Hello Everyone!
Today’s post is regarding the most stressful part of anyone’s trip: The dreaded PACK LIST. Whether it's a day trip, or a two week trek, knowing what to pack and how to pack it can make or break your adventure! This will be a very detailed description of everything you need with a more compact list at the bottom.
CARRYING YOUR GEAR:
First, let’s start with packs.
My personal ‘rule of thumb', so to speak, is;
Fanny Pack- local hike (less than two hours)
15-30L Back Pack- 3-8 hour hike
35-55L Pack- weekend hiking trip with at least one other person
55- 65L Pack- weekend solo camp trip
55-65L Pack- more than 2 days with at least one other person
70-75L Pack- more than 2 days solo
The difference in pack sizes for solo trip vs group trip is simply that the communal items can be spread out between everyone going in a group trip, whereas on a solo trip you have to carry everything you might need yourself.
OVERNIGHTS:
In terms of sleep gear for a solo trip, all you need is a 1-2 person lightweight tent. For a group trip I recommend a 2:1 scale for tents (2 people fit a 4 person tent comfortably and so on).
Lightweight tents are very easy to get online but you want to make sure they truly are light weight. Some tents show up in the lightweight categories but can weigh almost 20 pounds! My ideal weight for a 2 person tent is 4-5 pounds, and for a 4 person is 5-6 pounds.
One other thing to consider is the fly. I prefer to get 3-4 season tents so the fly comes right down on them (less chance of rain coming in).
Now for sleeping bags… Whether you chose a mummy sleeping bag or envelope is really personal preference. I do recommend getting a sleeping bag with a hood, regardless of what style you prefer, so that you can pull the bag around your face if it gets cold. There are more options in mummy style sleeping bags for colder temperatures, simply because it is easier to manufacture that style for heat retention.
I also recommend bringing a liner or small, lightweight, and compact blanket for your sleeping bag in case it gets a bit cooler than what you think it will be. This can also be nice for feeling cuddly by the fire!
Now for what you're sleeping on... The best way to ensure a good trip (besides packing well) is to arrange for a good sleep. There are so many different sleep systems available now you can essentially pick any style and colour scheme you want!
Personally, I like a blow up air mat and a foam pad. These can be found online, or in most adventure stores, for any where from $40 to $120. I’ve had a $40 air mat work just as well as an $80 one for short trips.
For long trips I recommend investing a bit. The foam pad underneath is personal choice. As long as it’s a soft or sandy area and relatively flat you probably only need one or the other. I have a knack for picking the sites and sleeping areas with the largest number of roots and rocks, regardless of how good it looks when the tent goes down, so I use both.
Pillow options are endless. My dad brings a pillow case and stuffs it full of his clothing or uses his pack. My sister uses an air pillow and I prefer either an air pillow or a small travel pillow. Pretty much anything goes as long as you are comfortable.
CLOTHING:
If you are going for a weekend trip only pack one warm outfit and one cold outfit. I promise that is all you need! For a few days to a week, or so, I pack 2 cold outfits and 2 warm outfits. Beyond that I bring extra undergarments, a hoodie or pullover, extra socks, a hat, a lightweight packable rain coat, a warm hat, a swim suit or two, and a packable winter coat (depending on the time of year).
TREKKING GEAR:
Walking/trekking gear really depends more on the terrain that you will be facing than anything else. For my home province of Ontario, you definitely need good hiking boots the further north you go. (Many people like to use trekking poles as well.) The further south you go, it gets a bit sandier so you can get away with just hiking shoes in some of those areas.
Bear bells, flashlights, and compasses are a must regardless of a day trip or overnight! Bears are coming further into more populated areas as we encroach on their habitat but they want to avoid us as much as possible so if they know you are coming they will stay out of your way. That applies to most larger animals, not just bears.
A compass is a necessity, unless you know the trail extremely well. Don’t rely on your phone for anything! Using your phone in the woods without any service will drain the battery quickly because it will keep trying to find a place to connect to. Always keep a real compass and flashlight with you.
CAMPING/HIKING WITH FOOD:
For eating on the trail/site I recommend a lightweight stove that uses clear fuel so you can leave the smallest carbon footprint possible. My family uses an MSR stove system and they work super well, as well as lasting way longer than propane. Most of the stoves this style weigh next to nothing so they are great for cutting down on extra pack weight. Plus, you can reuse the containers afterwards! There are several brands that will work just as well. The MSR is just my personal preference.
For hiking odds and ends you always need a clean source of water. If your only out for a bit then normally a hefty, BPA free bottle can hold you over but for full day trips or overnights you need a water purification system. I use a gravity water filter. You fill the dirty bag with water from whatever body of water you are near and attach the hose and filter. The clean water bag will fill up while you set up camp or grab a bite to eat. I also take water purification tabs with me and a life straw water bottle, or straw, just to be safe. Staying hydrated is essential and most water sources carry the possibility of beaver fever, even if they appear clean.
Bug spray is a need if you go during the warm weather. I have found that Deep Woods bug spray works well and guards against ticks.
Another priority is a first aid kit. I like to build onto mine for the area I’m going to and pack in some extra allergy meds, hydrocortisone creams, hand warmers and calamine lotion.
One more that people always forget is toilet paper! Don't forget that. Just don't.
If you’re staying overnight, I love my lantern that doubles as a bug zapper, my camping hammock, yeti mug, small plate, utensils, lightweight pot and pan set, portable charger, and a head lamp. Anything else you can find in my list below!
You learn to perfect your pack the more you go out. I prefer to bring a knife and a collapsible saw, whereas some people prefer a hatchet and knife.
Some people bring bear spray as well but I have always been told if you can be close enough to use bear spray properly you can just use bug spray or anything else that will irritate the eyes, because at that point you are already in deep trouble!
I also like to bring lots of rope to use as a clothing line, tarp line, hammock string, bear barrel pulley, pack tie, and even fire starter!
Prepare in advance! Hiking and camping are activities that require more than grabbing your wallet and jumping in the car. They use items that most of us are not using on a daily basis. Packing takes time to do properly, especially if you are checking items for necessary repairs and organizing well so you know where to reach for an item in a pinch.
We had one family of first time campers who were going into the bush for 3 nights. It was a group trip and they were the last ones to be picked up at around 3:30 am. As soon as the ride arrived, they began racing around grabbing all their gear. You can imagine how well that went over with the campers who were prepared in advance and standing there with blood shot eyes watching this unfold. Furthermore, once in the bush the list of forgotten items from this family was endless, so everyone else was constantly choosing between sharing their items or watching these people struggle, not keep up, or freeze, depending on the situation. In the end, the leader had to hand over his jacket to prevent the weakest one from becoming hypothermic, and then paddle his guts out in a cold driving rain to try and keep his own body temperature up.
PACK LIST:
Clothing:
-Sweater/Hoodie
-Shirts
-Socks
-Pants
-Shorts
-Undergarments
-Swim Suit
Outerwear:
-Rain Coat
-Winter Coat (optional)
-Hiking boots or shoes
-Hat
-Toque
-Rain pants (optional)
Sleeping Gear
-Sleeping Bag
-Tent
-Small Blanket (optional)
-Foam Sleeping Pad (optional)
-Air or Self Inflating Sleeping Mat
-Lantern
-Pillow
Food Gear:
-Pots and Pans Set
-Water Filter
-Water Bottle
-Water Tabs
-Plate/Bowl
-Mug
-Fork and Spoon
-Biodegradable Dish Soap
Misc:
-Hammock (optional)
-Sunscreen
-Pack
-Compass
-Knife
-Microfibre Towel
-Wash Cloth
-Biodegradable Body Wash, Shampoo, and Conditioner
-Camp Shower (optional)
-Book (optional)
-Flashlight
-Toilet Paper
-Mio/Gatorade/Nuun (some type of electrolytes)
-Fire Starter
-First Aid Kit
-Tarp
-Flip Flops/Water Shoes (optional)
-Map
-Emergency blanket x2
-Stool/chair (optional)
-Stove and Fuel
-Matches and Lighter
-Portable Charger and Cords.
-Aloe and Afterbite
-Rope
-Headlamp and Flashlight
-Bear Bell
-Bear Barrel or Bear Bag
-Bug Spray
-Feminine Products
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