Suggested Backpacking Gear List for Beginners

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This is a suggested list of basic, essential, and fundamental gear for those who are new to backpacking. This list is a starting place. Beginners should do their own research and consult with experienced backpackers as they put together their backpacking kit. Examples of specific products are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation or endorsements. Fundamental Items:
Item Backpack Boots Head lamp Knife/multi-tool Pack rain cover Sleeping bag Sleeping pad Stove and fuel Cooking pot Eating gear Tent Water bottle/bladder Water treatment Whistle Toilet paper Cat-hole trowel Small First-aid kit Example Osprey Aether 60 (men) or Osprey Ariel 65 (women) (pack should be no smaller than 60 liters) Asolo Fugitive (men) Asolo Stynger (women) Princeton Tec Fuel Gerber Clutch multi-tool REI Ducks Back rain cover REI Zen 25+ degree Therm-a-rest ProLite or RidgeRest Snow Peak Giga Power and MSR IsoPro 200g canister 1 L Aluminum pot Spoon (or spork), bowl, and cup REI Quarter Dome T1 (one person) REI Quarter Dome T2 (two person) 2 Nalgene bottles or 2-3 L Camel-bak hydration bladder Portable Aqua Iodine, Portable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide tablets, or Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter Fox40 Plain,white, unscentedin a plastic bag to protect it from rain Orange plastic kind Any prescription medications you take, pain-killers (such as Advil or Tylenol), Band-aids and a few small gauze pads, moleskin, blister bandages, hydrocortisone cream, benadryl

Other required or strongly recommended items: 25-50 feet of small diameter cord/rope for bear bag (e.g. 1 garbage bag, and 1-2 extra zip-lock bags REI Braided Nylon Cord) Sunscreen (SPF 30+) (small bottle) Stuff sack for a food bag (sea-to-summit sil-nylon dry bag) 100% DEET bug repellent (non-DEET tends to be Duct Tape (a few feet wrapped around a trekking pole or ineffective) water bottle) or a very small roll Applicable maps for the area (essential on more difficult Sewing kit: needle, a few feet of nylon thread, and a few trips) safety pins Compass (strongly recommended and its important that you Very Small bottle of biodegradable soap (e.g. campsuds) know how to use it) Small bottle of hand sanitizer Small toothbrush and travel sized toothpaste Feminine hygiene products (if applicable) and plastic bags Matches in waterproof container and/or butane lighter (Bic) to carry out used products. Trekking Poles

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Clothing (including what you are wearing):

Item Bandana Fleece or wool sweater Hiking (wool) socks Liner socks (polypropylene, coolmax, or silk) Hiking shirt (short sleeved wicking t-shirt or long sleeved wicking shirt) Hiking shorts/pants (hiking convertible pants) No Jeans or Cotton! Lightweight long underwear (tops and bottoms) Lightweight stocking cap Lightweight gloves (or liner gloves) Breathable rain coat and rain pants Sun hat Wicking underwear Quantity 1-2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1-2

Additional Resources: Cox, Steven, M. and Kris Fulsaas, eds. Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. 7th ed. Seattle, Wash.: The Mountaineers Books, 2003.

Overview of mountaineering and alpine climbing. Beyond backpacking, but a good overview of advanced skills

Curtis, Rick. The Backpackers Field Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills. Revised. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2005.
Overview of backpacking skills, including group leadership and planning trips

Fletcher, Colin and Chip Rawlins. Complete Walker IV. 4th ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.
Some call it the backpackers bible. Overview of skills and techniques. Information on gear is a bit dated

Getchell, Annie and David R. Getchell. The Essential Outdoor Gear Manual: Equipment Care, Repair, and Selection. 2d ed. Camden, Maine: Ragged Mountain Press, 2005.
Information on repairing gear

Jordan, Ryan. Lightweight Backpacking and Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Equipment, Technique, and Style. Bozeman, Mont.: Beartooth Mountain Press, 2005.
The bible of lightweight and ultralight backpacking; including gear and techniques

Clothing (optional or according to weather conditions):

Item Camp shoes or sandals Down booties Heavy gloves and/or mittens Heavy long underwear (top and bottom) Insulated vest or fleece vest Insulated jacket or fleece jacket Insulated pants or fleece pants Button down shirt with convertible sleeves (e.g. ExOfficio Air Strip) Quantity 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Townsend, Chris. The Backpackers Handbook. 3d ed. Camden, Maine: Ragged Mountain Press, 2005.
Overview of backpacking skills and gear

Vonhof, John. Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes. 3d ed. Berkeley, Calf.: Wilderness Press, 2005.
Information on feet; including fitting of footwear, blister prevention, and foot care

Backpacking Light www.backpackinglight.com

Online magazine, focuses primarily on lightweight and ultralight backpacking; features articles on techniques, gear reviews, and general backpacking information

Backpacker Magazine www.backpacker.com

Optional items and luxury items: Headnet Camp towel (small sized) Compact binoculars Small digital camera Lightweight camp chair or sitting pad (i.e. Crazy Creek, Therm-a-rest chair kit) Buff Sleeping bag liner Individually wrapped personal wash wipes (used ones must be packed out) Dedicated sleep clothing (e.g. silk camisole, underwear, t-shirt, long underwear, etc.)

Print magazine; website is starting to have more content. Focus has branched out beyond backpacking as of late

Practical Backpacking: www.practicalbackpacking.com

Podcast and forum on backpacking Reviews on gear Reviews on gear

Backpack Gear Test: www.backpackgeartest.org Trailspace: www.trailspace.com White Blaze: www.whiteblaze.net

Discussion forum related to hiking the Appalachian Trail, also a good knowledge base for general questions
prepared by James Nelson, Chicago Backpackers, February 2010