What's in my backpack
In case you are curious what is the gear I use for my backcountry overnight trips, here are the contents of my backpacking bag
I thought it could be useful to have all of my gear in one place - with pictures and models of everything. I'm also planning on writing about my experience with different items and will be adding links to review posts on this page!
If you're looking for a backpacking checklist of what to pack in a more copy-friendly format - check out this blog post and feel free to copy and modify it to your needs.
I divided the items to categories, similarly in how they appear in my packing list, so it's easier to navigate.
⛺️ Shelter
Since I've made some updates to my sleeping system in 2021, I'm happy to report it works much better than in 2020! Read My backpacking sleeping system (sucks) blog post to learn about the problems I had last year and the newer My sleeping system doesn't suck anymore - to see how the updates have affected the quality of my sleep in the backcountry.
Also, I have a separate post about my tent and my experience with it - Nemo Dragonfly 2P review or How I broke it twice. As you might see, not everything goes smooth in the backcountry 😅 but the better you are prepared, the more you will enjoy it regardless!
Nemo Dragonfly 2 Tent
Weight: 1.41kg
Packed size: 12 x 50cm (but I pack the poles separately, and the tent fits horizontally in the backpack)
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm Max WV Sleeping Pad
Weight: 640g
Packed size: 28 cm x 11 cm
R-value: 6.9
DIY camping pillow
I bought some baby pillowcase from Amazon and filled it wil excess memory foam pieces from my actual pillow
MEC Delphinus -9C Down Sleeping Bag Women's
Weight: 1.21kg
MEC now have a new version of it, and looks like the old one was discontinued.
DIY tent footprint
I use it when I'm not concerned about the weight.
Grand Trunk Abrigo Rainfly
To have a shelter while cooking on a rainy day. Useful on a multi day adventures when you are at the merci of the weather.
🎒 Bags
Salomon Trailblazer 20L Pack
Became my favorite day pack, including as a day pack while backpacking. It has a bunch of pockets and a proper hip belt.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover - Large
Does the job and is big enough for my fully loaded backpack with stuff strapped on the sides.
Osprey Aura 65 Backpack
Weight: 1.93kg
Capacity: 65l
Great pack overall, although sometimes it's too hard on my hips...
Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack - Medium
I use it to pack sleeping bag and clean clothes.
Weight: 148g
Capacity: 14l
🍳 Kitchen
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Mini Stove Kit
The cooking set. But I have since accidentally melted the plastic pot ☹️
Sea To Summit X-Mug
See on vpo.ca
Platypus Big Zip EVO Reservoir
This thing is solid, had to replace the stiff mouthpiece though.
Sawyer PointOne Squeeze water filter system + plastic bottle
Sawyer filter is compatible with regular bottles. The pouches might leaking a little bit, but it's still usable.
Saltstick Caps Electrolyte Replenisher
The pill that gets me going!! Electrolyte capsules, great on hot days and for intense hiking. Help to mitigate low energy, bad mood and pain that is resulting from insufficient salts in the body.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 stove
Packs ridiculously small
MSR ignitor
Saves gas in regular lighter
Sea To Summit Alpha Light Long Spork
Convinient to eat the pouch meals.
MSR IsoPro Canister Fuel, 110g
See on mec.ca
Some random thick microfiber cloth
I use it on longer trips as it takes more space than the Mountain Warehouse towel.
Mountain Warehouse small towel
Mountain Warehouse 15l dry bag
The food bag. I tried 8l before, turned out to be too small
🗺 Safety
Sabre bear spray canister 🐻
Because we're in a bear country here 😄
Zoleo satellite communicator
Because there's no service in the mountains 🤷🏽♀️
Kodiak Bear Spray Holster 225g
For when I hike completely alone in remote wilderness in grizzly territory - got this for Assiniboine trip. Makes bear spray extra accessible.
Black Diamond headlamp (possibly Cosmo)
Emergency blanket
Repair kit: duct tape + plastic ties
Because things do break 😑
Emergency misc kit
Water treatment tablets, headlamp batteries, vaseline, tampons, knife, lighter
First aid kit
Whistle
🥾 Clothing
Smartwool and other merino socks
Brooks shorts with pockets
Some dry fit tshirt
La Sportiva Bushido II Gore-Tex Trail Running Shoes
Salewa Alpenviolet Mid Gore-Tex Light Hiking Boots
Best hiking shoes I've ever had. Couldn't find a replacement that is as good.
Sunday Afternoons VaporLite Rush Visor
This visor became my favorite as it is crazy lightweight and super packable
Random sports bra
I have a bunch of these. Wide straps are key - won't dig into your shoulders.
Injinji Liner Crew Coolmax Socks
Tried the hyped toe socks. Can't say I was blister free although maybe it would've been worse without them.
Some leggings with pockets
Arc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody
Warm and amazingly lightweight
Salomon beanie
Z-Trail EV Sandals
Got them for summer adventures and wow, such a versatile piece of gear! I use them for light hiking and paddle boarding.
Extra thick merino wool socks for sleeping
Arc'teryx Rho AR zip neck - Womens
I swear by this thing. So warm and comfy. I sleep in it, sometimes hike in it and wore it a lot for general outdoor outings.
Arc'teryx Rho LT Bottoms - Womens
📸 Photography
Peak Design aluminum travel tripod
This thing is an engineering masterpiece
Nikon Z6II Mirrorless camera
Finally I have a camera with wifi and can see the self portraits I shoot! Also great stabilization and low light performance. The auto focus is annoyingly slow though.
Nikon Z 17-28mm 2.8 lens
Wide angle lens - great for stuffing a whole lake in your frame
Nikon Z 24-200mm 4-6.3 lens
This one gives some zoom and background compression on the longer focal length.
Nikon circular polarizer filter II
Cuts on reflections - great for shooting water. Also makes pics less hazy and more saturated on a sunny or overcast days. Idk why I went so many years without it.
🛠 Miscellaneous
Therm-A-Rest Z Seat
A super versatile butt pad
Black Diamond Trail Trek Poles - Women's
For steeper trails/hiking with huge backpack
All Powers power bank + lightning cable
Pretty heavy, but I haven't found anything lighter with comparable capacity. This thing can last a whole 5 day trip.
Hillsound Trail Crampon
These are great. Took them to Hollyburn, didn't slip! Also their baggy is very durable.
Hillsound Armadillo LT gaiters
For hiking in muddy/snowy conditions
🧻 Personal
Tushi travel bidet
Can't phantom my life without a bidet
Toiletries kit + Sea To Summit biodegradable soap + mini sponge
And creams to care for my face
Alcogel clipped to the backpack
Watkins Great Outdoors Mosquito Repellent Lotion
Toilet paper in a ziplock bag
Better have too much than not enough
Tissue pack
For my constant runny nose :(
Mountain Warehouse travel towel
Trowel
Tbh I've almost never used it because all BC campgrounds have pit toilets.
I have also decided to include here the items I have replaced and no longer use, so you have some ideas for cheaper/simpler alternatives and what the compromises are.
Salewa Alp Mate Mid PTX
Didn't hold my feet in place properly.
Mammut Ducan High GTX - Womens
Didn't like these boots. My foot kept sliding forward and thumbs hitting the end of the shoe. They are very stiff so couldn't lace them in a way that would prevent my feet from sliding.
Some cotton socks with cushion
I hiked in them when I first started but replaced them with wool blend socks.
Microspikes from dollar store
These are def better than nothing while it's icy, but they don't work on steep slopes, so replaced them with more serious stuff.
MEC Aquanator pants
I came to a conclusion that rain pants is not what I need. It is very very rare for me to hike in the rain for a long time, and even if it happens, these pants don't breathe at all, so I would end up wet anyway. What I did need is pants you can slip on shorts when it gets chilly, but still suitable for hiking.
Mountain Warehouse rain pants
They weren't very comfortable, had some weird net layer inside... But they did work a few times as "put over a short" pant when it got chilly.
Some random zip neck
Tbh it wasn't that bad, just a bit large for me.
Mountain Warehouse fleece zip neck
Used it for sleeping in my first backpacking trips. Actually quite warm, but not breathable like at all.
Random fleece leggings
I used them to sleep in when I first started backpacking, but the Arcteryx ones are def warmer.
Mountain Warehouse fleece
I do still use it on trips as it is warm and versatile, but not for hiking/backpacking as it's not that packable.
Arc'teryx Zeta SL Jacket
I used it for years and it was wonderful. It started having some discoloration on the front and Arcteryx kindly offered credit for returning it.
Buff visor
It actually is great, but I found one that is even lighter and more flexible.
A random cotton hat
Doesn't dry that fast and I was looking for a visor to be able to have my hair up in a ponytail
The pillow I use at home
...but without the foam filling. It had this layer of down filling and I took it on backpacking trips after I figured that my sleep won't be great without a pillow.
Mountain Warehouse water reservoir
It was small and leaked from the top sometimes.
A lens bag from Ali Express
I have eventually sewn a camera bag that straps to the backpack on the front, so didn't need it anymore.
Some camera bag from Ali Express
Replaced with my MYOG camera bag too
Some small tripod
It didn't really hold my camera at all so...
MEC Travel Light Daypack 16
It is actually a great one, but since I always carry a tripod with me, I needed something with hip belt that won't kill my shoulders.
Some random rain cover
I wasn't waterproof. Like, at all.
All of these pics make me wonder how I manage to fit everything into my backpack and carry it anywhere 😂
Read about 5 items that made a difference to my outdoor experience to find out which pieces of gear I especially love.
Let me know if you would like to get more info about a particular item!
Cheers,
Oless
