08/02/2025
๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ: ๐ ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ฎ๐ก ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐ (๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ช๐ฎ๐!)๐๐ฒ
Packing for a 3-day, 2-night hike used to stress me out! I always felt like I was either forgetting something crucial or carrying way too much unnecessary weight.
After a few trips (and a few memorable mishaps!), Iโve finally dialed in my packing system.
So, I wanted to share my tried-and-true list!
๐ญ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ (๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ):
โข๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ (38-50 ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ): My first backpacking trip, I borrowed a pack that was way too bigโฆ and terribly uncomfortable. Now I have an ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ก 38, and after a proper fitting at the store, itโs like a dream. A comfortable pack is non-negotiable!
โข๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ: I learned the importance of a decent tent the hard way during a surprise thunderstorm on Mt. Apo. Letโs just say my cheap, leaky tent turned into an indoor swimming pool. Now I have a reliable, lightweight tent that can actually withstand the elements.
โข๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐: Iโm a cold sleeper, so I invested in a good down sleeping bag rated to 20ยฐF (-6ยฐC). Itโs worth every penny for a warm and cozy nightโs sleep.
๐ฎ. ๐ฆ๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ (๐๐ผ๐บ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐!):
โข๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐: I used to skimp on this, thinking โIโm tough, I can sleep on the ground.โ Wrong! A good sleeping pad makes a world of difference for a comfortable night and good insulation.
โข๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก: ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ค๐ฌ: I used to scoff at these, but after a hike where I woke up with a stiff neck every morning, Iโm a convert! Now I bring a small, inflatable pillow.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ป & ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ (๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ)
โข๐พ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ซ๐ & ๐๐ช๐๐ก: On one trip, I forgot to check how much fuel I had left. Letโs just say I ate a lot of cold oatmeal that weekend! Now, I always pack extra fuel.
โข l๐พ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐: I keep it simple with a lightweight pot/pan.
โข๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ก๐จ: Spork, cup, bowl.
โข๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฝ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐จ/๐๐๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ค๐๐ง (๐๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ฉ 3 ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ): I learned the importance of hydration on a particularly hot hike. I bring a 3-liter reservoir and a backup water bottle, just in case.
โข๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ง/๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ: The Sawyer Squeeze for those who have sensitive stomach.
โข๐๐ค๐ค๐: I aim for about 2 lbs per day. Lots of high-energy snacks! My favorites are trail mix, protein bars, and dried mangoes and jelly ace (a must!).
โข๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐จ: Pack it in, pack it out! I always bring extra for my trash and any trash I find along the trail.
๐ฐ. ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด (๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐!):
โข๐๐ค๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐-๐ฌ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐จ (1-2): Learned my lesson with sweaty cotton shirts!
โข๐ฝ๐๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐จ (๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ & ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ค๐ข): For warmth at night.
โข๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ/๐จ๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐จ: Convertible pants are my go-to.
โข๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐ง: A down puffy jacket is a lifesaver on chilly evenings.
โข๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ: Waterproof and breathable.
โข๐๐ค๐๐ ๐จ (3 ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ค๐ก): Blisters are no fun! Merino wool socks are worth the investment. One for hiking, one for sleeping, and an extra.
โข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐๐ง (3 ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐จ): Moisture-wicking.
โข๐๐๐ฉ & ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ๐๐จ: Sun protection is a must.
โข๐๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐จ: If expecting cold weather.
โข๐พ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ค๐๐จ: Sandals or Crocs for letting my feet breathe after a long day of hiking.
๐ฑ. ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป & ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐ (๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ!):
โข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ: Donโt forget extra batteries!
โข๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ง ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฟ๐๐ซ๐๐๐: For emergencies.
โข๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ-๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ: Iโve used mine more times than I care to admit!
โข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ง ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐-๐๐ค๐ค๐ก: A must-have for so many situations.
๐ฒ. ๐ง๐ผ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ (๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐น):
โขSunscreen & Lip Balm:
โขToothbrush, Toothpaste:
โขToilet Paper & Trowel:
โขHand sanitizer/Wet wipes:
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐โ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐:
โข๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ง: Use a trash bag to line your pack and keep gear dry. A lifesaver during unexpected rain!
โข๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ง: Hiking with friends? Share the load! One person can carry the tent, another the stove.
โข๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ ๐: Before a big trip, do a shorter overnight hike to test your gear and packing system.
Happy (and prepared) Hiking! Let me know what your must-have items are in the comments!