My Favourite Backpacking Gear
I am a total gear nerd. Before I click buy on anything, you can guarantee Ive read 10 articles, countless reviews, compared the weight, specs and options a hundred times, and probably put it off for a season or three before finally pulling the trigger.
You dont need the latest and greatest gear to get outside. You just need enough to be safe. But if you’re on the lookout for new gear, whether its starting to build your first backpacking kit, or upgrading some old pieces, these are some of my tried and tested pieces of gear that I absolutely love.
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Clothing
Puffy Jackets
Puffy jackets are like a warm hug from your favourite person. And an absolute staple in your backpack.
I just got back from hiking in NZ with my mother, who has only recently got into multi-day trips, and hasnt yet invested in a puffy. And wow did it make her clothing bag ALOT heavier, trying to have enough warmth in layers, instead of replacing a few of those with a puffy jacket.
Helly Hansen Odin Stretch Hooded Insulator Jacket
I have had this jacket for 6 YEARS. And I wear it almost everyday in the colder months. Its a great layer to wear around town, a mid layer for hiking and skiing, and its stood the test of years of use.
As a synthetic layer, it retains more insulation when its wet than its down counterparts, which, depending on the kind of weather youre heading into, can be a pretty important consideration.
Warmth to weight ratio is a bit less in a synthetic jacket compared to down – this jacket is the same weight as the Thorium, but not nearly as warm.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸
Arc’teryx Cerium Insulated Hoodie
This is a new piece to my (growing) puffy collection. I bought this as much lighter weight puffy than the other two, but still very warm, and fits under my shell jacket (unlike the Thorium which is too poofy).
What I like about it:
– Super light weight for its warmth
– A really nice close body fit
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Arc’teryx Thorium Down Hoodie
This is my big puffy for those arctic cold snaps, to throw over my shell when ski touring.
I also take it on hikes when its going to be really cold. And Ive slept in it more than once.
What I dont love:
Its heavier and bulkier – it makes it a lot more durable, so Im not too worried about ripping it or wearing holes, but it takes up more space and weight in my pack.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Boots
Theres alot of talk about trail runners versus hiking books in the hiking community. My approach is – if Im hiking on a well maintained and non technical trail, especially with a light pack, then trail runners are a great option.
However, if Im hiking over rocky or technical terrain, and with a heavier pack, I prefer the sturdiness of hiking boots.
Shoes are obviously super personal, depending on your foot shape amongst other things. These are just the boots that I really like.
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
What I like:
– They’re super light and very comfortable
– I have a wide forefoot and I get zero hot spots in these boots
What I don’t:
– Get new laces – the round laces on these boots come undone really easily, even if I double knot them. Flat laces stay in place a lot better.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Salomon | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Keen Targhee II Mid
The soles on these are super sturdy and grippy. I feel like I can walk down slippery rock surfaces without resorting to crab walks – which is a significant win for me
Because they’re waterproof and leather, they take quite a while to dry out if you’re doing any wet-feet river crossings.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Gear
Hiking Poles: Black Diamond Trail Series
What I like:
What I don’t:
– If you opt for the cork version, keep your hiking poles in your tent if you’re camping in areas with Marmots! They like to munch on cork!
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦 | Black Diamond
Headlamp
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
This is the upgraded version of mine and comes with the red light feature – which is a great way to eat your dinner without blinding your hiking partners.
You can get headlamps with rechargeable batteries as well as AAA’s but they’re alot heavier. Its all a trade off.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Backpacks
Osprey Aura AG 5OL
What I like:
– Its incredibly comfortable. The harness is very adjustable so you have alot of ways to make it fit you perfectly
– The outside pockets are stretchy, making it easy to shove in extra gear
– The top flap removes – so depending on the trip you’re going on you can add or remove it, adding significantly more space
What I dont like:
– All the bells and whistles means a decent amount of extra weight in straps and buckles.
– Literally the only downside of this bag is that its not a “light weight” bag – but it makes up for that in comfort!
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Hyperlite Mountain Gear – Southwest 4OL
This and a lighter tent are my two big upgrade plans for next year. When I first bought all my hiking gear almost 10yrs ago, and went for the lightest gear I could, with the budget that I had. And back then Z packs was about the only brand doing light weight packs and tents and they were WAYYYY too far out of my price range.
With osteoarthritis now becoming a big thing for me, keeping the weight down in my pack is an even bigger priority. And the best way to do that, is reducing my tent and backpack weight.
Why this pack:
– Super simple design – just what you need but without the fluff
– Built tough – its has a reputation for not being too delicate. I look after my gear, but I also lug it through mountains and brush past trees and I dont want a pack that cant stand up to the environments that I go into.
Shop at: REI | Hyperlite Mountain Gear 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Camp/Sleep Gear
Tents
MSR Hubba Hubba
The tent of the PNW! Ive had mine for 6 years and absolutely love it. A hiking pole tent is definitely lighter, but the flexibility you have with a freestanding tent is super helpful, especially when camping in the alpine.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Marmot Tungsten
I have the 1 person version of this tent for missions when its just me and I dont want to carry the full weight of a 2 person tent on my own.
Its really well made, has great headroom, and has survived some wild westcoast storms without a drop of water inside.
If you’re looking for a great backpacking tent, but without the price tag of the MSR – this is the perfect choice!
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Pillow
Having a big focus on lightweight, I didnt have a pillow until my partner bought me one for my birthday last year. And I dont think Im going back now…
If youre a side sleeping, Id even recommend getting a thicker version.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Sea to Summit Spark 15F Down Sleeping Bag
Ive had my sea to summit bag for almost 10yrs, and its still in excellent condition. The bag I have is discontinued, but this is an equivalent bag, and much warmer than the one I have.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Jetboil
I have one of the original Jetboil – 500ml capacity, no igniter, but it works perfectly.
What I love:
– Boils water super fast, so you save on fuel
– In-built protection from the wind – no need to rig up protections around your cooker
What I dont love:
– Because of all the good things about it – its much heavier than something like the MSR pocket rocket.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Water Filters
The thing to keep in mind between a filter style like the Trail shot (with a hose) versus something like the Sawyer squeeze (which uses bag collection), is the kind of water sources youll have access to.
Running water, even if its just a trickle, can be relatively easily collected with a bag, but if you have hose type system, youd need to catch the water into something before you could filter it.
But shallow still water sources, are hard to collect from with a big, without disturbing all the sediment, but a hose type filter can easily collect water from shallow sources.
MSR Trailshot
This is a great 1-2 person water filter. Its light weight, easy to use, and you can get water out of very shallow streams. Mine did slow down relatively quickly on the first trip I took it on, and stayed the same even with a backflush. BUT, it has stayed the same flow for the last 5yrs since then, and hasnt slowed down further.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Sawyer Squeeze
This is great for 2ish people as well. The collection bags that come with it are great for water carry’s when you have a dry camp or a long dry stretch of trail
The Sawyer is also really easy to back-flush on the trail if your filter starts to clog and slow down.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦
Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System
Ill be honest, I thought these were ridiculous for how heavy they are, but if you’re travelling with a group of 4 or more, this is a total game changer. Being able to filter without having to actively pump or squeeze is really nice when you have more people to filter for.
As with any system be aware of what kind of water sources you’ll have access to.
Shop at: REI 🇺🇸 | Valhalla Pure 🇨🇦