An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist

By Michael Lanza

What do you need to pack for a three-season backpacking trip? While the specific items depend in part on factors like the time of year, your companions and backpacking style, the trip’s length and the weather forecast, this story provides a core checklist of essential gear to help you organize and efficiently pack—and avoid overpacking—for virtually any backpacking trip.

I use the checklist below for just about every three-season backpacking trip I take in the U.S. and around the world. I’ve developed it over more than three decades of multi-day backcountry trips and more than a quarter-century of writing about backpacking trips and testing and reviewing backpacking gear and apparel, including the 10 years I spent as a lead gear reviewer and Northwest Editor of Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog.


Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.


Backpackers on the Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon.
Mark Fenton and Todd Arndt backpacking the Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon. Click photo to read about “the best backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon.”

The list below is preceded by some insights on how I make gear choices. The links in this story and checklist will take you to menus of product reviews; photos link to stories about those trips.

See my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your next trip—including answering all of your questions. Please share your thoughts on my list and tips and offer your own suggestions in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and other parks using my expert e-guides.

 

A backpacker hiking over Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park.
Jeff Wilhelm backpacking over Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park. Click the photo for my e-guide “The Best Backpacking Trip in Yosemite.”

How to Decide What Gear to Pack

I pare my checklist for any specific trip down to just essentials, which vary from trip to trip. As examples, I will carry a warmer down jacket on some, a lighter one on others, or a synthetic puffy jacket if I expect wet weather. On most trips, it’s just one puffy jacket; I don’t need an extra fleece or a vest on most three-season trips because, if it’s cool in the morning, I’ll hike in my long-sleeve jersey over my T-shirt, with my shell jacket on to trap a little extra warmth if needed, and then typically for no more than an hour or two until it’s warm enough to shed one or two layers.

I bring a tent when I expect bugs or significant rainfall, but a tarp for late summer or early fall if I only need protection from possible rain—for instance, after Labor Day in Yosemite or Sequoia national parks and any of the numerous wilderness areas in the High Sierra, like the John Muir Wilderness, when you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes and rain is not common.

For base layers, I’ll bring one T-shirt and one midweight long-sleeve jersey, which I’ll usually only need hiking on cool mornings, so I can keep it dry for sleeping in when needed. I’ll bring two pairs of socks for trips of up to five days and at most three pairs of socks for trips of more than five days—and if I expect very dry conditions, two pairs may suffice even on long trips.

Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up now for my FREE email newsletter.

 

Backpackers hiking to Island Lake in Wyoming's Wind River Range.
Backpackers hiking to Titcomb Basin in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. Click photo to see all stories about the Winds.

I allow myself a few luxuries on many backpacking trips, including a comfortable, lightweight or ultralight air mattress augmented by a short, folding foam sleeping pad that I use for lying around camp, as a stretching/yoga mat (which helps me feel better), and under my air mat when sleeping; plus an inflatable pillow and often an ultralight camp chair.

Incidental items like permit, passport, bug nets, gaiters, type of hat (it’s usually one wool hat and one ball cap or wide-brim sun hat), and pack cover also depend on the trip’s circumstances. I virtually always carry one DSLR body and two lenses. I’ll often have just one eating utensil and one mug/bowl that pulls double duty, and one pot, and I may just eat out of the pot. (See my reviews of cooking systems for backpacking.)

Use The Big Outside to plan your next adventure.
Join now and a get free e-guide and member gear discounts!

 

Backpackers above the Baron Lakes in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains.
My son, Nate, and two buddies backpacking above the Baron Lakes in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains. Click photo for my e-guide “The Best Backpacking Trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains.”

Backpacking Gear Checklist

See my review of backpacking gear accessories for my favorite picks for many items on this checklist and click on links in this list for menus of reviews at The Big Outside.

___ GPS or mapping app (like Gaia)
___ Trail map(s)
___ First-aid kit
___ Permit and passport if needed
___ Camera, batteries, camera pack
___ Book or e-reader
___ Backpack, pack cover optional
___ Daypack if needed
___ Sleeping bag, inflatable pillow
___ Air mattress/sleeping pad
___ Chair kit
___ Tent/tarp
___ Toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste
___ Double-bagged toilet paper
___ Stove, fuel
___ Cooking kit
___ Utensil
___ Mug/bowl/plate
___ Water bottle, bladder
___ Water treatment
___ Trekking poles
___ Headlamp, batteries
___ Compass/GPS/altimeter
___ Matches/lighter
___ Multi-tool/knife
___ Stuff sacks
___ Lashing straps, mini-biners
___ Sunglasses, eyeglasses, case
___ Bug repellent/bug nets if needed
___ Sunscreen, lip balm
___ Boots/shoes, camp footwear if needed
___ Gaiters/low gaiters
___ Gloves/mittens
___ Warm hat, earband, sun hat, rain hat
___ Rain shell
___ T-shirt, long-sleeve shirt
___ Shorts, pants
___ Long underwear if needed
___ Underwear
___ Insulation/puffy jacket
___ Socks

I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.Find out more here.

See “5 Smart Steps to Lighten Your Backpacking Gear” and this menu of stories with expert tips on backpacking.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all my reviews and expert buying tips.

Was this story helpful? Get full access to ALL stories at The Big Outside.
Join now and a get free e-guide!

Previous

Review: Hoka One One Speedgoat 5 Shoes

How to Get a Last-Minute Yosemite Wilderness Permit Now

Next

Leave a Comment

6 thoughts on “An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist”

  1. Hi Michael,
    Thanks for sharing such an informative checklist here, I read your blog post is really too good & valuable for those are ready to trekking.

    Reply
  2. Thanks Mike. I don’t see anything on your list that’s not on mine so this is reassuring. Extra shoe lace is one thing I have been packing lately since parachute cord would not fit easily into the eyelets of my minimalist boots. (and of course flyrod)

    Reply