Backpack Shakedown: Here’s What 6 Real Backpackers Carry in their Packs

Want to know what to pack for a backpacking trip? There are all sorts of lists available. But there are also a lot of styles of backpacking out there. An ultra-lightweight backpacker isn’t going to carry the same gear that I take on trips with my preschooler!

To give you an idea of what gear you need to pack for backpacking (and how much space it is going to take up in your backpack), here are 7 photos from real backpackers showing what’s in their packs.

Pack 1: 5 Day Rim-to-Rim Hike, Grand Canyon National Park

Brewbooks was able to shave weight and space from his pack by using a bivy bag + tarp setup instead of a tent. He could have saved more weight/space by repacking the big canister of electrolytes and using a Kindle instead of taking along two big books.

Gear List:

Tarp
ExpedDowmat 9 air pad
Clothes for 5 days + 5 pairs of socks
Outdoor Research Goretex bivy bag
Lafuma light down bag
Scarpa boots
Jetboil stove
Poncho
Teva sandals
Two books
First aid kit
Toilet paper and toiletry kit
Knife
Flashlight
Four 1-liter water bottles
5 freeze dried dinners for 2, food bars, trail mix
Electrolyte powder
Hiking poles
Camera bag, camera, spare battery and SD card
Sunglasses
Osprey Pack Aether 70

Image credit: “What’s in My Bag – Pack Shakedown” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by brewbooks

Pack 2: Winter Camping Setup

Guo Chai says that he is “Still in the early stages of trying to go ultralight.” But, for a winter camping setup, this is pretty light!

Gear List:

Granite Gear AC60 Backpack
Waterproof pack cover
Malachowski winter -6c sleeping bag
Energy gel and muesli bar for emergencies
Platypus 3L hydration bladder
Easton Mountain Kilo 1p tent
3/4 length self-inflating pad
Toilet paper
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove + 100g gas canister
MSR Titanium kettle, MSR fork and spoon
Spyderco Dragonfly Salt knife
Princeton Tec Fuel headlamp
Microfiber towel
Merino wool thermals (mostly for sleeping at night)
Buff Cyclone neck tube, beanie hat, Merino wool gloves, Merino wool socks
First aid kit, water purification tablets, fire starters
Waterproof jacket
Spare glasses
Israeli emergency bandage

Image credit: “My winter camping setup.” (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by guochai

Pack 3: 5 Day Yosemite Backpacking Trip

Who says that allergies are going to stop you from enjoying nature? 😉 That first aid kit is a bit bulky though!

Gear List:

Backpack
Tent and tarp
Sleeping bag
Foam pad
First aid kit
snakebite kit
Deet
toe warmers
Camera and video camera
Watch
Flashlight, head lamp, glow sticks
Pepper spray
Permanent marker, pen
Sunglass
Matches
Inhaler, eyedrops, allergy medicines
Sunscreen and lip balm
Swiss army knife
Toothbrush and paste, q-tips
Water filter
Shovel
Cell phone and holster
Clothes, food (not pictured)

Image credit: “Yosemite Camping Gear” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by phoenixar

Pack 4: Overnight Trip at Delaware Water Gap

Note that this guy brought a quilt instead of a sleeping bag – a risky move if it were to get cold at night! It also means a much bulkier pack, but that isn’t too much of an issue when it is just for a 1 night trip.

Gear List:

Waterproof jacket
Sunglasses
Kindle
Trowel
Jacks R Better Sierra Stealth quilt
Extra shirt, socks, sock liners, underwear
Food bars
Headlamp
Leatherman Juice PS4
Water filtration kit
Collapsible canteen and drinking straw
First aid kit
Jetboil stove
Sleeping pad
Toiletry kit
Headphones
Wool/cotton blend long underwear
Tent, tent stakes and tent footprint

Image credit: “Packing List” (CC BY 2.0) by srslyguys

Pack 5: Climber’s Pack

Jake is a climber, so he’s got to lug around a lot of extra gear that other backpackers wouldn’t have – but he also says that he’ll leave a lot of it at the trailhead so doesn’t have to carry it all the entire trip.

Gear List: