There are not many things as exciting as traveling and exploring places independently with a backpack. For hikers and campers, the backpack usually carries our essentials, so knowing how to properly pack your backpack is very important. Despite being your first time camping, or you are a regular backpacker, you are expected to have a well-detailed checklist to go through before you proceed.
Ranging from the essentials you will need, to extras, in this article, we will be revealing some of the essential items you should bring along with you on every backpacking trip.
- A Durable Backpack
First, you must get yourself a reliable backpack to house all your essentials you will need for the trip. A high-quality backpack should be able to serve you for a long time, so it seems to pay off.
Any backpack you get for your backpacking trip should be adjustable and suiting, and its features should align with the purpose of backpacking, so be aware of that when picking a backpack for your trip. For short trips, 40L backpacks are suitable for it. But in terms of longer trips, you should consider choosing 60L and above.
- Tent And Sleeping Bags
Despite going on a multi-day trip, or a short-term camping trip, you are required to get yourself a high-quality camping shelter. This should protect you from outside harsh elements and keep you safe while you are out there in the wild.
When choosing a tent and a sleeping bag, you should consider its weight, interior, and durability. However, your sleeping bag and tent will consume ample space while it’s also high quality, water-resistant, and not complicated to set up.
- Food, Water, And Kitchen Supplies
Whereby you will be moving around a lot, you should consider bringing easy to prepare meals, like freeze-dried meals, which are known to be top picks when going on a backpacking trip. And it’s necessarily considered to be a perfect option. Any meal that is regarded as freeze-dried will weigh less than other meals.
The freeze-drying process removes the heavy water molecules, which leaves the nutrients behind in the organic material that is left. Examples of food that can be freeze-dried are coffee, fruit, and juice, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy.
You will also need bowls, pots, cups, and kitchen utensils. When it comes to water, you are recommended to invest in water filtration. Things such as pumps, emergency straws, and gravity filters can be of great help in water filtration in an environment with high animal and human wastes.
- Clothing
While on a backpacking trip, you are not expected to change clothes every day. A backpacking trip implies that you should be ready to get a bit dirty out there and maybe a bit smelly.
So if your trip is a simple overnight one, you are expected to still put on the clothes you had on the first day. Although, you should bring an extra pair of underwear and socks. It’s comforting to have a fresh pair, and you won’t have other excess clothes packed, which makes way for space.
While bringing clothes, you should consider the current climate and weather conditions. Even if the forecast doesn’t signal a rainfall, it’s better to take precautions and be safe out there and at least get a waterproof jacket.
- Shoes
Getting hiking shoes and boots should be considered when going on a backpacking trip. They guard your feet from hard rocks and lead you over terrain. You should be aware that they can help you throughout the trip.
Most importantly, you should know the climate changes and terrain. If you are in wet and cold areas, you should consider waterproof shoes or gaiters to protect yourself. While in a hot and dry environment, you should consider getting trail running shoes. Every trip and everyone has their spec for footwear.
- Navigation Tools
Using smartphones with hiking programs can be a good way to navigate through the wild, so as making use of smartwatches and other handheld GPS receivers.
However, most backpackers would agree that the old paper map and compass remain the best navigation to use. Field guides and guidebooks can also be of great help, but you should always ensure that you are aware of the route and the exact place you are currently.
- Personal Hygiene
There are not many items to be packed in terms of personal hygiene, so they are easy to be kept in one place. These items include toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitizers, and medications.
Aside from that, you should also bring things like a trowel for digging and wag bags to pack your waste. If you are using toilet paper or wipes, bring a sealable bag along to pack them when you are done.
Being able to pack your belongings properly when going on a backpacking trip is an essential skill. You wish to keep your backpack light, but you want to avoid forgetting important items behind. With this list on hand, while packing for a backpacking trip, you are rest assured some things you will need for your trip are with you.
