Looking for the ultimate backpacking gear list for 3-5 day hikes?
Look no further! I’ve put together my list of backpacking gear to help you out on your next (or maybe it’s your first!) backpacking trip.
Some of my gear is relatively new as I’ve upgraded or replaced used equipment.
But other things I use are years old and still in great shape.
Backpacking gear, and camping/hiking gear in general can be expensive.
The great thing about backpacking is that you can ease into it by borrowing or renting some things and then buying just the essentials that work best if fit to you personally. My philosophy is buy the best you can afford now and upgrade if you need to later.
I’ve learned over the years that I’ll spend the extra money for good quality items (ie my backpack, waist bag, boots, some clothing) and some things I’ll get as cheap as I can find, knowing I’ll replace it after a short time.
But the nice thing about good quality gear is that if taken care of it will last a long time. So I think it’s a good trade off!
Photo courtesy of The Traveling Dragonfly
Where does all this sage advice come from you ask? Well, I spent my teenage years growing up in Colorado, where my family hiked.
A LOT.
Saturday mornings we’d all pile in the truck with our packs (five kids and our parents) and off we’d go.
And I’ve been hiking ever since. All over the US, Hawaii, Canada, Scotland, Germany, and my bucket list has expanded to include the Florida Trail and Australia’s Bibbulmun Trail.
I love hiking and camping in the mountains. Now, living in Florida, backpacking is, shall we say…a little different. I’m learning and trying but the verdict is still out.
In the meantime, I’ve tweaked my gear list a bit as I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t here in Florida.
Hopefully, you find this list useful and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send me an email or comment below. I love discussing backpacking gear and hiking, and well…actually anything travel related!
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GEAR
Backpack – Kelty RedCloud 5600 – (Discontinued) It’s about 15 years old but it’s still my go-to. It holds an amazing amount of stuff and is so comfortable to wear.
Rain cover – Kelty Rain Cover
Tent – Half dome SL2+ with footprint – I just looked up the tent from REI’s website and it shows currently not available. However, I’ll link it here anyway so you can get an idea of its features and specs if you’re interested.
Hammock – Lawson with tree strap system, rainfly and under quilt -I love this system! I can use it as a hammock AND a tent on the ground just by staking the ends so that the spreader bars stand up. The under quilt is the best too! The first time I used it was in the backyard of a house I didn’t know had a sprinkler system. I woke up at 4am with the sprinklers going off under me and I stayed dry and warm the whole time!
Ridgeline fly – Eno Pro-fly XL Hammock Rain Fly
Sleeping Bag – US military modular system w stuff sac -I got mine off Ebay -used. Not the lightest in weight, but I love the versatility. It’s a 4-piece modular set and I choose which level of warmth I need and just bring that bag rather than all four.
Inflatable mattress – Nemo Cosmo with integrated foot pump. REI lists this as currently unavailable on their website, but I’ve linked it here for details and specs. Not the lightest for backpacking, but for me, I’ll carry a little extra weight if it gets me a good night’s sleep. And this does!
Inflatable pillow – Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight inflatable pillow
Waist Pack – LL Bean 0TX68 Day Trekker Waist Bag – (Discontinued) I’ve had this bag for nearly 20 years and it’s still in great shape.
CAMP KITCHEN
Camp Stove – JetBoil Flash cooking system w fuel canister
Ignition source/matches/lighter – I carry both a Bic lighter and matches in a waterproof container as backup.
Utensils – Jetboil Jetset Utensil set
Cooking containers – I use the Jetboil cup – keeps it simple
Extra Ziplock baggies
Bear box/bags – BearVault canister and Opsak odor proof bag
Carabiner & paracord for hanging food bag and good to have “just in case”.
Food – Jerky, trailmix, oatmeal, dehydrated meal pouches
Coffee – Reusable filter with flavored grounds and powdered milk
Water – Water bottles (or hydration bags – your choice, but I prefer a simple water bottle I can attach a filter to)
Water filter system – Sawyer Squeeze Filter System
LifeStraw – For backup
TOOLS/EQUIPMENT
Camp Chair – Helinox Chair One
Trekking poles – Leki Legacy Lite CorTec
Emergency tracker locater – SPOT X 2–Way Tracker w Satellite Messaging and GPS SOS
Knife – Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops
Multi tool – Leatherman
Poop shovel – Self-explanatory
Travel fishing pole – Telescopic Fishing Rod – this little guy goes everywhere! I carried it in my backpack on my 2-week trip to Scotland, and when at home, I keep it in my car. You just never know when the fish are biting!
Hatchet – Camping Hatchet
Saw – Folding saw with lock
Head lamp – I prefer this one with the third strap so it stays on my head better, and I can recharge it off my portable charger -one less thing to carry extra batteries for.
Flashlight – Zoomable and bright!
Camp light – Collapsible recharging camping lantern
Phone – I carry my iPhone 12max pro. Since it’s got a great camera I use it for my picture taking too, eliminating my need to carry more camera gear.
Portable Charger – Anker PowerCore
Laptop – Sometimes I’ll bring my laptop, depending on where we’re going and the length of our trip. I love my MacBook Pro and hardly notice the weight.
Portable Laptop Charger – Anker PowerCore III Elite
Weapon – With extra magazine, ammunition and holster
Bear Spray – Griz Guard – one thing I will not go cheap on! And this 2-pack is a great price.
CLOTHING
Stuff Sac – Sea to Summit Dry Sac This compression sac version is great for sleeping bags too.
Shirts – long & short sleeved – I like IceBreaker Merino wool shirts – dry-wicking and so soft!
Pants – Prana Briann Pant – these are hands-down the absolute BEST hiking/traveling pants I’ve ever worn. Soft, stretchy, quick-drying, anti-microbial…AND they hold their shape! I just can’t say enough about them. A little pricey, but then you get what you pay for. Since they’re fitted, I got one size bigger than normal so I can wear thermal leggings underneath on those chilly days.
Socks/Underwear – Wright Sock Coolmesh II – I have never gotten a blister wearing these socks…hiking or running
Rain gear – LLBean Rain Gear (Discontinued) Another of my expensive purchases -actually they were a requested birthday gift 😉 – I’ve had them both over 10 years now and they’ve held up amazingly well. After a wash and reapplication of waterproofing -they look just like new.
Marmot Precip Waterproof Jacket and Pants– I did buy the Marmot rain jacket a couple years ago to keep in my backpack/purse. I love that the jacket packs down into its own pocket. And it comes in handy during the rainy Florida summers.
Nikwax Cleaning & Waterproofing – this is the system I use to clean and re-waterproof my jackets and pants.
Hiking boots/trail shoes –Merrell Moab 2 Mid Gtx Hiking Boot (I use these for mountain hiking and unstable terrain.) Merrell Waterpro Maipo 2 (These I wear hiking in Florida and wet areas – they dry fast!)
Hat – My go to baseball cap with room for my ponytail. Such a great feature!
Head net – nothing fancy and keeps the bugs out.
Sunglasses – I’ve destroyed my Maui Jim Peahi 3 separate times on bike rides. I know, I know. I use a tether strap now! But each time I send them back and they repair them for me. Their customer service is awesome and their sunglasses are the best -my eyes are sensitive to bright lights and their glasses offer the darkest lenses I’ve found anywhere. I put them on and my eyes literally say “ahhhh”.
HYGIENE/HEALTH
Towel – 4 Monster camping towel – with carrying case. This thing is amazing. Stuff it soaking wet back into its case, hang it outside your pack, and it’s dry a couple of hours later. And it’s anti-microbial so there’s no odor!
Soap – Sierra Dawn Biodegradable soap
Tooth brush/paste – I bring the travel-sized freebies I get from my dentist
Wipes – Coleman Biodegradable wipes
Bug Spray – Repel 100 with 98% Deet – I’m not crazy about the Deet, but I hate mosquitoes even more and this stuff works!
Sunscreen – SunBum – Vegan and Reef Friendly
Thermacell – we attach this to our packs for greater protection against mosquitos. Works great! Don’t forget the extra inserts and fuel cells.
Sawyer Insect Repellent For Gear and Clothing – hands down you need this -especially in Florida!
Medical Kit – I put my own together and carry it in a Ziplock baggie
APPS
All Trails – Awesome app and great for day hikes
Far Out – Formerly Guthook – another great app, especially for thru hikes on the FT, AT, and PCT.
That’s it! That’s my ultimate backpacking gear list for a 3-5 day trip. If you have a recommendation on gear or a comment, leave it below! I love hearing from my readers! Enjoy your trip, be safe and embrace your inner dragonfly!
Check out my other lists including what gear to bring on your next road trip. And take a look at my weekend itinerary for Arizona’s National Parks for great hiking trip ideas!
