What should you pack for a 3 day backpacking trip? The answer is that you need everything you’d bring on a 1 day backpacking trip, except for a little more food, fuel, toilet paper, to stay out an additional 2 days. It doesn’t matter if you go on a 24 hour hike or a 2 week backpacking trip, you’ll basically bring the exact same gear and clothing every time.

What’s that include? It’s really just the 10 essentials, plus a backpack.

For example, here’s what I’d recommend bringing on every backpacking trip, regardless of duration or distance. I’ve included suggested gear as well that’s a good value if you’re just starting out or that will give you an idea of the kind of gear you need.

1. Navigation

Always: waterproof map, compass, watch, and pre-planned itinerary (leave copy with a responsible adult in case of emergency)

Sometimes: GPS but never without a map and compass. Don’t rely on batteries or satellite accuracy

Recommended:

2. Sun protection

Always: small tin of sun tan lotion, chapstick for lips, and sunglasses

Always: wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and hat for sun and insect prevention

Recommended:

3. Insulation, including additional layers

Always (wearing): 1 pair socks, 1 short sleeve performance top, 1 synthetic pair long hiking pant, 1 pair underwear, 1 billed cap

Always (packed): hard shell raincoat with hood and rain pants, lightweight (top and bottom) long underwear to wear when sleeping, 1 pair extra socks

Always: a sleeping bag or quilt rated for seasonal temperatures and a sleeping pad to prevent my body from being chilled by direct contact with the ground

Always: rain mitts, synthetic glove liners, fleece beenie hat

Always: some sort of ground cloth, plastic sheeting, or a waterproof bivy bag to keep my insulation dry

Sometimes: lightweight down or synthetic vest or jacket, depending on time of year or climate

Recommended:

4. Illumination

Always: head lamp, one set extra batteries

Recommended :

5. First-aid Supplies

Always: small packets of Benedryl, Imodium and Ibuprofen, 6 sterile gauze bandages, a few band-aids, 1 ounce bottle of Purell, 1 pair latex gloves, a tick key, and 10 extra chlorine dioxide tablets for purifying water (2 day supply), 1 ounce tube of zinc oxide, and two safety pins

Always: a pen or pencil to write messages or record first aid information in an emergency

Always: a 1 ounce bottle of liquid soap for daily hygiene and cleaning wounds

Recommended:

6. Fire

Always: butane lighter and a small box of wooden matches

Sometimes: cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly for lighting wood fires

Recommended:

7. Repair kit including knife

Always: small knife with scissors, 10 ft of duct tape

Recommended:

8. Nutrition

Always: 1.5 to 1.75 pounds of food per day

Always: bear bag or bear canister to protect my food from bears or other animals

Always: camping stove, just enough fuel for the duration of the trip, a 3/4 liter pot to boil water and use as a cup/bowl, and a long handled spoon

Recommended:

9. Hydration

Always: two one liter plastic bottles and a small screw-on water filter or Steripen

Recommended:

10. Shelter

Always: a tent or a tarp, tent stakes, and cordage to tie it down

Recommended:

Other Important Items

In addition, I usually add a few other important items including:

Insect repellent

A mosquito head net, to cover my head at night

A cell phone, although I often can’t get a signal in the backcountry

An emergency whistle, since it’s louder than yelling for help

A cell phone for emergencies

Things I don’t bring

I don’t bring any extra clothes: I just wash the ones I’m wearing if they become too smelly or salty. These dry overnight or I put them on damp in the morning and let my body heat dry them out while I’m hiking. I use the following rule of thumb: you should be able to put on all of the clothes you are wearing and the ones in your backpack at the same time. If you can’t, you have too many clothes.

I don’t bring extra sandals or camp shoes. Some people do.

I don’t wear hiking boots except in cooler weather. Most of the time I just wear running shoes.

If you have any other questions, ask away. I’m here to help.

About the author

Philip Werner has hiked and backpacked over 7500 miles in the United States and the UK and written over 2500 articles as the founder of SectionHiker.com, noted for its detailed gear reviews and educational content. A devotee of New Hampshire and Maine hiking and backpacking, Philip is the 36th person to hike all 650 of the hiking trails in the White Mountain Guide. He is also the author of has hiked and backpacked over 7500 miles in the United States and the UK and written over 2500 articles as the founder of SectionHiker.com, noted for its detailed gear reviews and educational content. A devotee of New Hampshire and Maine hiking and backpacking, Philip is the 36th person to hike all 650 of the hiking trails in the White Mountain Guide. He is also the author of Backpacking the White Mountain 4000 Footers, a free online guidebook of the best backpacking trips in the White Mountains in New Hampshire and Maine. In addition, Philip volunteers as a 4 season backpacking leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club, a Long Trail Mentor for Vermont's Green Mountain Club, and a Leave No Trace Master Educator. He lives in New Hampshire.

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