Hiking and backpacking gear can get expensive really quickly, but not having all the “right” stuff shouldn’t stop you from getting out there. The best place to start is where you are and with what you have. Once you get out there, you’ll figure out what you need and want to have on your backpacking gear list and be able to upgrade your gear over time.

I have been camping for years and only purchased a backpacking pack in the last couple of years. When I first started out, my tent was heavy and bulky. I had blankets and an air mattress instead of a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I had a large camp stove and no backpacking stove. None of which were really suitable for backpacking.

Since then, I’ve slowly purchased new gear with the aim to be more compact while also lessening the weight in my pack. There are definitely still things I’d like to purchase and gear I’d like to swap out, but for now, this is what I have and it works!

The Backpack

I currently have a Gregory Jade 60L pack. I do love this pack. It holds a lot (too much) and it fits my 5’2″, 125lb body really well. This pack is excellent for long hauls and international travel.

However, if I were to pick a new backpacking pack today for wilderness trips, I’d absolutely get a lighter pack, like a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest pack.

The Tent

When I started camping I had a 4-person tent that I had purchased at Walmart for less than $50. It was a great tent and I’d been camping with it for over 5 years. However, it was not conducive to backpacking due to its size and weight.

I still own the heavier tent and will occasionally take it when I’m camping somewhere I have my car. I just had to go for a lighter option for backpacking.

One of the most important items on the backpacking great list is shelter. I now use the REI Half Dome Tent and have been very satisfied with it. The best feature, in my opinion, is the double doors. I’m able to enter or exit the tent on either side.

READ MORE: A Full Review of the REI Half Dome Two-Person Tent

The Sleeping Set Up

When backpacking, my sleeping setup typically consists of a sleeping pad, a sleeping bag, a blow-up pillow, and a sleeping bag liner.

Sleeping Bag

I currently use a Nemo Disco Sleeping Bag, which I LOVE. Deciding on a sleeping bag was some serious work. There are so many options, so many temperatures, so many materials, and so much more to consider.

I knew right away that I wouldn’t be able to sleep in any of the sleeping bags that restricted the movement of my legs/feet. I just couldn’t get a good night’s sleep, so that helped me narrow down my search to bags that are good for “side sleepers” and quilts vs. sleeping bags.

I decided on the Nemo because of its price and comfort.

Sleeping Bag Liner

Not everyone uses a sleeping bag liner, but I’ve used it in many different situations and I’m happy to have it.

I’ve stayed at a lot of different hostels during my travels, oftentimes because it was the most affordable option… which also means it may not be the nicest or cleanest option. Having a sleeping bag liner to wrap around me at night instead of having the sheets or blankets directly on my body helps me feel cleaner.

While camping and backpacking, I use it simply because it helps keep my sleeping bag clean! It’s way easier to throw the liner into the washing machine than it is to hand wash a sleeping bag!

I didn’t have any specific reason for purchasing the FE Active Bag Liner, but I’ve been using it for over 6 years and still love it. It’s lightweight and packs small so I can fit it in any bag.

Sleeping Pad

When I started out camping I had an air mattress and blankets, but I quickly learned that air mattresses are not great in cold weather and I got sick of self-inflating it when I was at a campsite without electricity.

That being said, I knew I wanted to get a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad but it was just out of my price range. It’s still on my upgrade list for the future, so if you can afford one, you may want to consider it!

For now, though, I have this ultralight Tame Lands sleeping pad I purchased off Amazon. It’s affordable, comfortable, and has enough sleep area. The only thing I don’t love about it is that it makes a crinkle sound every time I move around so I always feel a little bad when I am camping around others. It seems to be holding up pretty well, which is also a plus!

Pillow

I didn’t carry a pillow for years, and I still leave it home sometimes depending on how long my trip is. It’s easy to use something else that’s already in my pack like a jacket or other clothes. However, I’ve found that on longer trips 4+ days, I do really enjoy having an actual pillow and they’re so lightweight, it’s hard to leave it at home. I bought the Hikenture Camping Pillow for no other reason than it was affordable and had good reviews.

Safety Gear

First Aid Kit

No backpacking gear list is complete without at least a small first aid kit. You can buy one, and add or remove things that will be beneficial or necessary for you, but I used this Adventure Medical Kit as my starting point for my First Aid kit.

Weapons

I get asked often if I carry a gun when I’m hiking or backpacking solo as a female. The answer is no. I typically carry my Sabre Pepper Spray and a Utility Knife that I lay next to me at night, and that’s about it.

I do not own this product, but I’ve looked at purchasing one of these ParaKnifes, which is not only a utility knife but comes with a short paracord and an attached whistle.

Navigation

So far, I haven’t taken any hikes that will remove me from a power supply long enough that I wouldn’t be able to use my phone as a navigation device, but it’s always good to have a backup.

I’m a bit old school, so I like to carry a physical paper map with me when possible.

In terms of location safety, when I’m hiking in remote areas or backpacking for longer periods of time, I carry my Garmin inReach Mini 2 which is a compact, lightweight, satellite communicator. You do have to additionally pay for a subscription to use the device, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. With the inReach, you can text your friends/family to let them know you’re okay even when there’s no cell service and send them your GPS coordinates. If something goes terribly wrong, you can shoot out an SOS and get emergency assistance.

When camping, I also carry two of these TSA Luggage Travel Locks and put them through my tent zippers on the inside so if someone were to try to open my tent, they wouldn’t be able to. This of course wouldn’t make a difference if a bear or other animal was trying to come THROUGH the tent, but as a solo-female traveler, doing this at night makes me feel safer. I do not carry them while backpacking because I just try to limit my weight as much as possible.

Food/Water

BLUU Camp Stove

When I started looking for a lighter, portable, backpacking camp stove, I found the most popular one among backpackers (not ultralight packers though) was the Jetboil camp stove. At the time, the Jetboil was out of my price range, so I opted for the Bluu branded one I found on Amazon and I’ve been using it for years.

Unfortunately, it’s been discontinued, but the one that’s most comparable to the Bluu camp stove is probably the Fire-Maple camp stove.

Utensils

I actually won this JetBoil Set that I’ve been using for years. They were free to me and are super lightweight so I’m happy. When backpacking, I only take the fork and spoon pieces.

Water Supply

I am a water bladder kind of gal, I know a lot of hikers aren’t but if I’m able, I’ll carry my Osprey 3L Water reservoir. I hiked for years without having a bite valve cover on my reservoir straw and once I finally got one, it was a life-changer! I no longer had to make sure it was neatly folded somewhere on the pack before putting my pack down so it didn’t get dirty. I don’t know why they don’t all come with one!

I also carry one 700ml Smart Water Bottle and the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter. I just fill the SmartWater bottle up with dirty water, attach the Sawyer Squeeze, and drink right out of there.

Food Storage & Supply

The way you store your food while hiking/backpacking is mostly up to you (some forests and parks require specific food storage practices). Some people like to carry canisters while others prefer storage bags you can throw up into a tree.

I currently have a BearVault500 food canister in my pack. It’s heavier than a lot of other food storage options and typically isn’t required on most trails, but I do like that I don’t have to worry about finding a perfect tree and hanging my food. I’ve just never been very good at that. So I just set my canister about 20ft from my tent and it’s all good. I can also use the canister as a seat when I stop for breaks or am sitting at camp.

I do however want to purchase a Ursack Major at some point. I don’t have one now because they’re fairly expensive and I just haven’t taken the plunge.

It’s important to place all items that may have a scent in your storage container, whether that be bug spray, sunscreen, your pack-out trash, or food.

Hygiene

Bathroom Bag

We all have to use the restroom and doing it outdoors really isn’t much different than doing it indoors. My backpacking bathroom gear list is similar to what I’d have at home:

• 1 ziplock bag with hand sanitizer and toilet paper
• 1 ziplock bag for the used toilet paper
• an ultralight trowel
• a Kula cloth
• Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes <- if needed for the restroom, but also, just for full body wipe-downs as needed.
• Diva Cup (if needed for the trip)
• Campsuds biodegradable soap
• A Microfiber towel or washcloth (this is optional and I often leave it behind, but every time I’ve brought it, I’ve used it)

I keep most of these items together and store them in one of my dry bags.

Clothes

What clothes you want to wear and/or pack is a very personal decision. You want to have anything that is comfortable, moisture-wicking, and either light or warm depending on the weather on your backpacking gear list. Personally, for a 3-day hike, or less, I’d wear an outfit, pack something to sleep in, and pack an extra pair of underwear and socks. That’s about. I don’t need a new outfit every day.

Packing too many clothes is often one of the biggest mistakes for new hikers/backpackers and the weight of the extra clothes does not go unnoticed.

This is a step in the packing process where I tell myself “Just because it fits, doesn’t mean I need it”.

Having great socks and boots/trail shoes can make or break your entire hike.

I have an outstanding amount of clothes for hiking, despite only taking a little bit on each trip, but here are some of my favorites:

• Columbia Newton Ridge Hiking Boots
• Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiking Socks
• Baleaf Women’s Hiking Pants
• Smartwool Women’s Base Layer 1/4 Zip

I don’t have a favorite sports bra, T-shirt, or tank top for hiking. I’m still kind of looking for the right fit and comfort so for now, I just kind of grab anything I have at home that is light, moisture-wicking, and comfortable.

Electronics

Of course, being out in the wilderness doesn’t mean I forgo all electronics. I still include the following items on my backpacking gear list:

• Cell Phone + Charger
• Apple Watch + Charger
  • I won’t buy another watch until mine dies, but when it does… I may opt for the Garmin Fenix instead of an Apple watch. I’m still on the fence, but the battery life and sport functionality + GPS of the Garmin is so much better than the Apple watch in my opinion.
• Headlamp + Charger
• Portable Charger <- arguably one of the most important items in your entire pack!
• 1 Apple Airtag <- in case I lose my pack or it gets stolen, but also so my friends/family can track me.

Location/Hike Dependant Supplies

Each hike is different and the weather constantly changes which means some of our gear has to change to adapt. Here’s a few extra supplies I may or may not pack:

• Trekking Poles – I like to bring Trekking poles anytime there will be a lot of downhill hiking. I don’t have great knees and they help a lot.
• A mosquito head net – some places have a lot of mosquitos, gnats, flies, or other bugs that can easily distract and frustrate you on the trail if you’re not prepared.
• Frogg Toggs (rain gear) – Frogg Toggs aren’t at all the most stylish rain gear, but they will keep your full body dry in a rainstorm!
• Sea to Summit Clothes Line – being able to hang your wet tent, sleeping bag, clothes or other supplies after a rainstorm can save you a lot of discomfort when you go to make camp the next day.
• Extra layers (a coat, gloves, hat, etc.)
  • I have a heated vest by Mobile Warming that I got as a gift and I LOVE it! I’ve worn it on multiple hikes and used it to stay warm overnight many times.

Summary of My Backpacking Gear List

What you need to have on your backpacking gear list entirely depends on the location and weather of the area you’re hiking. Although the above list is not all-inclusive, it covers most of the items I carry for the majority of my hikes.

My pack is still a little heavier than I’d like it to be especially if I want to do any long-distance hiking, but as I said at the beginning, backpacking is for anyone, and starting with what you have is the best place to start. I’ve upgraded my gear as I’ve gotten more experienced and figured out different things that work best for me along the way.

Do you have a specific item or two in your pack that you carry on most hikes that I didn’t mention in this post? Tell me in the comments!