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This post is dedicated to my girlfriend who will be coming on her very first multi-day backpacking trip with me over the August long weekend. Packing for a backpacking trip is not easy and I learn something about the gear I take every time I go on a trip. Each time I go, I end up re-packing multiple times to verify what I have and gauge whether I’ve overdone it or not. There are times when I’ve brought too much and other times where I’ve brought too little. Both situations suck in their own special way and there is an art to getting it just right.
This backpacking packing list is a culmination of what I’ve learned over the years. Keep in mind that this list is for a summer backpacking trip in Ontario, where it will be warm with minimal elevation gain. What you bring needs to be adjusted depending on where your trip is, the weather conditions, what sorts of obstacles you will encounter, your personal preferences, how long it is, etc. But here’s a starting point that will get any beginner on the right track and hopefully feeling a bit more confident on the trail. Let’s get into it!
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I’ve organized this list into the following general categories:
Personal Gear
This is stuff for you: your essentials plus your comfort items.
Sleeping bag – Pack one which will keep you warm at night and check the temperature lows before you go. If you have a fairly light sleeping bag (like I do) and think you might be cold, consider bringing a sleeping bag liner, like this Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner, for any nights that might be chilly. Liners, especially the silk ones, are small and can add a lot of extra warmth in a pinch.
Sleeping pad – thin, thick, short, tall… bring a sleeping pad that’s right for you. The technology has come a long way with these and you can find pads which roll up incredibly small but inflate to be almost 3 inches thick. This is heaven, especially if you like sleeping on your side. My partner and I have the Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pad which inflates to 9cm thick and is appropriate for three-season camping.
Pillow – I used to sleep without a pillow when I was younger but bought a small inflatable one years ago: the Delux Pillow from MEC. Now I wonder how I ever managed without. Your neck and back will thank you.
Medication
Toiletries – I always downsize my toiletries into small re-useable containers and bring travel-sized items. These include: toothpaste, toothbrush, moisturizers, sunscreen, bug spray, hairbrush, lip chap, sanitary products, wet wipes, etc.
Headlamp - MEC has a variety of headlamps available here, and also has a great "how to choose a headlamp article" to guide you to finding the right one for your activity.
Portable battery charger
Water storage – I bring a 2L reservoir which has a hose for easy access, as well as a collapsible 1L water bottle. Depending on the length of the day and how hot it is, I’ll fill one or both.
Towel – you can buy camp towels which are small, thin, quick dry and extra absorbent.
Seat – I bring a foldable butt pad like the Therm-a-Rest Z-seat which is ultra light and keeps my bum warm, comfy and dirt-free.
Sunglasses
Hiking poles – these are a personal preference but as my knees get older, (*sheds single tear*) it’s another item I can’t live without.
Kitchen ware – I typically only bring a spoon and a mug as this is all I’ll need on the trail, but what you bring will depend on your meals and drinks. Opt for items which are light (plastic or thin metal). There are also some foldable or collapsible options out there for utensils, bowls and cups.
Multitool/Leatherman/Swiss army knife
Toilet paper – I unroll a sizeable amount and store it in a Ziplock bag.
Ziplock or small plastic bag for garbage – typically each person brings their own to carry out any waste.
Dry sacks – various sizes are good in order to organize your gear and keep it dry. Bonus points if they are also compressible. I like ultra thin ones like the MEC Nano 3D Dry Bag.
Gaitors – these are sleeves which slip on over your boots and lower calf, which are great for keeping out mud, rocks, water from getting in your boot. Whether you bring these or not will depend on the trail. I find them useful if hiking on a beach or in very muddy conditions (e.g., the West Coast Trail).
Ear plugs and eyemask – earplugs are essential if your tent buddies snore, however, they can be unsafe if there is an emergency in the middle of the night. For that reason, these are a personal preference.
Group gear
This is stuff that you will coordinate with your group and divide equally amongst each other to carry. Keep in mind that how you divide items may also depend on the size of your friends – your small friends may not be able to carry as much! As a rule of thumb, your pack should not exceed 20% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 145lbs, your pack should not be more than ~30lbs.
Tent – the lighter the better but be sure it’s waterproof! There are many tents out there which range in size and weights, however the MSR Hubba Hubba series of tents is a crowd favourite in the backpacking community which comes in 1 to 3 person sizes. I've also backpacked with MEC's Spark tent which has been great as well. Here’s a link to MEC's backpacking tents, which includes the Hubba Hubba and Spark series.
Tarp – personal preference and definitively a luxury item, in my opinion, as they take up a lot of space. However, they can be very handy as emergency shelter.
Water filtration system – this can either be a personal hand pump, water treatment tabs, or a larger 3–4-liter gravity filtration system. I love my Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L Filter System and I typically bring this for the group to use.
Stove plus any pot(s) or pan(s) you may need for meals – I bring a JetBoil MiniMo stove which boils water incredibly fast. Boiling water is all I’ll need for dehydrated meals and coffee/tea.
Cooking utensils, such as a spatula (if required).
Sat Phone/satellite communicator/locator – in case of emergency, it is beneficial to have something on hand which can contact park rangers or emergency contacts. There is also the option to have a satellite communicator which can send pre-recorded messages and/or your location to select numbers. Do your research before purchasing these as there are many option out there.
Map - a physical map can be very useful or you can download an offline map on to your phone. If you use the latter option, just make sure your phone doesn't die.
First Aid Kit – items may include bandages for blisters, pain killers, allergy medication, Pepto-Bismol, Band-Aids, polysporin, alcohol wipes, medical tape.
Rope, tethers, carabiners – these will be needed to make a bear hang to hoist your food in a tree if there is no bear boxes available on the trail. Otherwise, it is handy to have a spool or two of rope for emergencies or general usefulness like a clothesline.
Bear spray – have this handy and preferably in a holster on your hip during the hike.
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Clothes
You will be dirty and stinky at the end of the trip. Embrace it!
Underwear – how many you bring is a personal preference. You may wash and reuse some underwear if you want to keep your undie count low. I know that putting on a fresh pair everyday is something that keeps me sane so I bring one pair per day of hiking. I love Knix underwear for hiking and outdoor adventures because they are light, comfy and dry super fast.
Socks – I bring 2 pair hiking socks and 1 pair camp socks for trips spanning from 3 to 7 days. Good, durable and padded socks are everything. They will save you from blisters, which can make or break the trip. Natural fibers like wool are naturally antimicrobial and dry fast (and don’t smell! Everything else will, however, but we’ll take the win…). My personal favourite are Darn Tough socks which have a lifetime warranty and come in a variety of weights depending on the season. Here’s a link for lightweight hiking socks which are good for summer hiking trips: Darn Tough Light Hiker Light Cushion Micro Crew Socks.
2 changes of hiking clothes – this is all I bring for trips spanning from 3 to 7 days. The clothing items should be light and quick-dry material.
1 set of comfy camp clothes – e.g. a set of long underwear.
Rain jacket and pants – the rain pants are optional. Even if the forecast indicates no rain, the jacket is still useful for blocking wind or as an extra layer for warmth.
Hat and mitts for evenings, if temperatures are forecasted to drop during the night.
1 insulating mid-layer, like a puffy jacket, which can be either down or down-alternative. These are warm and very compressible.
Bathing suit, for those wonderful dips after a long day’s hike!
Footwear
Hiking boots – a good pair of water proof, high top hiking boots are essential for your safety and comfort on the trail. Ankle support is everything when carrying a heavy load on uneven terrain. If your boots are new, I’d suggest breaking them in with a couple practice hikes before you hit the trail. I have the Zamberlan 330 Marie Gore-Tex Backpacking Boots and I can't recommend them enough - they've always been super comfy and have never given me a blister.
Camp shoes – something light and water friendly are ideal. I also love if they are easy to slip on and if you can wear socks with them to feel comfy around camp later at night. Crocs are a great option and I love my Teva Hurricane Drift Sandals.
Food
It is important that you get enough calories while hiking. How many calories you eat will depend on the type of hike you’ll go on and how much you weigh, but hikers should expect to consume between 2,000 and 4,500 calories per day. Here are some caloric intake recommendations*:
2000-2500 cal /day for flat easy hiking
3000-3500 cal /day for tougher hikes
4500 cal /day for difficult terrain and/or cold weather hiking
*Note: These are very general recommendations. It’s important to tailor how many calories you’ll need to your weight and trail difficulty and I recommend that you do your research before planning your meals. There are tons of resources online which can help you calculate what you’ll need.*
Here are some ideas for food for different meals:
Breakfast
Oatmeal with additions such as trail mix, chocolate.
Dehydrated meals like the Nomad Nutrition California Breakfast Bowl.
Granola bars, if you don't like cooking in the morning is also an option. I like the Hornby energy bars which have ~350 calories in them.
Coffee (I take instant because I’m lazy) or tea.
Lunch
Wraps with various non-perishable spreads (e.g. nut butter, Nutella), canned items (e.g. tuna, chicken) or salami and cheese. Baby bells are a good option for single serving and keep pretty well for a couple days.
Bagels with nut butter and sliced apple.
Non-perishable charcuterie with pretzels, hummus (individually packaged), veggies (carrots, celery and cucumber last for a couple days), cheese (e.g. baby bells or hard cheese such as parmesan), salami, summer sausage and apple slices.
Snacks
Jerky – which can be either beef or tofu. I love this vegan Nobel Jerky.
Trail mix – can be bought in bulk from Bulk Barn.
Mixed nuts (high calorie).
Cooked/baked legumes, such as beans or chickpeas. One of my faves are Clean Beans.
Granola bars
Crackers with cheese and/or dry sausage.
Dried fruit – can be bought in bulk from Bulk Barn. Dried coconut is high calorie.
Dried cheese – this Moon Cheese is delicious.
Energy chews, such as these Clif Blocks (some have caffeine added).
Dinner
I only bring dehydrated dinners on backpacking trips. I will add in a couple extra yummy things to spice it up such as kale (keeps well for a couple days) and different spices/salts/oils. Some of my favourite dehydrated meals are:
Happy Yak Vegetable and Peanut Pad Thai (920 cals)
AlpineAire Forever Young Mac & Cheese (800 cals)
Nomad Nutrition Caribbean Curry (520 cals)
AlpineAire Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Rice (720 cals)
IMPORTANT: Check the calorie count before buying meals! Sometimes they are a lot more or less substantial than you think. I made the mistake once of eating the Happy Yak Pad Thai by myself and I almost exploded.
Dessert
Go nuts here! Chocolate bars, candy, Oreos, no bake cheesecake, dehydrated desserts, whatever your sweet tooth desires! Some of my favourite dehydrated desserts are below. I’ll normally split these with friends as it’s a lot for one person:
AlpineAire Chocolate Mudslide (580 cals)
Dark Chocolate Mousse Mix (600 cals)
I hope this helps those who are looking for some guidance for packing! Do you have any questions for me? Is there something I missed? Or maybe you have some amazing meal recommendations for everyone. Comment below or contact me here.
Happy backpacking!
😀 Hiking poles!