What’s in my pack? – Backpack essentials for a weekend/multi-day hike

If you’re like me, and you live in a constant state of panic when it comes to packing for a trip, wondering if you brought the right things, hoping you didn’t forget anything, and praying someone else brings the things you didn’t even know you should be bringing, hopefully this list will help you the next time you go on a weekend to 3 or 4 day trip with just your backpack for company. Obviously some of this will change with personal preference and depending on the nature of your trip, but here is a list, in no particular order, of the things you will nearly always find in my backpack!

1. Headlamps – arguably one of the most important pieces of gear if you plan to do any camping or night hiking at all. I usually carry two headlamps and a spare set of batteries – just in case someone else forgets theirs or we need some extra light at the dinner table/ in the tent.

2. External Power Pack/Charging Cables – I usually carry two of these, the Brookstone 20,000mAmp and the Anker 20,000 mAmp charger, mostly because the Brookstone one has built in micro-USB and Lightening cables and the Anker is great for when that runs out, or if someone else has cables but no charger. Both can recharge my IPhone XS Max close to 5 times, so shared between my tech items, I’m not worried about losing power over a 3 day trip on anything.

3. Kids Cutlery – you can pick up camping cutlery if you want, but these can sometimes be expensive. I went to a grocery store and bought a set of kids cutlery, a knife, a fork and a spoon, and they are in my bag at all times, lightweight and small. Plus they have unicorns on them, so it’s a win win.

4. Small towel/micro fibre cloth – I use these for my camera lenses as well as drying up spills or wiping away sweat if on a particularly long hike. I always have a bandana tied around the handle of my backpack as well, which comes in handy for various uses.

5. PeakDesign camera clip – this is mostly for you photographers out there but if you hike with your camera, this is an absolute must-have accessory. Not only does it make carrying you camera easier and hands free, but you no longer have to stop and reach into your bag for access to your camera on the trails. It’s readily available at your shoulder for catching shots on the go, and can be found here.

6. Whistle – fortunately my Osprey pack has one built in, but I always bring one if I switch bags because you truly never know when you might need one – the last time we did, it was to get the dogs back after they ran after some cows. Aside from that, safety first.

7. Gloves – this may seem crazy in Arizona, but typically I will have a pair of gloves in my bag for about 6 months of the year. Aside from keeping my hands warm when we get up for sunrise shoots, or when we camp overnight in cooler temperatures, you never know when you might use them. I have previously used them to clear condensation from a car window, to set my camera down on for a shot, and to prevent scratching up my hands on particularly sharp rocks in some areas.

8. Hand sanitizer/baby wipes – don’t feel like I really need to explain this, but they’re both just great to have to stay feeling fresh!

9. Extra laces/rope, tape and a carabiner – always useful to have these just in case. You never know when you might be in a situation where you have to get resourceful, even on short day hikes!

10. Water bladder – I have a 2 litre from Osprey that I use for day hikes and a 3 litre I use for backpacking. I typically fill the bags with ice before adding water and I nearly always carry them, regardless of water sources where I’m hiking. I learnt the hard way about getting lost without water, and thankfully it was only 7 hours and overnight in the cool desert, but I’ve never gone on a hike without it since. Always. Be. Prepared.

11. Cellphone – I always used to feel like bringing my cellphone was unnecessary when I carry a camera for pictures and most of the places we go have no service. But the aforementioned time I got lost, I had chosen not to bring it, and it would’ve potentially saved me a great deal of fear sitting on a rock in the middle of the desert in the dark, alone, if I had just been able to consult the gps. Aside from doubling as a torch, a form of entertainment, a compass and a map, it’s always helpful to have a phone in case of emergency (in the times you do have service) and just to let loved ones know where you are.

12. Imodium – this may seem strange or unnecessary to some, but my biggest fear in the world is being caught outside somewhere camping in a situation where I might need Imodium 😂 they’re literally the smallest tablets, so for me, it’s a no brainier to bring them – just in case. Thankfully I haven’t had to use them yet, but I’ve certainly given them away at times to other people who have!

13. Bandana – as I mentioned before, I usually tie one to the handle on top of my day pack or backpack regardless of the trip for the same reason as the rope etc. You never know when you might need a square of fabric and bandanas have tons of uses such as a tie for a tourniquet if necessary, something to soak up blood flow in an injury, a headband (obviously), a cool neck towel if dunked in water, a clean surface to lay out food on and a napkin just to name a few.

14. My camera – I never go on any hiking trip without my camera. I shoot with a Nikon D500 which is a meaty camera with substantial weight, but with the help of my peak design camera clip and the fact that I’m just used to the weight of it now, I hardly notice it.

15. Tent and sleeping bag – I carry a 2-person Kelty tent with me unless I’m going with a group of people in which case we usually split a 2-3 person tent amongst us. I have three sleeping bags which are graded to 0 degrees (Teton heavyweight bag), 30 degrees (Marmot ultra-lightweight bag) and 60 degrees (also Marmot and ultra-lightweight). Depending on weather and if we are car camping or backpacking, I will bring the most appropriate choice/s. We recently car camped in 18 degrees and I used my 30 degree bag inside my 0 degree bag!

16. Sleeping pad – I purchased a number of thermarest sleeping pads before eventually returning them for either deflating or not being thick enough for my side sleeping and eventually purchased a $40 sleeping pad from a company called Legit Camping on Amazon (here). They have a lifetime warranty on their products and a built in pillow which is a game changer for me, as well as the fact that they come in loads of different colours! The only downside (and it really is the only one for me) is that they aren’t insulated, which means they wouldn’t be very appropriate for cold weather camping, but I have found that putting them inside my sleeping bag has proven to be pretty effective all the same!

17. Noise cancelling headphones – some campsites can be pretty noisy late at night, and I personally have a hugely irrational fear of the dark. Hearing noises outside my tent will keep me up all hours of the night, so I wear noise cancelling headphones to drown out the sounds from beyond the tent walls. If someone/something is going to get me in the middle of the night, I’d rather not know about it first!

18. Sleeping mask – mostly the same reason as above, I don’t want to see shadows and things moving around my tent, but equally, waking up with the sun isn’t always ideal, nor is waking up every time someone turns their headlamp on to pee in the middle of the night, so a silk eye mask does the trick for me!

19. Snacks – I literally am hungry all the time, so you’ll never find me without some kind of snack – sour patch kids, pop tarts or builders bar’s are the most likely contenders. I judge people hard on the snacks they bring on a hike, as good snacks a good hike make.

20. Tweezers (and a first aid kit in general) – this again might seem like kind of a weird one, but living in the desert it becomes obvious that at some point you WILL take on a cactus and lose. We were proved this during our LCR hike last year (read about it here) when Shannon fell into a particularly hairy one, but luckily we brought tweezers and were able to get as many of the hairs out as possible before the toxins really set in. The longer you leave a cactus spine in, the more it will hurt, so you’ll be glad to have these if hiking in the southwest!

Obviously there are certain things I bring specific to the areas and temperatures I often hike in, as well as things I don’t, so I definitely always advise checking the weather of the place you’re going in advance, and planning accordingly. I once stupidly and naively assumed that the desert didn’t get that cold at night, and so, in February in Sedona, I brought a 60 degree sleeping bag to camp on a night that went down below freezing. Safe to say it was close to one of the worst nights I’ve ever spent on this earth, so learn from my mistakes and do your research. Being prepared is the best way to have a fun and enjoyable experience! Is there anything you guys always bring that I missed? Or anything you think I’m crazy to bring with me all the time? I’d love to hear your thoughts! In the meantime, I hope this was useful to anyone who isn’t sure what to bring for an upcoming trip! At the end of day, getting out there is what counts, and you’ll learn soon enough through trial and error what is essential to you.

Happy camping everyone!

H

x