To prepare for a backpacking trip, I always create a pack list that I send out to my friends prior to the trip. The pack list is built using a master pack list
that I tailor to the specific trip. It prepares everyone for the conditions to come and prevents excess items from being brought.
The master pack list is listed below. The items in the “Extra” sections are typically added based on weather conditions, trail conditions, and backcountry
activities. This list is ever evolving. At the bottom of each section of the pack list is a list of notes commenting on specific items in the pack list. My philosophy
is to lean towards packing fewer items to reduce weight and things to keep track of.
Hiking Clothes:
- Underwear
- Socks
- Hiking shoes
- Hiking pants
- Long sleeve shirt
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Extra
- Croakies
- Handkerchief to cover neck
Notes:
- Hiking pants and long sleeves are required for any bushwacking or poison oak travel
- A button up shirt is preferred because of versatility (i.e. unbutton for air venting)
- The more skin you cover, the less you need to worry about sun rays and bugs
- Wide brim hat with neck protector preferred
- Zip-off hiking pants preferred
- Croakies are useful for keeping track of you sunglasses
Clothes to be packed in backpack:
- Underwear x1
- Socks x1
- Beanie
- Long john top
- Long john bottom
- Down jacket
- Rain jacket
- Extra
- Rain pants
- Gloves
- Gaitor
- Balaclava
- Extra long john top
- Extra long john bottom
- Extra shirt
- Down pants
Notes:
- Bring more underwear and socks if they cannot be easily washed and dried (i.e. in the desert)
- Wool long johns are warm and lightweight. They are worth the high cost.
- Down jackets with hoods are nice for cold weather
- Rain jacket and pants are good for extra warmth and bug protection
- Gloves are also multipurpose
Individual gear:
- Backpack
- Toiletries
- Tooth brush
- Tooth paste
- Floss
- SPF chapstick
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Head lamp
- Nalgene water bottle x2
- Pocket knife or small multitool
- Spork
- Camp shoes (i.e. crocs, slides)
- Plastic bowl
- Plastic cup
- Hiking poles
- Lighter
- Sunscreen
- Phone
- ID
- Extra:
- Lightweight towel or shamwow
- Backpack rain cover
- Notepad and pen
- Mosquito net
- Camera
- Spare camera battery
- Fishing license
- Cash
- Crampons
- Fishing gear
- Book
- Hand warmers
- Bug spray
- Car keys
- Bear canister
- Plastic plate
Notes:
- Sunscreen, bug spray and towels can be shared group items. Coordinate appropriately.
- Red light headlamps are nice at nighttime when everyone in the group has one
- I no longer use a sleeping bag stuff-sack. This makes the sleeping bad easier to pack, saves space, and is one less item to keep track of.
- Foam sleeping pads are the most convenient but least comfortable. They are easy to set up, pack up, and can be used around camp.
- Small multitool pliers are nice if you are fishing. A scissors option is also important to have within the multitool or pocket knife.
- I think Crocs are the best camp shoes
- I recommend hiking poles to the highest level
- I bring my phone equipped with offline gps maps and only use it in case of emergency
- Mosquito nets should be brought anytime bugs could be an issue. They are lightweight and can save your trip.
- I use a waterproof digital camera so I don’t have to use my phone and risk breaking it
- A plastic plate can be nice to for additional cooking tasks like cutting and seasoning fish
- Bring some cash if your trip goes through somewhere like a packstation/diner before you arrive at your car
- Remove extra keys from your key chain before leaving
Group gear:
- Jetboil
- Butane
- Water filter(s)
- Tent
- Rope
- Poop gear
- Shovel
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- First aid kit
- Gallon zip lock for trash
- Map(s)
- Day pack (use to carry food)
- Extra
- Stove burner
- Pan
- Sponge
- Folding saw
- Binoculars
- Cards
- Printed notes and satellite images
- Phone charger and battery pack
- Backcountry permit
- Fire permit
- Tin foil
- Collapsible bucket or water bag
- GPS unit
- Sleeping pad patch kit
Notes:
- Bring a stove burner, pan, and sponge if you plan on cooking fish
- Water filters are my most common gear failure in the backcountry. It’s best to bring two if your group size is over two people.
- It is hard to find campsites that accommodate tents that fit more than two people
- Bring enough rope to suffice for bear bagging food
- Use a lightweight day pack as a food carrying bag that doubles as a day pack if needed
Change of clothes and gear for car ride home:
- Underwear
- Socks
- Shorts or pants
- Shirt
- Sweatshirt
- Shoes
- Water
- Extra
- Compressor/jumpstarter
- Spare keys
Notes:
- Fresh clothes are nice to have when you finish a trip
- If you car is located somewhere without water, it is especially important to have water in your car when you finish a trip
- A compressor, jump starter, and hidden spare keys are especially important to have at remote trailheads
Here are
.docx and
.pdf files of the master pack list without the notes.