If you’re getting ready to go hiking or backpacking, you will need to think about the backpacking gear to take with you. And if it is your first time to go backpacking, it’s best to stick with the basics. Make a list of the essential backpacking gear supplies you need and then go on from there. A good rule of thumb to remember is to pack light, which means it’s best to pack light or ultralight supplies. Backpacking involves hiking, miles and miles of walking, so you need to not be carrying too heavy a backpack; otherwise, you aren’t going to be able to go very far or even enjoy your backpacking trip. A normal load is a base weight of 20 pounds. If you can pack supplies totaling less than 20 pounds, the better.

Of course, you will need to consider your budget for your backpacking supplies. Since you’re a beginner in backpacking, you can’t really tell yet if backpacking is something you want to do a lot of in the future. Keep in mind that backpacking gear don’t come cheap, so budget-wise, you’ll do well to invest in inexpensive backpacking gear for now until you decide backpacking is an activity you want to be doing regularly.

So what backpacking gear do you need? You can classify backpacking gear in two general categories: the big backpacking supplies and the small backpacking supplies. The big supplies are going to take up most of the room in your backpack. They also are going to weight the most. The small supplies, on the other hand, you can fit into the nooks and crannies in your backpack.

Then there are your consumables — your water, food and anything else you will eat or use while you’re backpacking. These are things you can dispose of; they will take up space in your backpack initially, but as you use or consume them, they will reduce the weight you have to carry as you progress in your trip.

Your backpack, sleeping bag, shelter (tent) and clothing are your big backpacking gear. Your backpack is what’s going to hold all of your supplies, so it needs to be big enough. Also, it should be comfortable for you to carry. How big a backpack should you carry? It depends on your trip. If your backpacking trip is short, a small backpack is adequate. If your trip is going to be longer, it means you will need to bring more backpacking supplies, and thus, your backpack needs to be bigger. Many backpackers buy a few different sized backpacks that they can use depending on how long their trips are.

As for your shelter, this is typically a tent, but this depends on where you are backpacking and what time of the year it is. It may be that a tarp or screened tent is sufficient. Sometimes, you may be able to get by without taking a tent with you. However, it’s a good idea to check with the weather service if you can go without a tent. At the least, take a ground cover or sleeping pad with you.

Sleeping bags, pads and liners comprise your sleeping gear. As you can imagine, this backpacking sleeping gear can be the bulkiest, so it pays to find out what you will need to bring with you based on the weather conditions. You may or may not bring clothing with you, but again, this all depends on the weather conditions. If you are backpacking during the colder months of the year, pack caps, wool socks, parka, windbreaker and long underwear.

Small, but essential backpacking gear include kitchen items (e.g., camp stove, matches, nesting pans, fuel), a flashlight and a map.