my fiance & l are going backpacking l was just wondering what gear is the best for our trip. like what backpacks tents stuff we will have to carry, we have a choice between a 141 mile hike or 26. so that should give you an idea of what kind of equipment we would need

Search the archives, this question has been asked a hundred times already, and noone wants to type a big long list.

Do not hit the trail – even for a day hike – without these items.


1 Compass
2 Map
3 Food
4 Water bottle & water
5 First aid kit
6 Matches
7 Sunblock
8 Sunglasses
9 Extra clothing layers
10 Flashlight, headlamp or lantern
11 A permit (if required)
12 Shovel
13 Rope
Clothing
Quick-drying nylon pants or shorts
Short-sleeved T-shirts
Long-sleeved shirts
Fleece or wool pants
Fleece or wool top
Fleece or wool vest
Two pair wicking long underwear (one light, one dark)
Underwear
Outerwear
A poncho or other rain gear
Wide-brimmed sun hat
Stocking cap
Fleece gloves
Glove liners
Bandanna
Footwear
Wool or synthetic socks
Synthetic or silk sock liners
Hiking boots
Extra laces
Gaiters
Camping Gear
Backpack
Pack cover
Tent & rainfly
Ground cloth
Sleeping bag
Compression sack
Sleeping pad
Assorted stuff sacks for clothes, food & other items
Stove & fuel
Cook set
Drinking cup
Plastic garbage bags
Plastic freezer bags
Biodegradable soap
Pot scrubber
Water filter or purification tablets
Personal Items
Toilet paper
Trowel or shovel
Toothbrush & paste
Small bath towel
Brush or comb
Lip balm
Insect repellent
Head net
Whistle & signal mirror
Pocketknife or multitool
100 feet of parachute cord
Watch
Repair & spare-parts kit
Other Stuff
Field guide
Journal
Book
Camera & film
Camp chair
Binoculars
Playing cards or other games
Fishing license & tackle

Yote, even for a DAY hike? You gotta be kidding me.

How much l take depends on where l am going & how long l am going to be gone. The downside of taking too much stuff is that u can get bogged down with weight, & sometimes that is not good. It can make some really rough off-trail & rock scrambling dangerous. Binoculars? I've never used them, even those times I've taken them, so l quit taking them. Same goes for a number of other items. Even for long trips up to the High Sierras, l take only about half of what u have. However, if u just want to ''park'' by a lake to go fishing, what u have seems fine.

The single most important thing u need in ur backpack r things to keep u WARM! Followed by food ( l am assuming that water is not a problem). Then basic medical supplies. With those things, u can eventually get out of just about anything.

For a 26 mile trip, food should not take up too much weight, u can afford to take ready-to-eat gourmet food & canned fruit. For a 141 mile trip, that is serious business, & unless u plan on caching ur food ahead of time, or simply blitz the trail in a real short time, u will need to carry a significant load of food. If this trip will take u 2 weeks to complete (this is average), then u will need to carry at least 15 pounds of high calorie food per person, & maybe more than 20 pounds if u plan on taking meats & protein, which is highly recommended.