Backpacking adventures are the modern nomad’s solution for going to multiple places and camping without having to check into a hotel or bring extra luggage.
A good backpack will hold the rest of your important backpack gear, so be sure to choose one of the best quality and a light frame, as it will be heavier than in the store.
Depending on the kind of place you are going to visit backpacking, the type of outdoor excursion, and the length of your stay, there are certain essential backpack gear you should always carry with you. You should never miss out on any important backpack gear every time you want a taste of the great outdoors. These include:
- First aid kit and medicine
- Food
- Water bottle
- Extra clothes
- Navigation equipment
- Hygiene and toiletry kit
- Flashlight
- Sleeping bag
- Binoculars
- Knife
- Whistle
- Fire starter
- Sun block, lip balm
If you are going on a backpacking excursion to a place with snow and ice, your backpack gear should also consist of:
- Ice axe
- Snow poles
- Hand warmers
- Snow shoes
- Duct tape
- Parachute chord
- Repair kits
For cooking, make sure you fit the following into your backpack gear:
- Utensils
- Cook pot
- Matches or a lighter
- Stove and fuel
- Water filter
When shopping for backpack gear such as cooking equipment and anything else that involves metal, choose titanium products because these weigh significantly less than metal and aluminum. The same goes for choosing utensils; another popular material is also lexan cookware and utensils which are light and durable enough to bring. Remember, your objective is to enjoy and not suffer from back pains afterwards.
For longer travel periods, you may end up packing heavier food items such as canned goods, vegetables, sausages, and meal bars which will contribute heavy weight to your backpack gear. It will help you lessen your load as you go along your travels if you consume these first.
Plan out your meals carefully so that you are healthy and have enough energy throughout all your hiking activities. It’s also important to pack some electrolytes, tea or coffee, and vitamins in your backpack gear with the food you are bringing.
To reduce water weight in your backpack gear, which is quite heavy, here are two tips to follow:
- Drink as much water as you can hold at each water refill station before you hit the trail;
- Pack only enough water as you need, if you know the area you are going to and can easily pinpoint the next stop for water refills.
We all want to sleep comfortably even on outdoor excursions, but know that packing pillows onto your backpack gear will take up a significant amount of space. A useful tip to reduce this is to stuff all your clothes into a sac, and voila you have a pillow.
