Backpacking Gear Items You Need
Are you thinking about getting into backpacking but have no idea what gear you’ll actually need? You’re in the right place.
Backpacking has taken us to some of the most incredible places we’ve ever seen, from alpine lakes and snow capped mountains to remote campsites that you simply cannot reach on a day hike. After several years of backpacking, we’ve learned that your gear can really make or break your trip, so it’s important to start off strong.
Dave and I bought our first backpacking gear items a little before we moved to Canada in 2021 and have gradually replaced and upgraded items as we’ve learned what’s best for us.
We’ve now taken our gear on backpacking trips throughout Canada and the USA, so this list is based on what we’ve actually used and loved on the trail.
Initially purchasing backpacking gear can feel like a really expensive thing to do, but once you have it, it’s going to last you years and years of adventures. Once you have the right gear, backpacking becomes one of the most affordable ways to go away for the weekend.
In this guide, I’ll share all of the backpacking gear we currently use, including our tent, sleeping system, backpacks, cooking gear and other essentials. I’ll also include alternative options at different price points and explain what I’d prioritise if you’re building your backpacking gear collection from scratch.
This guide was updated for 2026/27 with the gear we’re currently using and the lessons we’ve learned from several years of backpacking.
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How to Choose Your Backpacking Gear
If you keep these 3 things in mind when choosing your gear, it will help you narrow your choices down to make the right selections for you.
Choose Light Gear
The best way to choose your backpacking gear, is to find the lightest option that you can find that is within your budget. The way you are going to enjoy backpacking the most is by keep your bag as light as possible.
Consider Where and When You Will be Backpacking
The type of backpacking gear that you end up getting will greatly depend on what trips you will be taking. Where will you be going? What will the terrain be like? What will the weather and temperatures be like?
EG: You can get different temperature ratings of sleeping bags, tents are rated by season and different hiking boots can specialise in different types of terrain. These are just a few examples of how weather and location can affect how you choose your backpacking gear.
Set a Budget
If Dave and I have learnt anything from choosing our backpacking gear, we know that it is extremely easy to want to forget about our budget and just buy the best of the best.
If you set a budget in the beginning and try to stick to it as much as possible, this will help you narrow down what gear to get based on what is within your budget, the lightest possible and perfect for the type of backpacking you are going to be doing.
Our Backpacking Gear List
This is everything we currently have in our backpacking bags, including the backpacks themselves. I have also included some alternative options.
Tent
We now have Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ which is a SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT trekking pole tent, meaning you can use your trekking poles instead of tent poles. We got the 2+ so that Winnie can fit in with us.
This tent is ridiculously light and our friends are always shocked when they feel how light it is packed away. The only real downside is if you are staying somewhere for a few nights and want to use your trekking poles for day hikes but can’t because they are holding up the tent.
We also frequently still use our MEC Spark 2 / 2 person tent. This tent packs up pretty small and is very lightweight. We do find it pretty squishy with 2 people and if Winnie is with us it’s an even tighter squeeze. I love this tent because it’s very easy to put up and take down and is pretty tough. The Durston is quite delicate due to how lightweight it is.
Weight: 1.75kg
Price: CAD $599
Pack up size: 46 x 11cm
Pros
The tent is super small and can fit easily pretty much anywhere! We never have any issues in finding a camping spot in the backcountry.
Packing the tent away is super easy and it packs up very small.
Cons
It is a little squishy inside and Dave and I fit perfectly side by side but we can’t fit much else in there. Our bags go in the vestibules which is fine and we usually just have our clothes at our feet with a drink bottle.
There are only 2 small pockets at each head. There is none on the top of the tent so there is definitely less storage space inside.
This tent can only be purchased in Canada as it is MEC branded.
Recommended
MSR Hubba Hubba
Weight: 1.54kg
Price: CAD $690 / USD $549
Pack up size: 46 x 11cm
The MSR Hubba Hubba 2 person tent is really popular amongst backpackers and we see it everywhere we go. It is slightly more lightweight than the MEC Spark 2 and more roomy on the inside.
Backpacks
Choosing a backpack is a very personal choice because all our bodies are shaped differently. Dave has an Osprey Exos 58 L and I have a MEC Zephyr 65L Backpack.
MEC Zephyr 65L Backpack – Womens
Weight: 2kg
Price: CAD $329
I love this backpack! I find it really comfortable and actually used to have the Osprey Aura which is a very similar design, but I found the hip straps would bruise my hips after a couple of days backpacking, whereas the Zephyr has a softer hip belt.
Osprey Exos
Weight: 1.32kg
Price: CAD $329 / USD $285
If you aren’t wanting to break the bank but really keen for a lightweight backpack, the Osprey Exos is a great choice! Dave has had this backpack for a few years now and still love it.
Recommended
Hyperlite 3400 Southwest 55L Backpack – Unisex
Weight: White: 899g / Black: 980g
Price: USD $420
If we could go back in time and had the money for it, we would probably get the Hyperlite Southwest 55L Backpacks because of the savings in weight. You can get this backpack in white or black but the white one is the lighter of the two so I definitely recommend getting the white.
Sleeping Bags
I am a cold sleeper which lead me to my first ever backpacking sleeping bag being the Marmot Ouray -18C Women’s. I’m now going to tell you that this was overkill for the types of trips that we were doing in BC, Alberta and Washington State and I now have a much better suited sleeping bag which I am absolutely obsessed with.
It is the MEC Aphelion UL -7C Down Sleeping Bag. It is ultra lightweight and really squishes down to save a lot of space in my backpack.
Kerry’s old sleeping bag – Marmot Ouray -18C Womens
Weight: 1.74kg
Price: CAD $425
Temperature Rating: -18C / 0F
The Marmot Ouray is super warm and cozy and has kept me warm on snowy camping trips in the Fall as the weather has started to change. It is on the heavy side and does get a bit hot in Summer in the mountains.
Recommended
For cold sleepers like me, I recommend a -7C sleeping bag like the MEC Aphelion -7.
MEC Aphelion UL -7C Down Sleeping Bag
Weight: 700g
Price: CAD $639
Temperature Rating: -7C
This sleeping bag is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. It is made from high quality down (900+ fill power) which means it is nice and warm without the weight.
Sleeping Pads
Weight: 0.49kg
Price: CAD $259 / USD $210
Pack up Size: 8 x 3 in / 20 x 7.5 cm
We both have the same sleeping mats, the Nemo Tensor Insulated Regular Mummy. You can get these sleeping bags in a mummy shape which saves some weight, or in a wide version. We decided to save some weight so the above version is based on the mummy shape.
These sleeping mats are great! They pack up really small and are very lightweight. They are also super easy to inflate because they come with their own pump sack and are pretty quiet when it comes to crinkling.
Alternative options
Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT, Regular
Weight: 0.37kg
Price: CAD $289 / USD $219
Pack up Size: 9 x 4.1 in / 23 x 10 cm
This sleeping pad is the lightest insulated 3 season pad on the market, however it is prone to crinkling noises due to the insulation. It is more durable than the Nemo Tensor.
You can get the Therm-A-Rest sleeping pad in different sizes just like the Nemo.
Pillows
There are 2 different kinds of pillows that you can get. The first is a blow up pillow which is best for saving both weight and space in your backpack. The second pillow option is foamed based which is my favourite.
MEC Camp Pillow
Weight: 144g
Price: CAD 25
Pack up Size: 24 x 12 x 38cm
This is the foam pillow that I currently have and it is SO comfy! To pack it away, you fold it in half and stuff it in a stuff sack. You can get a similar one from REI here.
Sea To Summit Aeros Pillow
Weight: 79g
Price: CAD 65 / USD 69
Pack up Size: 34 x 24 x 11cm
This is a popular backpacking blow up pillow and both Dave and I have used these pillows for loads of backpacking trips.
Backpacking Gear – Smaller Accessories
Now that I’ve listed our big ticket items for backpacking, here are some of the smaller items that we always bring along with us. Some of these are 100% necessary and some just make the trip more comfortable.
Camp Shoes
Weight: 310g
Price: CAD 90 / USD 44
I didn’t invest in camp shoes until our second year living in Canada. Now I take my Tevas everywhere! The only downside is that if you step in water wearing them, the fabric straps do take a while to dry so you can’t then use them as camp shoes with socks. Otherwise they are the best!
The reason I chose the Tevas over Chacos or Birkenstocks was because they are lighter which is perfect for backpacking and actually work out to be a bit cheaper too!
Headlamps
A headlamp is a necessity on any camping trip. Without a headlamp, you will struggle to do anything after it gets dark.
We have both been using headlamps from Nitecore for years and they have been great! They have a different settings for brightness including red light options for when you are at camp so that you don’t blind anyone.
Therm-A-Rest Z-Seat SOL
Weight: 60g
Price: CAD 48 / USD 33
Pack up Size: 30 x 6 x 7 cm
This is an absolutely game changer when it comes to backcountry camping! The Therm-A-Rest Z-Seat SOL is a lightweight foam pad that makes sitting anywhere in the backcountry comfy!
GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug
A mug is a necessity on every backpacking trip. Whether you are a tea, coffee or hot chocolate drinker, having a mug adds a bit of luxury to your experience.
Long Spork
We use a long spork over a normal-sized fork or spoon because we always eat dehydrated meals for dinner and without a long spork, you would get very dirty hands because the packets are pretty deep.
Jetboil
If you speak to anyone who likes to camp, most of the time they will tell you they have a Jetboil. We actually don’t have a Jetboil. We have a much cheaper and super lightweight option from Amazon which you can find here.
Our stove is awesome because of how light and powerful it is, however it is quite delicate and some of the prongs have bent out of shape over the past couple of years of camping.
Water Filter
We use the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter System on all of our backpacking trips and it stops us from ever running out of drinking water!
Rab Puffer Jacket
I take my RAB Puffer with me whenever we are camping in the mountains. As soon as the sun goes down, the temperatures tend to drop so this jacket is a lifesaver!
Patagonia Fleece
Again, if we are camping up in the mountains, we usually will both bring our fleeces with us. My favourite and cosiest fleece is the Patagonia Los Gatos 1/4 Zip Fleece.
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