Category: To Backpacker

After many years to be a solo backpacker I think that I learn how make backpacking packing list, especially for camping because i have been sleeping in a tent and cooking myself.

Are you planning a backpack travel to cheap way? So, you will go to camp most likely, also cook yourself. I believe that camping gears / equipment is one of the most important things for a backpacker. Because they can take a lot of space in the backpack also they can be so heavy which we don’t like so much when carry our backpack. 🙂 So, please

Before start to buy anything first, plan a little your travel in your mind to:

-Are you going hiking, climbing or trekking?

-Do you plan to camp for weekends or short travels?

-Are you making a plan for a long journey?

-How often will you set up a tent?

-Can you go camping every season or just for summer?

-Do you really like to be in a tent and enjoy the camp? Or is this only for cheapest way for you to travel?

They are just example questions for you. Before start to search your camping gears please, make sure what you really need!

Backpacking packing list to camping gear

Let’s start with a tent:

I asked all questions myself before buy any camping equipment. I was going on a long trip to South America alone. When I searched about the continent what I could do there. Patagonia was number one on my list after that the Amazon river and rain forest. Also, Lencois Maranhenses was looking like incredible. It was means; I was going to a very hot place, long walking distance also hiking and a little bit climbing. Patagonia and Salar De Uyuni could be cold but not crazy. I could see 0-5 degrees in the night but just for a couple of days.

I decided that I need a tent, which must be light for hiking and long walk, easy pack and set up, when it is hot I don’t want t burn inside or when it is cold I don’t want to get frozen. So three season tent could be great for me. Also, need to be good for rain because long travel means you will see different seasons and you will hit rain. It could be great if I can have a freestanding tent. So much rain or so much sun on the beach, I can open only rain protects part I don’t need the inside tent. It can be like an umbrella to protect me from the sun or rain. J I was solo backpacker therefore one-person tent can be great right? Not for me! I would like to have a little more space inside if I must stay in the tent all day. Also I prefer put my backpack inside the tent. That’s why; I wanted to have a two-person tent.

When I was searching I found a lot of brands and a lot different prices. Some was really cheap some was definitely out of my budget. I want to have a good one to use many years. Don’t buy every year a new one because it goes useless. In a couple of years how much I paid tents I could have new one. Also the help center or customer service is important for me. One company can look to sell their stuff and than when you have a problem you never reach the help center or never turn back to you. Other companies are always there to help you. It doesn’t matter where you are because they like their brand and customers 🙂

After all my searched I choose only three companies and five different tents. Before I buy I wanted to see it. Sometimes they can look different on Internet. I found some camping shop around and visited them. I could see only three of them which I like.

You need to choose your tent what you want to have. I don’t want to tell you a brand or average price because can be change why you are looking for a tent. I just wanted to write how I choose mine to help you a little bit. I have been using many year Big Agnes tents. When I was alone I had one and after that we had another one for our motorcycle journey. 🙂

How can you choose correct sleeping bag and mattress?

After decide what do you need? Why do you need? You can look for it.

I have been using my sleeping bag more than 4 years. I had 3-season sleeping bag like my tent and bought a light one. So I am fine until 15 degrees after that I must wear my thermal clothes. If the degree goes less than 5 I have really trouble for it. But I go rarely a trip in winter time and sleep in a tent with snow. 🙂 After our Africa journey we could have new one, which I look for 4-season and light sleeping bag. Because we will hit snow somewhere in USA.

So, I suppose that you can easily have guess that I/we have three-season mattress. 🙂 I don’t know we can call a mattress 3 or 4 season. But we have air mattress. Also when I was backpacker I stayed a lot in the tent. I wanted to have thick sleeping pad because of comfort. And I bought large not regular size. Why? Go to sleep after all day hiking, trekking…etc. carry my backpack. I want to feel al little comfortable and that I am in a bed. 🙂

Cooking Stuff:

I suppose you need some kitchen equipment or basic extra camping stuff as well. We are on the motorcycles now but it doesn’t mean that we can carry everything it doesn’t important kilograms. No, it is important! Because a heavy motorcycle is not good on the mud, in the sand or when crossing a river.

Let’s check together camping gears what i have….

If you have any questions just write I would like to answer.

GS

To be honest, pack a backpack is one of the most important things for travel. I have no idea how I could have more space every time when I pack my backpack again with same things. Maybe, I was learning how to pack a backpack or my stuff was getting small. 🙂

Yes, I was learning… Funny thing was; I packed my bag well in the home and started my journey. I went to the first hostel and opened my backpack, took everything out because I stayed a week. When I was leaving I couldn’t fit all my stuff in again. 🙂 After a while later I always had extra space after pack.

How To Pack A Backpack For A Trip

Have small bottles: You need a shampoo right! Go to market and look the price; general, big bottles are cheaper than small. It is good to safe money a little but not good to put a big shampoo in the bag because of space. Put it in small bottles and put small pockets on the backpack. You can do this for almost all your crèmes.

Roll everything: Fold your clothes and than roll your clothes. After that look at them, which one has taken less space?

Don’t take so much heavy (kilograms) with you: Are you going to a long journey? Are you planning to hiking, trekking…etc many hours? Don’t carry so many kilograms! If you like you should check what do you need to carry in the backpack for long trip?

Be careful with balance: Sometimes we can forget this detail. Let’s try to explain: You are in a small canoe and everybody sit on the left side or you have two bottles, each is 5 liters and you carry two of them with one hand. Yep, it is same for the backpack. If you put all heavy things up you will feel that your backpack is heavier than normal. Or the left side is much more heavy then right side. A few days later, most likely you will have back problem.

Do you want to cook on the road? : It means you will have pots, plates, mug…etc. They always take more space in the backpack. Therefore, you should carry outside. Use hooks and lines for it, which I suppose you have already on your backpack.

Use rain cover anytime: Most of backpack has rain cover under the bag in a small zip. I was always using it. Because when I hanged on my pots, shoes etc. they were swing all the time. Or when I put them in the luggage of a bus easily they could stuck somewhere and I could lose it. The other reason was if everything is inside the rain cover I don’t need to check my back all the time to make sure nobody took anything.

Easy access can safe time and make you safe: I never like to open my backpack in a bus station, center, park etc. I didn’t want to show what I have. I know sometimes you have too but for what? I got so sweaty must change my t-shirt/socks. I need sun cream. I must use my power bank, when my battery is dead. For all these reason I must open my bag if I don’t put them easy access like small pockets of backpack.

Maybe, they are a small detail but it always helps on the road. 🙂

GS