More than perhaps any other outdoor activity, backpacking rewards the efficient packer and punishes the overpacker. After all, you will have to live with—and carry—every decision you make.

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This list is focused on a three-season, three- to five-day outing, but when packing always plan against the highest high and the lowest low temperatures you'll encounter. It'll protect you from spending a miserably cold night out in the woods, give you a bit more of that oh-so-precious pack space, and save your back.

It's also good to compartmentalize when packing by putting similar items in individual bags. Keeping all your food in one place will save your from leaving an errant energy bar behind when prepping your bear bag (to say nothing of preventing a bear mauling), and putting things like flashlights, matches, and your multi-tool together will help you quickly locate what you need. Also, let things do double duty. For example, a sleeping bag stuff sack or tent sack can make the perfect bear bag.

Trail Food Thru-hikers never stop talking about food. We relive our finest food indulges at every turn, and plan in detail what food is to be eaten at the next town. After eating dehydrated meals and dried fruit for a week or more, sitting down in a restaurant to a hot meal is a near-religious experience. Soda, burgers, beer, ice cream, fries, chips, pretty much anything within arms reach is inhaled with little recourse. Even half-eaten meals on a neighboring table draw a thru-hikers gaze. How can they just throw out those fries? Road crossings with known ice cream parlors or restaurants nearby are quickly hitchhiked, which trail magic can proffer free food in coolers—which then leads to some truly odd concoctions. My hiking buddy once inhaled a mixture of Cheetos and tuna with an ear-to-ear grin and moans of delight. Weeks later I watched him eat a banana with a nutty bar and peanut butter on a flour tortilla. —TG

The Basics

• Backpack (3,000 to 5,000 cubic inches)
• Sleeping bag (rated to 20 to 50F)
• Sleeping pad
• Two-person tent/tarp

Eating and Drinking

• 2 one-liter water bottles
• Water purification (filter, iodine, or bleach)
• Stove and fuel
• Wind screen (to protect the stove flame, constructed out of aluminum foil)
• Pot/pan with lid
• Waterproof matches and lighter
• Cup or mug
• Lightweight bowl and spoon
• Multi-tool or utility knife
• Scraper for cleaning pot

Clothing

• Trail-running shoes or hiking boots (broken in and waterproofed)
• Sandals and fleece socks or lightweight camp shoes
• Wool socks
• Sock liners*
• Synthetic long-underwear bottoms and tops
• Synthetic shorts or convertible pants
• Underwear
• Synthetic/wicking t-shirt
• Rain/wind jacket and pants
• Wool or fleece jacket (or vest if warmer)
• Wool or fleece hat*
• Wool/fleece gloves or mittens*
• Bandanna
• Gaiters*

Accessories

• Directions, trail map, or guidebook
• Headlamp
• Toilet paper in Ziploc bag
• Plastic potty trowel
• Extra Ziploc/trash bags
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• First-aid kit (Band-Aids/bandages, Aspirin, antiseptic wipes, poison ivy treatment such as CORTAID® Treatment Kit, moleskin, tweezers)
• Pack rain cover or garbage bag
• Bear-bagging cord

Optional Items

• Trekking poles
• Sun/rain hat
• Sunglasses
• Journal and pen
• Camera, film
• Ground cloth
• Duct tape
• Watch
• Whistle
• Small strainer (for filtering food particles while cleaning dishes)

Special Considerations

• Women: bring a few tampons even if you aren't expecting to need them; backpacking can do weird things to your cycle.
• Contact lens wearers: bring solution and back-up glasses

*Indicates optional/depending on climate and geography