This is a detailed packing checklist and packing tips for budget backpacking and lightweight travel for adventurers (travel or hiking), which includes the essentials for backpacking, electronics & accessories, adventure gear, toiletries, clothing, useful items, and administrative items.
Are you feeling overwhelmed with the task of determining what gear and supplies you need to bring for your backpacking trip? Don’t fret, you have arrived at the correct destination.
We have considered all the necessary essentials for a weekend-long backpacking trip, including things like shelter, a comfortable sleep system, and practical clothing choices, ensuring your comfort without any unnecessary additions.
Although this list is very thorough, I suggest personalizing your checklist to suit your specific requirements. However, I also advise keeping to the essential items as you may be astonished by how minimal your needs actually are.
Packing Tips
What does backpacking mean? Backpacking refers to a type of affordable, self-reliant travel where one carries their belongings in a backpack, typically for extended periods compared to typical vacations. Additionally, backpacking involves carrying equipment on one’s back while hiking for more than a day. Get ready for your ultimate adventure!
- Keep your pack light!
- This is our main tip with many tips and tricks that I mention revolving around keeping weight down!
- If you are a lady try to keep your pack weight below 10kg and a guy about 15kg (but 10kg is better!)
- Keep your stuff dry.
- Pack for any weather, a rain cover and dustbin liner inside your backpack.
- Have a redundant system, don’t put everything in your backpack!
- We keep technology in our daypacks, passports in a neck bag, luggage and copies of documents in backpacks.
- We lost Alya’s backpack once (it fell off a truck), luckily passport, wallet and tablet was in her neck bag and day pack that is permanently attached to her!
Buying a Good Backpack
In order to become a backpacker, the first step is to acquire a backpack. It is worth noting that these items can be quite expensive, and it is advisable to invest in a high-quality backpack that will endure for a significant period. Therefore, it is important to make the right purchasing decision from the outset.
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- Size
- Quality
- Comfort
- Purpose
- Size
- Long trip 55-75L (One Year or longer) , Shorter getaway or hiking trip 40-50L (A week to a month or three)
- The more space you have, the more stuff you will pack, that is a fact! We are usually on the road for a long time and carry electronic equipment required for blogging and some essential gear so a lot of stuff.
- Try to go not bigger than a 40L pack for shorter trips and a 60L for long term travel. Since we carry a lot of gear we are sort of on the limit of what you can move with comfortably.
- Carry on – with up to a 45L backpack you can usually still get away as carry on luggage if it is not packed to heavy. This is very important when making use of budget airlines around Europe and Asia where you pay extra for luggage.
- Quality
- Most of the top quality backpacks like Osprey, Arc’teryx and Deuter comes with a lifetime guarantee and should last for many years. Even if you over pack these bags the zips, seams and material should last. Brands that are a bit cheaper like Quechua and National Geographic are good quality considering the cost, but after a couple of years on the road these packs wear more than the top of the line backpacks.
- Comfort
- Buy a backpack that is the right size, all modern packs are adjustable. I don’t like too many clips and buckles, but the top of quality backpacks are more adjustable. This is super important, I have had ‘sagging’ backpacks, that sit very low when loaded heavy. When walking long distance this makes you tired in places where you did not know you have places.
- Purpose
- There is a difference between a hiking backpack and a traveling backpack.
- Travel packs
- Have more zips and features like wheels, handles and compartments hiding all straps when flying.
- Awesome thing is Front Loading, almost like a suit case.
- Real easy to get access to everything in your backpack.
- For traveling not really for hiking, can be used for hikes but they get uncomfortable on long multi-day hikes.
- There is a difference between a hiking backpack and a traveling backpack.
Big Gear Items
For every trip you plan, these are the crucial items that must always be included in your backpacking checklist.
Backpacking Pack
I have experimented with numerous backpacking backpacks, and interestingly enough, the one that I have liked the most happens to be the cheapest one I have ever owned.
The Deuter Aircontact Core 60 + 10 SL Women’s Pack weighs 4 lbs. 8.7 oz., which is not very light. However, it is still almost 2 pounds lighter than my old Gregory backpack and it fits perfectly on my body.
Deuter’s Aircontact series packs are available in a men’s model and have the ability to adapt for various torso lengths.
The 60 +10 SL pack is large enough for a multi-day trip. In fact, this is the pack I used for my 22-day John Muir Trail hike, a 10-day backpacking trip in Alaska, and my Trans Catalina Trail backpacking trip.
If you are planning a shorter backpacking trip or sharing gear with a partner, consider the smaller 45 + 10 SL version. This is the version that BFT Director Linda uses for her backpacking trips.
Backpacking Tent
Out of all the significant gear items, your tent choice can greatly affect the weight. Nevertheless, the higher amount of money you spend, the lighter your tent will be.
If you plan on doing a considerable amount of backpacking, I suggest purchasing a high-quality, ultralight tent such as the Zpacks Duplex. Weighing just over 1 lb 5 oz, this tent is one of the lightest available on the market but still offers enough space for a comfortable sleep without feeling crowded with your partner.
If you desire more space or a backpack for carrying a dog, the Zpacks Triplex is an option that is only slightly heavier by half an ounce. It provides a little extra room. During backpacking trips, my partner Ryan and I utilize the Triplex, which accommodates both of us and our two dogs, Charlie and Gumbo.
Sleeping Bag
Backpackers are increasingly choosing quilts instead of sleeping bags due to their lighter weight and versatility, yet they still provide a cozy night’s sleep.
Our choice for a backpacking quilt is the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt. It weighs only 1 lb 3 oz (850-fill, 30-degree) and one of its great features is the ability to personalize it according to your requirements and preferences.
