Best Backpacking Gear Tips by Skeeter Sato

Ask an Adventure Leader is a writing series that gives our community an opportunity to learn from our Adventure Leaders' collective experience, expertise, and deepest excitements. This week, Skeeter (they/them) reflects on their evolving relationship to backpacking and gear. Skeeter’s blog also ends with an intro to a new series of reflections called Worth the Weight, where people in our community reflect on the extra things they might bring along on a trip, despite the weight, because of the ways they will ultimately enhance their experience.

When I was a sophomore in college, I took a job at my college’s gear closet because I couldn’t find anything else. It was a closet with a mountain of backpacks, tents, sleeping pads, surfboards, snorkel gear-- anything related to the outdoors, really. I was overwhelmed and intimidated. I had started hiking not too long before I got the job, and my only piece of “real” outdoor gear was a pair of old hiking shoes that my grandma got me five years prior. That all changed the moment I started rummaging through the gear closet and found myself mesmerized over a tiny MSR stove that could pack up smaller than a matchbox. 

Outdoor gear soon became an obsession of mine, a poison really, because half of my income always ended up in the REI shopping cart. I found myself actively trying to convince myself that I absolutely needed the miniature “hand washing leaves” that dissolve into soap when you pour water over it. I imagined myself in any and every situation possible; what if I was in the middle of the wilderness needing a pair of down booties because my socks weren’t enough? The truth is, however, half of what you think you need, you probably shouldn’t bring. And half of what you think you wouldn’t need, you probably would benefit from bringing. And many of those things don’t necessarily have to be expensive, they just have to be functional and light enough to go backpacking with. After many years of trying new ways to pack my bag, I present a list of my most (you don’t actually need but you might appreciate having) essential and affordable gear items and a few very non-essential items that may bring you some joy (which, in  a way, maybe makes them essential in a different way).

Duct Tape | Oh my goodness, the number of times I wished I had duct tape on my trips! It is a multi-functional, life saving, gear saving, and easily forgettable item. Whether you’re on a long hike and your shoe starts coming apart, or your tent has a rip in it, duct tape will always be there to help you. I like to wrap some around my water bottle, so that I never forget it.

Hiking Poles | Okay, I’m only 24-years-old, but believe me when I say that I have knee pain, ankles that sprain every other time I go backpacking, and a back that survived a 8 ft fall onto a pile of sharp rocks. Sometimes, my body feels like it’s nearing its 70’s, but when you love going outside so much, how the heck can you stop? When I dropped my ego, and started using hiking poles, my body was suddenly able to keep up with the mountains. Black Diamond and Leki undoubtedly make some of the best trekking poles, but if you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, check out the Montem Ultra Strong Trekking Poles. If you’re looking into something ultralight and durable, but pricier, I recommend the Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles.

Pillow | You don’t need a pillow, that’s for sure, but I definitely have a harder time getting a good night’s rest without one, especially when going on a multi-day trip. It doesn’t need to be a pillow, necessarily, but having a stuff sack (you can use the bag that your sleeping bag came in!) and putting some of your softest clothes inside makes a darn good pillow. But if you tend to get cricks in your neck, check out the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow if you’re wanting an inflatable, and extremely lightweight option. If you’re more towards comfort, but okay with a bit more weight, check out the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow.

Baby Wipes | Yes, I carry baby wipes on ALL of my trips. They smell good, they’re soft, they’re like pure gold after 7 days in the wilderness. I’m not too pressed on getting dirty outdoors, but sometimes your B.O. really catches up to you, and suddenly, the wafts of sweat, dirt, and many other unknown things rise up when you least expect it. Baby wipes are a life-changer. You can wipe your butt with them (much more comfy than toilet paper), clean your face after a long day, wipe down your whole body, and generally, feel cleaner and more refreshed. You can go get some good ol’ generic baby wipes at the store or get the fancy Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes (which are biodegradable and compostable). ALWAYS remember not to throw your wipes on the ground-- put them in a little ziplock or whatever you use to stash your trash-- no one wants to see your dirty little wipes on the ground, and can take up to a 100 years to biodegrade. LEAVE NO TRACE!

Vaseline | Vaseline is a multipurpose gem of an invention. Your dry lips will be craving it by Day 2, after clocking many hours out in the sun. You can use a light coat on your face and body too, especially when you feel as dry as Death Valley. But, the most incredible tip of all-- if you’re blister prone like me, Vaseline will save your soul. Rub some vaseline around the areas of your feet that tend to get blisters, put a thin sock on, and over that, a thicker, more durable sock. And that’s it! No more blisters, no more hot spots. In the case that you don’t have vaseline on you, however, you can use deodorant or baby powder as well. 

Board Games | I used to be an ultralight nerd-- meaning that I paid too much attention to the weight on my back, and went out with as little as possible. The idea of minimalism, in theory, is meaningful and makes sense. Wouldn’t you want to just be in nature without any distractions-- just you, the trees, some dehydrated food, and a one-pound tent? I started going down a rabbithole of trying to find the utmost featherlight equipment, such as a backpack without a backbone and an 8oz sleeping pad frame. I would cut my toothbrush in half to save weight, and bring a teaspoon of powdered toothpaste in a tiny ziploc bag. I would only bring one set of clothing (the clothing that I started my trip with) so that I didn’t have to pack clothing. Ultimately, I found myself buying more equipment and spending far too much money finding fragile gear that’d last no more than 3-4 backpacking trips. I also found myself running out of food, nearing hypothermia at night, and overall, uncomfortable while hiking. Most of all, I negated the “fun” items-- things like cards and games, because in my head, backpacking was serious, focused, and determined. Playing cards took away time and energy that I needed to hike the most efficiently the next day. I would go to bed earlier than others to avoid wasting energy. But it made me miserable. Backpacking can be and should be fun and exciting. I started to shift my mindset and let myself bring a few unnecessary items that could enhance my experience, not physically, but emotionally.

I started to bring a few games that I could play with a friend in a tent-- Mancala, Chess, waterproof UNO flip. Outside Inside sells a checker/chess board that slides well into a backpack, and isn’t necessarily going to weigh you down. They also have Backpacking Mancala, Connect 4, Cribbage, and Bocce Ball. Who knew you could have a field day in your tent?!

Long story short, there is a lot of creativity and flexibility on what you can/cannot bring backpacking. You will find a balance once you’ve gone out into the backcountry a few times, but I hope that a few of these suggestions make your trips a bit easier, more comfortable, and enjoyable.