3 Day Backpacking Essentials

Travel

Jan 30

First time backpacking and don’t know what you need in your pack? You’ve come to the right place! In this post, we outline the essentials of backpacking for a 3 day, 2 night adventure. And I’ve made it really simple for you in a downloadable form below. Don’t be alarmed when you don’t see the whole kitchen sink on this list. It’s surprising how much you can live without for just a few days although you really have to get over your fear of pooping in public because there’s nothing private about pooping in the woods. Let’s dive in and start gearing up for your next (or first) backpacking adventure!

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BACKPACKING ESSENTIALS

The following items are must-haves and I wouldn’t recommend skimping out on them. Buying items that are not durable or that are not properly fitted to you may make for an uncomfortable trip.

First and Foremost: BACKPACKING PACK

I have the REI Co-op Traverse 35 Pack which they unfortunately do not make anymore. This pack has been a great pack for me and it’s held up well through many different backpacking trips and it hasn’t experienced any wear or tear yet regardless of how rough I am with it. REI still carries the Traverse 60L which is significantly larger but would work good for a 3 day trip as well as trip up to a week long pending your packing style. They also have the REI Flash 55 which is what my husband has (in men’s size obviously). We both like that we have mesh front pockets to store our sandals and other items that we will need frequently from our packs throughout the trip. I would also recommend going in to get fitted. Every REI store and most outfitter style stores will have resources to fit you for a pack. Making sure you have the right size pack for your body is important, especially when going for longer hauls.

Next Most Important Thing - WHERE YOU SLEEP

We are budget-friendly people and heavily rely on reviews to spend less for a great quality product. That’s where we found this Kelty 3 Season Backpacking Tent. They updated it so the style + color of the tent has changed slightly from when we purchased it back in 2018. This tent has weathered us through 27 degree backpacking + multiple camping trips. Once you have two people in there, it’s quite easy to keep warm through cold weather although you still need to layer appropriately. We can fit ourselves and our packs in this tent. And if it’s nice out, we store our packs in the front “entry” of the tent since it has a nice hangover. The nice thing about this tent is that it does come in a 1 person, 2 person or 4 person style pending what you need for your trip.

WHAT YOU ARE SLEEPING IN + ON

We purchased these sleeping pads when this company was just a kickstarter and we love them to this day. These Hitorhike Inflatable Sleeping Pads weigh just under 1lb and roll up into a really small tube. They are more durable than an air mattress. I can’t tell you the number of times we have woken up completely on the ground from an air mattress. These sleeping pads have never failed us AND they come in more colors than we were originally offered.

As for a sleeping bag, Kelty makes great sleeping bags. I’m that person that needs foot space and also needs her head covered when sleeping. So purchasing one of those bags that encloses at the feet and snugs right around my head was not in the cards for me. But luckily, Kelty made this amazing sleeping bag that keeps me warm and comfortable in all the temperatures. I wouldn’t skimp on a nice sleeping bag - especially if you’re at a high elevation because chances are, it’s going to be cooler at night and you do not want to wake up in the middle of the night cold.

Also - are you one of those people who CANNOT sleep without a pillow? Same…So here’s you’re best option. You don’t need to go and buy the most expensive blow up pillow out there. They really are all the same at the end of the day and you can make it fit to your liking by how much air you blow into it. This backpacking pillow is a great option and if you’re a color snob (also like me), then you have PLENTY of options.

Want to See at Night? This is Your Headlamp!

You really shouldn’t go backpacking without some form of light and a headlamp will be your best friend when you have to pee in the middle of the night and can’t hold a flashlight at the same time. We have had these Black Diamond Head Lamps for years and they have taken us on many backpacking trips and sunrise/sunset hikes. They are lightweight, the batteries are easy to replace and they have multiple light functions. The adjustable head straps are a must on every headlamp and I like the material that these ones have for their straps because they don’t pull my hair!

You’ll want this second set of legs!

The most recent backpacking trip we went on was near 30 miles long over the course of 3 days and the item that I was the most thankful for was my hiking poles. We got these Trail Buddy Hiking Poles from Amazon. Having hiking poles saves you so much weight distribution especially when hiking through steep passes. You can get them in so many different colors. They come with mud baskets, snow baskets and rubber tips for all different terrain types. These poles are adjustable to whatever height you need and they haven’t ever let us down!

Care for Yo-Self! Carry a First Aid Kit + Bath Essentials!

We created our own first aid kit but this one from Amazon is a great option for the basics! Here is what we put in our own first aid kit!

Medications: Benadryl, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Anti-Diarrheal, Caffeine Tablets, Electrolyte Tablets

Bandage/Wraps: 1 Wrap (in case of sprains), large bandages, small bandages, roll of tape, gauze pads

Ointments/Creams: Neosporin, mini bug spray, mini sunscreen, alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, deodorant, toothpaste/brush,

Others: Emergency Matches, scissors, needle + thread, toilet paper

What You Need to Feed Yourself!

A burner, propane, mugs, utensils, a pot and a knife. We purchased this portable stove attachment for really cheap and it’s lasted us years without issue. And then we just pick up the mini propane tanks from our local grocery store or REI. It’s super easy to cook on this - it’s really just like a stovetop. Our favorite dishes have been this Stanley Set from Amazon. When you are backpacking, a lot of your dehydrated meals can be made right in the bag they came in. We only use cups when backpacking for things like tea/coffee, oatmeal, and dehydrated meals. So 1 cup each, 1 pot, and two utensils will do the trick for a two-person backpack trip.

Want dehydrated meal suggestions? These are some of our absolute favorites!

Mountain House Adventure Meals - Beef Chili Mac, Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken Teriyaki, Breakfast Skillet

Patagonia Provisions - Red Bean Chili, Breakfast Grains: Creamy Banana + Tart Apple

Alpine Aire - Mexican Style Grilled Chicken Bowl

Peak 2 Refuel - Breakfast Skillet, Chicken Teriyaki Rice

Never Go Without a Water Source!

Staying hydrated is a MUST - especially if you are hiking at high elevation. And how do we get water once our initial supply is out? This handy water filter! However, if you are going for more than a couple of days, I would recommend getting a filter that can filter a larger amount of water in a shorter amount of time. But for just a few nights, this small Sawyer filter has worked great for us. It's VERY packable, lightweight, and easy to use + clean. We always take our Camelbak reservoirs with us on our hikes + backpacking adventures. Plan ahead and make sure you have water along your route so you can replenish when you run out.

Keep the Bears Away!

You ALWAYS want to make sure you have a way to keep your food away from bears and other wildlife. We take a bear canister and a bear resistant sack with us when we backpack. We put all our food in this canister and any smelly clothes, bathroom items, and non-food items in this sack. Some people attach bells to their canister + bag to hear if they are being moved in the night however, we don't and have never had issues. They have been moved so it's best to make sure they have something bright colored on them so they are easier to find in the woods if an animal moves them in the night. We never typically hike without our bear spray but this really does depend on where and when you are hiking. We are firm believers that you can never be too prepared in the woods.

Other Tools You Won’t Regret Taking Along!

A poop trowel is a must - you need to burying your fecal matter. Please don't just leave it above ground. That's gross and unhealthy for wildlife. We always take some large ziploc bags incase we have some really smelly clothes and to use for keeping trash in one place. A microfiber quick-dry backpacking towel really comes in handy when you want to wash off, swim, or just to dry yourself if it rains or you have to cross a river. We like this one a lot and we take them any time we travel, not just for backpacking!

Emergency Contact Device!

Having a device like this is highly dependent on where you are backpacking and how long you are planning to be gone. If you are going on a trek that's not heavily trafficked, or you're going alone, please take an emergency contact device with you. I recommend this Garmin mini device. I would hope your chances of needing it are slim to none however you will thank yourself later if you do end up needing it. This device can come in handy any time you are out in the wilderness whether it be day-hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hunting, etc.

Are You Ready to Take on Your First Trip?

Now that we have outlined all the essentials for your backpacking adventure, where do you want to go?! We recommend starting to test your gear on day hikes to make sure you love your gear (especially your pack!) before being stuck 20+ miles away from town with gear that doesn’t work well for you! You can find a list of our favorite day hikes in this blog post! We tested our gear on a really short out-and-back hike with a 1 night overnight so that if our gear wasn’t suiting us, we could just hike the 2 miles back to the car and drive home. To find the right pack for your body type and size, we recommend visiting your local REI to get fitted. Their staff is extremely helpful and they stand behind the products they sell. You may pay a slight premium for your products but we have never regretted it!

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