Billy DeKom

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Backpacking Gear List + Brand Recommendations

If you’re looking for a list of the best backpacking gear or want an easy checklist of items to use, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for a full list of all the backpacking gear I use & recommend, along with my top product picks for each one.

 
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Whether you’re new to backpacking or a seasoned backpacker, finding gear that works for you can be challenging. Tons of review sites to navigate, considering which pieces to invest in and which ones to try to save on. Something that started as a fun hobby and way to get into the great outdoors can get overwhelming real quick. 

So I gathered all my favorites for you here in one easy resource to help get you going. 

Everyone has different styles of backpacking (minimalists who want super lightweight gear, thru hikers who plan on being out for long stretches of time, and hikers dabbling in their first overnight trips who don’t want to break the bank). I’m a photographer who likes to go on several-day overnight trips, so lightweight gear that leaves room for heavy camera + lenses is where my priorities are.

What I look for in backpacking gear:

  • Durability (I want gear that can hold up over many miles and many trips)

  • Weight (balancing “the lighter the better” with the reality that with backpacking gear often the lower the weight, the higher the price)

  • Does it pack down (you’ve only got so much space in your backpack, so finding items that can compress or pack down to a smaller size is super helpful)

  • Comfort (footwear, clothing, the pack… if you’re gonna be carrying it all over long distances for days or weeks at a time it’s gotta be comfortable) 

  • Budget (can be a very real and limiting factor that I don’t want to gloss over or be insensitive about, we tried to use a lot of our front-country camping gear for as long as we could and slowly transitioned over to this gear list below over a few years time)

One of the above criteria may be more important to you than the other, but they all play a part in choosing your gear. There’s lots of options out there in terms of weight, budget, features, comfort, and personal preferences - just sharing here what’s worked for me over the years and hopefully that helps you find what works for you too. I’ve included links to a few different places so you can look for the best price.

 
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Backcountry Camping Gear

Backpacking + Hiking Gear

  • Osprey Packs Volt 75L Backpack - Backcountry

  • Gregory Women's Deva 60 Pack - REI / Backcountry

  • REI Co-op Lightweight Compression Stuff Sack - REI

  • Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles - REI / Backcountry

  • Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System 3 Liter - REI / Backcountry

  • Nalgene 32oz Wide-Mouth Water Bottle - REI / Backcountry

  • Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp - REI / Backcountry

  • Goal Zero AAA Rechargeable Batteries - REI

  • Garmin Inreach Mini Satellite Communicator - REI / Backcountry

  • Anker Portable PowerCore 20100mAh Battery Charger - Amazon

  • Sawyer Picaridin Bug Spray - REI / Amazon

  • SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen - Beautycounter

  • Lip Balm with SPF - REI

  • The Deuce Poop Shovel - REI

  • Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes - REI / Backcountry

  • TP + bag for packing out used TP (large ziplock, outside lined with duct tape)

  • Hand Sanitizer / Castile Soap

  • Travel Size Toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste, etc

  • Sun Protection like a hat, sunglasses, buff, etc

  • First Aid Supplies + Prescriptions

Backpacking Apparel + Footwear

Backcountry Camp Kitchen Essentials

Favorite Foods to Take Backpacking

Breakfasts

Lunches

  • Tortillas

  • Salami

  • Crackers

  • Peanut Butter and Jelly

Dinners

Snacks


I hope this list of my favorite gear helps you simplify the search for your own.

If there’s an item I missed sharing in this post that you need help finding, please leave a comment below!

Disclosure: The post contains affiliate links, which means when you purchase an item through any of the links we’ll receive a small kickback at no additional cost to you, which helps me to continue to bring you quality content. Thank you so much for your support!

Billy DeKom