Hitting the trails with necessities in your backpack is the most desired outdoor adventure to many explorers. To enlist what you will need to bring on a backpacking trip, you should ask yourself;
- How long are you traveling for?
- How are you getting from A to B location?
- What are the likely weather conditions going to be?
- What type of accommodation are you staying in?
- How remote is the location?
- What is the weather forecasting?
Hence, the longer and far the trip will be, the more gear, clothing, food, and water you will need to survive. The answers to the above questions will paint a picture of your backpacking trip. Hence, it will help you to list out your essentials to your necessities to be needed for the time being.
Moreover, you need to consider packing regulations for the traveling location. Regardless of the answers to the above questions, most of the people have similar goals for backpacking:
- To pack relatively as light as possible
- To remember all the backpacker essentials to prevent themselves from paying tourist prices on the road
- To be comfortable throughout the entire trip
Some people may laugh reading the above three objectives as they seem to be impossible to achieve. Fortunately, all of them are possible enough to meet. It just needs a conscious effort with some careful research and a little bit of planning. Below is a list of smart packing techniques with must-haves for your phenomenal backpacking trip.
Hence, get our list out and set yourself for a boom of travel adventures!
Luggage
A backpack with the capacity of 40-50 liters is ideal for overnight trips. Along with the luggage holder, you may need
- Rain cover backpack
- Tent with guy lines or stakes
- Sleeping bag with a stuff sack
- Sleeping pad
- Flashlights or headlamps with extra batteries
- Trekking poles
- Packable lantern
- Floor protection
- Insecticide
- Pillow
- Mosquito repellant
- Fuel with stove
- Cooking utensils
- Eating and drinking utensils
- Soaps
- Water container
Food and water
For a trail, snacks like jerky, hard cheese, energy bars, and nuts are ideal to have an easy to eat on the way. Plan a healthy meal for lunch or dinner. Get your water needs and look closely at available water sources on location. It is recommended to drink 500ml of water every hour in moderate temperatures to prevent you from dehydration. Hence get yourself with:
- Water reservoirs or bottles
- Water purifier tablets
- Well packed meals
- Energy drinks and foods’
- Extra food supply for emergency needs
Navigation
The navigation tool is an essential item. Your preferences and the type of trip will decide precisely the right navigation tool to bring on. You can use a Map or a Compass for the purpose. Note that a GPS system is not reliable where there is a network issue.
First aid
Emergency shelter and a first aid kit are surely a must-have for a backpacking trip. You should always carry an emergency shelter despite having a tent, especially if you are hiking away from your base camp. Check for:
- First-aid supplies
- Lighter/matchbox
- Whistle
- Fire starter
- Two copies of itineraries
Clothes and accessories
“To get the right clothes for your trip, check for the forecast before dress right for the conditions.” Says, Savannah Scott, Travel Blogger at Crowd Writer UK. Plan extra clothes to be prepared for unplanned night outs and situations beyond expectations. Consider the amount of protection needed against UV rays or rainfall or even snowfall. Considering footwear, choose the type based upon your terrain. Hiking shoes or trail runners are sufficient for smooth trails and gentle hikes. Boots provide more support for rocky and rugged trail treks. Hence, get yourself with:
- Moisture-wicking shirts
- Moisture-wicking undergarments
- Quick-drying shorts or pants
- Long-sleeved shirts for bugs and sun
- A light-weighted jacket or fleece
- Shoes or boots suited to the trail
- An extra pair of socks
- An extra pair of clothes
Health and hygiene
To prevent yourself from getting unwanted microbes and infections, always carry a hygiene kit with you. It may include:
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Hand sanitizer
- Sanitation trowel
- Toilet papers
- Sealable bags
- Hydrating wipes
- Menstrual products
- Prescription glasses
- Prescription medications
- Soaps
- Sunscreen
- Sun protection glasses
- Sun hat
- SPF lotion or lip balm
- Urinary bags
- Excretory storage products
- Insect repellent
- Blister treatment supplies
Tools and extras
These may not seem to be essential; however, these small things are more needed to fix the big ones. They may include
- Multi-toolbox
- Knife
- Repair kit
- China knife
- Safety pins
- Scotch tapes
- Electric tapes
- Sewing kit
- Duct tape strips
- Elfie
These may differ as per your trip scheduling. These items under this heading are undoubtedly optional, and you have to decide whether you want to carry it or not depending upon your requirements. They may include:
- Camera
- Field guide
- Day pack or night pack
- Outdoor journal with pen
- Books
- Games
- Radio
- iPod
- Binoculars
Get set go!
Are you excited to get your backpacks ready to get yourself on an adventurous trip of your dreams? Then what are you waiting for? Take out your stuff, fill your backpack, and thrive to the destination of your will. All the best!