Packing for a backpacking trip always feels a little stressful. It’s a careful balance between overpacking and underpacking. Bring too much, and your pack will be uncomfortably heavy. Bring too little, and you could end up cold, hungry and miserable. I know because I experienced both situations when I first started backpacking 20 years ago.
Since then, I’ve backpacked more than a thousand miles which has given me lots of opportunities to dial in my backpacking checklist so it has everything I need to be safe and comfortable and nothing more.
This comprehensive backpacking checklist list has all of the essentials you need for a 3-day (or longer) backpacking trip, including your shelter, sleeping system, clothing, safety gear, cooking equipment, and other basic necessities.
I recommend saving this post and printing off the checklist so you can easily refer back to it while you’re packing. That way you can make sure you don’t forget anything!
Backpacking Gear Essentials
These are the essential pieces of gear that should always be on your backpacking checklist for every single trip you plan.

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More Big Gear Items
Cooking Gear
I tend to keep my cooking setup simple when backpacking. I mainly boil water for coffee or tea and oats in the morning and for backpacking meals in the evening.

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Backpacking Kitchen
Safety Gear
There are a few safety gear essentials that should be on your backpacking packing list, no matter where you are headed.
Read next: Prefer to put together your own medical kit? Read our guide on How to Build Your Own First Aid Kit.

Toiletries
My beauty routine while backpacking is pretty limited and is focused purely on hygiene, and that is reflected in this backpacking checklist. No deodorant, no makeup, etc.

Clothing
The specific clothing you pack is going to depend on the climate. The backpacking clothing checklist here assumes you are spending 3-5 days in the mountains during the normal summer/fall hiking season.
The idea is to bring the absolute minimum you need to be comfortable. You really only need 1 hiking outfit and 1 set of dry, warm clothes to change into when you get to camp and for sleeping.

Helpful Tip
Avoid Cotton
When backpacking, you want to avoid cotton because it retains moisture, takes a long time to dry, and tends to harbor smells. Instead, opt for quick-dry materials that wick sweat and resist odors.
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Backpacking Clothes
Backpacking Luxury Items
Below are a few luxury items that you might consider adding to your backpacking checklist. These aren’t necessities, but they can make your time on the trail more comfortable and enjoyable.
What’s on your backpacking checklist that I missed? Is there anything you’d add or subtract? Do you have any questions about what to bring backpacking? Let me know in the comments below.
More Backpacking Tips
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The post My 3-Day Backpacking Checklist (with PDF) appeared first on Bearfoot Theory.