Backpacking 101
How to Plan and Outfit a Trip
We are all drawn to the open trail, our gear on our back and map in hand, searching for some solitude next to a campfire far beyond the lights of the city.
When you decide to leave the campground behind and make the leap to the backcountry, there is a lot to consider. My first backpack was a hand-me-down Gregory and it took me years to accumulate the necessary gear to support me in the wilderness as a bona fide backpacker.
Loading up your pack, leaving the car far behind, and carrying everything you need on your back combine to raise the stakes from your standard day hike or car camping overnight. But with a little planning and preparation, you’ll be set for some of the most memorable outdoor experiences of your life.
Where to Go
Pick a place that matches your skill set and abilities, fits within your budget and time constraints and most of all is motivating for your group—for example, if you love fishing for trout or want the chance to see a mountain goat and are looking for a moderate three-day trip, the Sawtooth Mountains of Central Idaho are an ideal choice. Outdoor magazines, regional guidebooks, and online backpacking forums can be great resources for choosing a destination and selecting a trail route.
Consider the terrain, realistic abilities of your group, and the goals of your trip. Will your route be a loop? Out and back to a scenic lake for fishing? Point-to-point, including a mountain summit along the way? Will you need to shuttle a car? Depending on where you’re going, budget anywhere from three to ten miles a day. Be sure to check local regulations and restrictions before you go. Can you have campfires? Are bearproof canisters required? What permits do you need to hike or camp there?
What to Bring
What you carry in your pack will be determined by where you go, what activities you plan to do and what kind of weather you’ll likely encounter. We’ve broken down your necessities by type of backpacking you’ll be doing.
Downloadable Backpacking Checklists
Thru-Hiking / Ultralight Backpacking
Who needs this list? Backpackers spending weeks or months on the trail, often on a major thru-hike like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. They’re covering 20+ miles a day, carrying a smaller pack weighing around 20 pounds.
Planning tip: While some nights are spent outdoors, shelter, meals, and opportunities to restock are sometimes found at hostels, shelters, or towns that the trail passes through. Planning is critical to identify and schedule these opportunities.
2-10 Day Adventure Backpacking
Who needs this list? Backpackers planning backpacking adventures of two to ten days, often to remote destinations. They’re covering 6 to 12 miles a day, carrying a packs weighing up to 40 pounds.
Planning Tip: Planning all meals is generally needed; if traveling in a group, some items like stoves can be assigned and food and/or tent parts can be divided between packs for maximum efficiency.
Weekend / Overnight Backpacking
Who needs this list? Backpackers planning quick getaways and camping locations beyond the reach of car campers. They’re covering short distances to reach a campsite of choice, carrying heavier packs than long-distance backpackers.
Planning Tip: Since your campsite may not be too deep in the backcountry, there’s a chance it may have amenities like fire rings, grills, or even bathrooms. Some research or even a recon hike could pay off if it means you don’t have to carry as much gear for your weekend.
No matter what the variables, you’re almost certain to be carrying/wearing the following items. Here are some considerations to help you make your selections.
Backpack
Choose an internal frame backpacking pack, preferably from a company with a lifetime warranty. For overnight trips, 35-50 liters should be sufficient; multi-day trips will require 50-75 liters. Consider the gear requirements of the activities you plan to do on your trip (fishing, climbing etc.). It is crucial to size your pack based on your torso size, not your height, but most backpacking packs come with some range of adjustability. Expert Tip: Strap your sleeping pad, fishing pole or climbing gear to the outside of your pack if you run out of room inside.
Footwear
Full or mid-height hiking/backpacking boots with a Vibram sole are the backpacker standard, although you may prefer to use hiking shoes or even trail running shoes. Conventional wisdom states that the longer your trip and the heavier your pack, the more durable and burlier boot you will need to provide the proper support. On the other hand, many long-distance through-hikers will go with running shoes, keeping in mind the adage that one pound of weight on your feet is the equivalent of five pounds of weight in your pack! The breathability, waterproofing and weight of the boots or shoes are all important factors to consider. Expert Tip: Bring extra shoelaces; they are useful in a variety of situations.
Clothing
- Synthetic hiking pants and/or shorts: I tend to bring both, or convertible pants with zip-off legs. Synthetics are preferred because they dry quickly.
- Long underwear: I prefer natural fibers like wool over synthetics. Wool is more odor-resistant.
- Synthetic or merino shirt: Long sleeves help lessen your sun exposure and protects from insects.
- Midlayer fleece/hoodie: Lightweight, packable
- Waterproof jacket and pants: Gore-Tex Paclite is a good breathable, lightweight material
- Lightweight puffy jacket: Packability is key. Down is more packable, but won’t work as well as synthetic insulation when wet.
- Socks (at least two pairs): Consider the height of your boots or shoes. I prefer a mid-length wool sock. Expert Tip: Avoid cotton since it tends to cause blisters.
- Beanie and lightweight gloves: Temperatures drop quickly in the mountains and desert at night.
- Sandals or slip-on camp shoes: Your feet will thank you.
- Hat and sunglasses: The higher the elevation, the more intense the sun exposure so keep your face and eyes protected.
Cooking
- Lightweight backpacking stove and fuel: Make sure to bring more than enough fuel for all your meals and to boil water. Read more about backpacking stoves
- Pot set: Remember to consider your group size and look for a cookset that packs small.
- Cooking utensils
- Bowl, cup, and spork: One for each hiker so you can have a proper toast around the fire.
- Sponge and bio-degradable soap: Expert Tip: A small pine bough works great to scrub dirty dishes.
- Water filter: Gravity filters are the easiest to use, especially for larger groups.
Sleep System and Tent/Shelter
- Sleeping bag: Down insulation has a better weight/warmth ratio than synthetic , but unless you get one filled with water-resistant down, it won’t work well if exposed to moisture. Learn more
- Inflatable or closed-cell foam pad: Choose an insulated pad since some will actually keep you cooler when flipped over.
- 3-Season tent with rainfly: If you have a dog or want comfort then go with a slightly larger tent. I use a 3-person tent for two people.
Emergency / Essentials
- Headlamp: Varying modes with at least 100 lumens on the highest setting. Learn more about how to choose a headlamp
- First aid kit: Try to include pressure bandages, moleskin, medications, and emergency blanket.
- Lighter/fire starter: Turn on Caveman TV and relax.
- Map and compass or GPS: I am old-school and just bring a local map and compass.
- Accessory cord: Uses are endless, but I use mine typically to hang a Bear Bag.
- Toiletries: Sunscreen, lip balm and toothpaste are a must.
- Insect repellent: Can make or break a trip. You might want to consider insect-repellent clothing in addition/instead.
- Duct tape/repair kit
- Knife or multi-tool
- Camera/journal: To prove you were there and how amazing it was.
Optional
- Trekking poles: To reduce the strain on your knees and improve your balance with a heavy pack, consider one or two trekking poles. Expert Tip: Your trekking poles can also be used as your tent poles for certain tent setups.
- Whistle or signaling device: You won’t need it until you really need it.
- Solar charger: If your phone runs out of battery you will never get a picture of that wolverine or be able to call for help (assuming you’re in range).
- Backpacking saw: Make sure you are allowed to cut wood and have a fire. Expert Tip: Look for fallen trees, which tend to burn better.
- Binoculars: Mountain goats will not let you get too close, so if you want to see more than just small white dots, bring one along.
- Bear Spray: A requirement in Alaska but not completely necessary if you take the right precautions with your food. However, it can never hurt.
Read more about bear safety in the backcountry
What to Eat
Planning & Shopping
Planning the meals for your trip is all about packing enough calories to fuel your high-output days without toting a ton of extra weight in your pack. Whether you choose to purchase pre-made dehydrated meals that come in a bag or assemble your own, create a meal plan for each day of your trip.
A gallon of water weighs more than eight pounds, so one of the easiest ways to cut a good chunk of weight from your pack is to dehydrate your food. Pasta sauces, vegetables, chunks of fruit, and mushrooms can all be dried in a home dehydrator and reconstituted in camp. Choose meals with dry base ingredients such as oatmeal, couscous, or rice. But even as you’re trying to save weight, don’t sacrifice the little extras (like a block of cheese, hot sauce, a few fresh veggies, or a chocolate bar) that will help elevate the standard camp meal.
Once you’ve assembled your food, remove any ingredients from bulky packaging and separate them out for each meal in a zip-top bag. Label them Breakfast #2, Dinner #4, etc. This will help avoid a yard sale once you’re in camp and will help keep your food bag or bear canister organized.
Water
Carry at least two liters per person per day, and more in hot weather. Bring a water filter or purification tablets with you and check your maps ahead of time for water sources along your route so you’re not carrying more water than necessary. Check with the local ranger station on the status of natural springs, which can dry up in certain locations or times of year.
Learn more about water filtration and sterilization systems
Protection for Your Food
Whether it’s chipmunks or grizzly bears, you’ll likely need to protect your food from animals. At the very least, store your food in a durable, secure stuff sack, and when traveling in bear country, either hang your food from a tree as high as possible or carry a bearproof canister.
How to Pack
Packing a backpack properly isn’t just about making sure everything fits—where you put things will largely affect how comfortable your pack is to carry. A general rule of thumb is to put water, cooking gear, and other heavy items close to the center of your back and pack lighter weight items around them. This will help you maintain balance by keeping the bulk of the load close to your center of gravity. Keep snacks, maps, and other small items you might need throughout the day in the hip-belt pockets, side pockets, or lid of your pack for easy access.
In sum, pack your pack as follows:
- Lid: Map, snacks, and other essentials
- Sides & Top: Clothing, tent components, other light/compressible items
- Center: Water, food, and cooking gear
- Bottom: Sleeping bag
- Outside: Sleeping pad
Expert Tip: Split the weight of communal items by divvying up things like the tent and cooking gear among the group. Nobody wants to be the packhorse.
In Case of Emergency
Stay on the Radar
The idea of backpacking is to get away from it all, but that being said, always leave your trail itinerary, including where you plan on camping each night, with a friend or relative and give them contact info for local authorities in case you don’t return on time. In very remote or challenging terrain, it can be worth carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), which can track your progress via GPS and when activated will send a distress signal to local authorities and Search and Rescue teams.
Embark with Proper Skills and Gear
Hitting the trail equipped with a good first aid kit, fire-starting materials, and some basic first aid knowledge will safeguard you from most minor mishaps. Know how to start a fire, where to collect water, and how to build a basic shelter.
Expert Tip: Take a basic first aid course or, even better, become a Wilderness First Responder (WFR).
Getting Ready to Go
Take a car camping trip, short overnight trip, or even just camp out in your backyard for a night with the gear you plan to use. Becoming familiar with your gear and making sure it works properly before you leave can save you big problems on the trail.
Strapping on a 50-pound pack and walking eight miles in a brand new pair of hiking boots can turn into a blistery nightmare. Wear your hiking shoes or boots on short day hikes or even to work to help break them in. Your feet will thank you later. Make sure to address ‘hot spots’ immediately to prevent blisters from forming.
Quick Tips
- Learn about Leave No Trace principles. This essential concept helps preserve the wilderness for everyone to enjoy. Read about it and practice it religiously.
- Make a Checklist. Print out one of the lists above and keep it with your gear.
- Fit your backpack properly before setting out. A good fit helps prevent sore spots and back pain.
- Take toilet paper off the roll, fold it into small accordions, and give each hiker his or her own TP in a re-sealable baggie. This is more convenient and saves packing space.
- In some areas, the BLM or Forest Service requires hikers to pack out their waste, including human waste. Find out before you go, and purchase waste bags if necessary.
- Check the weather and be prepared for some down time. Consider bringing a deck of cards—it’s small, light, and versatile—and a small book.
Prepping for your first backcountry backpacking trip takes some work, but if you do the research and assemble the right gear, it can open the gates to endless travels and a lifetime of epic trips.
