Backpacking

The right equiptment can make or break a fun camping trip. If you have the right equiptment and prepare enough ahead of time you will thank yourself later. It is expecially esential to have dependable, lightwieght, packable equiptment because you are carrying it all on your back and you are out in the middle of nowhere so if something breaks there is no way to fix it. It is also said that when you are backpacking, every ounce of weight that you start out with ends up seeming like a pound so it other words, every little ounce counts. Try to save as much wieght as possible and it will make your hiking so much more enjoyable.

1. 1. Rain Gear: This is important in case it rains. It is good if you can get breathable rain gear so it can keep you cool and dry at the same time. If it isnt breathable you will get really hot when you are wearing it but it gets kind of miserable.


2. 2. Pack: Obviously if you are going backpacking you need a backpack. But you will want a strong durable backpack that you can rely on to not break during the trip. Also it is nice if along with sturdy it can be light becasue every once of wieght you can save you will be thanking yourself later.


3. 3. Boots: It is very important that you get a nice, quality pair of boots before you go on your trip. If you get blisters or something along the way, it will make your trip so miserable and you will not be enjoying your time. So treat you feet right and you will have a great time. Also make sure you break in your boots before you go becasue most shoes take a while before they really fit well.


4. 4. Tent: A tent is obviously a must becasue you need somewhere to sleep in but backpacking tents arent the normal camping tents that you see at the park, they are smaller and a lot more lightweight. Backpacking tents come in many varieties and there are many to choose from, but make sure that above all they are durable and lightweight.


5. 5. Sleeping Bag: A sleeping bag is very important when you are out camping. Just like tents there are many kinds of sleeping bags that vary between light, summer sleeping bags and heavier, winter sleeping bags. Sleeping bags are rated by degrees. The degree of the sleeping bag means how low the temperature can get before you become cold while using it. So the lower the degree of the sleeping bag the warmer it is. So usually the lower the degree the more expensive it is and also the lighter it is the more expensive it is.


6. 6. Stove: Stoves are nice if you dont want to be eating dried, dehydrates foods like granola bars or trail mix during your whole trip. It is nice to be able to make some noodles or something after you have gotten to your destination for the day and sit back and relax and enjoy a nice warm meal. Since you are backpacking it is important that the stove is lightweight which you can go buy a lightweight one at almost any camping or backpacking store and it is also nice if it is small and compact so it fits in your backpack nicely. Also you want it to be reliable so that it doesnt break when you want it to work.


7. 7. Bug Spray and Sunscreen: This is a definany essencial. If you forget this when you are out in the woods the bugs will eat you alive during the evening when they mostly come out. And if you forget the sunscreen up in the mountains, where you are closer to the sun, you will get burn beyond imagine and you will be miserable.


8. 8. Sleeping Pad: These are very nice to have. They are good for a couple things. For one they provide comfort when you are sleeping so your back isnt hurting when you wake up in the morning and it helps you sleep because you dont have to sleep on the cold hard ground. The second way they help is that they keep you warmer. They are insulation from the ground so the thicker your pad is, generally the warmer you will be.


9. 9. First Aid Kit: This is important because you never know what is going to happen. The backpacking first aid kits just have to be the basic ones that have like band-aids, mole skin, and antesteptics and such because they still have to be light enough to carry.


10. 10. Water Filter: These are very usefull because it opens up options for your trip. If you have one you are no longer confined to just sticking to the trails and campsites that have potable water near. You could camp at a campsite that just has a stream near it or some other source of unfiltered water that you can easily filter with your water filter. It is also useful for emergencies because if you run out of water then you dont have to go find some potable water you can just stop at a stream or something and you will be able to fill back up.

• Jeans or anything cotton: Cotton soaks up the water and then stays wet for a long time once it gets wet. You are better off with almost any other of material like polyester or anything else.
• Pillows: They are way too bulky and take up way to much space in your pack. If you absolutely need one you can rest your head on your pack or they do make very small backpacking pillows but they still arent really worth the bulk.
• Swiss Army Knife: These are completely unecessary. All of those multitools that come with it you will never need the only part of it you might need is the knife so just bring a regular pocket knife.
• Books: These are just too heavy and you are out in the backcountry you will be able to find other ways to entertain yourself.
• Anything Expensive: There is always the possiblity that you will loose it so it isnt worth it to bring anything that you highly value because you could lose it and you will never find it again.