Read our buying guide for choosing the best backpacking backpack for 2024.
This is an example of a backpacking gear checklist for backpacking in the summer time. Please note that the list includes just the basic gear.
Of course you can always get the list even compact if you want and don’t need anything extra in your gear. Keeping the gear minimal and as light as possible is often called ultralight backpacking. There are many great principals in ultralight backpacking that everyone should take a note of.
After the adventure it’s always good to think the necessity of every single gear and edit the list if needed. Here are essential backpacking gear divided in clothing, cooking and eating, sleeping, and other miscellaneous gear.
| Hiking clothing |
| Hiking boots or shoes |
| Cap or scarf |
| Rain coat |
| Rain cover for the backpack |
| Fleece jacket |
| Couple of t-shirts |
| Couple of hiking socks |
| Underpants |
| Gloves |
| Beanie |
| Sunglasses |
| Sandals |
In addition to cooking gear like stove, and eating gear like utensils there is something you should not forget: food!
| Stove Cooking Set |
| Fuel |
| Matches |
| Mug |
| Bowl |
| Spoon & Fork |
| Knife |
| Drinking bottle |
| Maps |
| Compass |
| First aid kit |
| Mobile phone |
| Camera |
| Toilet paper |
| Plastic bags |
| Straps |
| Cord |
| Tape |
| Toothbrush and paste |
| Towel |
The most important items in the checklist are maps, first aid kit, and a mobile phone. Without these you should never go backpacking!
The basic gear is usually the same no matter if you are going to a 3 day or a 4 day trip.
Please let us know in the comments if you would like to have the backpacking checklist as a PDF or Excel file.
Last update: August 29, 2022
No Comments