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Last year I went on my first backpacking trip. I loved and hated it in equal measure. (We got rained on, hailed on, and chased off a ridge by a thunderstorm!) As soon as we finished, I swore I was never doing that again, and in the same breath started planning what I wanted to do differently! (You can read about my trip on the Skyline trail here.) Here is my first time backpacking gear: what worked and what didn’t list, so you can learn from my mistakes!
What Worked:
Tent:
Far and away my favorite piece of gear I’ve purchased. I spent hours agonizing over choices, researching, and comparing before I bought this. I wanted a 2 person tent that I could take backpacking. So I wanted under 5lbs, with a bit of headspace, and very high quality. Boy did this tent exceed expectations! The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 person tent has gone backpacking and camping with me for the last two years. I’ve gotten rained on every time. I’ve been dry and comfy in my tent every time. Super easy to set up, with clever pockets, and a hammock in the top for stashing important items, this is a very well thought out tent for a reasonable price! The link is for the exact tent I bought.
Sleeping Bag:
I bought this sleeping bag on sale. It was a slight impulse purchase, as I had done lots of research and knew what criteria I wanted my sleeping bag to meet. So when I was out shopping with a friend at an outdoor retailer and saw this on sale I knew it was a good deal. My Marmot Women’s Trestles 30 sleeping bag has a comfort rating down to -1 celsius, meaning you won’t freeze.
I can say that if you are sharing a two person tent and wearing a warm base layer, you will be comfy down to 0 celsius. However, if you are sleeping in a two person tent by yourself in the same base layer, when it gets down to 0 celsius you are going to want an extra blanket or maybe a sleeping bag liner. This sleeping bag weighs 3lbs and packs down relatively small. This is by no means an ultra light sleeping bag, however in August in the Canadian mountains it can and will go down to freezing at night. This bag is so worth the extra weight considering the price.
Pillow:
Best $20 I’ve spent! This Trekology pillow came recommended by several backpacking youtubers. I used it on my last camping trip and hot damn! So much easier and more comfortable than a stuff sack full of clothes. Hear me out. I have a mummy style sleeping bag, meaning that the hood is small, and this pillow fits perfectly. This means I can zip my bag all the way up and even pull my hood down if it’s chilly. It packs down to about the size of my fist, and is super light. Also easy to clean which is a bonus. Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference!
Base Layers:
I am always cold. I sleep cold, and I hate it. So I packed my Helly Hansen merino wool base layers to sleep in. I was pretty toasty and very comfy. I was happy to have dry, warm clothing for sleeping in as our trip was pretty cold and wet! Never underestimate the power of good wool layers to keep you happy!
What Didn’t Work:
Raincoat:
First failure on my list of backpacking gear: what worked and what didn’t. My raincoat on the backpacking trip was a poor choice. It’s replacement however has worked beautifully on several hiking trips so I’m including the link here. Story time! I had taken my marmot raincoat which I bought a couple years ago on the trip with me. I thought “It’s waterproof, it will do!” Well let me tell you, waterproof coating is not the same as waterproof material! So my new coat is a Helly Hansen womens Loke jacket. It’s waterproof, seam sealed, and packs down into it’s own pocket. I haven’t taken it backpacking yet, but I have worn it doing some hikes in complete downpours, so I’m very confident it will do the trick!
Sleeping Pad:
My sleeping pad. Now to be fair I love mine, it just isn’t made for backpacking, and I knew it. Now that I know I love backpacking and plan on going multiple times next summer, I’m ready to invest in a lightweight sleeping pad. My next purchase is going to be the MEC VectAIR insulated sleeping pad. From my research it’s insulated enough (R value of 5 meaning its 3 season) and light enough (580 grams for the regular length) and only costing $160 CAD. Sounds like a good choice to me! Here’s the link.
Waterproofing:
Someone on youtube said not to worry about a rain cover or dry sacks, just to line my backpack with a garbage bag to keep things dry. Seemed like a logical money saving hack right? NOPE! On our three day trip, it rained for two consecutive days. My pack itself ended up gaining so much weight in water by the end of the hike that I felt like I was carrying double what I started with! Now the important stuff like my sleeping bag was still dry, but my hoodie that I kept in the top for easy access? Soaking wet!
So I’ve already invested in a rain cover for my pack, and a few dry bags for keeping the important stuff dry! This link is for one of the three brands of dry bags that I’m getting ready to test out. The other ones are from the dollar store! While they seem pretty trustworthy (I dunked them in the tub with paper in them LOL) I will be keeping my electronics like my cellphone and power bank in the Sea to Summit dry bag until further testing has been done!
That is my list of backpacking gear: what worked and what didn’t. Hopefully the lessons I learned and the thorough research I’ve done will save you some trouble, and some money! I firmly believe in buying quality gear that doesn’t break the bank. I want my pack to be light, while still having some comforts, and to enjoy my trips no matter what the weather brings. What goes on your list of backpacking gear: what worked and what didn’t? Comment on the post or send us a message on facebook or instagram!