26 Essential Items To Bring On A Backpacking Trip

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Make every inch and every ounce count when you're on your next adventure.

BuzzFeed Staff

Unless otherwise specified, all sizes in this post are listed in women's.

Promising review: "I had ordered a Osprey but I wasn't going to get it delivered in time, so I gave up and ordered this one. It is a pretty good backpack. Also came with a rainproof cover and good quality for sure. I definitely recommend you give this one a try." —Sneha

Get it from Amazon for $51.99 (available in five colors and two styles).

Promising review: "Took this tent to Patagonia for six nights and it did fantastic! The winds were crazy on the trek and one of our friends tent poles snapped in half but this tent took those winds like a champ! Very sturdy and kept us warm and dry, even in dusting of snow and light persistent rain. Would absolutely recommend this tent!" —Toni & Melina

Get it from Amazon for $61.99+ (also available in a two person style).

Promising review: "This is a perfect warm weather sleeping bag. It's also very long which is perfect for tall people. It's definitely meant for warm weather and only keeps you comfortable down to about 55-60, since I live in Florida that isn't much of an issue. Definitely a solid buy." —Mana N.

Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "Being new to backpacking, and wanting to get back into camping, I did a lot of research on the supplies I would need to have a great trip. I also love to sleep, so having a sleep system that I would enjoy and help me wake up feeling ready to face the day was important to me. Having used the pad several times now, I am here to say that the ease of use and comfortability is awesome. It is easy to inflate, easy to pack, easy to deflate, and easy to put away. It kept me happy as both a side sleeper and front sleeper and did not bottom out (except when I sat straight up) nor make a lot of noise as I turned at night. It being my first sleeping pad, I was surprised at how well it worked and how comfortable it really was! I would even say it felt similar to an air mattress.All in all, I am a happy customer and I would definitely recommend this sleeping pad to backpackers and campers alike!" —Stephanie M.

Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "I really love this pillow for backpacking. Historically, I have just shoved some clothes in a stuff sack and made do, but that had a few drawbacks so I wanted to go to a dedicated pillow. This pillow is < 3oz and packs very compactly as you can see in the photos. So while it is a 2-3oz luxury item, I can live with that. I also found the material to be surprising comfy for a synthetic. It has a brushed feel to it and is not particularly noisy when you move around on it. I camp in a hammock and my head is off my under quilt so I need some insulation there. So far, down to the 20's, I've found that this pillow is perfectly adequate for head insulation which was one concern that I had. It should certainly be fine for ground dwellers, whether on or off a pad. One tip I will offer is that I found it to be most comfortable only ~half-inflated. Too much and it is too firm and holds my head too high, too little and it just wraps around your face. In the middle was just right." —Billy

Get it from Amazon for $16.49 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "This is not a sleeping bag meant for comfort, but for survival. I recreate in the back country year round and this is perfect and lightweight to add to my backpack for survival purposes. You never know when your stuff will break down and you have to spend the night in the woods." —Dena K.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors and in a two pack option).

Promising review: "Purchased this for a backpacking trip and I'm glad I did. It held up fantastically during a rain and wind storm. It's light and small enough to throw on your pack. I would recommend this product...price is right." —Ssssnice

Get it from Amazon for $16.49+ (available in four colors and four dimensions).

Promising review: "Spent the whole week hiking and climbing rocks in these bad boys. I barely took them off and was constantly amazed at the fact that my feet weren't in pain. I usually have the biggest struggle in finding comfortable shoes and boots, but these have great support and are wide enough to accommodate my poor bunions. I wore thicker hiking socks and ordered these boots a half size up which made for the perfect fit." —Bailey

Get it from Amazon for $50+ (available in sizes 5–12 and in 17 colors).

Promising review: "This jacket is exactly what I was looking for. I needed a lightweight jacket that was not as restricting as a typical softshell jacket. The 4 way stretch is incredible! It's thinner than expected, but that's okay because it's comfortable to wear over a sweatshirt if needed. It runs on the small side but does have a nice feminine fit. I typically wear a small and ordered a medium based on reviews and it is perfect. If you're an avid outdoor walker or runner, I would highly recommend this product." —SailorEve1112

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and in 10 colors).

Promising review: "I'm normally skeptical about buying clothing through Amazon, but these are amazing. A perfect fit and durable! They've withstood hiking in Yosemite and other adventures. I wear them very frequently because they're so good!" —Mai SN

Get it from Amazon for $33.98 (available in sizes XS–3XL and in 17 colors).

Promising review: "Bought these socks for hiking in my boots. I wear a women's size 10 and the large fit perfectly. They are soft and cushioned in the right places. I didn't have any problems with seams or rubbing while hiking. Happy with the purchase." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $23.99 (available in five styles and two sizes).

Promising reviews: "This is my holy grail for preventing blisters. It has gotten me through all-day backpacking trips, hikes, trail runs, etc. It is also great for days when I wear heels/uncomfortable shoes. I will buy this body glide for the rest of my life — no question." —Ally

"This is an amazing product! I used to have to wear band aids on my heels to prevent rubbing from shoes. Now I put this product on and I don't need the band aids! It forms a coating on your skin so your shoes simply run smoothly against your heel instead of chafing it. So great." —Twinkies

Get it from Amazon for $9.

Promising review: "Perfect size for traveling on airplanes, its compact, lightweight and easy to stow away in a carry-on bag. holds perfect amount of water, and the flip top keeps it neat and dry with no drips or leaking." —Bicyclebradley

Get it from Amazon for $13.60+ (available in seven colors and two sizes).

Promising review: "This thing is awesome, used it on our 3500-mile trip stopping at various hiking spots and trails and camping and having clean drinking water you can trust when on a long trip is vital. This gave me peace of mind that no matter where we filled up, creek or random water spigot we had clean drinking water. The cleansing tablets are a must for outdoor on the go water sources, but with this system you don't have to carry a lot of heavy water in your pack to slow you down. A friend of mine used this hiking on the entire Arizona trail and this thing worked like a charm and cleaned the water for him to safely drink throughout the desert on his hike. From that point on I was sold." —Combustion Works

Get it from Amazon for $29.08

If you’re immunocompromised, be sure to read all the package instructions to make sure it's safe for you.

Promising review: "I am surprise with the quality of the item. Works and stores very easily. Went on a 14 mile hike with this bad boy and it worked beautifully. I also brought other means of hydration with me but this is a good and safe first or second option." —Hugo

Get it from Amazon for $17.47+ (available in four color/styles).

Promising review: "I occasionally teach 4th grade at an outdoor education program in Michigan and we do a lot of bushcraft. We are making walking sticks for the students to use on our many hiking field trips. This knife has been a valuable addition to my bushcraft tool kit! I highly recommend it over an expensive bushcraft knife as this one you can beat up and not feel guilty about damaging it." —Dr. Badger

Get it from Amazon for $34.49.

It operates with a CORE rechargable battery or by using three AAA batteries.

Promising review: "My old headlamp is also a Petzl I have had for 15 years. It has camped, hiked, worked on cars, used for cross stitching and crafts, the pit bull pup chewed it up a bit and it still worked and still does. I bought this new one to spruce up my gear. It's great and so much brighter than my old one. Loving the rechargeable battery that came with it. Petzl is tried and true, solid equipment for all types of uses. Cold weather, no problem. The battery last a really long time. Highly recommend!" —Amber B.

Get it from Amazon for $64.35+ (available in six colors).

Modern Outdoor Life is a small business based in that sells camping items.

Promising review: "Pretty damn good. Feels comfortable to wear and works like a charm!" —Alger

"I love it and can't wait to go out door camping or hiking." —Peter

Get it from Modern Outdoor Life on Etsy for $14.

Once you light it, it'll stay lit with no maintenance — until you're ready to put it out, of course, by snuffing it with the tin's lid. It's made from 100% recycled soy wax and paper briquettes. One reviewer also mentions they add more soy wax every time it gets low to extend its life. Oh, and if that's not enough, Radiate's a small business that mainly focuses on these portable campfires!

Promising reviews: "I just used it tonight on the beach and it was perfect! It was compact, easy to light, and the flame was large like a campfire and it gave off much more heat than I expected. It smelled really good and was easy to put out when we were done. It did smell a tiny bit like burning paint as the wax burned down and the side of the tin heated up. But once I finish this tin (looks like I’ll get about 4.5 hours of burn time) I’ll absolutely be buying another." —Kayla Vallone

Get it from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in packs of two and four).

Promising review: "We go to a lot of music festivals and camp. My one thing I hated was not having a good cup of coffee in the morning. This little thing made my day! My only complaint is that it only makes a single shot at a time. When there is a camp full of morning faced hippies waiting for a cup of coffee it can take a while! They do sell a larger water tank and extra grounds cups, which I will definitely pick up before next festival season. This little gadget is a game-changer with good, strong, and crema-rich shots. Lattes for all!" —Frater Zion

Get it from Amazon for $54.90.

Promising review: "I took them to a small cabin that I can only kayak to. The cabin is quite small, but one lit the whole bottom floor of the cabin. It easily lights a tent or a cooking area when camping. The light is warm and inviting. There are three brightness levels. The top level lights a room similarly to a 40–60 watt lamp. I have purchased three so far and will continue to purchase. They do not take long to charge, but you can speed the process by using the USB cable at home or with a solar power block." —Cameron Millican

Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in three styles).

Promising review: "I used this as a 'veranda' in front of my tent in a sandy rock outcropping in heavy Wyoming wind. When sand was tracked onto the blanket, all I had to do was wave my hand or foot over the sand pile and it fell right through the weaves of fabric not to come back up. The benefits included not tracking sand into my tent, having a clean space to roll up my sleeping bag (without sand all over it), a sandless spot to lay our gear and organize, a perfect unsandy area to sit and chat with friends. I loved it. We camped on sand in 40-mph swirling gusts of a stormy weekend. On my first campout in this location (without this blanket) a lot of sand covered my gear inside the tent. But with the camping mat, what an improvement!" —Alexandra B.

Get it from Amazon for $64.95+ (available in four sizes and three colors).

VSSL is a small biz started by Todd Weimer, who's been camping since childhood — so they know a thing or two about wilderness gear.

Each kit comes with the VSSL light, a compass, tape, bandages, sterile strips, thermometers, antiseptic wipes, a blood-clotting agent, antibiotic and burn cream, aspirin, Advil, tweezers, an emergency whistle, safety pins, gauze pads, medical gloves, and blister pads.

Get it from VSSL for $135.

Promising review: "I have gone through several shovels that I needed for my car emergency kit. Took a chance on this one and am not disappointed! It is very functional and strong. I took it out as soon as I received it and put it to the test. I used the pick to break the ground and it worked as advertised; the ground gave way but the pick didn't. I used the shovel in both the scrape and digging positions. I am very happy that I came across this shovel; it's sturdy as a proper shovel should be and it folds and packs away into a manageable size for storage in the car. I am no longer searching for the correct shovel for my needs. This one fills the bill very nicely!" —Jbgibber

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in five styles).

Kimbo's is a small biz that makes functional shorts so answering nature's call is a little less awkward.

Get them from Kimbo's for $55 (available in unisex sizes S–2X and in three colors).

Mikemares Place is a small business based in North Carolina that sells unique home decor, lichtenberg fractals, natural corals.

Promising review: "I wanted a walking stick that was stylish and tall for my hikes, and this one delivers! I bought the tallest version available with a good diameter. Highly recommend." —Danny F.

Get ti from Mikemares Place on Etsy for $15.99+ (available in 15 colors and 14 diameters).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.