I’m not going to lie, backpacking in the backcountry at first was very intimidating to me. But once I took the leap, learned the “backpacking ropes”, and got all of the gear that we needed – it is my absolute favorite activity to do ever! Especially in the summertime. If you enjoy hiking – backpacking (in my opinion) is even better! I just want to squeeze your face right now and tell “YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT!” There’s nothing quite like being unplugged in the backcountry for a few days. It’s rejuvenating, refreshing, and will make your soul so, so happy. I’m so excited you’re here to learn more about backpacking and hopefully, I can help you not make the same mistakes I did the first few times I went and can make your experience even more incredible! And hopefully I can also help you learn something new or help you find the backpacking gear you need to get out into the backcountry this summer! Now let’s get backpack-y. (That’s a word…right)?

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Research + Plan 

It’s very important that you do your research and plan ahead before going on your backpacking trips. Here are some helpful tips and resources that help us plan, research, and navigate the trails while out in the backcountry!

Apps to Download

I recommend downloading the Alltrails app – this is the best app in my opinion for finding trails that are suitable for backpacking. You can filter out the trails you are searching through with the keyword “Backpacking” so that you know you if you are allowed to backpack there. When it says “Backpacking” as one of the trail keywords, it usually means that the trail has designated campsites for you to pitch your tent and stay there for a night (or as many as you want). Also, we love using Washington Trails Association Trip Reports (if you’re planning on hiking/backpacking in Washington, where we are based out of) is another great place to research trails. Both Alltrails and WTA Trip Reports have been amazing resources for us to find accessible trails that are suitable for backpacking! People also provide great reviews of the trail as well so you know what you’re getting into (so it’s not too hard, or not accessible – downed tree, closed trailhead, washout, etc). 

Navigation

Alltrails also comes in handy for having navigation right on your cell phone – you can download the trail before you go so you have the map downloaded on your phone and it will automatically track you on the app so you know where you are on the trail and so you don’t make any wrong turns. My favorite feature on this app is that it also has icons that shows you where camping spots are and where restrooms are along the trails so that you can navigate to your desired location with ease. And to be sure you are camping in a designated camping area.

Permits

You also need to be sure you do not need a permit to backpack and pitch a tent on that trail. Quite a few areas including The Enchantments, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National park (to name a few) require permits for you to stay overnight and backpack there. To be sure, check recreation.gov to see if you need a permit before backpacking there (or else, you could be looking at a pretty expensive fine from a Ranger for staying there without a permit). And we have definitely ran into rangers multiple times on our backpacking trips that have checked our permits.

Prepare

When we knew we had won Core Enchantments Permits a few years ago, we knew that we needed to physically train our bodies to be ready for such a difficult hike (25 miles and 5500 feet of elevation gain) and trek with 20-30 pound backpacks. So – we did harder day hikes leading up to our Enchantments thru-hike. We also made our bags heavier than usual for our day hikes to physically prepare our bodies for hiking a harder trail with our backpacking bags (since they require much more gear than a regular day hiking bag). Know your limits and your difficulty level. I am not going to lie to you – backpacking is physically HARD. But, it is so dang worth it. I promise. You’ll thank me when you wake up next to a beautiful crystal blue alpine lake with no one around. It’s more than magic. 

Safety 

When I say unplug, you are truly unplugged! There typically is never wifi in the backcountry. Be sure to let a family member or close friend know where you’re going to be backpacking to and for how long. You can give them GPS coordinates and the day you plan on coming home. To feel even safer, you can also buy something like a Garmin In-reach in order to be able to send text messages in case of an emergency.

Leave No Trace 

It is so important to respect these beautiful places and leave them even better than you found them! To brush up on how to leave no trace and learn about the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace – head over to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics website!

Gear + What to Pack

Free Downloadable Backpacking Checklist – Click here!

Backpack

For backpacking – you need something larger and more comfortable for your back other than a day pack. I recommend going to REI or your local recreational equipment store and trying them on in person. The people who work there will also be able to help you big time on the right backpacking backpack for you! They’ll help you figure out the size of your backpack that would work best for you and a backpack that would fit you the most comfortably and ergonomically. I have a 55 pack since I have my husband to help share the load of everything we need to bring in the backcountry – so if you do decide to go solo then we suggest going for a larger sized backpack so you are able to fit all your gear in like your tent and sleeping pad! I started out with the REI Co-op Flash 55 Pack and it has done amazing as my first backpacking pack! But now after 3 years of backpacking – I have been wanting to upgrade. I’ve heard great things about Osprey and will definitely upgrade to one of their packs. For a slightly smaller and less bulkier option there is the Osprey Kyte 46 Pack and for a larger option there is the Osprey Ariel 55 Pack. I would always recommend going slightly larger and sizing up since it will give you more room to pack your gear and apparel!

Day Pack

It is such a luxury to bring a day pack with you (definitely not required) but I highly recommend this! After you’ve hiked all day to your camp spot with your large, and heavy backpacking bag – it’s super nice and convenient to be able to use a day pack to use to explore around after you’ve set up camp. A day pack is perfect for holding things like your water filtration system, snacks, your phone / camera gear to take with you while you explore around your new home for the next few days. Then you don’t have to take your bulky backpacking bag with you while you explore during the day. Make sure it’s something you can easily pack down so it doesn’t take up too much room in your backpacking bag. I suggest the Fjallraven Ulvo Hip Pack- it’s a slightly larger fanny pack where I can fit my smaller water filtration bottle, snacks, phone, and anything else I want to bring along with me. And it compresses down nicely to pack in my backpacking backpack. Obviously it’s one of my favorite brands – their logo is a fox! And their gear is top notch.

Tent

While in the backcountry- having a tent that is easy to set up and is lighter weight for backpacking is a must! I suggest doing research and looking up reviews for tents online. We have the REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent with Footprint and are obsessed with it! It’s so easy to set up and it fits myself, my husband, and our 25-pound dog comfortably. 

Sleeping Pads

Our favorite sleeping pads we actually found on Amazon called POPCHOSE Camping Sleeping Pad! We love that they are easy to pump up with an integrated hand pump, the integrated pillow, comfort, and the ability to snap the two sleeping pads together to make a larger “mattress” for two. We used to have individual sleeping pads – but it would get annoying because we obviously like to snuggle up together at night and stay warm. But we would find one of us on the hard ground in the morning since the pads would slip around as we shifted to cozy up next to each other and stay warm. So being able to snap the two pads together was a game changer. And they’re so comfortable! I’m always very surprised by how comfortable I feel and sleep while laying on these pads. 

Sleeping Bag

Take it from me – you DO NOT want to sleep cold in the backcountry. It completely sucks to shiver all night and feel like you barely got a blink of sleep. And one very important formula to sleeping warm in the backcountry is investing in a warm sleeping bag! Did you know they design mens vs. women’s sleeping bags differently? The biggest difference between men’s and women’s models is the amount of insulation used. Because the average female sleeps colder than the average male (about 10-15 degrees colder), women’s bags actually use more insulation to reach the same temperature ratings. I upgraded my old sleeping bag and invested money in a nice women’s sleeping bag after much research – I chose the REI Joule. And it was one of the best decisions I made and I am so glad I made the investment. They are expensive – but I promise you it is SO worth it. Unfortunately, REI does not carry the Joule anymore but the REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag is pretty much the exact same thing! Kevin also has an REI sleeping bag….and the best part about having two REI sleeping bags is they ZIP TOGETHER! Check the models you have, but ours zip together and I’m even more warm and cozy from getting to share sleeping bags with my personal heater (aka my husband)! 

Water Filtration 

Unlike day hikes where you bring water with you to stay hydrated on the trail – you need a water filtration system for backpacking. The reason is that you already have so much gear packed for your trip (you do need A LOT of gear for backpacking including food and clothes) so the extra weight of bringing water that would last for potentially days is just out of the question! Your bag would be insanely heavy. So – you need a water filtration system so you can get water from streams, rivers, lakes, or snow on the trail you decide to backpack at. Our absolute favorite water filtration system is the Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System. We have the sports bottles (one for me and one for my husband) so that we can have them while we are hiking to stay hydrated with. And a large 3 Liter one for at camp for cooking. We love how convenient these are and how you can fill up your bottle and take a drink immediately and not have to wait (it’s not fun to wait when you’re hot and thirsty…trust me)! TRULY the water in the backcountry in Washington is ice cold and so delicious…10/10! 

First Aid Kit

First Aid kits have come in handy multiple times for me while hiking and backpacking! You can get nice compact ones made for hiking and backpacking. I’ve gotten a few scrapes and gashes while out in nature – and we’ve used the first aid kit to help disinfect and protect wounds from becoming infected! 

Headlamps + Lanterns 

Staying overnight in the backcountry means that well..it gets dark! Headlamps help to illuminate the night so you can navigate around your campsite safely. They’re also helpful if you’re hiking in the dark after a sunset hike or before a sunrise hike. We also love our solar-operated lanterns to illuminate our tent at night (like a night light). And if you’re feeling really extra – it’s so fun to bring little battery-operated string lights to hang in your tent! So cozy – and they have different settings and color options which makes having them in your tent even more fun!

 

Trekking Poles

Trekking poles are LIFESAVERS (or should I say knee savers) while backpacking. We rarely ever use trekking poles for our day hikes – but we 100% recommend having them for backpacking. You and your knees will thank us later. 

Sun Protection

The best way to avoid sunburn and stay cool while hiking and backpacking is to use sun protection! And yes, you can even get sunburnt in the winter! So be prepared and protect your eyes and skin from the sunshine while out exploring nature! Also chapstick/lip balm is a must! You’re lips will get dry and if you don’t have chapstick with you to help satiate them – it sucks! Find chapstick that also has sunscreen in it for double the protection. 

Bug protection 

The backcountry means beautiful alpine lakes views, but it also, unfortunately, means bugs! Don’t forget to bring bug protection on your hike to avoid getting eaten alive and itching all night. Definitely no fun! The amount of bugs and mosquitoes depends on the time of year – so the best way to know if the bugs are bad or not so bad on a trail is to look up recent trail reports.

Jetboil / Camping Stove

In order to cook in the backcountry – we just use a simple jetboil! A jetboil requires propane that comes in small cans that you bring with you in order to boil water or cook food. We use our jetboil to boil water and make food like ramen, instant potatoes, or add it to our dehydrated backpacking meals. But I’ll cover our favorite foods to bring while backpacking later! 

Dinnerware + Utensils

We don’t need too many things to eat our food with in the backcountry. We have sporks, enamel coffee mugs (can use for coffee or to make morning oatmeal in), and we love our collapsible XL bowl from Sea to Summit to eat our food in! But a lot of the time – you can eat your meals directly out of the dehydrated meal pack!

Personal Hygiene + Toiletries 

 I use a reusable Stasher Bag to put it in our toiletries. It’s pretty simple and not too glamorous. We have our toothbrushes, small toothpaste tube, a small pack of tums (for any backcountry tummy aches), a small pack of Advil, and deodorant. Also hand sanitizer is a must to keep your hands clean (especially after going to the bathroom out in the backcountry)!

When nature calls

When you got to go you got to go! And poop…happens. Typically backpacking trails have toilets (which basically is a trail that leads you to a more secluded spot that has a large cathole dug into the ground by Park Rangers). They typically include a nice wooden lid on top of the toilet that opens and closes and are actually not bad! If you are not near a trail toilet, then you need to also have a trowel (or you can use a rock or a stick – just might be harder to make a hole). Move at least 200 feet (about 70 steps) away from any water sources, trails, and campsites. Use a trowel, rock, or stick to dig a hole 4-6” wide and 6-8” deep. Fill hole with dirt and pack your toilet paper or wipes in a ziplock bag with you. Pro-tip – reuse one of your backpacking meal bags that are not see-through.

Pack it out

To help ensure everything you pack in, you pack out – bring a cleanup bag or trash bag with you! You’ll accumulate some trash from all the backpacking food wrappers and packaging – so having a trash bag with you to keep all your trash in is so helpful! Especially if you are bringing your dog, having a designated bag to put all your pups used poop bags in is very helpful. And you can help leave it even better than you found it for the next visitors to come. Sometimes people can accidentally (or not accidentally, unfortunately) leave little wrappers or trash behind. Be a good steward and leave no trace and leave it even better than you found it!

Bear Proofing + Bear Spray

While backpacking, you need to be prepared for wildlife that might be present on your adventure. This includes bears! In Washington – we have black bears so it is SO important to know how to store your food so that you don’t have a black bear around your camp spot or rummaging into your tent. 

Storing Food

We use an Osprey Ultra Light Dry Pack to store our food in and tie it up in a tree near (but not too close) to our campsite. Learn how to here. You can also use a bear canister but they are pretty big and bulky so we prefer the bag tie up method. Many National Parks, National Forests, and Thru-hikes require that you use bear canisters, or bear-resistant food containers. Most notably, agencies require bear canisters in grizzly populated areas. These agencies also require the use of bear canisters in areas where black bears are present.We also keep our food in scentless bags as an extra precaution. We don’t want them stealing our delicious food we’re living off of! And we want ourselves and the bears/wildlife to stay safely away from our campsite and our food that could potentially harm them. 

Bear Spray

Black Bears typically are not agrressive. But if you end up stumbling upon one with her cubs or just spooking one – they could become aggressive. To be safe – please have bear spray with you! It could also help for other potential run-ins with wildlife like goats or mountain lions or even could be used as pepper spray for protection. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. 

Food

It’s super important to stay nourished and fueled while hiking in the backcountry. You’re burning A LOT of calories – and your body needs all the fuel it can get to help you recover and give you energy. We love buying the already dehydrated backpacking meals (they are high in calories and are built for the backpacker). But – they definitely are very expensive! We love buying a few of them as a delicious luxury (and for their high calorie content to help us really refuel) – but there is also a cheaper option! Think of it like this – any food that you can think of at the typical store that requires hot water to make, doesn’t need refrigerating, and are lighter in weight are items that are perfect to take with you backpacking! This includes things like ramen, instant potatoes (these are SO good), mac and cheese, oatmeal…the list goes on and on. Here are some of our favorite things to bring with us to the backcountry, but again it’s whatever you’re craving and want to bring with you! The snacks and food options are truly endless. 

Breakfast

• Oatmeal with Peanut Butter (top with granola or dehydrate apple chips) 
• Dehydrated Meals like:
• Breakfast burritos (flour tortillas, egg crystals or backpacking egg meal, hot sauce) 
• Instant Potatoes (you might think I’m crazy, but so good for any meal honestly – and they’re so easy + fast to make)
• Bagel with Peanut Butter 

Lunch

We usually do a lighter lunch / just snack throughout the day so we save room and weight in our bags. Then at dinner we chow down. 

• Peanut butter and Jelly Bagel / Tortilla 
• Salami, Cheese, and Crackers (salami and hard cheeses typically don’t require refrigeration) 

Dinner 

• Ramen
• Instant Potatoes
• Mac and Cheese w/ Broccoli 
• Dehydrated Meals 

Snacks

• DIY Trail Mix (we basically live off this in the backcountry, create your own trail mix to munch on throughout the entire trip. My favorite combination is brownie m&m’s, pretzels, peanuts, dried cranberries, chocolate almonds). 
• Jar of Peanut Butter (seems crazy, but I always bring a jar with me in the backcountry – dipping bagels, pretzels, putting it on top of oatmeal, or just eating it by the spoon – it’s all the fat and protein my body is craving)! 
• Pretzels + Peanut Butter
• Granola 

Beverages

• Instant Coffee
• Hot Cocoa 
• Tea
• Liquid IV
• Gatorade Packets 

Clothes 

Staying warm and comfortable are game changers while hiking and staying in the backcountry. Investing in clothes that are built for breathability, warmth, and comfort is key. Again, it’s not fun to be cold in the backcountry – so I reccomend investing in quality pieces that will perform well and be durable enought to last for awhile at least a few years. I’m sharing with you all my staples while hiking and backpacking. These are the clothes I literally ALWAYS wear / bring with me that are comfortable, durable, and perform super well! 

Hiking Clothes

Layers are key! Dress warm to start the day, and then you can always take off clothes during the day as you get warmer / get your blood pumping from hiking. Comfort and function are key when it comes to finding hiking clothes that work best for you while backpacking. Make sure most of our apparel is moisture-wicking so that when you get sweaty while hiking it is able to dry quickly so that you can stay dry and warm throughout your entire trip!

Insulation + Rain Protection

It is very important to have a jacket that protects you from the rain (you never know when it’s going to rain, especially up in the mountains) as well as a jacket that will keep you warm. My all-time favorite warm jacket for backpacking is the Patagonia Micro-Puff jacket. It keeps me warm and toasty – especially at night – while in the backcountry. And I love that it is lightweight and compresses down to make it easy to pack. I also absolutely love my Arc’teryx Rain Jacket. They are pricey – but well worth the price to keep you warm and dry on the trails.

Sleeping Clothes

Other than having a high-quality sleeping bag – it is important to have the right clothes to keep you warm at night in the backcountry! Like I said before – I used to sleep TERRIBLY while out backpacking because I did not have the right combination of warm sleeping clothes yet. But I have finally found what keeps me warm, cozy, and able to get a full night’s sleep! I absolutely love my Smartwool Baselayer bottoms and long sleeve top. I then add layers on top if I am still cold like my Patagonia Micro-Puff and extra leggings on top. I also cannot recommend the United By Blue Ultimate Bison Socks enough as your go-to sleeping socks. They are SO warm and cozy! I also wear a beanie to bed for extra warmth!

Some other tips for sleeping warm in the backcountry – fill a Nalgene bottle with hot water and throw it into your sleeping bag as a heater. Make sure you use the restroom before going to sleep (if you hold it in, it actually makes you colder)! So as hard as it is to get out of your warm sleeping bag and use the restroom – it will be worth it, I promise! Drink something hot before you go to sleep like tea or hot cocoa to bring your body temperature up. And I love bringing AirPods to listen to podcasts, downloaded movies, or music to drown out those noises that might creep you out and keep you up at night.

Boots/Shoes

On all my backpacking trips I have used the Merrell Mag-9 Trail-Running Shoes and they have worked great! I even thru-hiked The Enchantments in them and they were amazing. Super comfortable and did not need breaking in at all! I recently invested in Danner Boots and I love them so much too! I would suggest going to your local REI and trying on a few of your favorite pairs to see which hiking shoe/boot would be best for backpacking. The people at REI are also super great resources and should be able to help you find your perfect hiking shoe!

Socks

Wet, cold feet are not happy feet! Keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable in the backcountry and on the trails by investing in wool socks. And always bring a few extra pairs with you! My favorite brands are REI and Darn Tough Socks!

Camp Shoes

These are totally optional but so worth bringing in my opinion. After hiking all day long in your hiking boots/shoes – it is such a relief to have a cozy pair of shoes to change out of at camp. The Teva ReEmbers are super cozy and perfect camp shoes (they just are a little heavier). I recommend a lighter pair of Tevas that you can wear socks with at camp! The sandals also attach nicely with their velcro onto the outside of your backpack as well!

Happy Trails!

I hope this blog helped you and gave you some good tips and gear recommendations for getting out into the backcountry! Always remember to leave no trace and leave it better than you found. And most of all – I hope you have a rad time out exploring nature! Happy trails!

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