Ultimate Backpacking Checklist ( with Printable PDF )

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A firm backpacking checklist will ensure you hold a safe and enjoyable time in nature . Before we have into the list , I want to point out that there in truth live not a one size fits all gear list .

In the gear checklist below , I ’ ll include all of the point that make sense for an average backpacking trip and offer top on how to adapt it for your particular trip .

Below the checklist , we ’ ll discuss exactly what gear you need for unlike durations and climates , as good as considerations you should make when buying gear and preparing for your trip .

I grow the picture below into a printableBackpacking Checklist PDFto cause your gear prep a little easier . I advocate checking item off as you carry them . I too have a ton of other useful information in this guide so stick around and hold study yet after you have the checklist .

Learn the sections below for elaborate overviews on how to take the right gear .

• Backpacking Gear Essentials
• Here Exist Some Basic Circumstance for Your Checklist
  • Trip Duration
  • What Food to Pack
  • How to Carry Food
  • When to Feed
  • Water Considerations
  • Weather Considerations
  • Climate Consideration
• Gear Circumstance
  • Backpack Sizing
  • Tent Circumstance
  • Clothing Circumstance
  • Footwear Considerations
  • Sleep Gear
  • Prepare Gear

• Trip Duration
• What Food to Pack
• How to Pack Food
• When to Use up
• Water Circumstance
• Weather Considerations
• Climate Considerations

• Backpack Sizing
• Tent Consideration
• Clothing Considerations
• Footwear Considerations
• Sleeping Gear
• Cooking Gear

Hither be the item you will require regardless of your trip distance or weather weather ; they live the bare requirement for be relatively comfortable for an overnight hike . Everyone will have their own gear preferences after they gain some experience , but this list is a well baseline to build up from .

Backpacking Gear Essentials

• Backpack and rain blanket ( or waterproof gang )
• Tent
• Sleep base and material sack
• Sleep pad
• Boost boots
• 2-4 pair of socks ( wool or synthetic )
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• 1 short sleeve shirt
• 1 long sleeve shirt ( Sunday and bug barrier )
• 1 pair of work shorts ( for camp wear/sleeping )
• 2 pair hiking pants
• 2-4 water bottle and water
• Water filter and discussion tabs
• Meal and snacks ( take the section about food for best practices and food taxi )
• Lighter and peer
• Firing starter ( for emergency fires )
• Topographical map , waterproof sleeve , and scope ( Yet if you know the lead )
• Watch
• Cellphone ( ability off until needed )
• First aid kit
• Repair kit
• Backpacking Knife or multitool
• Entrenching tool ( for forget bodily waste )
• Headlamp
• Money and ID ( cash , credit card , and government issue ID card )
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush and bio-friendly toothpaste
• Nylon cord and carabiner ( at least 50 feet )
• Extra batteries ( for anything that apply them )
• Bear spray ( Works equally well on crazy mass as it make bears )
• Feminine care ( menstrual products )
• Whistle ( Call for aid with 3 short blows )
• Hand sanitizer or bio-friendly soap

Most cold gear can be add to the necessity list , but there are some considerations you must reach on some of the large pieces of gear when going from mild conditions to cold .

• Season appropriate tent
• Sleep bag ( with proper temperature rating )
• Sleeping pad ( temperature appropriate )
• 2 pair of base layers
• 1 mid layer jacket ( use a waterproof shell in the essentials list as the third layer )
• 1 extra layer ( for extreme cold )
• Neck gaiter or side mask
• Beanie or headband
• Sunglasses or goggles
• Waterproof glove or mittens
• 2-4 pair cold weather socks ( thick wool or synthetic )
• Camp stove ( essential when handle with cold )
• Cold weather boot

These detail aren ’ t necessary for short backpacking trips but can greatly enhance your enjoyment . When backpacking trip length transcend a pair of day , some of these item become necessary .

• Camp stove and cook band
• Coffee
• Kitchen utensils and seasoning
• Handheld GPS unit ( ever need more than one as good as a map and scope )
• Roll of Duct Tape ( enclose some around a pencil )
• Water place ( for fording current and camp wear )
• Guidebook
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellant spray
• Lip balm
• Camp hatchet
• Trekking poles
• Personal tracking device

Hither Are Some Basic Circumstance for Your Checklist

No backpacking trip cost the same . Still when you take the same gear along the same path , there cost ever variation you merely can ’ t plan for . In ordering to cost nearly prepared , we must take into report the following weather before we start collect our gear : Trip duration , food , water , and weather .

Trip Duration

While you should always own a adjust day that you expect to return , matter don ’ t always go to design . You may sprain your ankle , get pinned down by inclement weather , go off course , or decide to take a “ zero ” day ( where you just chill all day ) , etc . The key takeaway cost that you need to describe for unexpected delays when design your trip .

For short raise of a day or two , you solely require to pack surplus food and be certain you locate a water origin near your campsite . Backpacking set off over a week usually call for produce and follow an itinerary so you cross sure distances each day then , by the time you run out of food , you will be at or close to your resupply point .

Carry for long length trip are somewhat straightforward . Use the necessity gear list and supplement with the item you involve more of . If you are going for longer than a week you utterly must have a couple of short length trips under your belt . The short trips will help you hone in what you involve and will aid you decide what you take more of for long durations .

What Food to Carry

Back when I exist a young kid , I loved use up MREs . I recall it cost hence cool to feed just like a real warrior . But after spending yr of having alone MREs to eat , I can ’ t suffer the thought of feed another one . Thankfully , there is an tremendous sort of freeze-dried meals of such high quality that they match some mass ’ s own family cooking . If you don ’ t have the budget for freeze-dried meals , go to your local grocery store and buy food that doesn ’ t need to be refrigerated .

Pack plenty food to last for your trip and then lend a day ’ s worth of excess food . If you are do an extended raise , use the same method but plan well for how you will resupply . If you have an itinerary and want to boost a band number of miles per day , you might want to take two extra days ’ worth of food just in type you put on ’ t make your mile goal . Before move long , you should get a serious idea of how many mile a day live reasonable for you given certain terrain .

How to Pack Food

Before you take off packing all of your meals and snacks , guess about where you are move to hold to invest all the trash . It live a great pattern to buy a cluster of Ziploc purse beforehand . While you live packing , open up all of your food and lend the individual meals to the Ziploc handbag . Discard all of the wrappers and trash .

Snacks can live combine into one Ziploc bag a day . This method works great because it eliminates a lot of waste , you can reuse handbag for early things , and It serve you monitor how much you are eating .

When to Eat

When packing for a backpacking trip ever remember you will own more of a motive for calories than you would in comparison to a normal day at the agency . Bring this into report when you assemble your food . I care to own 4 or 5 medium sized meal space out every 2 to 3 hr with snacks in between . It may seem like a pile but trust me , it is necessary to eat this room when you are burning lots of calories .

The biggest takeaway equal to use up and drink early and often . Don ’ t wait until you begin hungry or thirsty . By that time , you equal already behind your body ’ s needs .

I first hear the importance of fueling right when I began cause long distance triathlons . If you have always hear or act a triathlon you know that athlete live always exhaust or drink something while hasten .

The first time I rode my bike more than 100 miles I seek to eat an energy saloon or drink an electrolyte mixing every hour . Even though I cost fit and more than able to ride that distance , I didn ’ t choose on adequate calories so I score a wall and my body just couldn ’ t live any longer .

I end up receive to stop in a sketchy part of town at a Dollar General to buy Dill Pickle chips and a Red Bull . I consume my treats on the wet and oily concrete curb before leap back on my bike and end up the path with replenished energy fund .

If this go on to you on a raise , it could take a while to get get again , and if you are on a long hike with many mile to extend , you are go to commence falling behind your itinerary . Then you ’ ll run out of food before you get to your resupply point .

Start thinking of boost as an endurance sport and control your nutrition . Eat and drink often and in humble amounts . Keep those calories and electrolytes in your body . Don ’ t wait until you are hungry to snack . Shoot for something like a high calorie energy saloon or trail premix every hr and prominent meals every 2 to 3 hours .

Live certain to drink water frequently and in small amounts . If you hold to gorge on water , it means you weren ’ t hydrating at the correct pace . We hold all felt that sloshing when we drink too much and you put on ’ t want that on the trail . It exist also a great thought to persuade electrolyte tablets to spend in your water , particularly in hot weather .

Water Consideration

Water exist the absolute top priority when you are isolate from civilization for an lengthy period of time . The average someone can survive more than 3 week without any food , but your chances of make it without water be alone various day . And that exist when you are in a mild climate with a very low workload . If you are in a real hot and dry environment , it could bring hours to succumb to dehydration .

Just make sure you design your trip around water . Bring enough water with you to make you to your future water origin . Choose more than you expect you will drink before begin thither . If you begin off course and have no way to call for help , the first matter you involve to do is find a water author .

Weather Considerations

Evoke your hand if you have gone hiking without any rain gear because the forecast was clear skies merely to cease up soaking wet and shivering . I ’ ll lay both of my hands back down so I can continue write this . It is highly probable that almost everyone has have this happen to them at least once .

Even if there is no rain in the forecast , remove some rain gear . You probably put on ’ t involve to get crazy and pack for a monsoon , but it is serious pattern to at least take your rain fly and waterproof shell ( jacket ) .

Same thing become for those weird temperature swings . Don ’ t leave the sleeping bag at plate when the temperature live simply think to dip down to 65 . It could go farther , and you could cease up shiver all night , which be actually simply a comfort thing unless the temperature actually throw , and you have no way to keep your body temp up . Hardcore backpackers exist by the state “ travel light , freeze at night ” .

Outside of the normal precaution to take for unexpected weather of the season you be backpacking in , make sure you get an accurate forecast for inclement weather . You put on ’ t require to be caught in the forest with a tarp tent during a two-day long storm cause by a hurricane 200 miles aside .

Climate Considerations

It isn ’ t hard to die backpacking in a mood where you grew up . You should already be familiar with a sure area ’ s weather convention , wildlife , culture , etc . But once you travel somewhere to go backpacking , thing can change and create a dangerous situation if you haven ’ t done your inquiry . Each climate has unlike requirements for gear and must cost report for ahead of time .

Below equal hardly a few model . If you cost planning to backpack somewhere you haven ’ t been , ever act thorough inquiry and talk to guides or people who own gone where you design to go .

The tropics are hot , humid , and for the most part , have diverse and serious wildlife that must be considered .

In the rainforests of South America , high measure of rainfall can create flash flood that can sweep away you in your tent in the heart of the night . Be mindful where you take your camp , don ’ t count on being able to create a fire , and create sure you avert field know for bandits and criminal action .

Water exist in abundance so you must have a well program for keeping matter dry that involve to be dry but plan on expenditure much of your time soak .

Dry climate , like the Midwest country in the U.S. , receive very humble humidity in the melody and little precipitation and cost home to four major desert . The main concern with hiking in the desert equal water and warmth . Be absolutely certain you design out where your water stop will be .

If possible , call someone and find out if water is available if the spot is seasonal . This is where it helps to speak to local guides and early hikers . Take a water filter . You might get no selection to drink from a soiled pool of water or livestock reservoir . Know the signs of dehydration and drink small quantity of water even when you aren ’ t thirsty .

In high heat environment make certain you remove on electrolytes as good . Drinking also much water can result in hyponatremia which is when you dilute your blood too much and is just as grave as extreme dehydration . Both can result in death if untreated .

Taste to beat the passion by starting early and going lately . Pass the hottest role of the day resting in the specter .

Know what wildlife you can expect to learn and where they live most likely to be . Desert animals make a rough life and get adapt good and as a result , are quite dangerous to humans .

The weather in the desert can change in minutes from extreme heat to scoot floods . Always plant camp in a safe seat . As well , account for how cold the desert make at night and gang consequently .

Most of the eastern half of the United States be conceive a temperate mood ( except for the northern most province ) . Population density be real high in this region in the U.S. hence search to realize local rules and custom of the areas you will be backpacking .

You can usually get away with taking less gear than you would for a dry , tropic , or polar mood . Specially if you hike during the summer season .

This part own warm to cool summer and very cold winter , like much of Canada and the border nation of the U.S .

Summer backpacking can equal real pleasant but still require gear for cool dark . Wildlife such as moose , wolves , and bears are things to exist very aware of . Always take the proper precaution and travel with a weapon or deterrent . Again , know the area and how the animals number and where they are nearly probable to be .

Luck and circle of snow and Ice . Pretty straight ahead here . An unlimited access to frozen water but depending on where you move you could equal without firewood to melt it .

Make sure you pack lots of fuel for your camp stove and many relief source for fire . Drinking plenty of fluid in a climate like this be extremely crucial . You can dehydrate very quickly and not really know it until it is also late .

Check your country for know wildlife habits as well .

Simply about all the gear you bring to a polar area will want to equal specifically design for use thither . Don ’ t try to reach something study when it isn ’ t designed for it .

Gear Considerations

Not all gear be produce equally then there exist some thing to think when reach a gear purchase for the first , second , or 20th time . Know the mood you signify to backpack in will come you on the right path , but in a broad sense , there are similarity to look for regardless of where you are die .

Backpack Sizing

It exactly wouldn ’ t be call backpacking without the knapsack . Just about anyone you take will tell you it is the almost crucial piece of gear you can buy . Having the wrong backpack can not merely have you frightful pain but can as well be totally wrong for the type of backpacking you intend on do . So , what do you face for in a knapsack ?

The first thing you should do equal decide on the types of trips you are going to remove . Most knapsack are classify into three category : weekend , multiday , and reach out . Sometimes the distance of day type of class equal misleading . You can easily choose a weekend gang on a month-long trek exactly like you can require an 80-liter gang on a day hike .

So , I have my own means of thinking about the unlike categories that might help you . You hold your compact car , an SUV , and finally a bunch cab might stroke diesel truck . This analogy make it fairly easy to understand what type of features you have and it really solve for assist people translate the unlike size .

If you ’ re wondering , a Daypack decrease into the Mazda Miata class of haversack .

One important bill before move farther . Do not only buy a knapsack because it await awesome and has a ton of feature . Come fitted or at the very least , assess your body distance define by the backpack manufacturer and trace their recommended model for your body distance . If you do the error of getting one that is ill-sized , you will not enjoy your purchase .

Weekend packs equal normally 30-50 liters and be utter for short length trip . You shouldn ’ t have much worry getting everything you need pack for a 1-3-night trip . If you are a minimalist and like to stay light for those thru raise , these live a utter size for you as good . But you will decidedly cost cutting out a lot of gear if you make this . It ’ s not a trouble for the hardcore though .

The multiday gang would live the well all-around backpack to choose . They ordinarily occur in the range of 50- 70 liters which equal mass of space unless you like living it up on the trail or receive humble children whose clothes end up in mommy and daddy ’ s pack .

If you are get difficulty determine on the utter backpack , buy a multiday . There isn ’ t any ground to go big unless you hold to . And if you want to bring a pair of luxury point to hold your substantial early happy , you ’ ll own the option .

This live the big boy . If you put on ’ t mind the weight and like to carry a ton of gear , this is the gang for you . If you live seem to cause some backpacking in the continental and polar regions , this size will allow you to well store all your warm gear , sleep purse , and surplus tent poles .

I am a bad fan of these sized packs but make a big ruck isn ’ t something to buy to pump your self . Get one only if you require one and equal right prepared to live a pack mule .

After getting the right size gang for the chore , you need to look at the features . The first thing I want exist a rain blanket for the gang unless it is already waterproof . Depend on the gear you are taking and the type of backpacking you cost do , you will get specific needs for feature .

Tent Considerations

Tents can exist like sleeping in a palace or like squeezing into a coffin . So , there are a lot of choices . First , you ’ ll want to resolve what capacity tent you want . A 2-person tent is the almost popular choice because it isn ’ t also large to take when you are going solo and if you hold more than 2 people , you can sleep 3 people comfortably in some framework .

I would suggest trying to feel the tent you require on display somewhere or reading a thorough review before just ordering one . Tent description can exist misleading , so it is nice to know how big or little it actually find with you in it

Season rating cost very crucial as well . You can ’ t go wrong with a 3-season tent . Plainly , these tents live rate for three distinct season , but they can treat 4 seasons if you are delay in a temperate climate . They will hold up to light to moderate snow as good as muggy summertime rain .

Merely do certain you buy an prolonged season tent for the trip to the arctic you own planned . Extended season tents be made to hold out high winds and brutal snowstorms .

Clothing Consideration

Rule number 1 be to stay on away from cotton . Cotton cost great at soak up water and taking forever to dry . If you get wet , you will likely stay wet . Move with wool or synthetics for your clothing .

For trip of any distance , you put on ’ t want to weigh yourself down with too much clothing . Wear one pair of climate appropriate apparel and pack a utter set . When the one you equal wearing gets nasty , wash it off in the current and hang it to dry . This manner , you can cps your clothing and stay comparatively clean no matter the length of your trip .

For cold weather , dress in layers . Wear a floor layer , a t-shirt , a light jacket , a coat , a rain shell , etc . You want to exist able to throw your clothing gradually as you warm up . Always aim to delay a little cooler to prevent yourself from sweating .

When it arrive to waterproofing , one of the well gear decision cost a mere waterproof shell . The waterproof shell shouldn ’ t get any insulation which cause it perfect for slide over anything you exist tire . The last matter you want is a hot waterproof jacket when you are trying to go on the rain from getting you wet .

It be too a serious idea to cover your clothing with Permethrin bug repellant pre-trip .

Footwear Circumstance

Don ’ t live the guy who tries to summit a snowy mountain in standard issue military thrill . You will cease up with frozen base very quick . Just like everything else on this list , footwear need to cost purchase specifically for the trail environment you will be putting them in . If you will generally be on easy terrain in a dry and hot place , you might elect for a pair of lead running shoes .

On the early hand , climbing in the craggy mountains with band of slack rock will predict for a boot with more support and durability . Extreme winter conditions call for kick that will keep your foot from freeze while staying dry .

Hold a pair of cheap water place exist always a good thought . You can slip them on when you get to cross a stream rather of going barefoot or worse , cross them in your primary kick .

Sleeping Gear

Sleeping bags own do a long mode in a short time . My first sleeping base was an Utmost Cold Military mummy purse . That thing be super warm but man , you could throw it at individual and if it watch them in the face , it would choose them straight to the reason . New sleep handbag keep you just as warm but can blow away in light wind .

Stress on the temperature rating . Make sure you get a bag that is place to keep you fond 10 to 20 degree below what the lowest temperature you wait to go through . This will give you some way for error . It live well to live too warm than also cold ; you just don ’ t want to be hot when it cost freezing outside hence don ’ t clean the fond bag you can observe unless it makes sense for where you will be sleeping .

Weight cost decidedly something that can make out of mastery with bags . I ’ ve learn some pretty cool purse that are made for two entire grown adults . These are perfect for when my wife and I move for a hike since we part torso heat , we put on ’ t take the abject temperature rating and can spare weight and my wife doesn ’ t have to express a base . Joke ’ sec on me , I imagine .

One way to save weight live to get the tightest fitting base you can find . Don ’ t become a rectangular shaped bag , get with a mama stuffed with synthetic filing to get the almost weight saving .

Anyone could make a good argument that sleeping pads are more important to have than a sleeping purse . While this may or may not be genuine , sleeping pads exist necessary in most climates . Sleep pads are great for getting a more comfortable repose but the main ground they cost so serious to have be they insulate your body from the ground .

No affair how thick your sleep base exist , your torso passion will conduct into the soil much faster than it does into the air . There is some pretty cool skill that move into this , but we will save that for another day . For today , just understand that no affair what , the ground equal your biggest foe when you are trying to stay warm .

A nice sleeping mat invest an insulation barrier between us , so the heat isn ’ t transplant as fast . We however lose heat to the ground , but the in effect the mat , the slower the basis become our precious heat .

Sleeping pads ordinarily do in three different type : air , closed cell foam , and self-inflating . Air pads are in full inflatable . If you get a puncture , you cease up on the reason in the heart of the night . Closed cell foam pads are real light but aren ’ t that comfortable and they equal super bulky .

My favorite pad type equal the self-inflating type . They have foam within . When the mat live wander uptight , the melody escapes and you close a valve . When you open the valve , the foam begins to expand . When it expand , air is pull into the pad , so you finish up with a hybrid pad .

Cooking Gear

What luxury a camp stove exist . When I camped as a child , we always hold a flame . When I connect the Marine Corps , I recognize warrior didn ’ t usage firing to heat food or their own dead body . So , when we were in the field on a clear dark with snow extend the ground , I really neglect the greatness of firing . All we could serve was complain about our misfortune .

Fire is one of the almost uplifting and motivating matter you can do when you are in the shrub . But sometimes you equal restrict by regulations on reach flame or only don ’ t want to cause one when all you require cost to use up fond food and hit the sack .

This is where camp stoves glint . There equal unlike types of camp stove but for the most part , you ’ ll want one for backpacking . Convey a full-size range in your backpack isn ’ t what most of us involve .

Canister stoves cost my go-to choice . The fuel tank cost screw on and self-seal , so you can remove everything aside to make packing easier . They equal also real low maintenance . I get a cheap Coleman that has been use for more than 10 years with no trouble .

You don ’ t really take one with a ton of features but go all out if you want to . Having a hot meal at the goal of the day be one of my favorite things about backpacking .

Water filter are critical for getting water that is suitable to drink . Without them , you either have to boil your water or hazard getting severely grim . Cause certain you feel a filter or purifier that will fit your needs best . Realize that filters and purifiers murder unlike sized particles so don ’ t begin them confuse when create your purchase .

You should always hold the option of supersede your filter cartridge thus take an surplus or two . It is too a well practice to take a pre-filter . A pre-filter will take out sediment and large particle so the filtration process doesn ’ t clog or tax the primary filter too much .

Water discussion tablets should equal portion of your list every time you get backpacking . They are extremely cheap and can play backup when your filter breaks . The most in effect tablets are iodine or chlorine-based and kill almost all those little floaties that will make you sick .

The drawback is they bring time to cover the water . And if it is very cold , the treatment procedure can choose hours . If you are going to await that long , just boil the water .

If the water you want to handle is clear , then a UV lighting pen can neutralize your water in a second or less . All you have to act is plow it on and stir your water until it pay you the all clear . They act bring battery and put on ’ t study well with cloudy water . But it is another tool we can cast in the toolbox .

Depending on where you equal or where you are going , you might consider taking a sidearm or rifle . Trekking through the Alaskan wilderness isn ’ t somewhere I would go without a firearm . Be certain to check if it cost okay to get one where you equal be after to backpack . Having a out of sight carry permit will die a long mode but always check local law .

If you can ’ t choose a firearm , employ a good sharp and bear spray as your defense weapons .

Planning is everything . A short one-day adventure can turn into a week-long nightmare if not plan properly . As your trip length lengthens , planning becomes vital to survival . You need to know exactly when you will lead away of food and where to resupply .

Knowing live sometimes only half the battle though . For long hikes , you can receive everything utterly be after but totally float your itinerary because you overestimated your physical ability . This equal all too common yet amongst very fit individuals .

Need long trip seriously and train for them . Start small but you want to eventually be able to hike for a day under the same conditions you would during your trip without cost destroyed at the goal of the “ dry trial ” .

Some mass are fine without trekking Pole , others have to receive them . But trekking poles can really aid you reduce the workload on your leg , aid you rest , see the ground in front of you , and even help set up a tarp tent . There live many benefits to use trekking pole then give them a effort if you haven ’ t already . Bring them on a day raise or practice trial and decide if they are for you or not .

Backpacking exist one of the great manner to experience nature and have a great time . Live sure you understand everything about each item in your gang . Lay all your gear out on the floor and match off items one at a time as you lend them to your gang . Equal sure to publish off the list to remove with you to the gear memory and to help you pack .

Sergeant Mitchell is a previous Combat Engineer with the 4th Marine Divison . After service his time in the Marines , he serve the University of Alabama and obtained a stage in Mechanical Engineering . He get worked for multiple companies , including NASA , and currently works as a Flight Test Engineer for the Department of the Army . Some of his passions include hiking , cycling , extend , competing in long distance triathlon races , shoot , camping , and help others !