Gear Necessities for Beginning Backpackers - Part 1
When you first start out backpacking, the amount of gear needed can be a bit intimidating. After all, you will likely need to be fully self-sufficient for the duration of your trip! I honed the following list with the goal of telling you the items that I most value on my backpacking treks. I put the list in order of importance as well, from my tenth most valued to the piece of gear that I think is the single most important. I would recommend trying to acquire (through borrowing, renting or buying) each piece of gear on the list before your first trip. As you become more experienced, you will likely form an “essentials” gear list of your own, but if you are just starting out, you can use this list as a guide of things you should acquire first.*
Bonus: Trowel
To an outside observer, this may not seem like a *necessity*. But, when the time comes, you will thank me that you brought it along. A cheap, light, plastic one will do the trick perfectly, and it will last you forever.
10. Mess Kit
A good mess kit can be very versatile, and there are many different options to choose from. The only requirement here is that the mess kit serves many purposes. I have a separate mess kit that houses a plate, bowl, cup, spork, and knife. Some choose to integrate their mess kit into a cooking pan. Either way works, and it just comes down to personal preference. I have listed several different kinds below.
Separate Mess Kit: Light My Fire BIO 8-piece
Integrated Cooking Pan: GSI Pinnacle Dualist
9. Sleeping Pad
There are many inexpensive options to fulfill this requirement. A foam pad or a body-length inflatable pool floaty (don’t laugh) can be the perfect starting point. As you continue to upgrade your gear, there are many options to choose from. There is a balance to strike here between weight/size/personal preference. I am a fan of air-filled mattresses, but others swear by a foam sleeping pad. I encourage you to try them both out, and decide for yourself which suits your sleeping style best! Find one that has a way to store itself (either straps or a bag), and plan how you will store it inside your backpack or strap it to your pack’s outside.
Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol
Air Mattress: REI Trailbreak Self-Inflating Pad
8. Headlamp
Some of you may already have a handheld flashlight that you will bring with you camping. I recommend a headlamp as one of the easiest ways to upgrade your camping game overall. They are inexpensive, lightweight, and free up your hands at night when you likely need your hands the most. Being one of my favorite pieces of gear, I have obtained quite the collection outside of my camping essentials, and we use them walking in the morning/night around the neighborhood, when I am grilling in the evenings, or even when the power goes out.
The Standard: Petzl Tikkina
The Upgrade: Black Diamond Storm 400
7. Stove
Buying a stove can be overwhelming. What type do I need? What type of fuel do I need? How much fuel do I need? When buying a stove, I typically recommend to start out simple. Get the most basic canister stove that you can find at your local outdoor shop (the MSR PocketRocket is a classic and a backpacking community favorite). These stoves use your typical canister fuel, Iso-Pro (Isobutane-propane), which can be found at almost any outdoor gear shop. If you want an “upgraded” choice, you can find stoves that handle multiple different kinds of fuel, work better at higher altitudes, or integrate the stove into your mess kit/cookware. Here are several that I recommend.
The Standard: MSR PocketRocket 2
Integrated Stove/Cookware: Jetboil Flash
6. Knife/Multitool
You can never have too many knives or multitools. I suggest that you buy/borrow at least one knife for cooking and at least one simple multitool with a pair of pliers (which will likely come with a small knife as well). Although you can use your multitool for cooking, I usually find it best to keep them separate. I find that getting my multitool dirty while cooking is not worth the hassle. For your cooking knife, I recommend you start with an inexpensive, plastic handled, and light pairing knife. For your multitool, the choice is up to you. There are literally thousands of options from many reputable brands (Leatherman, Swiss, SOG, etc). I only implore you to find something with a built in pair of pliers which is another piece of kit it pays to have in a pinch.
The Standard: Leatherman Sidekick
This is Part 1 of my beginning backpackers essentials. Part 2 (i.e. my top 5 essentials) is here!
As always, please reach out to us at outdoorsyguides@gmail.com if you have any questions and we would be more than happy to answer them!
*With that said, you can go without some of this gear, but I want to make sure that you have an enjoyable experience!
