Autumn is just around the corner, which means successively shorter days accompanied by cooler breezes and crisp, clear nights. Leaves are beginning to flourish in bright hues as summer fades away, scattering along winding trails and drifting into piles under the trees they once adorned. There is no better time of year for a backpacking trip, and for that, you will need a few essential pieces of backpacking gear.
If you are considering a backpacking trip, you should already be experienced with hiking and camping in the wilderness. While not all backpacking trips mean traversing the entirety of the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trails, the same principles of planning and self-sufficiency will apply. Even experienced hikers take proper precautions, like building physical fitness and endurance and thoroughly researching the area they wish to backpack through. It is vital that you know how to plan for a backpacking trip before ever attempting one!
1. Backpack
It goes without saying that a backpack is one of the most essential pieces of backpacking gear, but not all packs are created equal. The location and duration of your trip will largely determine the size of pack you need, but of course, you don’t exactly want a different pack every time your factors change. Backpacks manufactured specifically for backpacking trips will often have features like removable top or lumbar pack, multiple interior and exterior compartments, rain cover, lash tabs and straps for attaching additional tools or accessories, and suspension systems designed to reduce back and shoulder fatigue and support the spine.
2. Shelter
There is a vast array of shelters designed for backpacking, most of which use ultra lightweight materials that render the entire package just a few pounds in weight. Whether the shelter is only for yourself or you’ll be sharing it with someone else, you’ll want to save as much weight as possible so you can bring other essential pieces of backpacking gear without overweighting your pack.
3. Sleeping Bag
You’ll need a place to bundle up and rest inside your shelter at night. Since most modern sleeping bags compress down to small sizes and weights, it’s better to use one of these than an older standard model for backpacking. Choose a sleeping bag with a temperature rating that will be suitable for where you live or plan on backpacking the most. You can always insulate your sleeping bag with your clothing if the rating isn’t low enough, or sleep with it partially open if it’s too low. Like Goldilocks, choose something in the median of temperatures you think you’ll be exploring. You may want to add a sleeping pad to your bedding for additional comfort without adding too much weight to your pack.
4. Hiking Boots
The type of hiking boots you choose is going to be crucial to your comfort and enjoyment of the backpacking trip. Never start an expedition in brand new, unworn hiking boots, as you will be wearing them in as you traverse miles of backcountry every day, and you will feel it. Besides being painful, blisters can lead to infection if they are not treated and allowed to heal, and being unsteady in hiking boots that are not worn in can cause you to turn your ankle or misstep and fall. Learn how to break in your hiking boots quickly if there is no other option. If you have the appropriate boots with the right amount of wear, waterproof them before you head out to significantly reduce the discomfort caused by continuously wet feet.
5. Cookset
Unless you want to live on trail mix and beef jerky for the entirety of your trip, a cookset is one of the more essential pieces of backpacking gear. You can find a variety of styles and brands online or at any outdoor store, most of which run on canister fuel. We recommend choosing a cookset that includes the stove and cooking implements so you don’t have to purchase a bunch of pieces separately. These sets usually nest everything inside the largest component, making for easy organization and packing — very important when every inch and ounce counts!
Related articles: 5 Essential Pieces of Camping Gear for a Weekend Trip also 5 Essentials for Camping
Featured Image from Denisse Leon/Unsplash
