Use a checklist now–avoid cussing later!
Your first backpacking adventure or your one-hundredth time hiking the trails – having proper backpacking gear is essential. The following sites have backpacking gear checklists to help make your trail hiking experience not only fun but also safe. (Click green headings below to view the checklists.)
Backpacker Magazine is highly knowledgeable, so it’s no surprise that they have more than a dozen backpacking checklists and backpacking gear reviews.
REI is a leader in outdoor clothing and gear. Print their backpacking checklist and run down the items you’ll need for hiking trails.
Keith Drury discusses ultralight backpacking gear. Good discussion, but beginning backpackers may find it too advanced for them.
Step by Step: An Introduction to Walking the Appalachian Trail. Backpackers- especially beginning trail hikers – should pay particular attention to pages 12 through 16. They contain information and lists for hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail. This rich source of information also answers questions about hiking the Appalachian Trail. The guide, published by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, is free.
Only The Lightest Camping Equipment has a 3-Day Ultra Light Backpacking List. Steven Green created it in response to people looking to keep their backpack weight down to 15 pounds or less. Contains a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet allowing readers to compare the various gear he suggests.
The Lightweight Backpacker has a Backpacking Equipment Checklist from which to choose what you want to take on your outdoor adventure.
Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day A short article with a gear list containing the weight of each item so you can add up and find out what your full pack will weigh. Carefully consider what you are taking; the suggestion here to take only a “half-quart” of water is low. Unless you are near a water source, a full quart is minimal—in hot weather and when you are far from the next water source, carrying more water is necessary.
http://www.backpacking.net/inventry.html# Starts with the basics for a day hike, adds things needed for overnight hikes, then goes into additional gear for various seasons.
http://www.backpacking.net/ten-essl.html Discusses items and why they are needed. Pick and choose carefully. For example, some experienced backpackers avoid the heavy Swiss Army knife and weighty all-purpose tool, and instead carry a small knife with a few extra devices on it.
http://www.backpacking.net/27-pound.html#pack The 27-Pound, 7-Day Gear Checklist shows the weight of each item. Important because you want to keep your backpack weight down.
http://outdoors.campmor.com/backpacking-equipment-checklist/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=CJPrwteSn7wCFZN9OgodnXc #fbid=LtDTA6B3ZOZ A basic backpacking checklist.
http://www.backpacking-guide.com/backpacking-checklist.html A basic backpacking checklist, containing a list of items to double check.
http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/travel-ta-hiking-sidwcmdev_059001.html A basic list with additional suggestions.
Happy trail hiking!