Most people get into backpacking via quick overnighters and weekend
getaways: short-but-sweet trips in easy-to-reach backcountry for testing
the waters and learning the ropes.
If you haven’t yet given backpacking a shot this way, here’s a big
hearty round of encouragement to do so! This can be a lifelong source of
adventure, exercise, camaraderie, and across-the-board pleasure.
But let’s say you have a few one- or two-night backpacking forays under
your belt, and are keen to try some longer outings. Well, we don’t blame
you one bit, and the good news is you already have most everything you
need. For the most part the main difference supply-wise between short
and long backpacks is simply the quantity of food and fuel you’re
lugging.
Here we’ll cover the essentials for multi day backpacks of some
duration: from three or four days to one or two weeks. Again, most of
what we’ll be covering an occasional backpacker already owns, but in
case you’re diving headfirst into a longer adventure and need to fully
outfit yourself, this should help you organize your supply list.
We’ll discuss a few of the basic details, then boil things down to a
go-to checklist.
Meals
For one or two nights out on the trail, you can get away with hauling
some culinary luxuries along if you so choose: canned goods, raw
eggs—heck, leftover pizza if you’ve got it. When you’re out camping for
a week in the backcountry, though, weight and space considerations
dictate a specialized, efficient on-the-go larder.
Not to say you can’t bring along a few indulgences for the first night
out, but ultimately you might not want to bulk up your pack with them
given the increased amount of grub you’re hauling around for subsequent
days.
You also of course want to think about the nutritional and caloric
content of your backpacking menu: 5 day backpacking food has to keep you
powered over many more miles than a weekend jaunt’s fodder. How much
food you need depends on the season (and the weather), your physical
size, and the distance and elevation gain you’re dealing with, but as a
rough rule reckon anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 calories (or in the
vicinity of two pounds of food) per person per day.
Backpackers can’t overdo it on any supply, but it is smart to have extra
food on hand in case of emergencies. Furthermore, you should have backup
food you can eat raw in case of stove or cookware contingencies.
Speaking of actual cooking, you’ll want to consider the time and fuss
required for a given meal. Maybe your wilderness plans involve
establishing a base camp and then kicking back: some day hikes here and
there, but also a whole lot of soaking in the lake, napping in the
shade, and lazily studying cloud formations. (This is a highly
acceptable approach, by the way, and a refreshing change every once in
awhile from pounding out the miles on a huge loop or thru-hike.) In that
case, campsite gourmets may enjoy leisurely and elaborate meal prep.
Otherwise, more likely than not you’re going to be stumbling into camp
weary, footsore, and famished, tasked with setting up the tent before
nightfall and—if you don't have a canister with you—scouting out a
suitable bear tree as well.
You can’t beat Mountain
House freeze-dried meals for multi day backpacks: Our
balanced, delicious, just-add-water meals make lightweight, packable
entrees that are delightfully quick and simple to whip up while giving
you the energy you need to cover some ground. Combine our handy meals
with high-quality snacks—dried fruit, nuts, jerky, etc.—and you’ll be
good to go!
For really extended backpacking trips—certainly for thru-hikes on
long-distance trails—you’ll want to re-up food along the way, which
obviously takes some advance planning. You may be able to hike down to a
grocery store along your route, or you might ship yourself provisions to
designated resupply points.
5 Day Backpacking Gear List: Other Elements of the
Camp Kitchen
What else do you need in the sustenance department for a 5 day
backpacking trip? Well, you'll need cookware and dinnerware (unless
you're going entirely granola bars and pita sandwiches), with some
backpackers still preferring the old-fashioned mess kit and others
opting for more compact and lightweight backpacker-friendly nested
implements.
Traditional backpacking stoves include both canister stoves (using
butane, isobutane, propane, or gas blends) and refillable liquid-fuel
stoves (using white gas or kerosene). You can also find stoves these
days fueled by twigs or specialized pellets. Each kind of stove and fuel
has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of weight,
availability, ease-of-use, and maintenance.
Some highly portable and packable pantry basics can be a backpacker’s
best friend at the campsite. Bring along seasonings and spices in
reusable mini-bottles or sealable bags to enhance your outback cuisine:
from salt and pepper to garlic powder, crushed red pepper, or cinnamon.
You might consider putting a small amount of cooking oil in a small
reusable bottle; you can also pack in a hunk of butter to be used in
early days for boosting the caloric oomph or the flavor of all sorts of
dishes.
Multi Day Backpack Garb: Clothes & Accessories for
the Trail
Multi-day backpackers aren’t looking to show off their full outdoor-wear
wardrobes: In the interest of weight, space, and overall efficiency,
you’re going to be wearing a lot of the same stuff throughout your trip.
But you need enough duds to properly layer, to respond to daily
temperature swings and other weather, and to account for soaked or
otherwise temporarily out-of-commission garments.
Among your outerwear, it’s always a good idea to have a warm hat and
gloves along; even in high summer, nights and mornings can be nippy when
you’re at higher elevations.
Footwear is of paramount importance on a backpacking trip of any length,
of course. You’ll want several pairs of socks along you can shuffle
through, always keeping at least one dry backup pair. Liner socks are
great for cutting down on foot friction and moisture and sparing you
those nasty blisters that can derail long-distance hiking trips.
Packin' It
For a 3 day backpack or longer, you’re looking at a backpack of at least
50-liter capacity; someone putting in a week or more on the trail may
well want a 70- or 80-liter pack.
Don’t neglect the backpack cover, which is a lifesaver during a
drenching deluge or an unexpected snowfall. (Remember: The longer you’re
out on the trail, the greater your chances of encountering bad—and
sometimes unseasonable—weather. Lean hard on that “Be prepared” Boy
Scout motto.)
Consider bringing down a daypack. Many manufacturers now offer
large-capacity backpacks with incorporated and detachable daypacks, a
great innovation. It’s sheer joy after a few days muscling all your gear
over passes and down canyons to jog up a summit or go rustling up a
water source with nothing but a light pack on.
Staying Hydrated
You'll need the means to purify water for drinking, cooking, and washing
on the trail, as it's utterly impractical to lug enough over multiple
days. (If you're trekking through country without natural water sources,
you'll have to carry more and probably stash water caches.) We recently covered the filter/purifier subject here on the Mountain House blog.
A Multi Day Backpack Checklist
The 10 Essentials (as defined by The
Mountaineers)
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(1) Navigation (map, compass, GPS, etc.)
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(2) Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, bandanna, etc.)
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(3) Insulation (outerwear, extra layers)
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(4) Illumination (headlamp, flashlight, collapsible lantern, extra
batteries)
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(5) First-aid kit
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(6) Fire-making Supplies (matches/lighter/firestarter, emergency
tinder, waterproof container)
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(7) Repair (knife, fixit kits for gear, duct tape)
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(8) Nutrition (at least one day’s worth of extra food)
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(9) Hydration (water treatment system, extra water)
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(10) Emergency Shelter (tarp, bivy, emergency blanket, poncho, etc.)
Clothing
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Wicking base layer (merino wool, synthetic)
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Insulating layer (fleece, vest, wool or synthetic sweater, etc.)
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Shell (puffy, windproof jacket, etc.)
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Rain parka (and maybe rain pants, too, depending on the location and
season)
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Fast-drying T-shirt & shorts
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Wicking underwear
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Socks & liner socks
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Hiking boots/shoes
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Sandals (around camp)
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Warm wool hat or beanie
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Gloves
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Gaiters
Tent & Associated Gear
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Backpacking tent/tarp/bivy
sack
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Tarp/groundcloth/tent footprint
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Sleeping bag w/compression sack
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Sleeping pad
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Compressible/inflatable pillow
On the Trail
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Backpack (50-80L)
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Pack cover
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Daypack
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Trekking poles
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Water bottle/bladder
Camp Kitchen
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Mountain House freeze-dried meals, breakfasts, & sides
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Snacks: (nuts, dried fruits, trail mix, jerky, hard cheese, summer
sausage, peanut butter, pita bread, tortillas, chocolate, energy
bars/gel, etc.)
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Spices & seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, crushed red
pepper, cumin, cinnamon, etc.)
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Backpacking stove
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Stove fuel
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Cookware, dishware, utensils
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Biodegradable soap
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Sponge/rag
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Towel
Miscellaneous Essentials
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Water filter/purifier
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Stuff sacks, dry sacks
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Bear canister (or bag to hang)
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Bear spray
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Nylon rope (75-100’)
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Paracord (see here)
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Emergency whistle/signaling mirror/Personal Locator Beacon/2-way
radio/etc.
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Insect repellent
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Toilet paper
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Toiletries
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Prescriptions/medications
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Hand sanitizer
Useful Accessories/Luxury Items
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Solar charger
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Camp chair
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Binoculars
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Field guides