to help keep your gear organized
Bear Spray: We always carry at least some sort of pepper spray both for animals and people alike… Usually significantly smaller than the one linked
Pocket Knife: Can be used for everything from cutting food to moleskin
Camera: Phones can work great, but we always opt to bring my Sony with one or two lenses and extra batteries
ID Card: In case you need to be identified in an emergency
Cash: Just in case
External Charger: Especially important if you are using your phone as a navigation device
Headlamp: For setting up camp, sitting around the fire, and going to the bathroom in the middle of the night
Two Itineraries: Always be sure to tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back. It’s good practice to leave 1 itinerary with friend (just text them before you leave), and 1 under front seat of the car you park at the trailhead
Download this page into a printable check list!
Have questions on gear or about what you should bring on your next backpacking trip? Shoot us a message – we’d be happy to help out!
