Getting into backpacking can seem a little overwhelming. The initial investment of accumulating all of your backpacking gear can be an expensive endeavor. However, once you have your gear, there are many trips that do not cost a penny beyond your gas to get to the trailhead and maybe a hot meal and a cold beer on your way home.

My best advice is do not cheap out. Quality gear and brands that stand behind their products are critical. The gear you purchase must be practical, effective, and stand up to the terrain and elements.  There are several brands – both large corporations and small cottage companies – that offer great products, but narrowing it down can feel like a task. I remember spending six hours in my living room trying to choose the best sleeping bag. Price played a factor, but so did temperature rating, down quality, weight, and the overall bag style. Needless to say, I used the bag I initially selected once and returned it because the traditional mummy fit was way too narrow for me and I felt trapped (shoutout to the REI membership). Personally, after hiking all day, I appreciate being able to stretch my legs when I cramp up in the middle of the night. However, I plan to cover sleeping bag considerations in an article to follow.  Long story short, even after spending hours upon hours researching, you may still get it wrong, but that is why I am creating this article and offering my advice to those who are the beginner(s) I once was.

I highly recommend seeking out an expert who can educate you on the products you are considering. Be sure to visit an outdoors store and touch and play with the products. Ask questions too. My boyfriend, Chris, and I started out by visiting a small, local outdoors store and connecting with the owner. He was the one to educate us on down vs. synthetic sleeping bags, hiking boots, packs and pack fit. We also visited a nearby REI and we’ve gotten friendly with one employee in particular who is just as passionate about backpacking as we are. He has a wealth of knowledge and geeks out over gear like we do. He has been extremely helpful in leading us to quality products based off of our personal needs & desires. These types of people are influential when you are still figuring it all out. I cannot emphasize how pivotal it is to talk with these types of people – heck, shoot me an email and I would be more than happy to offer you whatever insight I can.

Gear that I would suggest a beginner investing in would include the following:

1. Sleeping Bag
2. Pack
3. Insulated Sleeping Pad
4. Hiking boots or trail shoes (whatever your preference)
5. Waterproof or wicking/quick-dry layers (for those who are not fair-weather fans)
6. Rain fly (if your pack did not include one)
7. Down Jacket
8. Headlamp
9. Small backpacking stove (we use the MSR Pocket Rocket 2)
10. Trekking Poles
11. Tent or shelter
12. Wool Socks
13. Pot, mug & spknork (spoon, fork and knife in one)

Some brands that Chris and I recommend after a full season of backpacking include (in no particular order):

• Big Agnes (our tent)
• Nemo Equipment (our sleeping bags)
• MSR  (our stove and water filtration system)
• Black Diamond (our trekking poles)
• Marmot (my down jacket and hat)
• Feather Friends (Chris’ down jacket)
• Darn Tough (our wool socks)
• Smartwool (wool socks and apparel)
• Icebreaker (Chris’ wool leggings)
• Osprey (our packs & rain covers)
• Mountain Laurel Designs (Chris’ newest pack)
• Eno (our first hammocks)
• The North Face (our rain jackets, our trail sneakers, and Alli’s mid-weight leggings/tights)
• REI Co-Op (Alli’s wool long sleeve & synthetic long sleeve layers)
• Hummingbird Hammocks (Chris’ newest ultralight hammock)
• Z-Packs (Chris’ ultralight hammock shelter)
• Hammer Nutrition (trail food and soy-free protein bars)
• Pro Bar (GMO free trail food)
• Honey Stinger (trail snacks and energy foods)
• Snow Peak (our cookware)
• Petzl (our headlamps)
• Enlightened Equipment (Chris’ custom, ultra-light underquilt)
• Ruffwear (Raya’s dog gear)
• Vasque (our hiking boots)
• Brooks (Chris’ trail running shoes)
• Mountain Hardwear (Alli’s moisture wicking, quick-dry shorts)
• Helly Hansen (Alli’s moisture wicking, quick-dry shorts)
• Backpacker’s Pantry (most of our backpacking meals)
• Mountain House (we’ve enjoyed their mac and cheese backpacking meal)
• Appalachian Mountain Club (great resource for White Mountain trips – we love their guide books)
• Green Mountain Club (great resource for Green Mountain trips – check out The Long Trail Guide)

My final tip that I would like to pass along would be to consider the weight of everything you purchase. Remember, you are going to be carrying all of this gear on your back for an extensive amount of time. You can move easier and faster with less weight. Although it is not essential to be completely ultra-light, eliminating a couple ounces here and there – where you can – does add up. Also, usually after your first overnight, you quickly realize what you needed vs. what was totally unnecessary to bring. I know this from experience. I got the nickname “Allipaca” after our first overnight because I truly overpacked. I got nervous that I would be cold, underestimated how well my sleeping bag and outdoors specific clothing would keep me warm, and packed way too many layers. Needless to say, I’ve whittled down my load since and it has only gotten smaller and smaller. In this case, less is more!

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please feel free to shoot me an email with any questions or comments (fullscend@gmail.com).