Packing List: Backcountry Hiking Trip

If you’re going off on a backpacking hiking adventure and know that you will be carrying ALL of your stuff, minimalism is the way to go.

That doesn’t mean you can’t bring what you like to wear, and that you’ll need to eat food you don’t like – you just need to keep in mind that every small “extra” or non-essential thing will add weight on your back.

To help you get started, here is what I bring on my backcountry hiking trips– you can probably rent most of this stuff if you don’t own it. I know Mountain Equipment Co-op (Canada) and REI (US) rent out some gear for short term use. If you’re going with an organized tour, sometimes they will worry about all the food and cooking, as well as potentially carry some of your gear, or other times you have the option of staying in huts (therefore, no tent needed). Below is the full list of what is packed based on having to carry the full load – you can remove items based on your trip needs.

This list is based on 6 days and our preferences. A lot of hikers we know just eat ramen noodles every night for dinner to save on weight but we like a substantial meal at the end of the day with enough nutrients and calories to power us through. As always, adjust to your liking!

Gear

• 1 lightweight tent (ours is good for 2 people and weighs less than 5 pounds: the Eureka Midori 2)
• 1 small-medium dry bag per person (put all clothing, bedding and anything to stay dry in here). Mine is from Mountain Warehouse.
• 1 Sleeping Pad per person (note: does not need to be the self-inflating one but they are usually the most compact)
• 1 sleeping bag (I have the Marmot Nanowave 35 as I am a cold sleeper)
• 1 empty pillowcase – at the site, stuff this with your clothes so you have something cushy to sleep on
• 1 Compass
• 1 whistle
• Map of your route (keep this in a Ziploc bag to waterproof it or purchase a map case)
• 1 headlight
• Lighters/Matches
• 1 quick dry towel
• Hiking sticks (optional)
• Duct tape (save space and roll some around a lighter)
• 1 Swiss army knife (optional)
• 1 roll of Toilet paper (keep in a double Ziploc bag

Miscellaneous

• Printouts of your ID’s (drivers license, health card)
• Travel sized board games (we’re big into backgammon) – optional
• 2-3 Extra batteries  for your gear
• 1 Book/Reading Materials
• 1 Camera + extra charged batteries
• 1 Backpacking bag (60-70L: Mine is the Gregory J63)
• 1 Waterproof watch (Get something cheap! Just to set alarms if needed)
• 14-16 Sandwich sized Ziploc bags
• 4-6 large ziploc bags
• Earplugs and eyemask

Clothing

• 1 hat
• 1 sunglasses
• 1 multipurpose headband (I like Buff)
• 2-3 t-shirts – workout material is best since it’s quick dry if it gets wet (I also save one entirely for night time so it’s never sweaty)
• 1 long sleeve shirt – workout material is best since it’s quick dry if it gets wet
• 1 bathing suit (also duo’s as underwear/sports bra as needed)
• 2 underwear (quick dry, athletic fabric)
• 1 hiking pants
• 1 long underwear
• 1 warm sweater or fleece (weather dependent)
• 1 rain jacket
• 1 rain pant (optional)
• 1 packable jacket (weather dependent/optional – mine is from Uniqlo)
• 2 wool socks (I usually reserve one pair for just nights)
• 1 winter hat (weather dependent)
• 1 pair of thin gloves (weather dependent)
• 1 pair of hiking boots (mine are the Merrell Mid Chameleon Shift Traveler in black)
• 1 pair of Tevas or slip-on camping sandals/flip flops

Toiletries

• 1 Glasses + Glasses case
• 1-2 pairs of Contacts
• Mini mirror (solely just for putting in my contacts!)
• 1 Sunscreen
• 1 Bug spray (deep woods)
• 1 lip balm with sunscreen
• 1 small bottle of camp soap (I like campsuds)
• 1 Hand sanitizer
• Feminine products if needed (in a Ziploc bag)
• 1 toothbrush and toothpaste (in Ziploc bags)

Med Kit

• Any prescribed medication
• 1 pill bottle filled with: advil, pepto bismal, Imodium, gravol, benadryl
• Moleskine and bandaids
• 1 bottle of polysporin
• 1 tweezers
• 1 sewing kit
• Alcohol pads
• Water purification tablets

Cooking

• 1 camping stove + gas
• 1 set of cutlery (buy some cheap at the dollar store)
• 1 plastic bowl
• 1 water bottle (I like Nalgene with the loop top) and/or 1 water bladder
• 1 travel coffee cup (optional)
• Camp soap (you can use the camp suds you have in your toiletry kit or make a mini bottle)
• 1 Sponge
• 1 small and light pot with lid (try to find one without a handle).
  • We tried the x-pot foldable one this year and loved it.  It packs super small and weighs almost nothing – just don’t use it over a campfire.
  • 1 Pot/Pan handle (if yours doesn’t have a foldable/removable one)
• Gardening gloves – we use these as our oven mitts

Menu planning

Check out some of my top meal choices and tips.

Have a recommendation for my list based on your favourite travel essentials? Let me know!

Packing List: Canoe Tripping

Packing for a canoe trip is actually a bit of a daunting task – but once you do it once or twice, it’ll be a breeze for future trips.

Canoe trips require pretty specific gear as you are living in deep forest, travelling through very wet water (duh) and have to think about animals that might want to come hang out. Plus, you can really only bring the essentials since you only have the space of a canoe to carry your stuff. If you’re planning a car camping trip, you can use the list below but you don’t need to pack as robustly as you can really leave most of the stuff in your car.

Here is what I bring on Canoe trips– you can rent most of this stuff if you don’t own it. I know Mountain Equipment Co-op (Canada) and REI (US) rent out some gear for short term use. If you have more than 2 people, you will need to likely double the list below.

Gear

• Tent and footprint (For canoe trips, we use the the Eureka Midori 2 and for car camping, we go a bit bigger with the Eureka El Capitan 4 when space allows)
• Canoe + paddles + life jackets
• Boating Safety Kit
• Large camping barrel (for all food and toiletries) with harness straps for portaging
• Large dry bag per person (put all clothing, bedding and anything to stay dry in here. You don’t need to go fancy here – mine is from Mountain Warehouse)
• Sleeping Pad
• Sleeping bag (I like the Marmot Nanowave 35 as I am a cold sleeper)
• Empty pillowcase – at the campsite, stuff this with your clothes to become a pillow
• Compass
• Whistle
• Map of your route (keep this in a Ziploc bag to waterproof it or purchase a map case)
• Headlight (mine is the Black Diamond Storm)
• Mini small lantern (optional – for your tent)
• Lighters/Matches
• Fire Starter (optional)
• Small, foldable camping chair (optional)
• Quick dry towel
• Hiking sticks (optional)
• Duct tape
• Small pocket knife
• Toilet paper (keep in Ziploc bag)
• Rope (bring a few and make sure they can hold a heavy load – you will need this to hang your barrel which will be heavy when full)
• Lightweight tarp
• Water Bottle (I us a Nalgene with the loop top)
• Water filter (or purification tablets)

Miscellaneous

• Printouts of your camping site reservations
• ID (drivers license, health card)
• Travel sized board games (we love backgammon)
• Watercolour kit
• Inflatable water tubes (optional! route dependent if you have a flogger/lazy day)
• Small notepad/pen
• Deck of cards
• Extra batteries
• Book/Reading Materials
• Camera + extra charged batteries (your phone will die, don’t rely on it!)
• Backpacking bag with rain cover (optional – but I like storing my dry bag and all my random stuff in here)
• Waterproof watch (cheap! Just to set alarms if needed)
• Earplugs and eye mask
• A few carabiners

Clothing

• 1 hat/bandana
• 2 t-shirts – workout material is best since it’s quick dry if it gets wet
• 1 long sleeve shirt
• 1 bathing suit
• 2 underwear
• 1 pair of workout shorts
• 1 thin warm pants or PJs
• 1 thin warm sweater or fleece
• 1 rain jacket
• 2 wool socks (I usually reserve one pair for just nights)
• 1 winter hat (weather dependent)
• 1 gloves (weather dependent)
• 1 pair of hiking boots (I LOVE my Merrell Mid Chameleon Shift Traveler and wear my orthotics inside)
• 1 pair of Tevas or slip-on camping sandals with straps
• Change of clean clothes/slip-on shoes to leave in the car (literally the best feeling to put this on after a trip for a long drive home!)

Toiletries

• 1 Glasses + Glasses case
• 1 sunglasses
• Contacts with solution + mini mirror
• 1 Sunscreen
• 1 Deep Woods Bug Spray
• 1 lip balm with sunscreen
• Camp soap (I like dr.bronners unscented castille soap or campsuds)
• 1 Hand sanitizer
• Feminine products if needed (in Ziploc bag)
• 1 toothbrush and toothpaste (in Ziploc bag)

Med Kit

• Any prescribed medication
• 1 pill bottle filled with: advil, pepto bismal, benadryl
• Moleskine and bandaids
• 1 tube of polysporin
• 1 tube of Anti-itch cream/cortisone
• 1 tweezers
• Alcohol pads
• Safety pins

Cooking

• 1 camping stove + gas
• Large Ziploc bags
• 1 set of cutlery (buy some cheap at the dollar store)
• 1 bowl
• 1 plate (optional, you can just use your bowl for everything)
• 1 coffee cup/travel mug
• Aluminum foil – optional (you just need a bit folded up if you plan on cooking over a campfire)
• Camp soap (you can use the one you have in your toiletry kit or make a mini bottle)
• Sponge
• 1 pot with lid (try to find one with a foldable handle for easier packing)
• 1 pan with lid (optional, meal plan dependent)
• Pot/Pan handle (if yours doesn’t have a foldable/removable one)
• 1 mini spatula (optional, meal plan dependent)

Menu planning

Check out some of my top meal choices and tips.

Have a recommendation for my list based on what you usually bring? Let me know!

Packing list: Multi-City Adventures

Backpacking while jumping from City to City? Staying in hostels? Here’s a packing list!

Clothing

• 5 pairs of underwear
• 3-4 pairs of socks (remember: merino wool doesn’t make your feet smell!)
• 1 bathing suit
• 1 sports bra
• 1 nude bra
  • Try to bring one that you can wear strapless or have the option of multi strapped

• 1 Hat + Winter hat if cold weather
• 1 Rain jacket – optional
  • You can buy a poncho there if it’s bad weather if you want to reduce space

• 1 Jacket – optional
  • Try and find a packable one that can be made super small when packing. Mine is from uniqlo.

• 1 scarf/pashmina
  • You can use this also as a pillow/blanket or to cover your shoulders at religious places

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 pair of leggings/active pants
• 1 pair of jean shorts/nicer shorts
• 1 pair of active shorts/sleep shorts
• 1 long sleeve
• 1 skirt/dress
  • You may need to cover your knees at some religious sites or want to go somewhere “fancier” one day

• 3-4 t-shirts/tanks
• 1 casual sweater
• 1 micro-fleece zipup/warm sweater or sweatshirt

Shoes

• 1 pair of running shoes/walking shoes
  • If you plan on hiking a lot, bring a pair of worn in hiking boots instead. DO NOT bring brand new shoes on the trip (or you’ll be dealing with killer blisters). My hiking boots are the black versions of these.
• 1 pair of Shower/Beach sandals
  • If you have nice “fancier” ones that you can wear in the city, you can have these be multi-purpose
• 1 pair of comfortable flats (optional)

Toiletries

• 1 Hairbrush/mirror combo
• 1 Mini Shampoo
• 1 Mini Conditioner
• 1 face wash
• 1 face moisturizer
• 1 body wash
• 1 razor
• 1 toothbrush and toothpaste
• 1 bag of mini makeup
  • Think cosmetic samples: mini mascara, eyeliner, lip balm with colour, cover up

• Extra hair elastics/clips
• 1 sunscreen
• 1 bug spray – optional
• 1 bottle of hand sanitizer
• 1 Glasses case
• 1 Contacts + extras (+ extra solution)
• 1 Sunglasses
• 1 pack of wet wipes
  • For the times you really need a shower while on a long flight or overnight train

Med Kit

• Any prescribed medication
• 1 pill bottle filled with: advil, pepto bismal, Imodium, gravol, benadryl
• Moleskine and bandaids
• 1 bottle of polysporin
• 1 tweezers
• 1 sewing kit

Miscellaneous

• 1 Backpack (mine is an older version of this 40L)
• 1 set of Packing Cubes 
• 1 eye mask and earplugs
  • I will NEVER go on a trip without these. I’m a super light sleeper and hostels sounds like a jungle when you sleep like me.

• 1 Sleep sheet
  • I prefer silk since it’s bed bug protective

• 1 small Sleeping bag – Optional
  • Only needed if your hostel does not provide bedding. Most major ones do so I rarely bring this unless camping

• 1 empty pillowcase
  • Takes up very little space and can be used as a laundry bag or as a pillow when stuffed with clothes.

• 1 Quick dry towel
• 1 flashlight (for use in hostel)
  • I prefer a headlight so I can be hands free

• 1 mini packet of duct tape (or a couple of strips)
  • It fixes everything. Shoes, bags, blisters…

• 1 mini packet of Kleenex
  • In a lot of countries, you pay to use the washroom. And sometimes, they don’t have toilet paper. Keep some Kleenex with you at all times

• 1 book
  • You just need one. Hostels are great book exchangers.

• 1 camera + camera charger/batteries + extra memory cards
• 1 phone (unlocked for global use) + phone charger
• 1 travel adapter for outlets
• 1 foldable “city” bag
  • You can also bring a tote bag but this way, you have something for day use while travelling

• 1-2 small combo locks
  • One for your bag while in transit, one to use in hostels in the lockers

• 1 water bottle
• 1 pair of small, cheap headphones
• 1 music device – optional
• 1 small notepad and pen
• 1 watch
  • BRING A CHEAP ONE! Mine was $10 at Wal Mart

• 5-6 ziploc bags
  • They may not have a purpose before you go, but they’re always a good thing to have on hand. Whether for packed sandwiches from the free hostel breakfast so you can have a cheap lunch or to pack wet toiletries/clothing in your bag

• Printout of your schedule/itinerary/travel information
• Photocopies of your documents
  • Photocopy your passport, license, health insurance info etc – if your wallet gets stolen, it’s easier to get things replaced if you have a copy of the backup with the relevant numbers and information. Leave a copy at home with friends/family as well