Recommended Backpacking Gear: Quality findings on a budget

Osprey Kyte 36 Women's Hiking Backpack

Available in a variety of colors and sizes, please refer to Osprey’s sizing charts for your optimal size.

This is a 36 liter backpack with more than enough space for a week’s worth of space for food, tools, and personal items. For a reputable backpacking brand of high quality such as Osprey, this is a great price for a pack this size that will last you years and through dozens of trips. This has been our favorite backpack for women, for camping or even while backpacking through Europe!

Osprey Kestrel 48 Men's Backpacking Backpack

Available in a variety of colors and sizes, please refer to Osprey’s sizing charts for your optimal size.

This is a 48 liter backpack with more than enough space for a week’s worth of space for food, tools, and personal items. For a reputable backpacking brand of high quality such as Osprey, this is a great price for a pack this size that will last you years and through dozens of trips. This has been our favorite backpack for men, for camping or even while backpacking through Europe!

GSI Outdoors 74125 Compact Scraper , Grey, 3.4 inch

About the size of a large palm, ultra lightweight, and can be rewashed and reused every time like new!

This will make your life so easy for scrubbing off any food residue left in the bottom of your cups and pots, and best of all, the rubber does not leave scratch marks. Lightweight, small, and good price worth its value. This has been our favorite, random, little find that has turned into a major game changer for cutting down time on cleaning up!

TheTentLab Deuce(R) Ultralight Backpacking Potty Trowel

Comes in a variety of colors to choose from.

Being in the wild anything to make the bathroom time even a tiny bit easier and comfortable is greatly appreciated, and this potty towel can make your bathroom preparation quicker, cleaner, and easier for you! Instead of needing to use your hands to dig a poop hole you can simply insert this at a 45 degree angle into the ground, easily scoop up some dirt, and once you're done and ready to cover your duty (doody) you can easily scoop and cover leaving no trace behind! Light as a feather, ultra thin, does not take up much space, and comes with an open insert to hang on a carabiner, key chain, or off your backpack.

Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin, Lotion, 4-Ounce

Liquid in bottle does not leave white marks on your skin and goes on clear even with generous application. I myself have applied this only once in the mornings and I'm set for the whole day of protection!

In all our travels to the carribean, to the desert, and to the mountains through summertime and through bug season - this has been our best insect repellent solution even for the most pesky mosquitoes! This is non greasy, not thick, and not including the first couple of seconds out of the bottle - odorless while wearing! This came in a 2 pack and have taken this everywhere now, and has lasted us easily over a year and for over a dozen trips!

TOAKS Titanium 450ml Cup

This has been used extensively under high heat and has not warped, melted, or discolored.

This is a durable, multi-use cup you'll love to have gotten! We have found the material to be quality titanium, durable under high heat without warping, and very lightweight! The size of the cup has been a perfect fit for fitting half a bottle of water, a cooked meal, and can be carried through a carabiner on the outside of your backpack for extra packing convenience!

Salomon Women's X Ultra 3 MID GTX W Hiking Boots

Don’t forget to accompany with hiking socks for a complete comfy experience on your feet! These are true to size, for further details see size chart.

After many reviews and trials on dozens of hiking/backpacking boots, I found these boots to have the best qualities for long lasting enduring and bang for your buck. The grip is rated high and holds up against slippery slopes, mud, and gravel. They are waterproof tested - Yes I have taken them into the water, through creeks, rivers, and even part of a lake - and they perform amazing every time leaving me with clean, dry socks in the end always. Personally I have always had trouble finding good boots that will not give me blisters, especially after those hikes into a backpacking campground, and these have been my best ally for fighting against blisters! Find your personal optimal size and you will love taking these outdoors every time.

MPOWERD Luci Original: Solar Inflatable Light

Allow the top of the solar lantern to receive direct sunlight for at least 2 hours to ensure it will last as long as advertised. Good for placing on picnic tables, near tent, in tent, as ambient light for cooking, etc.

This is one of our favorite solar lantern when backpacking! Superlight, solar powered, compressible, durable materials, multiple light settings (low, medium, high, flashing, and red light), and best of all this solar lantern lasts for over 8 hours while on! This solar lantern can even be hung from a desired high place to further illuminate the area during night sky, or hung on your backpack while hiking and charging at the same time!

PETZL, TACTIKKA Stealth Headlamp with 300 Lumens

It is important to note these are battery powered and while the battery life is well over 24 hours of consistent use, it is important to remember to bring spare batteries in case these are left on by accident one time or in general to be safe and prepared.

A headlamp is a must for either backpacking or camping! You will need a headlamp for either going to the restroom in the dark, getting into or out of your tent at night, and in general to see what is around you among the darkness. The best part of this headlamp is the multiple settings you can use this with (low, medium, high, and red lights) depending on the environment and how much light you need. Many other headlamps will not offer red light mode as an option and while these might have a much more enticing price you will want to make sure to have red light mode because red light is not detectable by night time insects such as mosquitos, moths, flies, etc. With these you can ensure all t

MSR IsoPro Fuel 8 oz.

Make sure to pair this with your very own “AOTU Portable Camping Stoves Backpacking Stove with Piezo Ignition Stable Support Wind-Resistance Camp Stove for Outdoor Camping Hiking Cooking” to have a complete cooking set ready for anything and everything out in the wilderness!

These are our favorite fuel cans to depend on in the wilderness, once we found these we have never looked back! These come in small 8oz sizes so they are easy to package, super lightweight, and have excellent burning efficiency! As a vague reference, a small fuel can has provided us with enough fuel for two people, 3 nights, using this to heat up both water and foods during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These are pressurized fuel cans to ensure the maximum efficiency and minimal consumption for your use. Tested against aggressive winds and below freezing temperatures (such as our winter time trip to Monument Valley!) ,this has withstood the environmental impacts and still performed flawlessly in heating up our water and food items.

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles

Trekking poles come with multiple tip adapters to change according to the terrain you are on.

These trekking poles are an easy task to carry around because they’re super lightweight weighing under .7 pounds, compress to a mere 8” length when not in use, and have multiple adjustable heights depending on the height of the user. In comparison to other trekking poles these have withstood multiple types of terrain without damage, making their initial cost really worth your buck for the long haul! An important note about this design is the cork handle, which prevents blisters and sweaty palms, and trust me you will appreciate this out on the trail!

Counter Assault - Maximum Strength & Distance Bear Repellent Spray

Bear spray nozzle comes with a safety lid that should only be removed in case of use, also this is meant for one time use in a life threatening situation with an aggressive bear.

This is an item that you hope to buy and never use, but nonetheless feels reassuring to be prepared with this bad boy! This is the ultimate, tested, reviewed and guaranteed to work bear spray in any unsafe encounter with a bear. As we mentioned, we have never had to use this but feel safe in the wilderness knowing that we have this with us.

Trekology Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow - Compressible

Pillow stays cool overnight for comfortable sleep. Comes in a variety of colors to choose from.

This pillow is a pleasure to all because of how comfortable this is to sleep on! We both sleep like babies with these as a must on every trip! The amazing thing about this pillow is how lightweight it is while being versatile in its’ use as a head pillow or knee pillow, and all the while can be packed right back into its’ own personal pouch that can be hung on a carabiner outside your pack if you’d like.

AOTU Portable Backpacking Stove with Piezo Ignition

Don’t forget to accompany this with the recommended fuel can to be ready for a whole lot of outdoor cooking!

You will love cooking with this it’s our favorite find! This supports very small cooking cups/pots up to large 8” cups/pots and comes with stove top stands to ensure stability of your cooking pot.

Snow Peak Titanium Spork Ultralight

Pair this with the light weight titanium cup for an optimal cooking and eating experience. Comes in a variety of colors to choose from.

You can consider this your ultimate spoon and fork combined which is optimal for eating AND cooking! Easy to clean, non-stick material, super lightweight, and even comes with a carabiner to attach to the outside of your pack as an option. In the years of use this spork has proven itself durable and without warping, bending, or damage.

Dr. Bronner's - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap For Face, Body and Hair

Soap is heavily concentrated and a tiny dot of soap is enough to wash your hands for example, first drip a dot of soap into palms and scrub around palms and fingers, then use water and watch how much soap bubbles are created from this. One bottle will last a long time for an array of washings.

This will easily become your new favorite soap, for traveling, hiking, backpacking, or to use while on the go for everyday chores! Made of all natural, organic ingredients, this is gentle on the skin yet tough on dirt and grease optimal for washing pots and pans, washing your hands, using as body wash, and can even be used as shampoo! This pack comes with an array of scents you can choose from for all types of tasks and washings.

BearVault BV500 Bear Resistant Food Canister

You have two options for securing this away at night, you can carefully place bear canister at least 20 feet away from your campsite as recommended, or if you have a paracord you can wrap paracord around bear canister and hang from a secure tree branch, at least 10 feet above ground level as recommended. Please note that a bear canister should NEVER be inside your tent while sleeping and that while it is bear proof for opening, it is not scent proof.

If there’s anything you ever needed more out in bear country for securing your food, it’s this bear canister! Backpacking in bear country involves meal planning to ensure you can securely store all your meals away from predators. If you plan to go for more than a one night backpacking trip, we recommend the larger sized bear canister as it will come in handy for comfortably securing all your food.

RATSACK - Rodent Proof Food Storage Hanging Mesh Bag

Your handy paracord will come in good use for hanging this sack up high from a tree. We chose the large size sack because it comfortably fits all our food for 3 night backpacking trips.

This is the perfect food storage solution if you are backpacking to regions without bears but you may be dealing with rodents such as mice and squirrels. This is especially true in desert lands such as one of our trips to the Grand Canyon, where the mice and squirrels aggressively search through all bags for food findings. The wired mesh material is strong enough to resist rodent bites and will not break, best of all this sack is super lightweight, thin, and foldable when not in use.

GEAR AID 550 Paracord and Carabiner

Available in a variety of cord lengths.

A reliable paracord has multiple uses and help it can provide out in the wilderness, from hanging a bear canister or mesh food sacks, to pitching a tent, putting up a sleeping hammock, to survival purposes! With all that said - a paracord is a must for safety!

BOGI Microfiber Travel Sports Towel - Dry Fast

Available in a variety of sizes and colors.

This towel can serve multiple purposes out in the wilderness from drying up after a swim, to drying up from a workout, or to use as a cleaning towel if needed. This is not only good for camping but for everyday activities such as workouts, yoga, and the beach! This also makes a great gift for being such a handy, reusable, eco-friendly towel! This towel fits perfectly into a small bag that can be hung anywhere needed with a carabiner.

Columbia Women's Switchback Iii Adjustable Waterproof Rain Jacket

Available in a variety of sizes and colors to choose from.

These rain jackets have become our favorite coats to take for any backpacking trip from spring to autumn. These jackets are super lightweight, foldable, and will keep you dry from sudden rain or flash floods that may occur while out on the trail. The material is also great for cold you may experience with high winds, and retain body heat inside the jacket. These are also a great part of your outfit for everyday tasks or going out for walks!

Columbia Men's EvaPOURation Jacket

Available in a variety of sizes and colors to choose from.

These rain jackets have become our favorite coats to take for any backpacking trip from spring to autumn. These jackets are super lightweight, foldable, and will keep you dry from sudden rain or flash floods that may occur while out on the trail. The material is also great for cold you may experience with high winds, and retain body heat inside the jacket. These are also a great part of your outfit for everyday tasks or going out for walks!

Buff unisex Original Multifunctional Headwear and Face Mask

Available in a variety of colors and styles to choose from.

You will love having nabbed this new buff because it will come in handy for multiple scenarios, and environments you may encounter. This is a comfortable headwear that can be worn in multiple ways, either as a headscarf, neck scarf, face mask. These will keep you cool while hiking out in warm weather and absorb sweat away from your eyes and mouth. This will be just as useful during colder seasons to help retain heat and keep your head warmer, and can comfortably be worn alone or under a beanie for keeping you warmer.

WILD FINDING Waterproof Map Case Holder

Available in a variety of sizes to choose from.

If you are planning to go swimming or get yourself wet while not worrying about leaving valuables behind you might want to check this out! You will not have to worry about getting your pack wet and ruining important documents, maps, or electronics as long as they are safely stored in this waterproof holder.

CaliCase Extra Large Waterproof Floating Case

Fits largest size of all cellphones with extra space on the sides and top.

This can be a relief to have especially if you want to take alot of pictures while swimming, near a body of water, or just to keep your phone safe and handy at any moment while staying nice and clean! We used these on our backpacking trip to Havasupai while swimming in the waters and were able to easily take pictures with our phones in these floating cases, all the while without worries of phone damage.

Adventure Medical Kits Watertight .5 Medical First Aid Kit

Available in multiple medical kit sizes to choose from.

This medical kit contains a variety of items you can be relieved to know you are prepared for, although hoping you will never need to use these. This kit is lightweight and contains soo many useful first aid kits in case of an injury, animal bite, or just to feel better from a headache or pain you may experience while outdoors and fatigued. We have always felt such a peace of mind to know we have this medical kit when we are outdoors and prepared in case of anything. This case is also waterproof so you can be sure all your items will stay just as new and reliable even with water exposure.

Combat Wipes ACTIVE Outdoor Wet Wipes

These can be packed in a ziploc or reusable sealable bag and taken in your pack to maintain freshness.

Wet wipes can be such a relief to have in the outdoors for cleaning your hands, wiping face of sweat and dirt, and cleaning up after yourself to maintain freshness and comfort. These wipes are made of all natural ingredients, biodegradable, and contain vitamin E. These will feel soo good to wipe yourself down after a long day on the trail full of sweat, dirt, and fatigue.

RediTape 10934 Travel | Pocket Size, 3-Pack, Black

If you would like to take less duct tape for a short trip, we recommend bringing a pen and wrapping your desired amount of duct tape around the pen, this will allow you to be prepared while saving on weight and space in your pack.

Duct tape can literally be a life saver! This is a pocket size, lightweight duct tape roll to take outdoors and be prepared for anything you may encounter, from a sleeping pad puncture, to a hole in your tent or backpack, to a critical life safety craft you may need to put together - duct tape is always reliable to bring with you!

We hope all these recommended gear selections make your shopping experience a breeze! Feel free to check out the linked products and add them to your cart to be on your way for the outdoors! For more information about backpacking check out our other recommended articles such as “Backpacking checklist” and “Camping in bear country”.