What Gear Do I Need?

Backpacking can be as simple as you want, to as much gear as you can lift and carry on your back. Besides a simple list of essentials for safety and comfort there isn't much more a person needs to make the jump from day hiking to backpacking. What it comes down to is personal comfort levels and how many luxury items you want to carry.

Often a big mistake new backpackers make is walking into an outdoors shop and announcing "I want to take up backpacking, what do I need?". That, sadly, is the siren call of "Sweet! Open ended credit card purchase! This customer (or rather sucker) will take anything that we claim they need!". And out walks the customer $500-$2,000 lighter with 60 lbs of gear that is over engineered. And half of which you won't ever need!

Taking a couple days, weeks, or even a month or two reading up gear reviews, reading outdoor forums, asking questions, etc will save you time and money. And leave you with quality gear that works for you. If you have friends that hike, go with them, ask them about their gear. If you have stores like REI nearby, you can often rent gear-which also helps if you are not sure wether or not you are ready to sleep outside!

Getting started:

What size backpack do I need?
That of course depends on how you see yourself. Do you like luxuries? Are you willing to carry more weight? Or do you want to go light? Do you see yourself doing long week plus long trips? Or mostly weekend trips?

In traditional backpacking gear lists, 3,500 ci is usually the "weekend" size, and 4,500 ci and up for "long" trips. If you go lighter though, that 3500 ci pack can take you for a couple weeks! You can find depending on gear that you might only need a 2,000 to 3,500 ci pack for weekends to week long trips. If I were to recommend one size, it would be in the 3,500 ci size with compression straps so you can make the pack smaller if needed. This way you have a "do it all" size. It also forces you to carry less gear as well, unless you want to strap items on the outside.

How do I buy a pack?
You will often see the advice of "buy your backpack last so it will fit your gear". That can a bad and a good thing:
On one hand, if you buy all your gear first then your pack, you can just go. But it can encourage one to carry more weight and unneeded gear.
On the other hand, if you get a backpack first it can force you to make sure your gear fits in it, causing one to pare down gear, to what is needed.

My advice? Buy the best backpack you can afford. Make sure it fits you as perfectly as you can get. Have your torso properly measured. Try on both women's specific packs and unisex models.  Have the packs loaded with your gear if you it, or bean bags that most outdoor stores have. Put in at least 35 lbs. Even if you don't plan on carrying that much. When you top 30-35 lbs you start to feel whether or not the pack is going to hurt. Wear the loaded pack for an hour or so, and wander the store. Play with all the straps. Tighten and loosen up everything.  If the store won't let you do this, then they are not a good store!

Try to avoid buying a backpack from a store with no return policy, unless you have fully tried the pack on before, and are buying it there to save money!

The rest of the gear:

Besides the basic essential list from dayhiking, and your backpack, all you need to add is:

• A shelter to protect you (a tent, tarp, bivy, hammock,etc).
• A sleeping bag.
• A sleeping pad to insulate you from the cold.
• Stove and cooking pot, if you don't already have one.
• Ability to treat water, if you don't already have it.

A Basic List Of What To Bring:

• Backpack
• Pack cover
• Shelter
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Pillow, if desired
• Sit pad, if desired (See the DIY section!)
• Rain jacket (if you need one where you live)
• Rain Pants (if needed, I only bring in off season or if bad weather is predicted)
• Jacket or vest for evening/mornings (down is light, wool sweater, fleece)
• Hat
• Gloves (thin ones for summer use in alpine)
• Water bottles and or hydration bladder. (I carry an empty 2L bladder for camp use, and 2 quart containers for hiking. It is good to have a backup and not rely on only one container)
• Water treatment (Aquamira, water filter, etc.)
• Stove
• Fuel
• Lighter or matches
• Cooking pot
• Spoon or spork
• Drinking cup
• Stuff sack, Ursack bag or bear canister for food storage
• Food
• First Aid Kit (Good to store in a ziploc bag to stay water tight)
• Compass/Maps/photo copied guide book pages/GPS (In a ziploc bag)
• Emergency kit (firestarter, emergency blanket, duct tape) (store in a ziploc bag)
• Extra socks. (1-2 pairs)
• Extra underwear (1-2 pairs)
• Long sleeve shirt for evenings/mornings
• T shirt or tank top to hike in (except for winter)
• Convertible pants (on week long trips I will bring a pair of shorts as well)
• Bandanna or hat
• Toilet paper
• Sunglasses
• Gallon ziploc bag for garbage
• Ziploc bag for ID, money and cell phone
• LED headlamp
• Book to read
• Camera
• Knife
• Camp shoes (I carry Crocs. They are lightweight and work well for trips where there is water fording or long days)

Optional Items:

• A bowl
• Insulated mug
• More clothing
• Long johns to sleep in
• Down booties/socks for winter
• iPod for night time listening
• Pan scrubbie and soap if traditional camp cooking
• Umbrella for rain/hot days
• Lightweight camp chair