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essential backpacking gear

The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking for Beginners

by Daleen Cowgar February 6, 2022

written by Daleen Cowgar

If you’re like me, backpacking is the ultimate way to experience the wilderness. You get to leave behind the stress of your job and everyday life and step into a world that’s untouched and refreshing. As a beginner, however, it can be a little bit confusing to know where to even start. Don’t worry; this guide is full of helpful “backpacking for beginners” tips and tricks you’d rather not learn the hard way. Learn how to get the right gear, pick the perfect trail, and have a successful first backpacking trip.

Learn as much as you can before you hike

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If you’re here, reading this guide about backpacking for beginners, you’re already on the right track! However, don’t stop here. Keep reading through this website to learn more about gear and backpacking tips. Do you know what trail you want to hike? Talk to people who’ve hiked it before to get their advice. Do you know how to treat cuts, scrapes, bug or snake bites? Take a class and learn how to treat yourself or your fellow hikers in case of injury.

It’s also important to know what wildlife and plant life you’re going to be hiking with. Will there be bears? Venomous snakes? Poisonous plants? Know what there will be and the best ways to handle it. For instance, the way you interact with a black bear on the trail is entirely different from a brown bear or grizzly bear.

Read books about hiking or follow YouTubers to see how they set up their camps, pack their backpacks, and what tricks they’ve learned. Even after you’ve done a couple of hikes, keep learning! Learn from other people’s mistakes so you don’t have to make the same errors. The more you learn, the more you’ll be prepared for whatever you may come across when you’re the one hiking.

Hiking for beginners

Before you start backpacking, you need to start hiking. Backpacking is usually characterized by spending multiple nights on the trail as you carry your gear in your backpack, while hiking is spending a day or less on the trail.

Hiking prepares you for backpacking by:

Preparing you mentally for long days of hiking
Giving you confidence on your feet
Introducing you to the physical act of long-distance walking
Lets you “test drive” backpacking before committing
Helps you get in shape

When you start hiking and training for a backpacking trip, start slow. Find out what your body can handle and gently push it towards where you want it to be. Take advantage of trails that have rolling hills or elevation changes.

Wear a pack when you hike. This will help you test out your pack, plus get used to carrying your gear. Start off with only a couple of pounds and work your way up to your full pack weight. As you feel confident with your current milage, keep adding more distance until you’re hiking the same distance you want to be on the trail.

Get the right gear

The best tip for beginner backpackers is to have good backpacking and camping gear.

When you start backpacking, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount and the cost of backpacking and camping gear. However, let’s break it down into manageable bites to keep it simple and attainable.

Don’t overspend. It’s possible to start backpacking for under $500. There is a balance to find between affordability and quality, but as you’re beginning, make sure you aren’t getting overcharged.
Talk to professionals. It’s fantastic that the internet exists, and that online shops have so much great gear. However, nothing’s quite as helpful as going to a backpacking shop, talking with professionals, and having help as you size up and try out your first backpack.
Make a list. Research what gear you need for the environment you’re hiking in and make a list of all you need. Then, stick to the list. Don’t add unnecessary things. That only adds extra weight and hassle to your pack.
Make sure your gear works well for you. There’s nothing worse than a backpacking pack that fits wrong or a sleeping bag that doesn’t keep you warm. Buy gear that works well for you.
Know how to pack your backpack. Once you have the gear, it’s no good if you can’t get it into your pack! Learn how to pack your backpack correctly to prevent injuries and have a smooth experience in camp.

Backpacking gear checklist

It’s important to have the right gear when you go backpacking and to have all the gear you need. It’s not going to be a good trip if you have a great tent but forget a water filter.

Here is a basic backpacking gear list, starting, of course, with your backpack:

Backpack. It’s important that you try the backpack out and verify it fits you well! Looking for the best backpack for you? Try this list of the 10 Best Lightweight Backpacks to get you started.
Trekking poles. The Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock Trekking Pole is lightweight and durable. There’s nothing better than that!

Sleep system

Tent. Depending on what tent you purchase, you may need to buy a footprint separately. Make sure the tent you buy fits everyone you need it to. The Eureka Suma Backpacking Tent or the Featherstone Outdoor Gear UL Granite 2P Backpacking Tent are perfect if you don’t want to break the bank. (See our full review of the Granite here.) For a lighter weight option, try the Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent.
Sleeping bag. Everyone sleeps comfortably at a different temperature. Make sure your sleeping bag will keep you warm in the temperature you’ll be hiking in.
Sleeping pad. For both warmth and comfort, try the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Regular Unisex sleeping pad. Plus, it’s only 8 ounces.
Pillow. Some people opt to go without a pillow or use a filled stuff sack as a pillow. After too many lumpy nights, I’ve learned I prefer lightweight camping pillows. The Cocoon Ultralite AirCore Pillow is a great option; or if you’re crafty, you can cut a regular pillow in half, stuff it to your comfort level, and sew it closed.

Clothing

Rain jacket. I use the Colombia Arcadia II rain jacket. While it doesn’t have pit vents for breathability, it is affordable and can be folded into it’s own pocket for easy carrying.
Top. You’ll need two: one for hiking and one for camp. Make sure your shirts are quick-drying and moisture-wicking!
Bottom. Again, you’ll want two. One for the trail and one for around the camp. Depending on your location and temperature, you might want shorts to hike in for the day but then leggings or pants to wear around the campsite when it cools off. Again, make sure they are quick-drying and moisture-wicking. Your body will thank you!
Hiking socks. The Darn Tough Vermont Women’s Merino Wool Micro Crew Cushion Socks are the best.
Sleeping socks. Let your hiking socks dry during the night so you don’t get blisters as you hike. If you tend to get cold feet at night, make these warmer than your hiking socks. The Smartwool Women’s Hiking Medium Crew are perfect sleeping socks.
Shoes. The debate is ever ongoing about whether to hike in boots or trail runners. Again, the answer comes down to you: do you want the extra support of the boot or do you prefer the lightweight maneuverability of the trail runners? For boots, I love my Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid Hiking Boots. For trail runners, the Salomon Women’s X-Mission 3 CS Trail Running Shoes are a fantastic choice.

Cooking and hydration

anonymous man cooking on camping stove after hiking in forest

Cooking pot. The TOAKS Titanium Cooking Pots are the perfect mixture of lightweight and durable.
Stove. I love my alcohol stove, since it’s lightweight, packs inside my TOAKS pot, and can burn Heet ($3.99 at the gas station). If you want more control over your flame, the MSR PocketRocket Stove is a perfect choice.
Fuel. Don’t forget this. You’ll regret it.
Spork. Having one spork means you don’t have to carry multiple utensils. The Snow Peak Titanium Spork is awesome.
Lighter or matches.
Pack towel.
Water filtration system. Sawyer Mini Water Filter is an excellent choice: it’s small, durable, and lightweight.
Water bottle or water bladder. The Smartwater, 1 Liter water bottles fit perfectly with the Sawyer filter. Make sure you carry enough water storage to hold you between water sources.
Food bag. Make sure it’s big enough to hold all of your food and all of your scented items. The Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Nano Dry Sack is a great choice.
Bear rope or a bear canister. Don’t make the mistake of losing your food to the local wildlife! And ThreeBulls 1.8mm Fluorescent Reflective Paracord will make sure you can always find your food at night.

Toiletries, first aid kit, and other gear

Sunscreen.
Bug repellent.
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Soap/cleaner.
First aid kit. Make sure it’s stocked with any prescription medications you personally take. Each time before you go hiking, double-check that you don’t have any expired medication and that it’s fully stocked.
Waterproof stuff sacks. Not only does it help with organization in your backpack, but it helps keep your gear dry in case of rain as well. I love the Outdoor Research Dry Ditty Sacks.
Knife.
Headlamp. The Petzl – TIKKINA Headlamp, 150 Lumens is very bright, and will keep you on the trail however dark it may be.
Maps. Always make sure you have hard copies of a map. It’s no good if your phone or electronics dies and leaves you stranded.
Duct tape. Because the one time you think you won’t need it, your boot soles will fall off. True story. S.O.L Duct Tape comes in small rolls perfect for backpacking.

Depending on the season or location you’re hiking, you might need some additional gear. Here is a complete hiking and backpacking gear list that has everything you need, including links to the best gear!

Backpacking tips for beginners

Here are some tips that will set your first backpacking trip up for success:

Start with an easy first backpacking trip. Keep your daily mileage low and elevation change to the minimum. Give yourself grace to experience trail life and don’t bite off more than you can chew. As you get more experience, keep upping how hard, remote, and long your trails are until you’ve found your sweet spot.
Start with a summer trip. Summer is an easier season to hike in, without the added complexities of finding winter gear and keeping warm in freezing temperatures.
Put all of your food and scented items in the bear bag and hang it up away from camp. One of the first times I went backpacking, I thought it would be nice to leave a little bit of trail mix down with me in case I got snackish during the night. Guess who else got snackish that night? The mice.
Verify water sources before hiking. Usually, trail books will tell you where water sources are and how reliable they are. Make sure that there is at least one reliable source each day of hiking or that you have the capacity to carry as much water as you need.
Leave your backpacking plan with a friend or family member. Let them know where you plan on being each day and when you intend to arrive home. If you don’t show up, they’ll have a better idea of where to start the search!
Take a SPOT or Garmin InReach so you can call for help. Always be able to reach out for help with satellite communication that can alert emergency services to your need for help and give them your direct location.
Test all your gear beforehand. Make sure nothing was damaged during storage and that you’re comfortable with each thing. The best time to find something wrong is at home–not in the middle of your trip.

Backpacking travel is with your reach

Before you know it, you’ll be the one explaining the tips and tricks. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, and start exploring!

February 6, 2022 0 comment

Adventure Backpacking Camping Gear

How to Pick a Warm Sleeping Bag for Backpacking

by Ashli June 29, 2017

written by Ashli

Choosing a high quality women’s sleeping bag presents a daunting task, especially as a beginner backpacker and hiker. It’s also an investment, since a durable and lightweight sleeping bag will typically cost upwards of $300.

A women’s sleeping bag is not just the pink version of the men’s. In recent years, manufacturers have put a decent amount of effort into redefining the sleeping bag for women.

This post will focus on the aspects of a good and high quality sleeping bag that has all the necessary traits a professional might look for. But the most important thing I’d like you to learn from this post is:

How to choose a sleeping bag that will actually keep you warm

What makes a women’s sleeping bag different

Here’s a quick guide to the difference between a women’s sleeping bag and a unisex, or men’s, sleeping bag:

Women’s sleeping bags are shorter in length
The comfortable temperature range is scaled to match a women’s body heat
They may have narrower shoulder or wider hip
They may distribute the insulation to different areas of the bag

Things to consider when choosing a sleeping bag for backpacking

Now that you know what makes a women’s sleeping bag a potentially better choice, let’s look at the most important factors that go into picking a winner:

Temperature rating
- Sleeping bags will come advertised with a temperature rating that you can expect to feel comfortable at
- Remember that in order for a sleeping bag to do its job, a warm sleeping pad is important.
  - In the market for a sleeping pad, too? The Women’s Thermarast NeoAir Xlite is the most popular among Tentside.com readers.
Weight
- Look for the lightest-weight sleeping bag that matches all other criteria
- Don’t skimp on warmth for a better weight
Shape/Size
- Sleeping bag style — mummy vs rectangle vs quilt
- Length — regular or long
- Comfort — too narrow or wide?
- Pack size — how small it can get when you’re not using it
Materials
- Down or synthetic
- Outer materials — are they breathable, heavy, or waterproof?
Price
- We won’t focus on price in this post, but it is a consideration nonetheless
- My favorite sleeping bag comes in at around $369
Extras
- Pockets
- Hood shape
- Ease of use (zipper, pull-tabs)
- Neck guard

What’s the Best Women’s Sleeping Bag?

According to OutdoorGearLabs, it’s the Rab Neutrino 400 Women’s sleeping bag.

Why Women Need a Warmer Sleeping Bag

It is important to realize that a unisex sleeping bag likely will not keep you warm at the temperatures advertised. I can attest to this. Even when accounting for it, I shivered the night away in a men’s 0 degree sleeping bag on a 10 degree night.

Why is this? A unisex sleeping bag’s temperature rating is based on the average comfort level for an adult male. Women tend to sleep colder, and there is a scientific reason behind it.

Women have a higher core body temperature, meaning outside temps seem cooler, and it takes more energy to keep the same level of warmth
Slower metabolism means burning energy more slowly
More evenly distributed body fat – fat can feel colder faster as warm blood gets pulled closer to your core, making women feel colder sooner, especially in the extremities.

Here’s a great write up on the Thermarest blog that links to a few other recent studies on the subject:

https://thermarestblog.com/womens-mattresses-warmer-but-for-a-different-reason-than-you-might-think/

To make up for this difference in body heat between males and females, a women’s sleeping bag will have a considerable amount more insulation than a unisex one that advertises the same temperature rating.

Here, you can see the difference between the women’s REI Flash (left) rated to 32 degrees and the men’s REI Flash (right), rated to 29 degrees.

The women’s REI Flash (left) has a considerable amount more insulation than the men’s version

Can I Still Get a Unisex Sleeping Bag?

Yes, if you’ve found a sleeping bag that meets all of your qualifications for quality, you can still get a unisex sleeping bag. My recommendation is to look for a unisex sleeping bag that advertises a warmth of about 14 degrees warmer than you’ll need. This accounts for the lack of extra insulation as well as any extra length.

For example, if you’d like to be comfortable in 30 degrees, consider a men’s 15 degree sleeping bag, like the Mountain Hardwear Ratio 15.

Now let’s take a look at the specifics of what makes a Women’s sleeping bag the better choice for the female body:

Temperature Rating

As we talked about above, it is incredibly important to consider the temperature rating when purchasing a women’s sleeping bag, and that women’s sleeping bags have different temperature ratings than unisex ones. But why, and what does that mean?

First, a bit about temperature ratings:

Today, almost all reputable brands have their sleeping bags tested on the EN (European Norm) temperature rating scale — a universal testing method. Prior to the EN scale, no proper standard had been set, and ratings were incredibly subjective.

EN temperature rating tests are conducted by 3rd party labs, and allow buyers to be able to compare different brands and purchase confidently.

EN rating scale on the Northface women’s Cat’s Meow

The EN scale lists a comfort, lower, and extreme temperature limit. Women will want to go by the comfort limit, while men should pay attention to the lower temperature limit. These limits set a guide for the lowest temperature that you can expect to sleep comfortably at.

How Much a Women’s Sleeping Bag Weighs

Just like other outdoor gear, there used to be no such thing as a women’s bag. When they started to become a thing, they were for camping. Pink, heavy, cumbersome, who would think that a WOMAN might want to pick up and hike a few thousand miles just like the boys? Well, they do, and now you can find a high quality lightweight women’s sleeping bag on par with the professionally made ones.

What is a good weight?

Since this post is specific to backpacking sleeping bags, remember that we’re looking to carry this thing, and carry it far. Because of the extra insulation needed to keep warm, ladies sleeping bags might always be a tad heavier, but you can find a really good 20 degree sleeping bad in the 2 pound range.

Is that good? YES.

In other words, depending on how warm you want to be, a 3-season sleeping bag should weigh between 1 and 3 pounds.

This women’s version of the Mountain Hardwear Heratio is rated to 15 degrees and weighs in at only 2lbs 7oz:

The Shape Makes a Difference

The majority of traditional sleeping bags you’ll find in the women’s backpacking category will be mummy-shaped. This means that the sleeping bag tapers in around your feet.

The reasoning for this is because it makes less room for your feet to have to heat, and to make the bag weigh less.

Some people really don’t like the constriction and might want a rectangular sleeping bag. Typically, rectangular bags will be found in the ‘car camping’ category and are heavy and bulky.

Another option is a backpacking quilt. I don’t have a lot of experience with quilts — and I wasn’t able to find any brands producing women’s specific quilts.

Interested to read more about backpacking quilts? Here is a link to Adventure Alan who knows a ton about quilts.

http://www.adventurealan.com/sleeping-bags-and-quilts/

Size Can Make a Huge Difference in Your Comfort

Remember earlier when I said that women’s sleeping bags are shorter in length? It’s true!

A women’s regular length sleeping bag will typically be designed for a female who is 5’6” or shorter as opposed to a unisex regular, which is designed up to 6′ even.

Here is a length comparison between a women’s long (left) and men’s long (right):

Length of a women’s sleeping bag vs a men’s

If you’re taller than 5’6”, opt for the women’s long sized sleeping bag. As I learned the hard way, a shorter bag will cause numbness in your feet, and also cause a good deal of heat loss from compressing the insulation at the top and bottoms of the bag.

It’s also important to not ‘size up’ if you don’t have to. You might think that more room sounds like a good idea; however, your body will be responsible for distributing heat to all of the extra space.

Packing Size

Also consider how small you can make your sleeping bag inside your backpack. Both of the sleeping bags pictured below are compressed using a Sea to Summit waterproof compression sack.

On the left is the North Face Cat’s Meow, rated to 20 degrees, and on the right is the REI Flash rated to 32 degrees.

A synthetic 20 degree sleeping bag (left) and a down synthetic blend 32 degree sleeping bag (right) compressed for backpacking

Materials and Insulation

There are two types of insulation you’ll find in a sleeping bag, down or synthetic.

Down, goose or otherwise has a lot of advantages:

Lighter weight
Warmer for the weight
Compresses smaller

Reasons you might want synthetic instead:

You’re against using animal products
You have a down allergy
If the insulation could get wet

The biggest downfall of a down bag is that it if it gets wet, you were traditionally, well, screwed.

However, the last few years have brought several breakthroughs in waterproof down technology. At first, manufacturers thought that the waterproof coating would degrade the down and lessen the lifespan of their product.

That has turned out to not be true, and now almost every down sleeping bag is being made with these waterproof coatings.

Outer materials

You also want to look at the material on the outside of the bag. How durable is it? Some sleeping bags, like the REI Joule, have two different types of material – a lighter weight and more breathable material running down the front and back, and a heavier but more durable/waterproof material running along the edges, where it is most likely to come in contact with your tent.

Extras

Yes, there is even more to consider!

Here are a few things:

Does it have a neck guard?
- This is an extra piece of insulated fabric just inside the sleeping bag, and it rests against your neck. As you move during the night, it helps to stop cold air from seeping in.
The hood
- The hood of the sleeping bag should fit comfortable around your head.
- The pull tabs to tighten the hood should be easy to use.
Is the zipper easy to use?
- Get inside the sleeping bag, zip up all the way, and see how long it takes to get out again.
Some have pockets for easy storage of important items

The neck guard on the REI Magma 17

Feeling overwhelmed at all the things to consider? Don’t worry, I have a few recommendations. Check out my top 5 favorite women’s backpacking sleeping bags.

Did I miss anything? Leave a comment with your sleeping bag questions!

June 29, 2017 6 comments