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
Backpacker Magazine
Backpacking through Europe
Lightweight-packing
Advice for packers
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