Hey everyone! We’re back with a new tutorial on how to pack for a backpacking trip. Wow, that is a bit of a tongue twister! Below is the video that goes into detail of how to pack your pack, then what follows in this blog post is a little more specifics on the individual pieces of gear that we use and love!

Though this blog post was made in partnership with REI, the opinions are entirely our own.

Please note: The links provided in this blog post are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing some of these pieces of gear we get a very small portion of the sales. Thank you as always for supporting us and our life on the road, it gives us the opportunity to share so extensively with you all!

Starting with our packs themselves, here is what we use:

Hyperlite Windrider 2400

Durable, comfortable, light weight, water resistant. Essentially the best backpack anywhere! We have used and loved this pack since 2017!

Hyperlite Windrider 3400

This is the same pack as our previous one just the next size up. We decided to upgrade packs so we could accommodate our extra camera equipment and packrafts for packrafting trips!

Patagonia Travel Hip Pack Mini

Small and lightweight, this hip pack is perfect for storing small odds and ends you need quick access to on trail.

Sea-To-Summit E-Vent Bags

We use these to store all of our extra clothes while on trail to be sure that if our packs get wet, everything inside stays nice and dry. Additionally this is where I will keep my extra battery pack, film and journal. If going ultra light you can even use this bag as your pillow!

UrsacKBear Bags

An extra bag specifically for your food always makes meal time a lot easier! You just grab it and know you have everything you need. If you are in an area where you will need to worry about bears there are a bunch of different options for bear safe food storage, but we love the Ursacks because of how light weight and easy to carry they are!

Additional things that live inside of our dry bags:

• Camp Pillow - The one I have and use was discontinued but this one by Sea-To-Summit is almost exactly the same!

• Anker USB Power Pack - if you bring a power bank be sure to also pack the cords you will need. This could be for your phone or watch.

• Journals - Lightweight for backcountry travel

• Film - but not everyone needs that though ;)

Additional things that get stored in our food bag:

• GSI Camp Mugs

• Toaks Backpacking spoon

• Jetboil Flash System or the Jetboil Stash which is even lighter than the Flash

• Toiletry Bag - In it I store a bamboo toothbrush, mini toothpaste, face lotion, body lotion, and pain killers

• Fuel canister - and don’t forget a lighter or matches to be safe!

Nemo Dragonfly tent

This is a new tent to us and we really are enjoying it. We love how much mesh makes up the top of the tent making it feel really spacious and breathable on warm nights! It also comes with a rain fly to be sure we are dry on the cool rainy nights. I recommend a footprint to go under the tent as well.

Sierra Design Backcountry Quilt

We’ve had these sleeping bags for a long time and still are madly in love with them. Backcountry quilts have an open bottom but at the foot of the bags it’s more like a traditional sleeping bag. This style is great for those of us who move around in their sleep! Sadly they’re no longer available but one I recommend is linked!

Additional things that live loose inside of your pack:

• Compression Bag for your sleeping bag. What size you need is totally up to your sleeping bag. Often on the tag they will list what size bag it packs down to.

Things to keep outside your pack:

In the end, these items will be entirely up to you and your needs! Just remember these are the things you want quick and easy access to.

Garmin InReach Mini

If you plan on doing anything in the backcountry I recommend carrying some sort of satellite communicator! There is so much they can do such as send messages to friends and family, pull geo specific weather reports and even save your life in the event of an emergency because you can send an SOS!

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

Somewhere along the way you will have to fill up water on trail, for that we recommend the Sawyer Squeeze system because its lightweight, easy to use and really affordable! All you have to do is scoop up some water in one of the bags they come with, attached the nozzle, and squeeze!

Here are some additional things you may want to consider keeping on the outside of your pack:

• Water bladders. I recommend at least two 1L bottles!

• Trekking poles! Don’t go without them, your back and balance will thank you!

• Wet wipes, TP, and a small backpacking trowel. Side note: NEVER leave your TP behind. Once you use it please place it in your trash bag to bring it out with you.

• Wag Bags for areas where you are not permitted to leave human waste behind

• Bug spray, Bug net for your head, and sunscreen

• Peak Design camera clip for all our photographers out there!

That wraps up our guide on how to pack for a backpacking trip! Thank you all so much for watching and reading! I hope that this helps you get out there to do some backpacking. If you have any questions at all, never hesitate to post them in the comments and I’m happy to help!

Happy trails my friends! - MAK