At some point in time, I owned a 1 person tent. I don’t really recommend it unless you are trying to be ultralight. But even so, there are better options out there. This was what I packed in my backpack for an overnight trip in the Olympics back in November 2020.

Gear List

A quick Google search is going to return a lot of results on how to pack for a backpacking trip’ or ‘best tents, reviewed!’. Go on YouTube, there are even more results of people showing how pack for a thru-hike or multi-day backpacking trip. It seems silly for me have a gear list. However, I’ve always been a firm believer in finding the right balance between expensive gear and gear that is more affordable.

I hope this list serves as a good starting point for you to start researching about what gear you need to pack for your next adventure. A lot of my gear serves multiple purposes. What that means is you don’t always need gear specifically for car camping and backpacking. There are some things that you could use for both. However, as I go down this list, I will explain why I think having separate gear for different purposes would work best in some situations.

Tents

Don’t ask me why I own 4 tents. Just kidding, you can definitely ask me why I own 4 tents. The Marmot Tungsten 2P (the 2018 version is shown here but they have come a long way since) was the first tent I purchased. I took it down to Utah for my 10 day road trip. It served its purpose and I’ve used it a lot camping at established campgrounds. I then bought the REI Quarter Dome SL 2 because I started backpacking. The Tungsten weighs about 5lbs versus the Quarter Dome SL 2 only weighing a little over 2lbs. The choice was clear for me. I do a fair amount of solo trips and even when I am hiking with friends, I prefer having my own tent. Hence, it made sense for me to purchase my own lightweight backpacking tent.

I picked up the REI Half Dome SL 2+ because it was on sale in the Re/Supply section at my local REI store. I also work there so that meant I got it for dirt cheap and I couldn’t say no to a spacious and easy to set up tent like that. It weighs about 4lbs and has ample room for myself and my dog. This is now my go-to tent for car camping.

I bought the Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 2P tent at the Re/Supply section in a store down in Happy Valley, Oregon. The entire store is dedicated for used gear and there is no sales tax in Oregon - I highly recommend checking it out. I needed this tent because my dog freaked out so much one time that he broke the mesh on my Quarter Dome SL 2 tent. I didn’t want to risk having any bugs flying into my tent at night when I’m in the backcountry and thought the tent was a good price so I bought it. I’ve always loved Nemo gear anyway so it was a no brainer to buy the Dragonfly.

But why this and not the Hornet Lite? I wanted something that was truly freestanding. I have a feeling I will be venturing out to places where I won’t always be able to stake the tent down so I thought having a true freestanding tent would be helpful for my future adventures.

Note that both the Marmot Tungsten and REI Half Dome tents come with a footprint. The Nemo Dragonfly does not and you would have to buy the footprint separately. I only owned the REI Quarter Dome 1 tent and used it quite frequently for some reason but I eventually wanted more space so I upgraded to a 2 person version.

Starting from the top going clockwise: 1) Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 2P, 2) Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 2P on the snow, 3) REI Quarter Dome SL 2, 4) REI Half Dome 2+, 5) REI Quarter Dome SL 2 without the rainfly and 6) REI Quarter Dome 1.

Sleeping Pads

The only pads that I use now are the Nemo Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad* and the Exped DeepSleep Mat 7.5. Tex uses the Nemo Switchback for extra insulation when it’s cold out along with his doggy sleeping bag. Nemo has since come out with brand new pads within their Tensor line, they now have an insulated, all-season and all-weather one.

I bought the Sea to Summit Comfort Si before I bought the Nemo Tensor because I wanted something lighter and more compact for backpacking. However, after using it a few times, there was also a slow leak and I had to patch it up. I’ve read some great reviews for the Tensor especially for side sleepers like myself and once I started using it, I never went back. I have the wide version because I move a lot when I sleep and I tend to think I have a wider body build so the wide version fits me quite well.

The Exped DeepSleep mat was obviously for comfort for when I am out and about camping and weight isn’t an issue. I love it and have used it every single I’ve gone car camping in the past couple of years.

I use the Kokopelli Feather Pump to blow up my Tensor and DeepSleep mats. I think it works great. Exped has its own pump but I personally don’t like it as much. The Feather Pump also acts as the inflator for when I am taking my packraft out and about with me in the backcountry and everywhere else.

*The Nemo Tensor pad linked here is the rebranded version of the pad that I own.

Sleeping Bags

Phew, I only use two bags. I own a third one but that one was gifted to me and I never had a reason to use that one aside from when I first moved into my apartment and didn’t have my bed set up. I bought the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 in 2018 and have been using it interchangeably between car camping and backpacking trips.

The reason for this is the Cosmic Down is a down bag. For a beginner backpacker like myself back then, I thought it was a solid bag to do overnight trips in the backcountry with. It’s relatively lightweight and packs down relatively small. I also bought this bag for only $89 (2018 prices) and thought it was a steal. I have since upgraded to a Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 because I was starting to pack more into my pack and wanted something a little warmer and packs down smaller. The Bishop Pass 15 compresses relatively well. It’s also durable enough for my dog to stick his paws into it. I would love to upgrade to something even more lightweight eventually but anything with a lower denier scares me a little bit due to having a fur baby in the tent with me.

The higher the fill power, the lighter and more compressible your bag becomes. Synthetic or down? That’s entirely up to you. I own a Marmot Trestle Elite Eco 20 Women’s bag and while that bag is synthetic, it actually packs down relatively well for what it is. Some people are also concerned with down getting wet. I’ve never had a problem with any of my bags getting soaked. However, if you find yourself not being able to keep your gear dry at all times, perhaps you should consider a synthetic bag. I have gone backpacking in pouring rain and my down bags have never caused an issue.

Camp Kitchen

I’m sure everyone’s camp kitchen looks a little different. I also pack a ton of stuff that I use at home normally in the kitchen outside when I go car camping. I think a lot of the times, people think it’s essential to have specific gear for camping outdoors. I beg to differ. I’d rather spend money elsewhere than having that fancy pot and pan specifically made for camping. But I’m also not saying you shouldn’t buy those things. This is just what works for me.

For backpacking, I usually live off of freeze-dried and dehydrated meals. The thought of having to clean any sort of dishes with the leave no trace principles in mind just bugs me just a little bit. I am hoping to eventually create less waste but for now, I find it these backpacking meals to be most convenient for how I backpack. All I need is a Jetboil Zip, a spork, isobutane fuel and a lighter and dinner is served. However, I am constantly thinking about how I can diversify the meals I eat while being in the backcountry and one day, I shall find that perfect pho recipe to make outdoors.

If you are like me and like to eat freeze-dried meals, don’t forget to pack a water filter! I wouldn’t risk drinking water straight from the streams and lake as there could be a lot of bacteria in it even though the water might seem clean. Think about all the animal friends you’re sharing the land with. Also, some areas do require you to carry a bear canister but some areas are safe to just use an Ursack or a animal-proof stuff sack to store your food and scented items.

Furniture and Illumination

I am a pretty basic girly when it comes to car camping furniture. I haven’t gone out to do a ton of dispersed camping yet and figured I would need at least a table in order to have a more comfortable experience cooking and eating outside. However, these items have worked for me for when I am car camping at an established campsite, most likely with a picnic table and a fire pit as well.

I’ve included illumination here because I really don’t have too much to share in terms of furniture. Why do I have 4 different types of lanterns? I’m not sure either but I can tell you the MPOWERED Solar String Lights have been amazing. When I feel like doing it (it’s a little bit of work), I like to wrap the string lights around the tent poles so that the inside of my tent can light up. I’ve camped in pretty remote and dark places so having ample lighting makes me feel more safe. A power bank is a must if you’re going to spend several days out there! I would love to have a battery pack with a larger charge capacity in the future but that’s on my wish list.

I didn’t think I needed the side table until I started using it. It’s great having a low table near the fire pit to set your drinks and food on. I also bring the Flexlite with me backpacking but possibly looking to downsize to a sit pad instead. I realized how useful it is when it comes to snow camping.

Hiking Gear

Aside from packing the essentials for setting up camp comfortably, there are many other things that go into my backpacking backpack. I’ve been using the Osprey Aura AG 50 since 2018 and I’ve been able to comfortably pack for trips that are 1 to 2 nights. I have pushed the limits of the pack and packed for a 4 day/3 night mountaineering trip up to Mount Baker. After the trip, I am definitely debating getting a pack with a larger capacity.

Nonetheless, here are items that I pack for every single backpacking trip. I recently started using a Kula Cloth instead of bringing huge amounts of toilet paper. I still do but only when I absolutely need to use toilet paper. I know some people are not fans for a water reservoir, but I personally really enjoy having one because I don’t have to always set my pack down when I want a sip of water. The side pockets on the Aura that I own aren’t the most user friendly when it comes to taking my water bottles in and out, besides, I usually fill the side pockets with my tent poles and camp chair.

A lot of the items listed here are also part of the ten essentials that you should always pack with you on a day hike or overnight trip. However, I have been able to get by without packing some of it.

What’s not shown here are the amount of snacks that I bring with me on hikes!

The Garmin InReach Mini requires a separate subscription service in order for it to be functional but I like to have it for peace of mind especially when I’m out and about doing solo trips or doing long stretches of road tripping without cell service.