Beginner's Guide to Solo Backpacking: Essential Gear and Setup for Your First Adventure, by Jon Conti on YouTube. 14 min 16 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 16 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Lay every item on the floor and sort it into sleep, kitchen, clothes, water and safety piles. Cut anything you did not use on your last trip.
Pack the sleeping bag first, loose in a waterproof stuff sack at the bottom of the main compartment. Keep it out of the compression straps so the loft is not crushed.
Put the tent body and fly in the middle, with poles and stakes in a side pocket or strapped outside. Keep the tent separate from the sleeping bag so a wet fly does not soak it.
Place the sleeping pad against the back panel or in a side pocket. Inflate it at home once to check for leaks before you leave.
Pack the stove, fuel canister, spork and small pot together in one stuff sack. Keep fuel upright and away from food.
Roll clothes into a dry bag and push it around the tent to fill gaps. Include a warm mid layer, rain shell, spare socks and a beanie even in summer.
Add a power bank and charging cable in a small zip pocket, and store all food in a hang bag or bear canister away from your sleeping area at camp.
Clip the water filter and a bottle to the outside of the pack, and put the headlamp, map, first aid kit and trowel in the lid or top pocket for quick access.
Lift the pack and adjust the hip belt first, then the shoulder straps and sternum strap. The weight should sit on your hips, not your shoulders.
Tips and common mistakes
Weigh the loaded pack before you leave and aim for around 15 pounds base weight for a first solo trip.
Line the main compartment with a trash bag or pack liner so everything stays dry in rain.
Keep the heaviest items close to your spine and above the hip belt for better balance.
Tell someone your route and return time, and carry a map or offline navigation that works without signal.
Questions
How much should a beginner backpack weigh?
Aim for 15 to 25 pounds total including food and water. A lighter pack is easier on your knees and lets you walk further.
Do I need a bear canister?
Only where rules require one. Elsewhere, hang food in a tree at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from the trunk, well away from your tent.
Can I use a daypack for an overnight trip?
A 34 litre pack works for one or two warm nights with compact gear. For colder trips or longer routes, choose 45 to 60 litres.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
