What to Pack in Your Hiking Backpack? Essential Items for an Outdoor Adventure

When planning a hike in the mountains or outdoors, you’ll inevitably ask yourself: What should I pack in my hiking backpack?

Don’t worry! Today, we’ll go through how to prepare your hiking backpack and what to bring for a trek. Whether it’s for a day or multiple days, the key is to pack a light and minimalist backpack, so you don’t overburden yourself and reduce fatigue along the way.

Let’s go through all the essential items together.

• The Hiking Backpack
• Clothing
• Provisions
• Useful Accessories
• Safety Kit
• Multi-Day Hiking

1. The Hiking Backpack

Before diving into the list of items to pack, you need to consider what kind of backpack you’ll need: Are you planning a one-day hike in the mountains? Then a 20-30 liter backpack should suffice.

If you’re going on a multi-day hike, you might need a larger backpack, around 40-60 liters.

In addition to choosing the size of your hiking backpack, remember that comfort is key, so it’s recommended to choose a backpack with padded shoulder straps and a hip belt to better distribute the weight.

If this is your first hike, you might also find some essential tips for beginners useful.

2. Clothing

First, let’s start with a basic rule: dress in layers when in the mountains!

As you ascend in altitude, the temperature changes; during climbs and descents, the level of exertion varies, and you might feel more or less warm. Even the weather in the mountains can change quickly, as can the temperature, which also fluctuates depending on the time of day.

So, you’ll often feel the need to add or remove layers, taking them out of or putting them back into your backpack.

List of Essential Clothing Items

In addition to the technical clothing you’ll wear at the start (hiking boots, technical shirt, trekking poles, etc.), you may need to pull out additional clothing from your backpack when necessary.

Here’s a list of clothing items to pack in your backpack:

• Extra fleece or sweater, preferably breathable and with a zipper
• Waterproof jacket
• Hat for sun protection in hot weather or a thermal hat for cold conditions
• Sunglasses
• Gloves if you’re hiking at an altitude where the temperature might drop – ideally technical hiking gloves to maintain grip on your trekking poles

Leave Extra Space in Your Backpack

As mentioned earlier, you might need to remove some layers – for example, if it gets very warm – and store them in your backpack.

The general advice is: always leave some extra space in your backpack because you never know what you might need.

3. Provisions

Often, you’ll want to take a break in the shade along the trail, and having a snack will help you stave off hunger until lunch.

Here are a few tips.

Water and Snacks

You’ll be thirsty! Often. And you might feel a bit peckish. So, pack a water bottle with fresh water and some snacks. For a short hike, bring at least 1.5-2 liters of water.

I love bringing dried fruit and fresh fruit as snacks, but you can pack whatever you prefer. Just remember to avoid heavy or particularly sugary foods because after your breaks, you’ll need to keep walking, and staying light will help during the hike.

Packed Lunch

You’ll likely find huts along the trail where you can have lunch. If you choose to eat at a hut, make sure it’s open before you set off. If you plan to have a picnic instead, you’ll need to organize a packed lunch in your backpack.

A sandwich is particularly convenient in this case because it doesn’t require heavy or bulky lunchboxes and can be wrapped in simple cloth napkins to avoid disposable packaging.

Just remember not to stuff it with greasy ingredients to avoid surprises in your backpack.

4. Useful Accessories

Besides clothing, food, and water, you might also need a few other items.

Basic Accessories

• Tissues or sanitizing wipes
• Sunscreen
• In cold weather, protective hand cream and lip balm to prevent chapped lips
• A biodegradable trash bag to collect any waste you produce, so you don’t leave anything behind

Extra Accessories

So far, we’ve covered the essentials for a minimalist backpack. If you prefer to be fully prepared, here are some additional accessories that could be useful during your hike.

Just remember that space is limited, and the weight of the backpack will be on your shoulders, so it’s all about making choices.

• A blanket to sit on in case the grass is wet
• A book
• Insect repellent
• A flashlight if you plan to stay out late
• Pen and paper if you like to write when inspiration strikes

5. Safety Kit

It might be worth packing a few extra items in your backpack, even if it adds a bit more weight. Today, we won’t dive into survival tools, but we’ll at least list a few small precautions that can make a difference in case of emergency.

First Aid Kit

• Band-Aids – including those for blisters
• Bandages and disinfectant
• Scissors and tweezers
• Basic medications

Emergency Tools

• A device to avoid getting lost (trekking apps, maps, GPS, etc.) – one idea is to download the map of the area before you leave, such as on Google Maps, so you can still use it to navigate even without a signal
• Power bank – in case your phone battery dies
• Compass – it could come in handy if you’re without a phone
• Whistle
• Lighter or matches
• Flashlight
• Multi-tool knife
• String or cord
• Local emergency contact numbers

6. Multi-Day Hiking

If your hike will last for multiple days, in addition to all the items we’ve discussed, you’ll obviously need a larger backpack and a few other essentials. Here’s what to pack in your backpack for a multi-day hike:

Extra Clothing

• Dry and quick-drying change of clothes
• Extra underwear
• Socks – it’s always better to bring a few extra pairs in case they get wet
• Sleepwear (pajamas and warm socks if it’s cold)

Personal Hygiene

• A toiletry bag with all the essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap)

Equipment

Of course, you can find many interesting places to stay in the mountains to break up your hike. However, if you decide to camp along the way, you might also need:

• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Tent
• Compressible pillow
• A blanket
• A roll of toilet paper
• A towel
• Water filter or water supplies
• Camping stove and utensils
• Food supplies for multiple days – dehydrated food can come in handy

Conclusion

A well-organized hiking backpack is the first step to enjoying your adventure in a light and worry-free manner.

With this list, you’ll have all the essentials, and after your first hikes, you’ll know how to customize your backpack based on your needs.

Great, now you’re ready! Once you’ve chosen your destination, all that’s left is to pack your backpack! So, scroll through the list, strap on your backpack, and have fun!