Backpacking
Carry everything you need on your back and spend nights in places no road can reach.
Starting backpacking will cost you $200 – $1,000. Here's the real breakdown.
Is Backpacking Right for You?
- Physical demands are real: You'll carry 20-35 lbs for miles over uneven terrain. You don't need to be an athlete, but basic cardiovascular fitness and healthy knees make a huge difference. Start with shorter trails (3-5 miles to camp).
- You need access to trails: Great backpacking requires driving to trailheads, which often means 1-3 hours from cities. National forests and state parks are the most accessible starting points. Popular trails in national parks may require permits months in advance.
- Weather dependency: Backpacking is seasonal in most of the US. Spring through fall is the primary season. Winter backpacking exists but requires significantly more gear, experience, and risk tolerance.
- Comfort tolerance required: You'll sleep on the ground, eat simple food, use backcountry toilets (or dig your own), and deal with bugs, rain, and temperature swings. If you've never camped at all, try car camping first.
- Solo or social: Backpacking works both ways. Solo trips are meditative and flexible. Group trips split weight (one person carries the stove, another the water filter). Many people start with a friend or through meetup groups like local hiking clubs.
🟢 Budget Tier — "Just Try It"
| Item | Recommended Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tent (2-person) | Naturehike CloudUp 2 | $80 |
| Sleeping Bag (20°F) | Kelty Cosmic 20 | $80 |
| Sleeping Pad | Klymit Static V | $35 |
| Backpack (58L) | Osprey Exos 58 | $90 |
| Water Filter | Sawyer Squeeze | $35 |
| Stove (ultralight canister) | BRS-3000T | $20 |
Total: ~$340
This setup gets you through 3-season overnighters comfortably. The Naturehike CloudUp 2 weighs about 3.5 lbs and handles rain well — it's the best value tent in backpacking right now. The Kelty Cosmic 20 is a synthetic sleeping bag rated to 20°F, which covers spring through fall in most regions. The Klymit Static V is an inflatable pad that packs small and insulates you from cold ground far better than a foam pad. The Sawyer Squeeze is the backpacking water filter standard — reliable, lightweight, and cheap to maintain. The BRS-3000T stove weighs just 25 grams and boils water for dehydrated meals. You'll also need a fuel canister ($6), a pot ($15 for a basic aluminum one), and a headlamp ($20 for a Petzl Tikkina), but many people already own these items.
🟡 Sweet Spot Tier — "I'm Committed"
| Item | Recommended Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tent (ultralight 2P) | Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 | $350 |
| Sleeping Bag (30°F down) | REI Co-op Magma 30 | $200 |
| Sleeping Pad (insulated) | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT | $200 |
| Backpack (60L) | Granite Gear Crown2 60 | $150 |
| Stove System | Jetboil MiniMo | $135 |
| Headlamp | Black Diamond Spot 400 | $40 |
| Trekking Poles | Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Poles | $45 |
| Water Filter | Sawyer Squeeze | $35 |
Total: ~$1,155
The jump in price here is mostly about weight reduction and comfort. The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is the most popular ultralight tent on the market — it weighs just over 2 lbs and packs down tiny. A down sleeping bag like the Magma 30 cuts weight nearly in half compared to synthetic, and the NeoAir XLite NXT is the gold standard sleeping pad: warm, comfortable, and under a pound. Trekking poles are a genuine upgrade — they reduce knee impact by 25-30% on descents and help with stability on rough terrain. The Jetboil MiniMo adds simmer control and a built-in heat exchanger, making it much more versatile than the bare-bones BRS stove. At this tier, your base weight drops to around 12-15 lbs, which opens up longer, more ambitious trips.
🔴 All-In Tier — "I'm Obsessed"
| Item | Recommended Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tent (Dyneema) | Zpacks Duplex | $600 |
| Quilt (20°F 850-fill down) | Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 | $310 |
| Sleeping Pad (insulated) | Nemo Tensor Insulated | $180 |
| Ultralight Pack (68L) | ULA Circuit | $275 |
| Stove | MSR PocketRocket Deluxe | $55 |
| Satellite Communicator | Garmin inReach Mini 2 | $350 |
| Water Filter | Katadyn BeFree 1L | $45 |
| Trekking Poles (carbon) | Gossamer Gear LT5 | $155 |
Total: ~$1,970
This is thru-hiker and ultralight enthusiast territory. The Zpacks Duplex uses Dyneema Composite Fabric — the same material used in racing sails — and weighs just 19 oz for a 2-person shelter. A quilt replaces a traditional sleeping bag, saving weight by eliminating the insulation under you (your pad handles that). The ULA Circuit is a frameless ultralight pack designed for base weights under 15 lbs. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 adds genuine safety — SOS capability, two-way texting, and weather reports where there's no cell service. At this level, your base weight can drop below 10 lbs, which means you cover more miles with less fatigue. This gear is also made to last through a 2,000+ mile thru-hike on the AT or PCT.
Skip This
- Cotton clothing. Cotton absorbs moisture, takes forever to dry, and loses all insulating properties when wet. In cold conditions, wet cotton can contribute to hypothermia. Wear synthetic or merino wool base layers instead.
- Heavy camp stove or dutch oven. Car camping cookware has no place in a backpack. A simple canister stove and a single pot handles every meal you'll make on trail. Save the cast iron for the campground.
- Full-size pillow. Stuff your fleece or puffy jacket into a stuff sack. That's your pillow. A $40 camping pillow is dead weight. If you really want one, inflatable pillows weigh 2-3 oz.
- Solar charger panel. They're heavy, fragile, and barely charge in tree cover. A 10,000 mAh power bank ($20, 6 oz) will keep your phone alive for a 3-4 day trip. Solar panels only make sense for week-long expeditions.
- Bear canister (unless required). Many popular trails require them, but most don't. An Ursack or a proper bear hang with a stuff sack and paracord works for most backcountry camping. Check regulations before buying a $75 canister you might not need.
Borrow or Rent First
REI rents backpacking-specific tents, packs, and sleeping bags at most locations. A full weekend rental kit costs $50-80 and includes the Big Three. This is the smartest way to try backpacking without committing $300+. Many outdoor clubs (Sierra Club local chapters, university outing clubs, Meetup groups) organize group trips where gear is shared or available to borrow. If you have friends who backpack, ask to join them on an overnight — experienced backpackers almost always have spare gear accumulating in their closets. Your first trip should be a one-night, short-distance outing to test whether you enjoy sleeping outdoors before you invest in your own kit.
What to Expect in Your First 3 Months
Your first overnight will teach you more than any gear review. You'll pack too much, your shoulders will ache, and you'll probably sleep poorly. That's normal. The second trip is dramatically better — you'll know what to leave behind, how to adjust your pack straps, and what your actual comfort needs are. By month two, aim for a 2-night trip where you cover 6-10 miles per day. You'll dial in your food system (dehydrated meals are convenient but get boring — learn to supplement with tortillas, cheese, and summer sausage). Month three is when you start planning bigger trips — maybe a section of a long trail, or a loop in a national forest. Most beginners find their pack weight drops 5-10 lbs between their first and fifth trip just from learning what they actually use. You'll also discover your personal priorities: some people optimize for comfort (better pad, real pillow), others for weight, and others for cooking variety. There's no wrong approach.