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By Nathaniel H., Senior Patrol Leader, Life, Jun. 2014
Materials List
1. Backpack
There are two types of backpacks:
Internal frame packs: Flexible, compact, rigid, solid, comfortable and easy to maneuver. These words ought to describe an internal frame backpack. If you are hiking, walking off-trail, climbing or making a descent, these form-fitting packs will offer you stability and freedom of movement. An internal frame pack has one huge compartment with multiple zippered smaller compartments, unlike external frame packs. Moreover, it looks pretty cool on your shoulders, compared to a metal frame. After all, who can say no to sexy sports gear?
To know whether the internal frame backpack fits you properly, you need to first check the height of your torso. The hip belt should envelope around your hip area, and not the waist. You need to try different packs on and tighten the straps to see if they are hindering your movement. Nowadays, manufacturers design backpacks to accommodate most average body frames. In the end, you should just buy the pack that feels the most comfortable.
Pros: Very popular among hikers, suited to nearly everyone.
Cons: Expensive, gear can be hard to access if not packed right.
External frame packs: These backpacks have external frames which are made of light materials like aluminum, wood or plastic. The backpack can be detached from the frame whenever you want. Also, you have the option to hang up your dirt-smeared boots or sleeping bag on the frame, cutting down the fuss of removing or packing the gear from/into your pack whenever you need them. It is ideal for carrying heavy and bulky weight, and it enables you to walk straight as well as comfortably due to its unique structure. The biggest downside to this pack is that it becomes inconvenient while maneuvering your way through a dense forest, tracing a river or other challenging situations. The metal frame might also squeak if not lubricated from time to time. It is generally preferred by young hikers who are not averse to carrying a bit of extra load. It is also a good choice while hiking in hot weather as it provides more scope for ventilation. Pros: Cheap, suitable for groomed trails, apt for heavy loads. Cons: Looks cumbersome, feels cumbersome, tends to carry the weight away from the body, lacks stability. For the backpacks in our troop, either can work, so just choose based on your own preference.
2. Sleeping Bag
There are two types of sleeping bags:
Down feather bags: These sleeping bags provide excellent warmth and are lightweight. Down sleeping bags that become wet take a long time to dry. These bags also tend to be able to work for lower temperatures but are more expensive than synthetic bags.
Synthetic fiber bags: heavier than down but lighter than cotton. A nice benefit of synthetic fibers is that they do not readily soak up water and dry quickly if they do become wet. These bags are cheaper but don’t go to as low temperatures as do the down bags.
For the Deep Creek Backpack, you won’t be needing a very warm sleeping bag as the weather is usually very warm even at night, but for the Sierra Backpack, a warmer sleeping bag will definitely be needed as temperatures drop below freezing at night sometimes. For me, I just got a warmer sleeping bag that I can use for everything (at Deep Creek I just use the sleeping bag as a blanket or just leave it unzipped when I sleep).
Sleeping pads aren’t a necessity, but they definitely make sleeping more comfortable. If you want one, just get a lightweight one.
3. Hiking boots
Be sure to get some hiking boots as they are essential to any backpack. Make sure they fit will as to avoid blisters and other such injuries. Be sure to break in these boots before going on a backpack. I usually use easier backpacks like Deep Creek to break in new hiking boots, but I wouldn’t recommend using the Deep Creek backpack to break in new shoes if you are an inexperienced hiker (i.e. first time backpacker). Break them in with a short hike or some running before the backpack. You could even just wear them around your house when at home as they are not dirty yet.Bring some in-camp shoes if you want to take a break from hiking boots after a long day of hiking. Most people just bring sandals.
4. Socks
Socks are very important in hiking as well as they will help in preventing foot injuries such as blisters. USE LONG SOCKS. I recommend having two layers of socks when hiking: a thicker layer on the outside and then a thinner layer on the inside. I use wool socks for the outer layer and then just some random softer pair of socks I have for the inside layer. Either way, this double layer of socks will help prevent blisters. Make sure to bring one pair of extra socks just in case your original pair get wet or something as walking in wet socks leads to blisters.
5. Clothing
Deep Creek
Swimming trunks are essential on this backpack as there will be many water holes to swim in. You can just wear the swimming trunks for the whole hike. For the upper body, a quick dry t-shirt is all you need. At night, since it will be pretty warm, all you really need is a light jacket and, if you really think you need to, some lightweight pants. Bring a hat.
Three Day Peaks
The clothing list for this backpack is basically the same as that of Deep Creek. Bring like one change of underwear for this trip if you’re a very hygienic person. Bring a hat.
Sierra
Everything is the same except that at night, you will definitely need some layers (at least three) at night as it gets pretty cold. Make sure your layers are lightweight though as you don’t want to be weighing down your backpack with a thick overcoat or very heavy pants. Gloves are nice as your hands will get really cold at night. Bringing a beanie is helpful as well. Bring maybe one change of clothing for only the inner layers like the t-shirt and underwear as bringing too much will waste bag space and weigh down the backpack (or just don’t bring a change of clothes if you don’t want to). Bring a hat.
6. Utensils
Bring a cup on all backpacks as you will use them for holding both foods and liquids during all meals except lunch. This cup should be some lightweight metal or something else that insulates heat well as you will be holding many hot foods inside it. For the eating utensil, just bring a spoon as you can eat everything we eat on a backpack with a spoon. A lot of people in our troop use a spork (spoon + fork) like the one shown in the picture. 7. Water
Always bring bottles to put water in (you will need to have more space for water on Deep Creek than on any other backpack we do in this troop). Two bottles like the one on the right is usually enough for me for Deep Creek as I don’t usually drink that much water on backpacks, but judge for yourself how much you will need as everyone drinks different amounts of water. Camelbaks are great, as they hold a lot of water and are easy to drink while hiking but are very annoying to fil and could potentially, but very rarely, have a leak in your pack. Just remember to bring enough water. This is the only thing you should potentially overpack.
8. Sunscreen
Don’t be stupid and just use this. Bring a small lightweight one, not a big one.
9. Light
A light is essential to backpacking as you will be using it a lot at night. A headlight is recommended as it is hands-free which allows you to do other things while still having a light. Make sure the flashlight is not too heavy. The light also doesn’t have to be extremely powerful (as these are usually the heavier ones). You just have to be able to see enough to move around and do things at night. Always make sure you have batteries to last in the flashlight and bring extra batteries if you’re worried that it will run out.
10. Trail food
Bring some snacks to eat on the trail in between meals. Bars and applesauce are usually good.
11. Sanitation
Bring a light toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste for longer hikes (don’t have to on Deep Creek if you don’t want to as it’s only a two day backpack).
12. Restroom Stuff
If you need to pee, just find a spot and pee. If you need to poo then you need more things. Bring some toilet paper, but not the whole roll. Just take some of the roll and put it in a plastic bag or something. Besides the toilet paper, also bring a small, light shovel, for digging a hole, and also a lighter for burning the toilet paper. To poo, dig a hole, poo in the hole (hold your pee), wipe your butt, burn the toilet paper, put the toilet paper in the hole, pee to put out the fire, and cover the hole. Don’t leave any toilet paper lying around.
13. First Aid Kit
Al you really need is some sort of disinfectant (alcohol swab), some bandaids, some neosporing, and moleskin for most backpacks. Anything besides that will be used very rarely. Bring a very small first-aid kit in a small Ziploc bag or something. Don’t bring a giant first-aid kit. Remember, pack light.
Packing
Pack your things based on efficiency. Put the things you will need the most during the day when you’re hiking near the top of the pack and put the things you won’t be needing until camp near the bottom of the pack. Things like trail food and water should be within easy reach. Other things like jackets, other such clothing, sleeping bag, etc. should be near the bottom of the pack.
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