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Looking for a quality backpacking gear checklist to help you prepare for an upcoming trip. Our backpacking expert editors have put together a comprehensive backpacking checklist with both the most essential items, and some nice-to-haves. If you're starting from scratch, we've taken the time to list all our favorite backpacking gear recommendations in one place to get you started, but this dream list has great options for any type of trail treader. If you've been backpacking since the dawn of time, you likely have your preferred gear setup and are dialed in your packing process, but most gear has a lifespan, and when it's time to retire your favorite backpacking pack, we're up to date on the latest and greatest in the world of outdoor gear and can recommend a replacement.
Some of the items on our list overlap with items our testers have chosen as the best hiking gear, and we have included options for those who love to go fast with the lightest backpacking gear. We also consider the value of each option so you can make the best choice for your budget. Long story short, you've got options, and we're here to help you find the ones that best fit your flavor of adventure.
Editor's Note: We updated this article on April 25, 2024.
We love the MegaLite for nearly any backpacking scenario imaginable.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Backpacking Gear Checklist
Whether you are prepping for your first overnight backpacking trip, gearing up for a long thru-hike, or fall somewhere in between, it never hurts to double-check your gear against a good checklist. Below is our backpacking expert editors' gear checklist that you can use to make sure you've got all your essentials. You'll find that list below or you can download one of our PDF checklists:
Our list includes everything we consider essential for a successful backpacking trip, along with a few optional items for you to consider. You will want to tailor your selection to fit the length, difficulty, and expected weather conditions of your trip.
With nothing but a pack on your back and a trail in front of you, you can set up your new home away from home.
Your backpacking tent should be chosen based on the length, climate, and style of your trip.
Exploring Colorado's Rocky Mountain wilderness with the Aura AG 50.
Credit: Briana Valorosi
Best Backpacking Gear
If you read that list and noticed that there are a few things you are missing, or just feel that it is time to upgrade your decades-old gear (there's only so much a roll of duct tape can fix), we have bought and tested the top products for hiking and backpacking available today. Our expert outdoors team has put each piece of gear through its paces, battling against weather, altitude, temperature swings, and trail fatigue to find out which ones make the cut. For each of your most considered backpacking items, we can help you find the right fit.
Hiking Gear
Finding the right backpack is one of the most essential backpacking trip decisions. Getting the right balance in weight, storage, cost, and comfort is key, but needs to fit with your intended use and budget. We've tested more than 200 of the best backpacks of all different types, putting each through an intensive evaluation and rating process.
Backpacking packs are designed to carry large loads (30-50 pounds) for multiple days and usually range between 50-80 liters in capacity. If you plan to hike long distances with smaller loads, see below for ultralight packs.
Your choice of backpack should be durable, easy to use, and most of all, comfortable.
Credit: Sam Schild
Backpacks (Unisex/Men's)
Many backpacks are designed to be used by either men or women, with a unisex design. Most men use this kind of pack, while most women prefer a pack designed specifically for women (see our picks below). Here are our reviewer's favorite backpacking backpacks.
Key differences, particularly in shoulder and hip belt-positioning, are what set women's specific packs apart from unisex styles.
Credit: Sam Schild
Backpacks Designed for Women
Most, but not all, women will prefer a pack designed specifically for a woman's body. Women's packs typically offer shorter torso lengths, narrower shoulder widths, and waist belts designed for the angle of women's hips. Below are our top picks from our review of the best women's backpacking backpacks.
If you want to shave ounces off your backpack weight, a smaller-capacity ultralight pack might be the way to go.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight backpacks are for experienced hikers that want to reduce weight and carry only the bare essentials. These packs are best suited for light pack loads of 10-25 pounds but can work reasonably well for heavier loads too. If your pack load is above 30 pounds, we'd recommend a traditional pack. But, if moving light and fast is your thing, then our favorite ultralight backpacks are right up your alley:
Trekking poles allow you to incorporate your upper body into your hike, adding balance and stability when needed.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Trekking Poles
Trekking poles have risen from obscurity and are now a key piece of gear for hikers, backpackers, trail runners, trekkers, and climbers. They allow you to incorporate your upper body into uphill travel and help absorb shock on your knees while descending. Here are the top picks from our best trekking pole review.
Your tent can make all the difference on a backpacking adventure. A traditional backpacking tent is designed to protect you from the weather as well as provide you with a comfortable spot to hang out in the backcountry. Here are three of our favorite backpacking tents from our latest review:
Some ultralight tents only provide the bare minimum by way of shelter, but sometimes that's all you need.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Ultralight Tents and Shelters
An ultralight tent can provide you shelter from the storm while weighing less than 2 pounds. While more expensive, the best ultralight tents are perfect if want to carry as light a load as possible. Here are our top picks from our latest review:
If you are camping alone and don't have a hiking partner to share the tent weight, it can make sense to go with a smaller, lighter shelter, like a bivy sack.
Credit: Brian Smith
Bivy Sacks
If you are packing solo, a bivy sack can be a comfortable, lightweight, smaller alternative to a tent and can be just as waterproof and durable. Here are the top picks from our review of the best bivy sacks:
Doubling as a sleeping place and a camp chair, a hammock can be a great way to save weight and space in your pack.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Hammocks
Whether you're an ultralight hiker, a comfy camper, or a backyard bum, we've got the best hammock option for you and your budget. Here are our three favorites:
The perfect night's sleep on the trail can be elusive, especially when trying to minimize the weight of your pack. Our backcountry experts spent thousands of nights, sleeping in the top models on the market, to help you choose the right now.
Backpacking Sleeping Bags for Unisex/Men
Sleeping bags are one of the most critical components of your backpacking kit. And, choosing the right bag is arguably one of the best ways to reduce weight. Here are our top picks for backpacking sleeping bags designed for men/unisex:
Warm and cozy and ready to snuggle up in our sleeping bag for a good night's rest.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Backpacking Sleeping Bags Designed for Women
Women's products are starting to catch up with the unisex market and are coming in hot with lightweight materials, high-quality down, and creative features to give you a better night's sleep. The best women's sleeping bags are cut differently to fit a female form better — they are a bit wider in the hips (an average of 2 inches) and narrower in the shoulder (an average of 2-6 inches less). A better fit helps your body warm the air inside the bag more efficiently. Here are the bags that stood out most in our review testing:
Some ultralight sleeping bags can pack down to the size of a water bottle, and they're probably lighter, too.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Ultralight Sleeping Bags
While the top ultralight sleeping bags are ideal for backpacking, they are also great for any outdoor sports that require a "light is right" ideal. Long-distance thru-hiking, bike-packing, fast-packing, and bike touring have become somewhat commonplace, and ultralight sleeping bags are one of the pieces of a lightweight kit needed to make these adventures happen. Here are some of our favorites from our latest review:
Even if you decide to forego the tent, a sleeping pad is something most backpackers would consider a must-have item, both for warmth and comfort.
Credit: Sam Schild
Backpacking Sleeping Pads
There are a mind-boggling number of pads out there today. Our best backpacking sleeping pads review breaks down each of the competing sleeping pads by comfort, weight, packed size, durability, and more. Here are the top picks from our latest review:
A comfortable sleeping pad creates a barrier between you and the ground, adding cushion and an extra layer of insulation.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Backpacking Sleeping Pads Designed for Women
Choosing a woman's specific product is a smart and easy way to maximize your gear without increasing the weight of your pack. Sleeping pad manufacturers have taken this into account when designing pads specifically for women. Here are our top picks from our best women's sleeping pad review:
This stove is less stable than the competition. Our testers recommend using smaller volume (less than 1L) cookware.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Backpacking Kitchen and Camp Gear
Once you arrive at your day's destination, you'll set up your camp. One essential piece of gear is going to be a quality backpacking stove, and you may want to indulge in a comfy (yet lightweight) chair for chilling at your campsite. Below, you'll find our picks for those and other smaller items you might consider.
Backpacking Stoves
A canister stove is our favorite choice for almost all backpacking trips. They are lightweight, small, and easy to use. But, there are a lot of competing products, and our review of the top backpacking stoves can help you make a smart choice.
Nothing beats being able to lounge after a long day on your feet.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Backpacking Chair
If you are a backpacking weight-weenie, then a chair is just too much of a luxury to consider. But, for the rest of us, the joy of having a comfortable place to sit while in the backcountry can motivate a passionate search for best backpacking chair. We've got you here with our top picks:
Carrying water (and making sure it's safe to drink) is the most basic and essential backpacking need. We look at everything from the best backpacking water filters to options that weigh less than a cell phone and can be used in seconds. Be sure to check out our review of the best water bottles and best hydration bladders, too.
Happy feet make for a happy hike. We do side-by-side comparisons of a wide range of the best backcountry footwear, whether you are going 10 miles or 1000+. In addition to footwear, finding the right clothing layers for men and clothing options for women can make bad weather a mere nuisance and not a morale crusher. Check out our How to Layer Clothing to Keep Warm article to help develop a strategy to stay warm.
A good pair of hiking boots will give you the confidence to hike in all kinds of conditions.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Men's Hiking Boots
Hikers with concerns about twisted ankles, or previous ankle injuries, will want a stable, supportive boot. And, we've tested hiking boots like nobody ever has before with hundreds of miles of hiking over all kinds of terrain. Below are our three favorite men's hiking boots from our review:
Hiking boots provide the traction and support needed for heavy loads and technical terrain.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Women's Hiking Boots
For some women, a pair of top-rated hiking shoes may result in the most efficient use of energy, but others will find that boots, now in lighter weight models, provide added support that leads to greater comfort and enjoyment on the trail. Below are the best women's hiking boots:
Bringing along a packable down jacket is an easy way to bring along a warm layer for shoulder season trips without adding too much weight.
Credit: Kaylee Walden
Down Jackets
Down is the lightest and warmest insulator you can find, but not all down jackets are created equal. We've spent months testing more than 100 of the best down jackets for both men and women to find our favorites.
Layering up is key to staying ahead of unpredictable weather, and a great layering system starts with the perfect base.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Men's Base Layers
A quality base layer is the kick-off point of having functional clothing set up for getting outside to play. Our expert review will help you find the perfect base layer top to regulate body temperature, wick away moisture, and keep you comfortable.
Whether worn alone or under a second shirt, a good baselayer keeps you warm while also wicking away excess moisture.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Women's Base Layers
A solid base layer top sits right next to your skin, and its biggest job is to keep moisture off your skin while providing comfort. Our picks will help you find the best women's base layer top that'll have you lookin' fine while keeping you safe from cold weather.
Best Merino Wool Base Layer
Black Diamond Solution 150 Merino Quarter Zip - Women's
For cooler early morning starts and summit power poses, long underwear will do the trick.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Men's Long Underwear
A set of the best long underwear are a fundamental ingredient in staying warm and comfortable while outside playing in a range of temperatures and environments, and, as such a critical piece of gear, they deserve the same level of respect.
Thermals can double as camp loungwear as well as a second layer for cooler hiking days.
Credit: Gus Landefeld
Women's Long Underwear
Perhaps one of the most important pieces of gear to consider is the one that sits next to your skin. The best women's long underwear do their job by wicking away moisture and transporting it away from your skin to ensure that you stay dry.
Many of us go to the wild to escape the tether of modern communications, but we may still want the ability to keep in touch or call for help in an emergency. Enter the array of satellite messengers, personal locator beacons, and other backcountry communication technologies. We've been testing these devices for almost 10 years, and below are our favorites.
Ideally, your backcountry charging needs are pretty minimal, but if you want to be able to snap photos and use your GPS watch, a portable solar charger can power the electronics you decide to bring with you.
Credit: Chris McNamara
Portable Solar Chargers
If you are in the backcountry and have devices you want to keep charged, check out some of the best portable solar chargers to stay juiced up. Here are our favorites.
Different GPS watches can be more or less featured, so be sure to check out the details to choose the right one for you.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
GPS Watch
If you want a navigation system that fits on your wrist, tracks your heart rate, logs your miles, and allows you to track your stats later, a GPS watch could be a good investment. Our favorite models for backcountry use feature a dedicated ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass) and bread-crumb mapping, and offer essential info at a glance.
While testing backpacking backpacks is serious business, arriving at your camp while the sun is shining is cause for celebration.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Why You Should Trust Us
At GearLab, we love a good backpacking adventure. Hiking in the mountains and venturing deep into the backcountry is in our blood and it's our pleasure to hit the trails. We start the process by doing extensive research on the top products on the market. We then narrow down our selection to only include the best of the bunch. We purchase each item and start rigorous side by side testing. For each category of products we test, we establish a series of metrics to score each product in an unbiased way.
This review is a team effort of Ben Applebaum-Bauch, Jack Kramer and Ian Nicholson. Lead reviewer Ben Applebaum-Bauch got his professional start in the outdoor industry by purchasing and maintaining gear for guided backpacking trips. He later became a guide himself, leading multi-week backpacking, cycling, and canoeing trips throughout northern New England and maritime Canada. Jack Cramer is an accomplished climber, former member of the Yosemite Search and Rescue team, and self-proclaimed gear nerd. Ian Nicholson is an American Mountain Guides Association-certified guide who spends part of his workday helping clients select the ideal gear for backpacking, climbing, and ski trips. Our experts have spent much of the last decade in the backcountry developing expertise in mountain survival and have extensive knowledge about what gear is necessary to have a comfortable and successful backpacking trip.
Backpacking can be your ticket to untouched spaces and enjoying the quiet of the wilderness.
Credit: Elizabeth and Adam Paashaus
Packing Tips
Each trail is going to be a bit different, and the same trail may be different in different seasons. The weather, duration, trail difficulty, and distance from help should all be taken into account when deciding how much and what type of gear to bring.; you'll want to do your research ahead of time and fine-tune your packing list before each trip. Pack enough food and snacks for every day you plan to be out, and then one day extra. It is also smart to check your trail guide for the frequency of available water so you know how large of a water storage container you'll need to pack. When it comes to clothing, remember the old saying, "cotton kills." Aim for lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying fabrics that won't lose their insulation properties when wet. Synthetic or wool materials are great.
Pre-trip: Take care of personal grooming before you head out (trim your nails, shave, cut your hair, etc). Though small tasks, they will help you avoid being uncomfortable during your hike and allow you to cut down on the number of toiletries you bring.
When in doubt, make sure that you've got the ten essentials, and you'll be set. These include some version of navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first-aid supplies, fire, repair kits and tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. Once you've got these areas covered, any additional items you decide to bring simply depend on how many pounds you're willing to carry.
Finding the best backpacking gear means actually using it on long trips through the backcountry.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Get Out There!
We hope this summary of our favorite backpacking gear has been helpful. We have a number of other gear lists in key outdoor categories from hiking to climbing coming soon. In addition, be sure to see our Buying Advice articles for most major categories where our experts guide you through selecting the perfect type of backpacking gear for your needs. See you on the trails!
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Ben Applebaum-Bauch, Sam Schild, Jane Jackson, Ian Nicholson, and Elizabeth Paashaus
