What to Pack for a 3-5 Day Backpacking Trip
We spent four days hiking the Appalachian Trail and months researching what gear we needed. We probably overpacked on clothing and food, but we felt good with the other gear we brought. Here’s a complete list of what we recommend to pack for a long weekend backpacking trip:
Backpack: We use Osprey backpacks. We love the flexibility with these packs and how many pockets there are to organize everything into. The two we use are:
Backpack Rain Cover: We use the Osprey UltraLight Pack Rain Cover - Large because it matches the brand of our packs and it packs down small.
Tent: We love our Nemo Osmos Dagger 2 Person Tent! It’s easy to set up and cozy at night.
Sleeping Bag: We both use Nemo Disco 15 Degree Sleeping Bags and love how warm they are! We decided against mummy bags due to both of us being side sleepers.
Sleeping Pad: The Nemo Switchback Sleeping Pad is comfortable and easy to pack. We like how they hang on the outside of our backpack. We thought about a more lightweight option, but the reviews we saw mentioned how loud some inflatable options are. We slept next to another tent that had a lightweight pad and it sounded like crinkling a potato chip bag.
Inflatable Pillow: We use the Sea to Summit Inflatable Pillow. We love how lightweight and easy it is to set up!
Stove: We decided to go with the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove because of how small, lightweight, and versatile it is.
Pot and Pan: For boiling water, we use Toaks Titanium 1100ml Pot with Pan. The pan doubles as the lid for the pot. It packs away efficiently and we like how the stove can fit inside of the pot/pan.
Water Filter: To filter our water, we use the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System. We love using this because all you have to do is fill the squeeze bag and then screw on the filter to fill up the water bottle.
Silverware: Cody was hesitant at first but Kate insisted.. our only silverware are two of Sea to Summit Alpha Light Spork. Cody originally thought the spork would have issues with soups, but we quickly noticed that wasn’t the case. The long handles keep your hands from getting messy when digging the last bits of your meal from the bottom of a bag. These are easy to use and it feels good only having one dish to clean!
Mug: We bought Snow Peak Titanium Single Wall 450 Mug to drink coffee. We like how these can strap to the outside of our backpacks.
Dry Sack: We wanted extra protection for our clothes and electronics so decided to get the Osprey Ultralight Dry Sack 20L. It’s the perfect size for four days and easy to pack/unpack.
Bear Canister: In some locations it’s required to use a bear canister. While it’s not required everywhere, we do like the ease of use of the BearVault BV500. We like not having to worry about hanging our food. The larger canister is a great size for our food, snacks, and coffee for four days in addition to being the perfect camp seat.
Hiking Poles: While these can be optional, we highly recommend hiking poles! We use Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles and they are a game changer. They make climbing more efficient and help save the quads when descending. Once we realized how much they helped, we wouldn’t want to backpack without them!
Bathroom supplies:
Toilet paper
Miscellaneous items:
Microfiber towel
Bug repellent & mosquito head net
While there may seem like a lot on the list, it shouldn’t stop you from getting outside! For example, we slowly started hiking with our packs as we researched and waited for our other gear. We hope this list helps you as you prepare for your backpacking trip. Feel free to message us on Instagram if you have any backpacking questions. See you out on the trail!
Disclaimer: We utilize affiliate links. By using our links, we get a small portion of the sales at no extra cost to you.
Related Posts
