Backcountry camping (aka backpacking) is a great experience that allows you to connect with nature, challenge yourself, and explore new places. Whether you are planning your first backpacking trip, or your third thru-hike, having the right navagation tools can make a big difference in your journey. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the best navagation tools and apps to have before embarking on your backcountry journey.
While the idea of exploring new trails may seem expensive- it is absolutely possible to backpack on a budget. In this article, we’ll go over some of my favorite tips for planning a backpacking trip that doesn’t break the bank.
The minute I stopped waiting for others to join me on trips was the day I fell in love with solo traveling, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Unfortunately, the number one thing that stops women the most from traveling solo is the sence of not feeling safe or capable of doing things alone. Imagine living your life waiting for others? I’ve gathered 10 of my favorite simple and secure saftey tips for solo female travel.
Whether you’re planning a month long road trip or a weekend-long getaway, I’ve gathered 12 FREE of my favorite apps to download before you hit the road!
This post provides a checklist for a successful night of backpacking, covering equipment, clothing, food, water, toiletries, and other essentials. It emphasizes the importance of tailored choices based on location, duration, and weather.
Sometimes you just need to disconnect and enjoy your own company. Of course, most backpacking tips begin with the instruction of never going alone, but once you’ve successfully completed your first solo trip, the feeling of accomplishment is inevitable!
Everyone loves getting new gear- especially hikers! I’ve put together this list of 20 gift ideas for women who love getting out in the backcountry and spending time outdoors. From a pair of new hiking socks to the perfect beginners’ backpack check out this guide for the best hiking gifts this season! Each item listed, I have personally tried and enjoyed and I would recommend ANY of these items for ALL levels of hiking and backpacking. 🎁
This multifunctional headwear is the perfect stocking stuffer for just about anyone! Wear this headwear literally one dozen different ways!
Every hiker loves new hiking socks- and these Darn Tough Light Hiker Crew socks are my go-to! After hiking over 300 miles in two pairs of Darn Tough socks, I swear by these and guarantee you EVERY hiker would love a new pair for the holidays!
If your hiker friend doesn’t already have a pee rag- treat her to her first Kula Cloth, she’ll be happy to know she’s helping the planet by reducing TP waste in the outdoors!
Necessary for coffee/tea and hot chocolate lovers! This lightweight insulated mug will help keep all your hiker’s favorite drinks warm in the backcountry!
Still not sure what to get? Gift Cards are always a GREAT idea! REI Gift Cards can also be redeemed for REI Adventures! Give the gift of adventure this holiday season!
This inflatable pillow is a GAME CHANGER! More of a camping luxury item, having an inflatable pillow to rest your head on after a long day of hiking is the best way to end the day!
Chances are your hiking friend already uses AllTrails to help them discover new trails! With an annual membership, you can do so much more- download maps for offline use, keep friends & family informed, and see weather details, air quality- and more!
The Sawyer Squeeze filtration system is the perfect water filter for all! It’s easy to use, lightweight, and trusted by thousands of hikers, campers, thru-hikers, and backpackers! This bundle contains everything needed to filter and keep your filter clean!
Another one of those luxury items that just doesn’t seem necessary until you have one! This personal pack towel is perfect for those summer days by the lake. Made with a polyester/microfiber blend offering the softest touch! Packs light and dries quickly!
Unlike an inflatable pillow, a good headlamp is necessary when backpacking! I like having the option to use a red light at night so as to not provide any further light pollution in the backcountry. This specific headlamp also has the option to recharge its batteries!
Gift the adventure of exploring America’s National Parks with an annual pass! Did you know that each time you visit a national park, the entrance fee is approximately $35/per vehicle?! Visiting at least 3 parks in one year pays for the pass itself!
Trail runners for backpacking? Yes. Some may not agree, however, these lightweight shoes have the perfect wide-toe box allowing for a natural foot setting; not to mention the grip and traction!
With 100+ guides FarOut is the #1 app for long-distance trails- including the John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail, and tons more! Getting a FarOut Gift Card allows your favorite hiker to choose a guide of their choice!
Hiking poles are helpful. Help a hiker by gifting them some stability this year. LOL. I like these poles because they can fold down and are easy to pack away. They are an adjusted length, so you’ll want to make sure you have the right measurements!
Once upon a time, sun hoodies weren’t very fashionable. Thankfully, there are tons of cute sun hoodies out there now and this one from Black Diamond I’ve lived in practically all summer. The only thing missing from this sun hoodie are thumbholes!
Get comfy in nature. You’ll want to make sure your hiking friend gets a good night’s rest after a long day of hiking. Surprise them with an inflatable sleeping pad!
The JetBoil Flash is the fastest cooking system out there! While it may not be the lightest stove, the JetBoil Flash rapidly boils 1 liter of water within 100 seconds!
Who doesn’t love a good fleece? This fleece from Patagonia is the perfect gift for everyone this holiday season!
Looking for the perfect gift for the solo backpacker? REI Passage 1 tent is easy to set up making it the perfect beginner’s tent-and it even comes with a footprint!
Every backpacker needs an overnight pack. Osprey has some of the most comfortable, long-lasting packs! This Tempest is a 30L pack, which I recommend for trips of 1-4 nights depending on the adventure, location, and many other variations.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission if you choose to click through and purchase anything from this guide. I want to thank you in advance for your support. 🧡
Backpackers and thru-hikers often love to talk about gear. Everything from what has worked for them over the years, to the newest and greatest lightweight options out there. Let me start off by saying that you do not need to break the bank and purchase all new gear for your hike.
As a matter of fact, if you’re new to backpacking and thru-hiking start off with the idea that your gear preferences will change over the course of time, experiences, and different trips and trails. While the John Muir Trail was my longest thru-hike to date, my gear list for thru-hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail is quite different, but I’ll always carry some form of the Ten Essentials.
In this post, I’ve compiled a list of the gear I carried with me for 25-days hiking southbound (SOBO) from Yosemite Valley to Whitney Portal on my JMT 2021 thru-hike.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links, meaning I receive a small percentage of every purchase at no additional cost to you.
Backpack: ZPacks Arc Blast 55L Ultralight Backpack, Autumn Orange
I fell in love with this pack on my very first trip. The ZPacks Arc Blast was my first-ever lightweight backpack. I made the switch from an Osprey Aura and haven’t looked back since. This 55L pack held up pretty well during the 25-days I was on the JMT. I added a V-strap to my pack (prior to purchasing) to be able to strap a BV500 bear canister on the outside, allowing for maximum space however it wasn’t really needed. Don’t let the weight of this pack fool you, weighing slightly over 1 lb (19.9 oz) this lightweight pack is light but mighty and can hold up to 5-6 days worth of food with no problem. The large outside mesh allows you to shove any snacks, or wet clothes, or have easy access to any necessary items outside of your pack.
Shelter: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1, Orange
The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 was my home for 25-days on the JMT last summer. I have zero complaints about this tent. Weighing in just a little over 2.2 lbs with the rainfly and tent poles! This awning-style tent allows you to use two trekking poles to be able to create a front awning, which is perfect for both sunny and rainy days- although I didn’t really have time to use this feature on the JMT.
Sleeping Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 0°
The Revelation quilt from Enlightened Equipment was my first ever backpacking quilt and I do not foresee myself going back to a regular sleeping bag. As someone that likes to be all bundled up, I was almost certain that I would not like not being able to tuck my head into my sleeping quilt- but that’s not the case at all! The 0° down bag is perfect for those cold winter nights and I have slept very comfortably in freezing temps. Pro: the warmth to weight ratio is incredible! Con: down fill takes forever to dry if it gets wet.
Pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow
If you would have asked me two years ago about my favorite backcountry luxury item, I would tell you all about my favorite inflatable pillow from Sea to Summit. Fast forward two years and this inflatable pillow have easily become a necessity, especially weighing only 2.7 oz!
Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite
We all have that one piece of gear that you don’t really care for, but it’s kinda sorta necessary to have- right? The NeoAir XLite from Therm-A-Rest is that piece of gear for me. Don’t get me wrong- it’s comfortable and has not given me any deflating or bottom-out issues…but after my 20th or so day on the JMT I could no longer stand the sound of the trash bag I had been tossing on every night. Thank goodness I literally camped by no one to even annoy them cause I surely annoyed myself.
Sun shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie The only thing missing here are thumbholes. Otherwise, I’d forever hike in this shirt.
Jacket: Eddie Bauer MicroTherm 2.0 Down I actually won this jacket in an Instagram contest. Still remains my favorite down jacket. Lightweight and super warm!
Fleece: Melanzana MicroGrid Hoodie
Leggings: Hereafter The Earth Legging Silver tech kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria. More wear fewer wash times in between adventures. Oh- pockets. Nuff said.
Sports Bra: Lululemon Wunder Train Longline Cute, comfortable, and a little longer than normal sports bras.
Socks: Darn Tough Kelso Micro Crew Light Cushion Sock Darn tough.
Shoes: Altra Lone Peak 5
Baseball cap
Packed clothing: extra socks, base layer pants, a long sleeve, beanie, extra leggings, and shorts.
GPS: Garmin InReach Mini
I didn’t want to hop on the JMT solo without first being able to contact a family member at any moment’s notice. Having this GPS device with me was more for a piece of mind, and I recommend it to anyone going out in the backcountry. Some may say it’s a little excessive, but I did check in every day with a family member, and it was fun for them to follow my tracks and watch my progress.
Portable Charger: Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh and PowerCore 1000
Yes, I understand that carrying 2 portable chargers is a bit much- but I actually used them both up and was able to recharge at both Tulomune Meadows and MTR resupplies.
Phone: iPhone 11
Entertainment: Powerbeats by Dre Okay, let’s just say this is my luxury item. Music’s good for the soul. Enough said. 🎵
Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket 2
Propane: MSR IsoPro Canister
Cooking pot: Toaks Titanium Pot 750L
Spork: Sea to Summit Alpha Light Spork
Cooking cozy: Hyperlight Repack
Bear canister: Bear Vault BV500
Kula Cloth
Trowel: The Deuce #2
Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen
Bandana
Ben’s Deet Bug wipes
Toothbrush/paste
Mini Tweezers
First Aid
Water filter: Katadyn BeFree Water Filter 1L
Black Diamond Z Trekking Poles
Journal
camp sandals: Teva Hurricane
Tripod
(2) Smart Water 1L bottles
Hike Your Own Hike. We all have our own preferences, hiking paces, and I’ve come to find that my pace is a lot slower than most.
There are five resupply options available along the JMT, and as my first thru-hike, I wanted the full experience, and I wanted to try them all.
It’s never a good idea to just assume people know how to plan epic adventures. Heck, even with proper planning some adventures just don’t go accordingly.
I would like to share with you my guide to backpacking and some tips on how you could prepare for your first trip. I am not an expert and this should be used only as a guide which is based on my opinions and experiences.
Road trips should be fun and spontaneous yet, carefully researched and somewhat planned. How do you prepare for a trip that long? Lots of research and planning!
