The Best Gear For Your Backpacking Adventures
If you’re serious about backpacking, and you want to be as light and efficient as possible, it helps to have the best backpacking gear available.
We’re always looking out for the best equipment for backpackers. Sometimes this means going ultralight, and sometimes it means compromising weight for features to find the best value.
Take a look at our favorite products to help you organize your next backpacking trip.
The Best Backpacking Backpacks
The best backpacks for backpacking are lightweight, comfortable, ergonomic, durable, weatherproof, and have good storage and organization.
These are the features we look for when choosing a backpack.
Light and Portable Camp Seating
When everything you’re taking with you has to fit on your back, furniture might seem like a luxury. After spending all day on your feet, being able to sit somewhere other than on the ground can make it worth it.
Luckily, there are chairs small and light enough to take along with you.
Backpacking Clothing Essentials
There are few clothing requirements for backpacking such as good boots or shoes, hiking socks, and environment or weather-specific clothing where appropriate too.
You might be in the same clothes for days at a time, and even if you’re not, they are getting a lot of use. Good quality items can really make a difference in your comfort.
Convenient Cookware for Camping
Cooking at camp can be done with minimal cookware – you can always eat right out of the pot you cook in.
Even though most of the essentials are actually optional, there is a lot of cookware you will appreciate having if you have enough room.
Backpacking Food Ideas
The best foods for backpackers are items that are non-perishable, easy to carry, calorie-dense, and nutritious.
Staying nourished and energized on the trail takes a bit of planning. Take a look at some of our favorites that are tasty and easy to pack.
Ultralight Backpacking Hammocks
A hammock is a quick and comfortable way to get you sleeping off the ground. They are also a lot lighter than carrying most tents.
The best hammocks to take backpacking come in a lot of different types and styles.
Staying Hydrated While Backpacking
It’s important to stay properly hydrated while you’re hiking. If you’re out long enough you will eventually run out of the water you’ve brought with you, and be looking for places to fill up.
Whichever method of purifying your water you prefer, just make sure to bring and use it before drinking any water that may be contaminated.
Lights for Night Hiking and Camping
Whether you’re hanging a lantern inside your tent so you can see before going to bed, or you need light to get camp set up or your first started, artificial light is helpful.
You don’t want to get caught in the dark, so check out some of the best lighting for backpackers.
Backpacking Pillow Comparison
Even though some people consider taking along a pillow to be unecessary, to others they are more than just a luxury.
We wanted to see what the differences were between all the best camping pillows.
Compact Sleeping Bags for Backpacking
If you’ve ever tried to find the perfect sleeping bag, you know sleeping bags come in many different colors, styles, seasonal ratings, materials, and weight.
For backpackers, it’s helpful to have a sleeping bag that is small and light. Luckily there are a lot of options that compress small enough to leave some room in your backpack.
Top Rated Sleeping Pads for Backpackers
The best sleeping pad to bring backpacking depends on the season, weather conditions, and terrain where you will be sleeping.
With so many options we wanted to find the best sleeping pads that backpackers prefer to bring on long hikes.
The Best Camp Stoves to Bring Backpacking
Camping stoves are a lot easier, more convenient, and quicker than setting up an actual fire-pit and starting a fire.
Who doesn’t love a good meal, and when you’ve finally made it to your camp for the night, a fire-cooked meal is the most delicious nourishment.
The Best Tarps for Backpackers
Tarps have so many different uses, including when it rains, at camp, or for sleeping. If you can find the room you will be so glad you have one.
Since tarps can cover such a large area, they can be heavy and large. That’s why we found the lightest, and most compact multi-purpose tarps for backpacking trips.
Lightweight Backpacking Tents
Shelter is fairly important in most cases when you’re sleeping outdoors.
Tents are also one of the biggest items you’ll have to figure out how to fit in with all your gear and carry. As always, we’re looking for the lightest and most durable tents for backpacking.
Backpacking Tools and Equipment
We know you have limited room, but when you’re out there in the wild, the more help you have the better.
There are so many odds and ends that you could bring so try to stick with the bare essentials, and just the things that you know you’ll use.