Backpacking Essentials

This is the "Rolls-Royce" of backpacking gear. Do not take all equipment with you on every trip unless you are taking a pack-mule. And for winter campers, remember: Cotton Kills!!

Emergency gear:
• mirror & whistle
• spare glasses
• waterproof/windproof matches
• compass/maps
• pliars & picture wire
• duct tape
• rubber bands
• tent repair kit
• ThermaRest repair kit
• seam sealer
• sewing kit
• spare cord locks
• emergency blanket
• backpack repair pieces
• spare batteries
• Swiss Army knife
• 50' cord/rope
• flashlight & headband
• garbage bags (2) (tie type) (pack covers, etc.)

First Aid supplies
• Wilderness Medicine (First Aid book)
• Bacitracin ointment
• Kaopecate caplets
• gauze
• Ben Gay
• Band Aids
• Alka Seltzer
• adhesive tape
• safety pins
• tweezers
• cough drops
• eye cup
• moleskin/molefoam
• pain drugs (Hydrocodone)
• Q-tips
• antibiotic drugs (ERYC 250 mg)
• anti-gas pills
• snake bite kit
• Advil or Tylenol
• lip balm
• nail clippers
• nose spray
• sun block (25)
• thermometer
• WashNDries
• Ace bandages
• AfterBite
• antihistimine drugs (Diphenhydramine 50 mg) or Benadryl

If you fish:
• fishing pole/lures
• Teflon fry pan
• filet knife

Health/personal toiletries:
• PUR water filter
• waterbottles (3)
• toothbrush/toothpaste
• deodorant/soap
• pack towels (2)
• trowel/TP
• DEET repellant
• Iodine tablets
• eyeglass strap
• hand lotion
• clothes pins
• medications/vitamins

Cooking:
• cook set
• pot lifter
• bamboo spatulas
• stick matches
• Sierra cup
• utensils
• stove
• spare gas/ cartridge
• white kitchen trash bags (for toting out your garbage)

Entertainment:
• deck of cards
• steno pad/pen/pencil
• book(s) to read
• binoculars

Sleeping gear:
• tent/ground cloth
• sleeping bag
• pillow
• ThermaRest mattress
• candle lantern/spare candles (2)

Photography:
• camera
• Panoramic camera
• spare camera batteries
• film/unipod

Clothing
• GoreTex top & bottom
• sweatshirt with hood
• sweatpants
• hiking shorts
• spare pants
• T-shirts
• GoreTex rain hat
• kerchiefs
• camp shoes
• hiking boots
• socks (hiking & regular)
• underwear

Food
• freeze-dried food
• vegetables
• tortillas
• raisins
• tuna fish/bread/crackers
• apples
• hot chocolate
• licorice bites
• mayo packets
• soup
• cashews
• jelly beans/trail mix