The Real Outdoors

Camping, Hunting, and Gear Reviews

Backpacking Packing List for the Weekend Warrior

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission from those purchases.

I get a lot of questions (mainly, from adults in Scouts) about what is my backpacking packing list. As a Scout troop, we don’t do a lot of backpacking trips. Unfortunately, they only come around every other year. Meanwhile, I try to go backpacking at least 3 times a year, so many parents ask me what I’m packing for our bi-annual backpacking trips.

Backpacking Packing List

I will get into details about each item, below, but for now, let’s get right into the list. In addition to just listing the gear, I’ve added what I carry and use for each list item.

Packing List Details

Let’s go through some of the items in the backpacking packing list in more detail.

Backpack

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 4400

Obviously, you need a backpack for a backpacking trip. Which one do you choose? There’s a few things to look at when selecting your pack.

  1. Fit. Your backpack needs to fit you. Measure your back from the base of your neck to the top of your tail bone. This will give you a measurement (in inches) that you can use to find the right sized backpack for you.
  2. Capacity. You need to have enough capacity to carry all your gear. Backpack capacities are measured in liters or cubic inches of volume. For beginning backpackers, I generally have them shoot for a backpack between 55 and 65 Liters.
  3. Load capacity. Backpacks also include ratings for load capacity. This shows you how much weight the pack is designed to carry. Make sure you have enough load capacity for your gear.

Tent/Hammock

You probably already have a tent or hammock for camping. You may need to get a lighter weight tent or hammock for backpacking. I would shoot for a tent or hammock system (including the hammock, tarp, and bug net) that weighs under 5 pounds.

Tents and hammocks each have their own pluses and minuses. Research them both before purchasing your shelter for a backpacking trip.

Sleeping System

Sleeping Bag or Quilt

I use a top quilt, instead of a sleeping bag for lighter weight. I also use an underquilt, instead of a sleeping pad, since I use a hammock.

One thing you will need to determine with your sleep system is whether you want to go with down or synthetic fill. Down will compress better and usually provide more warmth with a lighter overall weight. Synthetic fill provides better insulation when wet, although newer treated down will insulate just as well as synthetics when wet.

I feel down is the better option, but down fill sleeping bags and quilts will typically cost significantly more than synthetic ones.

Layering

Layering your clothes is vitally important on a backpacking trip. You don’t want to be too hot or too cold and layering prevents both. Generally, backpackers use three layers; base, mid, and outer. Cotton should be avoided for all layers.

My base layer is almost always a long sleeve Columbia shirt. Some like Merino wool. Some prefer a button down Columbia long sleeve shirt. Doesn’t matter what you use, as long as it’s comfortable. The base layer, though, should be fairly tight fitting. This allows the wicking and fast-drying aspects of these materials to work, properly.

I love fleece for my mid-layer. I have several fleece pullovers with different weights that I use based on the weather on a particular trip. However, fleece does not block wind very well. That’s where your outer layer comes in.

My outer layer is typically my down puffy jacket. In colder weather, I use a fleece lined, windbreaker style heavy jacket. Some people just use their rain jacket as their outer layer. Regardless of what you choose to use, the outer layer needs to block wind.

As for layering your bottom half, the same layers work down below, too. Long johns (base), pants (mid), maybe snow pants or rain pants (outer). You get the idea

Be sure you have a good, dry set of clothes for sleeping. You don’t want to sleep in the same clothes you’ve been sweating in, all day. You can layer your bed clothes the same way you layered your hiking clothes, but I’ve found that I’ve been good with just a solid base layer and my fleece socks all the way down to 26 below zero Fahrenheit.

Cook System

You need a way to cook your food, unless you’re going to do cold soaking (don’t ask, I don’t do it and have no plans to start). One of my all-time favorite pieces of gear is the Stanley cook pot. It’s cheap, fairly lightweight, has plenty of capacity, and even comes with a couple cups. I would put my canister fuel, stove, and some instant coffee in it when backpacking.

I recently upgraded to a titanium cook pot to reduce weight. It’s nice, but it’s a lot smaller than my old Stanley cook pot, so I sometimes have to boil water twice.

One of these two will definitely work for your cooking pot in your backpacking packing list.

Now, you need something to boil the water. I use the BSR titanium stove and I love it. The one downside of the BSR is no igniter. I never liked to depend on an igniter, anyway. So, I always carried a lighter, anyway. If you’re going to carry a lighter (and I strongly recommend it), use the Clipper lighter. It’s refillable and you can remove the sparker and flint, if you run out of fuel in the backcountry. All you need to start the BSR is a spark.

You’ve boiled your water, cooked your food, and it’s time to eat. You may or may not need a mess kit. I don’t typically use one on short backpacking trips. I pour the boiling water into a Mountain House meal and eat right out of the bag. Less mess and no mess kit needed.

You will probably want a long handled spork or spoon, though. I really don’t see the need for the fork part of the spork (even though that’s what I use), but the long handle is indispensable. It keeps food off your hands and clothes when digging way down in that Mountain House meal for your grub.

Backpacking Packing List Knick Knacks

There’s a few other items on my packing list that don’t really fit into the above categories.

I always carry a headlamp, so that I have both hands free to work in the dark. My phone serves as a backup, so I don’t need a third flashlight or light source.

Of course, no one should go into the backcountry without a knife. I keep changing and trying out new knives in the wilderness, but I’ve found that I really like Swiss Army knives with a saw or a multi-tool with a saw. I’d prefer to go a little more lightweight with just a knife, but I use the saw on almost every backpacking trip.

The Travel MyPillow has become my favorite “luxury” item in my backpacking packing list. I have to have a pillow in my hammock or I get real bad headaches. I used to use a Cocoon blow up pillow, but I found I could never get comfortable with it. Too much air, not enough air, then an air leak. It was a nice, low weight option, but I’m willing to carry the extra ounces to have a travel version of my at-home pillow.

Lastly, I carry a sit pad — NOT a chair. I used to carry a backpacking chair and it’s super comfortable after a long day of backpacking. However, that extra two pounds just caused too much pain from carrying it, all day. The sit pad works just fine and weighs almost nothing. I put it next to a tree, rock, or my backpack so I have a backrest and I’m comfortable.

I hope you got something out of my packing list for a short backpacking trip. Leave a comment with anything I missed or something I need to add.

backpacking packing list for the weekend warrior

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission from those purchases.