Pictured: JetBoil Stash Stove, Helinox Chair, Merrell Sandals, GSI Mug, Nalgene Bottle, Smartwool Socks 

Cold soaking or snacking for dinner? No thanks… that kind of ultralight backpacking is not for me. I much prefer a warm meal after a long day of hiking. Also, it’s often cold in the mountains at night, and treating myself to a warm meal is the least I can do after hiking all of those miles to camp.

My favorite for fast and easy cooking while on the trail is the Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System. It’s perfect for dehydrated meals and boils water so quickly for tea or coffee when you need to warm up on a chilly morning. The Jetboil Stash is another lightweight option great for one-pot meals. For an ultralight option, the MSR Pocket Rocket is a popular choice, and it comes in a kit option as well.

Pictured: Stoic Zip Off Pants / Shorts, Danner Mountain 600 Boots, GSI Infinity Mug, The Drop Short-Sleeve Crop 

When that unexpected bad weather passes through you’ll be thankful you packed some form of entertainment. A Kindle (or similar E-reader) is a relatively lightweight way to stay entertained, and the battery lasts much longer than most other electronic devices. I personally pack my Kindle on just about every backpacking trip I take and have never regretted it. You could pack a physical book but the weight would likely be considerably more.

The basic Kindle is very affordable or you can opt for the latest, premium edition, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature.

Heading out for a camping trip to an alpine lake? Don’t forget your swimsuit! The cold water is incredibly healing for your body after a long hike, think football players having ice baths after a game… same concept!

Bathing suits really don’t weigh much or take up much space, so consider throwing one in on your next backpacking trip. Or if you feel comfortable, you could just swim in your underwear. My go-to swimsuit is the Left On Friday Sunday One-Piece, or you could opt for a bikini, or the Patagonia Baggies Shorts for more coverage and versatility.

Pictured: Left On Friday Sunday One-Piece Swimsuit 

After that dip in the cold alpine lake you’re going to need to dry off. Sure you could just air dry, but have you felt the wind in the mountains? Brrrr. There are numerous brands out there creating lightweight and quick-drying towels such as the Sea To Summit Tek Towel. This is going to be a regular in my pack from here on out when there’s a chance I may be swimming. 

For me, packing a camp pillow is a no-brainer. I know some people will call this a bit “extra”, but no one I know who brings a pillow out camping with them has ever regretted it. At less than 2oz, really there’s no reason not to.

The Exped Ultra Pillow is a great ultralight inflatable pillow option, while the Sea To Summit Aeros Premium Pillow is even more deluxe and comfortable. For a more affordable option, the Stoic Groundwork Pillow is still lightweight and very comfy! You could opt for more of a compressible pillow but they usually weight a little more.

Pictured: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 1P Tent 

This is definitely not a necessity, but I’ve found a mini lantern is really nice to have on a backpacking trip. You can leave it in one place, so you don’t have to dig around for it in the dark like you might with a headlamp. The light is often more soft and dispersed too, so it’s great for inside the tent at night or when cooking a meal at camp. You’re also not going to blind your camp buddy when you turn to look at them, which is a nice bonus.

Some of our top backpacking lantern recommendations are the Snow Peak Mini Hozuki Lantern, the Black Diamond Moji R + Lantern, and the MPOWERD Luci Lux Lantern.

See also: 10 Best Camping Lanterns to Buy in 2024

My favorite lightweight pack for backcountry camping is the Osprey Lumina 60L Backpack . For a bit more support and features, I like the Osprey Kyte 46L Backpack . If you want to pack fast and light, Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes great ultralight and durable backpacks. I recommend the Granite Gear Crown 2 60L Backpack as a budget-friendly option for a good backpacking pack. I often also use the Hyperlite Versa Hip Pack attached to my pack’s waist strap for easy access to essentials (aka snacks and chapstick!) 

Choosing a backpacking tent is probably one of the most challenging pieces of equipment. This is often the heaviest single piece of equipment, and ultralight tents can be pretty pricey. But, it’s absolutely worth the investment if you’ll be using it frequently! My favorite 2-person tent is the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2, perfect for sleeping 2 people in most seasons. A more lightweight alternative in the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2P . The Eureka Tetragon NX 2 and Eureka Suma Tent are both good choices for a more affordable backpacking tent. 

Similar to choosing a tent, you have a lot of decisions when it comes to selecting a sleeping bag, like warmth rating and fill material (down vs. synthetic.) For 3-season camping (aka, most of the year other than intense winter camping) the NEMO Disco 30 Sleeping Bag is a great choice (men’s version available here.) The Marmot Ouray 0F Down Sleeping Bag is a popular choice for winter camping (find the men’s version here.)

My favorite option for 3-season backpacking is the Western Mountaineering Apache 15F Down Sleeping Bag – it’s pricey, but I have definitely got my money’s worth as I use it almost year-round! There are definitely some great affordable options out there, like the Stoic Groundwork Sleeping Bag and the Kelty Cosmic 20F Sleeping Bag (men’s version here.)

One of my top tips is to use a compression bag such as the Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Dry Stuff Sack to keep your sleeping bag as compact as possible in your backpack (as well as protected from any moisture).

My favorite sleeping pad for summer backpacking and the shoulder seasons is the Sea to Summit Ether Light Insulated Sleeping Pad. I recommend this one a lot because it’s a women’s specific shape and great for side sleepers which can be tricky! They also make a men’s version which I also recommend.

In the super cold months, I use the Sea to Summit Ether Extreme with a closed cell pad underneath for extra warmth. For a few budget options, check out the Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout, the Stoic Clutch Air Mat, or the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol.

Dehydrated meals are a great option for lightweight, quick dinners when you’re in the backcountry. I really love Mary Jane’s Farm Outpost meals because they don’t have a lot of added ingredients that some other brands do, and they don’t leave you feeling bloated and gassy (no fun!). Good to Go meals are another good option with simple ingredients.

Hiking snacks are super important to help you stay fueled and energized throughout the day. I love to snack on nut butter filled Clif Bars, Pro Bar Bolt Chews, GoMacro bars, Honey Stinger Waffles, and nut butters. I always use an Ursack for food storage, although there are some areas that require bear canisters. When I backpack in those areas I use a Medium Bear Vault.

Typically I use a Hydro Flask 32oz Trail Water Bottle or a Hydrapak Recon 1L Water Bottle. Sometimes I use a hydration reservoir/bladder since they’re easier to drink from while hiking, and I will use my water bottle to drink Nuun electrolytes. In the winter I will also use a Nalgene as a drink bottle because you can use it for hot water and tuck it into your sleeping bag to stay extra toasty!

Lastly, you will need a way to filter water when refilling. I like to use the Katadyn BeFree Water Filter with the Hydropak Seeker 4L Water Bladder. You can also use purification tablets, though these often take longer to filter and can leave an aftertaste to your water.

You’ll need a headlamp once the sun goes down! I have used the Petzl Actik Core Headlamp for years, and I love it. The Petzl Tikkina Headlamp is a more budget-friendly option that works great. I also like to bring a lantern that I can hang in my tent or campsite for extra light, especially during the winter months when daylight is much shorter. 

I don’t bring much, but you’ll likely want to pack a few things like sunscreen, moisturizer, contact lens holder, toothbrush, cleaning wipes, etc. I keep these organized in a small pouch, like this one from Topo Designs. For backcountry bathroom needs I pack a trowel, toilet paper, wipes, Kula Cloth, and a zip lock bag to pack out dirty toilet paper. 

Pro tip: You can use a contact lens holder to store small amounts of liquids like sunscreen, moisturizer, and other lotions! 

No matter how far I’m hiking, I always carry a small first aid kit with essential items like blister plasters and emergency supplies. Recommended lightweight first aid kit. If you’re lucky, you may never have to use this, but it’s best to be prepared. It’s also wise to pack some bug protection, like bug spray. If I’m hiking somewhere that I know the mosquitos will be bad, I will pack my bug headnet too. 

It’s wise to carry Bear Spray when in bear country. Typically trailheads and national parks will have lots of information posted when this is necessary. Note that it’s important to wear bear spray at your waist or shoulder strap, and not in your backpack out of reach. I often will carry pepper spray as a form of defense when not in bear country, especially if I am backpacking solo. 

Everyone’s system for carrying their camera gear backpacking is a little different, so here’s what works for me! I pack my camera and lenses in a Topo Designs Camera Cube. When carrying my camera for easy access I use a Peak Design Leash Camera Strap and either the Moment Strohl Mountain Light Camera Loader or a Peak Design Capture Clip and Plate (I think this one is more comfortable on my pack waist strap. 

Lastly, you might want to leave a small bag in your car with a few items to freshen up at the end of your backpacking trip. My go to items in my post-hike kit include a set of clean, comfy clothes, face/body wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, extra water, and snacks. 

Now you are ready to hit the trails! Save this backpacking luxury items list for your next trip, and have fun! Leave a comment below and share your favorite comfort backpacking pieces. It’s fun to hear what other people bring!