This fall, Dave and I went backpacking in the White Mountains with some friends who had no previous camping experience. They had NO gear to their names, so it was great fun to send them off to REI with a list of everything they would need to be safe and have a good time. Afterward, it was suggested I post the list here as a general gear guide for people new to backpacking.

So I’ve posted it below in all of its unedited glory. Please keep in mind that this trip took place in early October, so the list was based on cold (not freezing) and wet (not snowy) weather conditions. I figured I’d post it now in case anyone is looking for holiday gift ideas for the budding outdoorsman or woman in their lives.

Hello Friends!

As promised, here is a list of things you’ll kind of need (or die without) during our camping expedition. 🙂

Without further ado:

– Tent with Rain Fly – 2 person, something along these lines: REI Half-dome Tent

– Sleeping Bags – the lower rated the better. Sleeping bags are “rated” by degrees – so a 40 degree bag will keep you alive (not necessarily comfortable) at 40 degrees. I would say a 20 degree bag would be sufficient for this trip (to keep you alive AND comfortable).

– Sleeping Pads – There are lots to choose from, but this is a fairly popular one: Therm-a-Rest ProLite. Obviously, the thicker it is the more comfortable it is.

– Pillow – You laugh now, but you’ll thank me. It’s surprisingly uncomfortable to sleep an entire night on balled-up clothes. I use this cheap-o Base Camp Pillow and it’s totally comfy.

– Rain Gear – You can probably get away with just a rain jacket. But you’ll definitely want something waterproof in case we get some wet weather. The key to a happy camper is staying dry.

– Backpacks – A basic hiking backpack that will fit all of your shit. (I can’t believe that’s not a slogan for some backpack company.) See here: Backpacks

– Headlamps – We’ll try to steer clear of hiking at night, but you’ll want a headlamp to navigate around camp after dark. Any of these will do the trick: Headlamps

– Clothes – Lots of clothes/long underwear. Socks/hats/gloves. Avoid cotton at all costs. Wool/synthetic materials are the best.

– Hiking Boots/Shoes – Regular sneakers won’t cut it in the Whites. And you’ll stay dryer and be less likely to hurt yourself if you have proper shoes. A light hiking boot or trail runner is fine for what we’ll be doing. I just bought a pair of these bad boys (girls?): La Sportiva Sandstone GTX, which will give you an idea of how heavy a shoe you will need (you could even go a bit lighter than these and be just fine). Goretex/waterproof are best, but will be more expensive.

– Food – This is what we usually eat on the trail: Yum, dehydrated meals. There are a few different brands out there and they’re all kind of hit or miss. Some are pretty tasty, others are pretty tasteless. My recommendation is to just pick a few that sound good to you. We bring other snacks and treats too – tortillas and cheese to make sandwiches; coffee; snickers; whiskey (heh); etc. Food tends to get communal, so we can discuss beforehand what everyone wants to bring. The important thing is to get the “main” meals for yourselves.

– Eating Utensils – The infamous Spork. The handiest, dandiest tool you’ll ever use.

– Water Bottles – You probably already have one or two of these. This is the style/size we use: Nalgene

Phew, ok. Those are the basics, so to speak. Before you panic, you can RENT most, if not all, of the big ticket items (tent, sleeping bags/pads, backpacks, etc.). We charge $50/day. Ha! Just kidding. Go to REI’s Rental Site for a list of stores that rent gear. I’m sure EMS rents stuff as well. I honestly have no idea how much it costs, but it will be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying everything for what may be a one-time use.

Of course, let me know if you have any questions about this stuff. And I’ll keep thinking and add to the list if anything else comes to mind.

Yay! Camping!

Jess

I’m happy to report that, in spite of the soggy weather, our trip was a success and everyone had a great time. The views weren’t too shabby either.