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Whether you’re backpacking around Asia, Europe, or the Americas, there is essential travel gear you need for your backpacking starter kit. It’s no secret that many beginning backpackers pack waaaayyy too much stuff. We fell prey to this too, during our first backpacking trip in Europe in 2011…see the picture here! Thankfully since that first time, we’ve learned the essentials for backpacking and now travel super light, with only a small backpack everywhere we go.
With thousands of reviews online about essential backpacking gear, it’s hard to know what you really need versus what you could travel without. This is our tried and true backpacking gear list, stuff we’d say makes up the best backpacking kit around!
Know exactly what you’re looking for? Jump to the section you want by clicking on the links below!
Best Backpacking Bags
Osprey Kestrel Backpack | Check current prices here
We both have the Osprey Kestrel backpacks and love the fit of them. However, we will say, that backpacking backpacks fit everyone differently, and we strongly advise going to an outdoor gear store to try on different brands and styles of packs. You need your backpack to fit your body. What you find comfortable, others may not. We’ve linked the Osprey Kestrel here and can recommend Osprey as a great company, but again — be sure to get a bag that’s fitted to you!
Our Everyday Bags | Check current prices here
There isn’t a time that we leave the house without packing these backpacks. We use these Peak Design everyday bags for everything. We’ve taken them as our only bag for multiple weekends and weeklong trips from Scotland to different countries in Europe, and just love them. If you’re not packing a huge bag with camping gear and instead just doing a city escape backpacking trip, this is the backpack for you! You can fit SO much in them, and they don’t make you look like a tourist who just got off a plane!
Shower/Beach/Laundry Bag | Check current prices here
While we don’t have the exact bags in the image above, we always recommend traveling with some sort of compact bag. This can be used as a shopping bag, shower bag, or beach bag — and is great for packing snacks for long days of transportation.
Toiletry Bag | check current prices here
Jay has the small version of this bag, while I have the large version and we’ve used and abused them for years and they’re still holding up strong. We love how they compress when not full, and are so thin they barely take up any extra room in your pack!
Sleeping Gear for Backpacking
Sleeping Bag | Check current prices here
We bought our sleeping bags from REI garage sales years ago, but are so surprised how much the price has come down on quality sleeping bags since then. This is the current version of the sleeping bag Heather has. It’s held up great for many many years of heavy use! Be sure to get a bag that is rated for at least three seasons, if not four. This one is rated for down to 20 degrees and is perfect for backpacking!
Sleeping Pad | Check current prices here
Sleeping pads are more than just something to make your bed comfortable, they complete a backpacker’s sleep system. The added air space between you and the ground when laying on a sleeping bag provides insulation keeping you warmer at night. This sleeping pad is super compact and great for both backpacking and car camping. We have a few different brands of sleeping pads, and if you can afford it, this one is the one to get! The most important thing with sleeping bags is to check what temperatures they’re rated for, and be sure it’s rated to the temperatures you’ll be in!
Friendly Swede | Check current prices here
Even if you don’t think you’ll be staying in a hostel or hotel if you plan on tent camping everywhere, we still suggest you bring a Friendly Swede with you. They’re great for the times when you have to sleep on a bus or plane, work well for keeping you warm at transportation centers, and are perfect to have between you and sometimes grody mattresses at hostels and hotels.
Pillow | Check current prices here
Before you think we’re crazy, we’re not talking about one of those bulking single-purpose travel pillows. We recommend doubling up your down jacket as a pillow when backpacking! Tuck the down jacket into its pocket, or the small bag some of them come with, and then wa-la, you have a pillow! This saves you space and comfort when backpacking!
Tent and Camping Gear
Backpacking Tent | Check current prices here
Shopping for a proper backpacking tent is a really fun process. We went shopping in person for our tent at REI, and ended up loving the Nemo Galaxi 2p tent. It’s not as cramped as other 2 person tents, and we love the space at both the feet and outside the tent for our belongings. But by far, my favorite part of the whole tent comes with the name. The Nemo Galaxi does allow for stargazing of the entire galaxy!
Ultralight Tent Stakes | Check current prices here
Tent stakes come in loads of different shapes, sizes, and weights. For the sake of backpacking, you want the lightest tent stake you can find, that’s also durable. These tent stakes are less than .5 ounces and aren’t too pointy to take in your carry-on backpack. We will say, never admit to the tent stakes being “sharp” when going through security — as they’ll take them away in a heartbeat — not a fun experience to have.
Camp Chairs | Check current prices here
Totally a luxury item. And not something you have to have if cutting down on space and weight. But backpacker chairs are SO nice to bring along if you can. We took our backpacker chairs on our month-long cycle trip and were so glad we had a comfy seat when we hopped off our bikes for a break!
Backpacker’s Kitchen Gear List
Camp Stove | Check current prices here
We made our own stove out of a couple of soda cans and used it for six months down in South America. And honestly, it worked great! We’d pack it again on our next backpacking trip in a heartbeat. Soda can stoves are super compact, lightweight, cheap to make, and use rubbing alcohol for fuel which you can find in any and all locations across the globe! If you don’t want to make your own stove, something like a JetBoil is great. Just make sure wherever you’re traveling has the correct fuel you need for the stove you pack.
Water Purification System | Check current prices here
The Sawyer Squeeze is the perfect backpacker water purifier. One water filter lasts for up to 100,000 gallons of water, and it comes with a squeeze bag to drink directly out of, so you can filter water literally as you drink it instead of filtering it into a bottle. You literally fill the pouch with water, screw on the Sawyer filter, then squeeze the water through as you drink it. Super simple to use!
Pot Set | Check current prices here
This is the exact pot set we used backpacking for six months in South America, and when living in our van in Scotland. It’s stainless steel which is nice because you can not only use it over your camp stove, but you can throw it on the fire and cook right over an open flame too. It’s super easy to clean, you can use any utensil in it without worrying about scraping the sides, and it’s two pots, a lid, and a pan all in one! Our soda can stove, mentioned above, fits perfectly in it along with a container of soap and a scrubby brush! Talk about saving space!
TSA Approved Cutlery | Check current prices here
We started out backpacking with all-in-one utensils like these, however, soon found out they break super easy and aren’t that nice to use. Jay widdled spoons and knives for us both that we now use for backpacking. However, you can find some pretty cheap, lightweight ones on Amazon. Make sure the cutlery you choose is like we’ve linked here, as you don’t want to bring a sharp knife and not make it through security! We recommend purchasing a cheap pocket knife upon arrival at your destination so you can have a sharp knife for cutting cheese and such while you travel.
Biodegradable Dish Soap | Check current prices here
Our all-time favorite backpacker soap is Dr. Bronner’s soap as you can use it for literally anything! However, with it being liquid it has the potential of spilling in your bag and also takes up precious liquid space in your carry-on. You can now purchase biodegradable bar soap for washing your dishes (and self) while backpacking!
Secret Sauce for Your Backpacking Starter Kit
Buff or Similar | Check current prices here
These are easily one of the most multipurpose things in a backpack. They work as a sweatband around your wrist, as a headband to keep your hair out of your face, as a neck and ear warmer, and as an eye mask. I’m sure there are even more things you could use a buff for too. Don’t be fooled into getting the name brand buffs, we got ours from a guy selling them on the street in Chile. Honestly, get the knock-off brand of these bad boys to save some money!
Carabiner | Check current prices here
Useful on the plane, as explained here in our inflight comfort kit, but also super useful on the trails and city streets. Carabiners take up no extra room and are great for securing water bottles, shoes, wet towels, and more to your packs!
Backpacker Towel | Check current prices here
Quick-drying and folding up small, these are our go-to backpacker towels. I have the large version, which is great for feeling totally covered up, though it takes up more space, and Jay has the smaller version which he likes equally as well.
Water Bottle | Check current prices here
While backpacking in cities we recommend bringing a Hydroflask. That way you can take coffee from your accommodation in the morning to go, and still have it warm throughout the morning. If doing some backcountry backpacking, we recommend a Nalgene. They are super durable, light, and are a perfect size!
Trowel | Check current prices here
If you’re doing your business outside, you need to pack a trowel. This trowel is great for attaching to your pack with the above-mentioned carabiner. Dig your hole six inches deep, take a dump, and then fill your hole back up, and burn or carry out your toilet paper to your campsite or the next available garbage.
If you don’t know how to go poo outdoors, check out this post on how to do so!
Head Torch | Check current prices here
Rechargeable head torches are game-changers in the backpacking world! Having a head torch a flashlight stuck on your head is so nice when setting up camp in the dark, or walking to the bathroom at night! Equally as great is the red light on this head torch so you can play games and frisbee at night without blinding the person you’re playing with.
Battery Bank | Check current prices here
Not the lightest thing to lug around while backpacking, but super useful. This battery bank is good for six charges of a phone, and can also be used to charge camera batteries, head torches, and really whatever you need. Alternatively, there are backpacking solar chargers that work well if you’ll be away from power for longer durations of time.
First Aid Kit | Check current prices here
We made our first aid kit (post coming soon on exactly what’s in it), but you can also just buy ready-to-go first aid kits. If you have the stuff around the house, no sense in purchasing more. Just take a look at what’s in a typical first aid kit, and then make your own too! Otherwise, purchase a premade one that has everything you’d need in the wild. Be sure to add pain meds as well as Benadryl or another allergy med just in case you have some sort of reaction to something while backpacking!
Luci Inflatable Solar Light | Check current prices here
We have four different Luci lights, and love them so much, we dedicated an entire *windy* video to them here. Luci solar lights are completely charged by the sun, lasting up to 24 hours of light after only 7 hours of charging. The new Luci’s pictured to the left, even have a USB charging port, so you can use them to charge your phone too! How insane is that!?
Clothing and Shoes for Backpacking
Tennis Shoes/Trail Shoes | Check current prices here
When we first were looking into backpacking in South America, we were all about finding the right hiking boots to bring on our trip. However, when we did a pre-trip to test our gear down the Rogue River Trail, we talked with a group of experienced triple crown hikers who said boots are overrated, and instead you should get trail shoes. While we don’t have the experience of thru-hiking they did, in our experience backpacking, we couldn’t agree more. Trail shoes or running shoes are way more comfortable, lighter, and while they may get wet, they dry out super quick with a small fire!
Sandals | Check current prices here
After a long day of hiking, or even just walking around a city, it’s nice to put on comfortable sandals in the evening. Waterproof sandals will double as good shoes to relax in as well as great shower shoes in shared bathrooms. We’d recommend getting fashionable shoes, like these, so you can also wear them walking around a city or out in the evening.
Merino Wool Socks | Check current prices here
Darn Tough is by far the best way to go with socks! They’re merino wool, meaning quick drying and less stink so you can wear them multiple days without washing! Don’t get too grossed out, they’re made to wear more than once! They also have a lifetime warranty, so you literally will never have to buy more pairs!
Rain Jacket | Check current prices here
Rain jackets are a great extra layer when it gets cold. You can use a rain jacket as a wind barrier on windy nights, and as a light top jacket on cooler days. Be sure to get one that has pit-zips, as this way you’ll have breathability in your armpits and won’t get too hot!
Down Jacket | Check current prices here
If you skipped over the pillow packing tip above, we’ll reshare it here. Bring a down jacket, for warmth, but that also doubles as a pillow. Jay’s down jacket came with a little bag to put it in, while mine has a pocket it zips itself into. In both cases, when the down jackets are in a small pouch, they make for a great pillow!
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