BACKPACKING GEAR FUNDAMENTALS

My top three backpacking gear must-haves when beginning your outdoor adventure journey.

Ever since our first backpacking trip in 2020, I’ve been hooked. I have loved every bit of backpacking, especially the methodical planning out of everything I am going to bring. Packing my bag, usually days in advance because the anticipation gets the best of me. Carrying all of that gear that I need to survive on my back, to a beautiful, remote destination gave me a feeling of accomplishment that I didn’t know was possible. Backpacking is one of the most rewarding things that I have accomplished in my life, but getting to this point has been a learning experience.

Backpacking "Big Three"

The best way to plan to start backpacking is acquiring your big three. A big three consists of a backpack, shelter and sleeping system. With so many different options for each of the three, finding a starting point can be a little intimidating.

Backpack

My journey into backpacking began on facebook marketplace. I was very lucky to find a Teton Explorer 4000 backpack for only $40.00. The thrifty, bargain hunter in me immediately knew that was a great deal since I had just been looking at them on Amazon and they were $85.00 new. It’s not the lightest backpack but it certainly is comfortable. The straps and back have really good padding. There are plenty of pockets on the side and room inside for everything I could possibly need to survive and be comfortable.

Some of the most important things in finding a backpack is making sure that it has adjustable straps and some padding to soften the load. I prefer my backpack to be more comfortable but that means added weight. The ultra light backpacks just don’t seem to have the comfort I would want since I usually carry some unnecessary gear that results in more comfort. With all the options, understanding the size of the backpack is important too. Approach it in terms of how you will be utilizing it. If you are a weekend warrior like myself, then a 2-3 day trip is probably the max you would be able to do consecutively. Multi-day packs should usually fall around 40-75 liters.

Tent

Next up was figuring out our shelter. Our camping journey started with a cheap tent we got at Cabelas. It was kind of a hassle to set up and weighed way too much for us to even think of carrying in our backpacks. We went down the rabbit hole of all the tents and could not believe the cost of some of them. There is no way the cost of manufacturing or the materials even come close to the price tag on some of the big name brands you can find.

This led us to discover Hyke and Byke. We first found them on Amazon but made it to their website and after reading their about us page and every review we could find, we were ready to get our tent. We decided on the Zion 2-Person Tent It seems to be identical to some of the brands that charge 4 times the price. This tent has been AMAZING. It is so easy to set up and both Emily and I have plenty of room.

When choosing a tent, figuring out capacity is the number one step. Don’t make a mistake and buy a 6 person tent for 2 people and wonder why it's so heavy. There are great options for all sizes but I primarily spent my efforts looking at 2 person tents, since it would always be Emily and I. Easy setup, weight and price were huge deciding factors for us and made picking the Zion a no brainer.

Sleep System

Last up is the sleeping system and mine consists of a Sea to Summit Comfort Light Self-Inflating sleeping mat and Hyke and Byke Katahdin 0°F Synthetic sleeping bag. Choosing these was a very long process and I started out with very, very cheap alternatives that didn't even last 2 trips. It seems like there are a million options for both a sleeping mat and bag.

Figuring out your minimum temperature you are planning to camp is one of the biggest determining factors. I was planning on camping in all 4 seasons and wanted a versatile setup. A good rule of thumb is to add 20 degrees to what the sleeping bag rating is. The Hyke and Byke says 0°F but I’ve been in 20°F weather and was still a little cold but I made it through the night and according to my fitbit app, I actually got 8 hours of sleep.

A sleeping mat certainly isn’t necessary and you can start backpacking without one but I prefer comfort over being ultra light. The Sea to Summit sleeping mat I have is super comfortable and rolls up nicely to fit into the straps on the top of my backpack. I chose this one because I had tried the inflatable mats like the Sleepingo pad but after waking up on top of it fully deflated, I knew a foam pad was going to be my best bet for a good nice sleep. The other things I considered were size of the pad and the R-value. R-value is something you will quickly learn about as you start putting together your sleep system. It basically measures the insulation or more simply provides a barrier between you and the cold ground.

Finding the gear that works best for you and what you are planning to do is crucial to surviving or being comfortable in the backcountry. What works for me might not be the best for your trip but this is the quality gear that I have found and will continue to use this year. Remember, backpacking and being outdoors should make you happy, so don’t stress over getting the newest or lightest gear. Do your own research, ask others what they like and use, and test it out if possible.