You can find a never-ending supply of articles online that will remind you of the essential backpacking items that you should always have on the trail. In fact, you can read mine here. However, I wanted to share a few things that I have found to be game-changers. The items that I am going to discuss here have made my backpacking trips so much more enjoyable.
Backpacking Food
You can go to any sporting goods store and find a wide variety of backpacking meals. These are typically freeze-dried. All you have to do is add boiling water and wait a few minutes. I happen to love these. They are lightweight, easy to prepare, and delicious!
However, these pre-made meals have a couple of downsides. With the way they are packaged, they can be kind of bulky. Try fitting enough of these for 3 square meals on a 7-day hunt! Your pack will fill up quickly. The other downside is these can be expensive. Most of them are $10 or more!
With that being said, I can tell you a couple of things I have done to get around some of these food challenges.
Ramen Noodles!
Come on, these are amazing! They are lightweight and already shaped properly for stacking into a pack. These amazing delicacies make the perfect trail food. Not to mention they’re dirt cheap and keep for a long time. I usually pack enough to have one for each day I’m out. Just crunch them up and put them into a good container, boil your water with your camp stove, pour it over, and season them up. Pack some jerky to chop up and throw into them for a well-balanced camp meal.
Instant mashed potatoes
These are great to bring along to mix things up. I like to buy packages, so they lay flat and fit into the pack nicely. Most of them call for milk and butter, but I have found that they still taste pretty good with just boiling water.
Instant mashed potatoes can be found in any grocery store and come in a wide variety of flavors. They also taste good with chopped jerky for protein and can pair well with ramen noodles. One package will typically feed you and a couple of buddies.
Tuna Pouches
These also come in a wide variety of flavors and can be purchased cheaply. Although these aren’t the lightest weight items you can pack, you can’t beat how flat they are! It’s very easy to stack 7 of these into the pack for a 7-day outing. These are great for backpacking as they pack a large, and much-needed protein punch.
Have fun coming up with your own cheap and convenient alternatives to freeze-dried camp meals.
Backpacking Drinks
I know what you’re thinking. All I need is water! But don’t skip this.
One thing I learned from my first backpacking trip, is that camelbacks should be thrown away in my opinion. Filling this pouch and carrying it around can come with a host of problems. It’s heavy, it may leak, and it can often give the water a horrible plastic taste.
When it comes to hydrating while backpacking, I have found that carrying a good plastic bottle full of water is much easier. I prefer to buy a Smart Water on my way to the trailhead and start with that. When it’s gone, I will start filling it with my filtration system as needed. I like the Smart Water bottles because they are slender and tall. They fit nicely into the side pocket of my pouch where it’s easy to reach. I can actually screw my Sawyer water filter onto the smart water bottle!
Coffee
Aside from water, I cannot go without coffee. I drink it every day and wouldn’t imagine enjoying creation without a hot cup of joe. But who wants to carry a French press or a pour-over filter and a bag of coffee grounds? I used to do that, but I found a better way.
I like to buy coffee bags. They look like tea bags…….. but it’s coffee. The first kind I bought was made by Black Rifle and they were wonderful! They were big enough for 1 pouch to make a strong enough cup. I like strong, and I mean strong. On the most recent trip I took, I found some made by Folgers and they were excellent. I did have to use two bags to make the perfect cup. You can find them here.
I always like to carry my Contigo coffee cup. Most people think I’m crazy for carrying it as far as I do, but we all have our thing. My coffee cup is very dear to me. It has a sealing lid that snaps open and closed and never leaks. It also has a handle, which allows me to hook it into my pocket or pack for to be hands-free. With a cup like this, you can boil the water, pour it into the cup with the coffee bags, and take off. Let it brew while you’re walking. I never go backpacking without coffee, and my cup.
I know many people who bring instant coffee. This is another excellent idea. Black Rifle makes a nice single-serve instant coffee pouch that can be very handy!
Flavor packs
If you’re carrying a water bottle like I recommend, you can always spruce it up with some flavoring. There are a wide variety of these on the market. Some of these will even contain electrolytes. Liquid IV is a good way to go. They come in single packs and can easily be added to your water to fuel you’re hiking and break the boring water cycle.
Glad you didn’t skip?
Backpacking Gadgets
Trekking Poles……. Or Trekking Pole?
Most people wouldn’t be surprised at all to see this on the list. Every backpacker is faced with the decision before leaving. Do I bring the poles, or leave them behind? I would recommend taking them on every trip. A good set can be lightweight and can easily be tethered to your pack if you don’t feel like using them.
Not only can this assist with walking through rugged terrain, but they have so many other uses. They come in handy when having to cross water. If you can’t see the bottom, you can feel it. You can detect a log or large rock under the water that may trip you and ruin your day.
A trekking pole can be used to span across to tree to hang things from. This can be very handy for drying things out if you decided to leave them tethered to your pack when you crossed the river. Trekking poles can also be used as a stake to extend your living quarters with a tarp.
For these reasons, I recommend taking at least one.
Electric tape
Electric tape comes is handy so often for me when I am backpacking. One of the biggest reasons I take it is to wrap up my paracord when I tear down my camp. Paracord gets tangled so easily. Avoid this by wrapping it up nicely and taping it.
You can also use tape for medical reasons. It can be used to hold on a bandage or split or even used as a tourniquet. Let’s hope that isn’t necessary.
Here are a few other uses for electric tape.
- Secure annoying dangling straps
- Tape your ankles to keep debris out of your shoes
- Tape your shoe after a blowout
- Repair a tent
- Tape poles or stakes together
- Tape bundles of sticks or wood for fires
- Secure opened food bags or containers
Battery Pack for Charging
I would never recommend hitting the trail without one of these fully charged. They can usually charge a phone 3 to 4 times. They can also be used to charge a headlight or a GPS device.
Most of the time I don’t have good reception for my phone when I’m hiking. However, I always have my phone with me for pictures and daily bible reading. With a full charge on my phone and the battery pack, it usually gets the job done. Don’t forget to bring whatever cables you will need for charging between the two. I have done that.
Pepper Spray or Other Self-defense
There are two main reasons to carry some type of self-defense on the trail. Animals, and People. I know that sounds bad, but when we’re out backpacking, we can be very vulnerable to attacks. We are out in the middle of nowhere, sometimes alone, and have very limited access to any kind of help from the outside world.
Some of us choose pistols, and others may opt for pepper spray. If you are going to carry a weapon, make sure you are properly trained and do it legally and responsibly.
Personal Care
Mole Skin
A blister on your foot can absolutely ruin your trip. We always try to buy the best shoes and socks to avoid rubbing and blistering, but sometimes it happens. If you have to cross a creek and your feet get one, you will be much more susceptible to blisters.
Mole Skin can be a lifesaver. Make sure you put it on early enough before it’s too late. Oftentimes, you can feel a blister forming in its very early stages. These are often called “hot spots”. If there’s one place on your foot that seems to be rubbing, stop and apply the moleskin directly to your foot under your sock. This stuff sticks very well and will last all day.
Dude Wipes
We all have to use the bathroom and we all get smelly if we’re out in the wild long enough. Dupe wipes are like baby wipes but for adults. They are biodegradable, so they can be buried as needed. They come in scented or unscented. If you’re in an area with bears, you may want to go unscented.
There are so many other things I could talk about when it comes to backpacking gear. I’m going to have to make a part 2. Please consider these things for your next adventure.
Amazing advice for newbies
Thank You!