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Id consider myself a pretty experienced backpackerlast summer, I spent more thanthree months backpacking1,000 miles.
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But it was only two years before that I went on my first backpacking trip.
It was 10 miles one way, I didnt prepare properly, and I hadn’t really hiked before.
Despite being wildly unprepared, this trip started me on the path toward someincredible outdoor experiences.
But I do wish I had known a little about packing before I took my first trip.
Heres what they (and I) want you to know.
REI gives a goodbreak down of the importance of each item here.
Of course, youll also need a pack to put everything in.
Marina Fleming, program director atWomens Wilderness, prefers a chemical purifier calledAquamira.
It’s not covered in the 10 essentials, but you do have to consider it when you pack.
you’re free to also bring a little bottle of hand sanitizer.
When it comes to backcountry bathroom tactics, ensure youre familiar withleave-no-trace principles.
Bring an appropriate amount of toilet paper (no need to bring the whole roll.)
You use it to wipe with and then hang it off your pack to dry in the sun.
Some women might choose to use aurination gear(basically a funnel).
Its no fun to get stuck with your pants down and nothing to dig a hole with.
I like theThe Deuce.
Last but not least, menstruating.
Your method of managing your period can be the same as at home.
REI offers gear rentals for bigger-ticket items like backpacks, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and tents.
For packs, Fleming suggests looking at Deuter and Osprey models like theAirContact 70or theTalon 44.
I backpacked for three months last year using theULA Circuitand loved it.
But packs are personal, and it comes down to the right pack that fits you and your needs.
When it comes to a tent, McIntosh likes theREI Quarterdome 2.
It gives you a nice amount of space but is really quite light, she says.
Fleming has had luck with theBig Agnes Copper Spur 2.
On my trip last year, I opted for a super compact one-person tent, theNEMO Hornet 1.
Sleeping bags can surprisingly get very expensive.
Generally speaking, prices go up as both the temperature limit and weight decrease.
A bag made with synthetic fill is usually less expensive but will take up more room in your pack.
McIntosh recommends theREI Lyrafor an inexpensive synthetic option.
For down, she likes theREI Joule.
Either way, start small.
That goes for both what you put in your pack and the length of your first trip.
And remember, figuring out how to pack just right is a process.
Theres a huge learning curve to figuring out what you do and dont need, McIntosh says.
Your backpack should never weigh more than 40 percent of your body weight, Fleming says.
If youre going more than that youre really running the risk of hurting yourself.
Ultimately, how much weight feels worth it for you will be a personal decision.
I myself brought three books and an extra fuel canister I didnt need on my first trip.
Going into bear country?
Will you be walking through miles of desert?
You may need more bottles to fill with water for dry stretches.
Researching the terrain, wildlife, and regulations can go a long way to keeping you safe and comfortable.
Some people organize their clothing into separate bags based on what its purpose is (i.e.
sleeping, layering) and others bury it loose in with their sleeping bag.
Its up to preference, McIntosh says.
C - Compression:Backpacking isnt the time to neatly fold your clothes.
Fleming recommendstrash compactor bagsjust open one up inside your backpack and then pack everything inside it as normal.
E - Everything inside:Dont let stuff hang off your pack.
So things like your sleeping bag, and your extra layers for when youre at camp, McIntosh says.
And then place any leftover light items, or items you need quick access to, at the top.
It takes a while to learn how to efficiently packing your pack and using your gear.
Dont do it for the first time at 10 P.M. the night before your trip.
Practice packing your backpack a couple of times, McIntosh recommends.
If you get on the trail and something doesnt feel right, be prepared to adjust.
Theres no award for making it an extra mile with a pot sticking into your back.
Stop and move items around until it feels good.
Go have some fun.
