Keep your pack light

Basics

• Backpack
• Pack rain cover
  alt: pack liner (garbage bag will do)
• Shoes - one of:
  • Trail runners - lighter weight, more comfortable
  • Hiking boots - waterproof, high tops for ankle support, durable
• Water
• Water filter
• Trekking poles
• First aid kit
• GPS/map/compass
• Sunglasses
  polarized, side coverage, lower coverage (e.g. snow/water reflection)

Camp

• Tent with fly + groundsheet
  or a hammocking system, if trip allows
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Camp pillow
• Headlamp + batteries

Kitchen

• Micro backpacking stove
• Lighter
• Fuel
• Pot
• Dishes
  spoon/spork (long handled), bowl (if needed), cup/mug

Clothes

No cotton! When cotton gets wet (from sweat or rain) it doesn’t hold warmth or dry.

• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
  side zips prevent needing to remove shoes

Hiking

What I’ll wear during the day. If longer than three days or likely to get wet, double up on shirts/pants/socks/underwear items. Always bring extra socks.

• Wool Socks
• Underwear
  hiking specific underwear dries faster, is more comfortable when sweating, and smells less
• Sun hat/rain hat
• Hiking shirt (sun hoody)
• Hiking pants/shorts
  quick drying, comfortable, zip offs?
• Bandana/Buff
• Bug/sun shirt

Camp

Keeping warm in the evening, allowing other clothes to dry/air out

• Midweight fleece or wool sweater
• Light fleece pants/warm tights
• Down jacket/pants
• Warm hat
• Gloves
• Long underwear
  Only worn while sleeping, always dry in theory

Other

• Chapstick
• Toiletries (teeth, eyes, feminine, etc)
• Hair bands
• Medication
  allergy, pain (ibuprofen can improve sleep when you’re sore), birth control
• Toilet
  • Trowel
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Backcountry bidet
  • Toilet paper, pack bags, lighter
    may be required to pack out, may not be safe to burn
• Multitool/pocket knife
• Camera
• Charging
  • battery
  • cables
  • solar (very trip dependent)
• Camp/water shoes
  Crocs are my favorites, sandals/flip flops work. Go for lightweight and slip on/off. Lets your hiking shoes dry, your feet air out, keeps your hiking shoes dry.
• Camp games
  cards, dice, pigs

Trip Dependent

• Sunscreen
• Biodegradable bathing soap
• Camp towel
• Bug repellent
• Bear can (or bag/hang)
• Gaiters
• Ice axe
• Crampons/Microspikes
• Book
• Journal
• Permit (car/trail/campsite)
• PLB¹

Food

• High calorie density (~100 Cal/oz)
• Avoid carrying water weight
• The best backpacking meals can be cooked by just boiling water and soaking
• Plan to snack all day. I’ve seen between 200 and 600 Cal/hour
• Variety can be important
• Example meal plan
  • Breakfasts
    • Morning warm up drink - Coffee/tea/hot chocolate
  • Lunches
  • Dinners
    • Pre-dinner fast treat (cup-o-soup)
  • In-between
    • Day snacks
    • Treats/candy
    • Drink powder (calories and/or electrolytes)
  • Trash containers
    I usually use a baggie that was used to pack food
  • Cooking containers
    Freezer ziplock (can handle boiling water)
    Overnight no-cook container

Packing tips

Stuff sacks, compression sacks, water resistant

• Bulky stuff on bottom
• Heavy stuff in middle, towards back
• Light misc on top, outer pockets
• Fill in spaces with compressible items (sleeping bag, down jacket)
• Avoid putting things you don’t want wet on the bottom (like your pillow)
• Day gear in accessible pocket (lunch, snacks, sunglasses)
• Think about the order clothes are packed in
  • Avoid having to dig in an urgent situation (rain/cold)
  • I like to separate my clean and dirty clothes

Don’t forget

• Are maps loaded on the GPS?
• Will the PLB send to the right place?
• Where are the car keys?
• Is everything charged?
• After hike clean clothes/treats?