Complete and comprehensive 3-Day backpacking checklist for items you may need on your camping or hiking trips. These are items you must always keep in your backpack when you go camping, hiking or trekking. After years of my experience, I hope the list can be useful to others.
We cover everything you need for a successful backpacking trip, from essentials like shelter and insulation to extras.
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In most cases, the items are not very heavy so its always worth it to keep them in your backpack. This 3-day backpacking checklist has saved me a lot of times from hours of trouble and I have been quite religious in keeping the checklist updated after my experiences.
3-Day Backpacking Essentials
Everything you need to know about what gear, food, clothing, toiletries, and backpack you’ll need when hiking for multiple days on trails.
Related: Essential Camping Checklist
My 3-day backpacking checklist covers:
What should I pack for a 3 day backpacking trip?
I share every item I bring on a 3-day weekend backpacking trip in the spring, summer, and fall seasons. I hope that this comprehensive backpacking checklist will help simplify your planning, help you figure out what you can trim out.
3-Day Backpacking Checklist – Details
I will tell you briefly about what I use in this 3-day backpacking checklist and why. It may help you choose your required item.
1. Backpack
Backpack is the most vital item in this 3-day backpacking checklist. You must ensure that the backpack is sturdy, has enough space and compartments, lightweight and at the same comfortable for long hours.
There are more than several backpacks at reasonable prices available, but my tried and tested ones is Deuter Aircontact Lite 65+10 Backpacking Pack. Its extra lightweight, and the outer fabric adjusts to your body contours so you can carry it all day with comfort.
It comes with max ventilation technology to keep your back cool. Its torso is also adjustable to so you can adjust it as per your height or comfort.
It has a hip belt for heavier load management. Adjustable straps transfer the load from shoulders onto hips.
Related: Best Hiking Backpack under 100$
It has abundant internal and external loops, side compression straps, signal whistle and hydration system compatible. With all these utility features, strong and reliable fabric, this backpack is my favorite for longer backpacking trips.
It comes in different models for women and men.
| For Men | For Women |
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| Check Price | Check Price |
2. Camping Tent
3-day backpacking checklist will be incomplete without a camping tent. Although obvious, it had to be included in the list.
There are variety of camping tents for all sorts of types, sized and weather conditions. If you plan to camp alone, the obvious choice is to take a 1-person backpacking camping tent with you. If you plan to camp with your friends, you can always share the load in your backpack and take a larger camping tent. Larger camping tent allow socialization however, it depends on your needs. Mostly I travel alone and take light-weight camping tent with me.
My recommended lightweight camping tent is MSR Hubba Hubba NX. Although slightly expensive, I can always reply on this camping tent. It is a 3-seaosns tent which never disappointed me. The floor fabric is strong, never rips apart.
The complete tent weighs around 3.5 lbs. and takes about 18 inches x 6 inches space in your backpack. With this weight, size and reliability, no other camping tent matches this.
The tent comes with tent, one unified hub-and-pole system, rainfly, stakes, and guy lines. The floor print needs to be bought separately.
Backpacking Camping Tents under 100 dollars
If you are looking for relatively less expensive options, you must check out my blog Backpacking tents under 100 dollars.
3. Sleeping Pad
There is no scarcity of sleeping pads or airbeds when it comes to backpacking. I always prefer the lightweight option of sleeping pad. There are however a number of other options that you can consider based on your personal preferences and whatever makes you feel comfortable for the night. You may use any type that suits you, and its one of the compulsory items you can’t miss in a 3-day backpacking checklist.
I use Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad for my backpacking trips. It is one of the expensive sleeping pads as compared to the competitors but on the other hand it is very comfortable and lightweight. It doesn’t feel very cold in winters which makes it good for all weather conditions. A zero-profile, multi-functional, micro-adjustable valve offers convenient inflation and fast deflation. It weighs about 1.5 lbs. and dimensions are 5 x 10 x 5 inches.
What is the different between Sleeping Pad and Air Mattress and Airbed?
Air mattresses are large, bulky and less handy than the sleeping pads. Air mattresses resemble the mattresses at home and are thick for providing more comfort.
Sleeping pads are thin, lightweight and compact. Air mattress and sleeping pads have a gray line as some of the air mattresses available nowadays are quite thin and lightweight. Air mattresses are often also called airbeds.
If you are looking for a bulkier and thicker option and are not concerned much about the weight, you can go for airbed or air mattress as well. My blog 7 Best Air Mattress For Camping has a list of the best of airbeds option for you.
4. Sleeping Bag
You need a cozy good night’s sleep to be fresh for the day so I would recommend to get the best of the sleeping bags. I personally go with the 6” loft Western Mountaineering Versalite 10 Degree Down Sleeping Bag and I can say it’s the best sleeping bags I have used. Its definitely the warmest of all sleeping bags I have tried and very comfortable. It has 20D high thread-count fabric. It has a full-length coil zipper unlike the sleeping bags that have the zipper only on the head side which is quite irritating.
It weighs just 2 pounds; however, I recommend to have compression sack to store your sleeping bag. That way, it takes very little room.
Best Sleeping Bag for Backpacking:
If you are looking for a cheaper option, I suggest you go with Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Bag that gives a great value for what you pay.
Best Sleeping Bag for Backpacking under 50 dollars:
5. Headlamp
Strongly recommend to take a headlamp with you on your backpacking trip, that’s why I put this right on the top half of the 3-day backpacking checklist.
Even if you have a camp LED or emergency light, don’t save the space and get a headlamp which will help you a great deal.
I use Black Diamond Revolt headlight. It has powerful light as well as a red night light that helps you see at night without blinding the other people around you. The night vision has proximity and strobe settings.
The headlight gives a maximum of 300 lumens and runs on AAA batteries. I use the rechargeable batteries with the headlight.
If you are looking for a USB rechargeable headlight, I would recommend to go for CREE LED headlight. It is very strong (500 lumens), has adjustable strap, rotating enclosure for red light, built-in SOS and strobe modes and weighs just 3.5 oz.
6. Tent Lighting
The most common tenting accessory after the camping tent is certainly the lighting; hence it is always a part of my tent pack and I included in 3-Day backpacking checklist. My blog Camping Tent Lighting Ideas will let you pick out the exceptional lighting choice for you. Most of the tenting tents do now not come with lights, or even in case your camping tent comes with a light, its advocated you hold a spare light with you for various benefits.
There are lots of options in terms of getting a decent light for your tenting tent ranging from traditional torches, gasoline lanterns and current rechargeable LED lights. Needless to say, you need to go organized on tenting; in case your LED is rechargeable then you should make sure it is absolutely charged before you leave; or if the LED runs on batteries, it’s miles constantly exact to hold spare ones with you.
The best options I would recommend are:
 | Coleman Multi-Panel Lantern | ● 4 detachable light panels ● Docking station ● Water resistant design ● Long distance lighting ● Convenient charging ● Light for longer ● Multi-panel design lasts more hours |
3-Day backpacking checklist – Tent Lighting
7. Trekking poles
It is best not to be a superman and grab the trekking poles when you are going for hiking or trekking. This is a must item if you want to trek or hike for a 3-day backpacking checklist. Good trekking poles help you lessen the strain on your knees when you are going downhill. For uphill climbing these help to share the load on hips and knees to arms. They are very handy in multiple terrains and even walking across streams. There is no shyness in using the trekking poles.
I recommend to get the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles. These are 100% carbon fiber construction and serve the purpose best. I think mine will last for life long. These are very lightweight and has a firm, breathable and moisture-wicking grip. It comes with non-scarring rubber and carbine tech tips. It comes in 4 sizes; 100cm, 110cm, 120cm, and 130cm. The design is fold able so you can carry easily in your backpack.
8. Communication device
Communication device other than your cellphone is a must item for a 3-Day backpacking checklist. Your cellphones might not work out in the mountains and you need to have a reliable satellite communication device.
There are a lot of options for such devices. My personal favorite the possibly the most reliable device is Garmin In Reach Explorer Satellite Communicator.
Garmin is the largest GPS devices manufacturer so you can be at peace about the coverage and reliability when you buy this.
You might feel that these devices are bit costly but they are worth every penny you spend. These communicate over satellite so you don’t have to worry about cellphone tower coverage. And in case the time come when you are stuck out in nowhere, these devices can be the only way you can communicate for emergency help.
I will list down the main functions you can do with the device that you may find useful, specially for those who have not used it before:
- 100% global coverage using Iridium satellites (means every part of the world is covered)
- 2-way text messaging possible with subscription
- Interactive SOS to the 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center
- Track and share your location with family and friends
- Waterproof IPX7
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Pairs with cellphones
If you are looking for a cost effective device, you can also opt for Spot 3 Satellite GPS Messenger which has lesser functionality but serves the purpose.
9. First Aid Kit
How can a 3-Day backpacking checklist be complete without the first aid kit. Smallest of cuts or itches can ruin your day, so you not only have to equip yourself with emergency but with expected annoyances as well.
I got this ultra-light Adventure Medical Kit for under 30 bucks and am quite impressed with the contents. It is tailored for camping and adventure trips so it has quite a lot of useful items like:
Adventure Medical Kits Amk Ultra 0.7 Scout First
- Multiple types of bandages
- Adhesives
- Fabric
- Gauzes
- Sterile
- Adherent and non-adherent dressing
- Nitrile gloves
- Hand Wipe Blister
- Duct Tape
- Fracture / Sprain 1 Bandage
- Elastic with Velcro
- Safety Pins
- Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps
- Medication like (After Bite Wipe Antihistamine, Aspirin, Ibuprofen)
- Wound Care Antiseptic Wipe
- Alcohol Swab
- Bandage Tape
- Tincture of Benzoin Topical Adhesive
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment for Single Use
Other than the first aid kit, make sure you carry everything that is specific to your outdoor needs such as
- Anti-allergy medication
- Any other skin / eye care products you generally use outdoors
Having a first aid kit in the need of time is good, but it is always better to also have a basic training of medical procedures that can help in emergency situations and save yours or someone else’s life. You don’t actually need to be a doctor for that. I recommend you complete First Aid & CPR course either by attending a short session near you live or an online session.
First Aid & CPR trainings are given by world renowned organizations such as Red Cross or National CPR Foundation and is usually one day class.
10. Stove
The 3-day backpacking checklist will be incomplete with the stove. I have added pre-cooked meals in the list as well but if you are going to stay outdoors for 3 days, you must take a stove with you.
I usually only boil water on it so I recommend this small and handy Jetboil Flash Camping Stove Cooking System. This JetBoil stove is really light about 14 oz., very fast, boils water within 100 seconds and is compatible with dozens of accessories like pots, skillets and coffee press.
Related: Best camping Stoves
11. Fuel / Gasoline
To run the stove, you need gasoline. You can pretty much get a canister from any gas station. Though I use Jetboil Jetpower 4-Season Fuel Blend which contains 230 grams of fuel and I would say enough for a 3-day trip. It can be used all year round in hot as well as severely cold temperatures. The fuel is propane/isobutane which is good for constant flow of the vapors.
If you plan to use the stove for more than thrice a day, you might consider getting 2 canisters. I usually use the burner for coffee, oatmeal and dinner and can use one canister for 3 days.
12. Whistle
I see hardly anyone carries a whistle around on camping or hiking trips but this is something I strongly recommend and thus included in the 3-day backpacking checklist.
Whistles don’t take space or weight; you can easily tie one with your backpack or trousers. Whistles are extremely useful in case you get separated from the group, you are in trouble, you need to send signal to people who are at a distance, signal people at night or even to scare aware the wild animals. Animals generally do not like loud noises and it is one way to deter the animals though some people differ on it.
Considering the price and the fact it hardly consumes any space or weight, I’d recommend to keep one in your backpack.
You can get Noopel Emergency Whistle which is inexpensive and very loud. It can whistle up-to 120 decibel sound, is water resistant and weights just 2.5 oz.
13. Water bottles
Water bottle is another main item which should not be skipped from the 3-day backpacking checklist. Yes, you can get ordinary water bottles and most of the backpacks have water can holders but I prefer soft bottles that can be reused and rolled up when empty to save space.
I recommend Platypus Softbottles for backpacking. These are soft, foldable, ultra-light, BPA-free, BPS-free and phthalate-free, does not retain flavor and has a stable base for standing upright on the flat surface. Its design is tapered from the middle which makes it easier to hold in hands. Once empty, it can be rolled up into small enough size to be put away in a pocket.
14. Water Filter System
Unless you are definitive that you will always have a good supply or drinkable clean water sources and streams on your hike (which is quite unrealistic) add water filter to your 3-day backpacking checklist.
I use Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter High-Capacity Water Filter System which works great filtering dirty water. It is large enough to provide water for the group of people. If you are backpacking alone, you can try a smaller 2-liter version of the filter too.
It is fairly easy to use. It utilized gravity to filter the water. It meets all EPA/NSF guidelines for removal of 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, including giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, salmonella, cholera.
It uses replaceable filter that can filter up-to 1,500 gallons. It can filter the dirty water at a rate of 1.75 liters per minute.
The complete kit weighs just around 11.5 ounces so there is no reason not to have this as a part of your traveling backpack.
15. Water Filter Tablets
Water is the source of life and you just can’t live without it. I always keep a backup option for water filtration and that is why added it in 3-day backpacking checklist.
Water purification tablets are a great backup, inexpensive, light and handy.
These are effective against micro-organisms. Each tablet usually can purify up-to a liter of water. If you are used to of gallons, then considering using 4 tablets for a gallon. I always keep Katadyn Micrpur MP1 Water Purification Tablets in my backpack as a backup for water filtration system.
16. Camping Mug
You can not have a luxury 7 course meal on your backpacking trip but one thing you will be using a lot when it comes to drinking or eating is a good camping mug. I have added it as a separate item in the 3-day backpacking checklist just because it is way more important than additional kitchen utensils we will discuss later.
You don’t need to look further, just go and get the GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug. GSI has been making campfire accessories since 1985 and sure have evolved when it comes to utility and design of their products.
GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug will keep your drink warm on the travel for longer durations. It is produced using bpa-free, non-leaching polypropylene and accompanies a fabric wrapped protected neoprene sleeve, non-slip balance, and sealable Sip-It top to keep the contents warm (or cold) and free from spills, trail residue, and critters.
A durable webbing handle gives an incredible grasp, at that point falls flush for minimal stockpiling in your pack. The Infinity Mug holds 17.5 liquid ounces yet weighs simply 3.5 ounces, making it light enough for even the choosiest, ounce-shaving through-explorer.
All GSI Outdoors items are completely warrantied against maker’s imperfections in materials and workmanship.
17. Eating Utensils
You need to eat well, and be strong enough on your backpacking. I always take the Titanium Spork on all my backpacking trips for a million reasons and each worth getting it and putting on the 3-day backpacking checklist.
To start with, it is one and only utensil that you will need. It can act as spoon, fork or bottle opener. Whether you are having pre-cooked meal, ramen noodles or soup, this alone will meet all requirements.
Second, it is super cheap costing under 15 bucks. With this quality, there is no reason not to buy it.
Thirdly, it weighs less than one ounce! Yes, 0.8 oz. to be exact.
It is built with strong titanium material, comes with a pouch and is perfect for camping, hiking, trekking or backpacking.
18. Knife
Among all kitchen utensils, knife is the most important on the 3-day backpacking checklist. Not only it can help you cut your food, it can help you survive if you are in any case stuck in wilderness for a long time.
I recommend the lightweight and strong Gerber Paraframe Knife. It is super easy to clean and carry. It is foldable and can be locked in open position. You can attach it with a clip to your pocket as well.
It is made of strong titanium nitrate-coated partially serrated metal.
In case you want to go fancy, you can always go for the pro Victorinox Swiss Army Fieldmaster Knife. It is possibly the most famous and mainstream pocket knife brand and comes with a variety of foldable knives and other survival gadgets.
19. Bear Cannister
Its always good to keep food safe from animals. Bear cannister are made up of strong materials that keep food safe from animals and have been tested on bears.
If you are thinking of removing this item from your backpack, you must check out the rules for backpacking in your state because some of the states spots it is mandatory to use these like Yosemite, Sequoia King’s Canyon, Olympic, Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Glacier, Boundary Waters, Great Smokey Mountains, Shenandoah, and Denali.
BearVault BV450 is large enough to carry your food for 3-4 days. If you are travelling with your partner, I believe you can keep food for 2 days in it safely.
BearVault BV450 is strong and has been testing with bears to last more than 48 hours, rugged enough to be used as a camp stool.
It is transparent, and you can keep all sorts of food in it like oatmeal, trailmix or no-cook meals.
20. Skin Care Products
You can elaborate the skin care products as per your requirements in your 3-day backpacking checklist. The must have items for me are:
Lip Balm:
I have really dry lips and you can get dry lips as well on your long outdoor backpacking with lack of hydration. JACK BLACK – Intense Therapy Lip Balm is my favorite when it comes to lip balms. It keeps lips protected from UVA and UVB rays.
Jack Black Lip Balm contains skin conditioners and antioxidants and has been carefully balanced with a lot of certified organic ingredients like vitamin E (known as an antioxidant superstar) and green tea (provides anti-inflammatory properties). It is also FDA approved.
Sunscreen or Sunblock:
Hiking specially in mountains and high altitudes can get your skin exposed and you can end up with burns rapidly than in usual outdoor activities. A good sunscreen can save the trouble and pain.
I use Thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50 which is quite amazing and gives an excellent protection against UV rays. It is SPF50 (which is the highest) and can give water resistance for up-to 80 minutes. It is top rated by EWG skin deep database with a “#1 rating since 2010.
21. Tooth Paste & Tooth Brush
Its basically in every checklist so had to be in 3-day backpacking checklist as well. You can pretty much take any tooth paste or tooth brush you like. Don’t forget to take it on your trip unless you want to visit a dentist at the end of your vacations.
I get the 2 tooth-brush pack Travel Charcoal Toothbrush is handy, foldable and has ultra-soft bristles.
22. Insect Repellent
Insect repellent is a life savor if you are like a mosquito magnet like me. Specially when you are in the wilderness, do expect really well fed wild and big mosquitoes and other bugs. This is a permanent item in my 3-day backpacking checklist.
Sawyer’s Premium Insect Repellent does the job well for me, and comes in variety of packs starting rom 2 ounce which makes it perfect and light for backpacking. Its effective for 8-12 hours and it contains 20% Picaridin — more effective at repelling biting flies than DEET; repels disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks (Lyme and Powassan), chiggers, and more.
23. Trowel
Dreaded by most of the backpackers, when you have to go, you have to go. You can hold if for 3 days, so better be prepared for some poop covering. You don’t want to leave your marks at the campsite do you!
The trowel makes the task fairly easily. Most of the people use the nature’s materials, sticks, rocks to dig the hole but I strongly recommend you buy a simple trowel. It won’t cost much, neither it weighs a lot but does the job far better than doing it with stones and sticks. You need to dig at least 6- inches for your poop, and without a trowel it will be quite a headache to be honest.
I use GSI Outdoor Cathole Trowel Shovel that weighs merely 3.1 ounces and costs less than 10 bucks. It has sharp serrations easily cut through matted forest flora, root cutters can be deployed for really tough situations. It is made up of recycled polycarbonate, continually encouraging less impact on nature.
24. Toilet Paper
I think I don’t need to explain that! But it definitely is has to be in our 3-day backpacking checklist. Just get any toilet paper that suits you.
25. Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are useful for quite a fee purposes but the most important one is when you finish #2. There is nothing more gross than going to a campsite and finding lots of poop staring at you! I always clean up and take Ziplock bags for TP and trash which I keep in a stuff sack which is dark and opaque. Must include this in your 3-day backpacking checklist.
26. Baby Wipes
You need to clean up after toilet or might need it otherwise since you can-not take shower on your backpacking trips unless you are going near a waterfall or a stream. This makes the wipes a vital item in our 3-day backpacking checklist.
All Natural Intimate Feminine Wipes are all natural wipes that you can use on your body, hands, face and intimate areas as well without worrying about chemicals. These are pH-balanced, free of alcohol, chlorine, parabens, and dye free.
This relatively inexpensive packet costs less than 5 bucks and carries 42 wipes which is enough for a 3-day camping trip.
27. GPS Device
This is an optional item in my 3-day backpacking checklist and it really depends on you if you want to take an extra GPS device other than the satellite communication device or not. I recommend you do so if you are planning to go alone in far areas where there will be no cellphone coverage, easy markings and directions or you plan to go in areas not so common for hiking or trekking.
There are multiple options when it comes to GPS device. The idea is to have a backup other than smart phone maps in case your cellphone is out of coverage area and you want to find our way to home or a camp site.
If you are out of cellphone service area, you can do following things:
- Have offline maps installed in your smartphone and make sure you have extra battery banks for smartphone charging.
- Some of the offline maps that you can use on iOS and android smartphones are:
- Buy a GPS that works without cellphone so you can track your way through the camp site or return home.
One of the best GPSs that you can use is Garmin eTrex 30x Handheld GPS Naviator. Garmin eTrex GPS is easy to use, however I strongly recommend you save your important location coordinates in the GPS and get it ready before leaving for your trip.
28. Compass
I highly recommend to have this item in your 3-day backpacking checklist. Most of the people do not take compass with themselves but when you are out of all the technology, it is the best and the only navigational gadget you will be left with.
Do learn the basics of offline map reading, sense of directions and compass reading. It does not take long to learn how to use the compass.
Make sure when you are using the compass, you are away from large metal objects like power lines etc. Compass behaves strangely near large metal objects so you might feel misguided.
I use the Sportneer Military Lensatic Sighting Compass which is very accurate, easy to read, in-expensive and light.
29. GoPro / Camera
If you go for a backpacking trip in wilderness and don’t take any phones, that will be just cruel! Your Instagram followers need to know! Always keep a camera on 3-day backpacking checklist because your cellphones will eventually die. And I’m sure you don’t want to miss the pictures there, do you?
When it comes to adventure photography, no other gadget comes close to GoPro.
I recommend the below GoPro, and if you do already own one, you can use that.
30. Tripod
I will put tripod as optional item in 3-day backpacking checklist. If you are into photography and want to take those long exposure night shots capturing the constellations and moving stars, then you must take a separate tripod for your camera.
TYCKA Rangers 56” Compact Travel Tripod is a great tripod with excellent quality, very light and strong aluminum frame.
If you are not taking your DSLR with you, then you should take this item out of the checklist.
31. Jacket
Now we come to clothing. Just can’t miss such an important item from my 3-day backpacking checklist. Although obvious, this gives me a chance to think what kind of weather I would expect during the backpacking to make sure I have everything packed accordingly. You don’t want to be the guy in the group who forgot something basic and then complains on all the trip do you?
This Eddie Bauer Men’s CirrusLite Down Jacket is my all time favorite for backpacking trips. It is ultralight, versatile, packable and super warm.
Related: What to wear in fall and winter? and What to wear in spring and summer?
32. Raincoat & Rain-pants
You can always check the weather forecast before leaving, and if there is any chance of being wet, add it to your 3-day backpacking checklist. If its sunny on all days, it is needless to take extra burden with you.
I recommend the FROGG TOGGS All Sport Rain Suit which comes with a raincoat and rain-pants. It is made up of non-woven polypropylene breathable material which is incredibly durable. It is a full-length, easy movement cut with regular sleeves and adjustable waist jacket. It has fully adjustable and detachable hood that can be rolled under the collar. It has comfortable elastic sleeve openings to block the air ventilation from sleeves.
The pants feature T30 strong non-woven polypropylene material which is lightweight and waterproof. It is comfortable 1″ elastic waistband with adjustable cord and cord lock.
33. Warm inner base layers
Inner base layers MUST be in your 3-day backpacking checklist if you are going anywhere below 15 degrees. In wilderness and open areas with high winds, the real feel gets really cold even though the temperature does not show it.
I recommend the below. Also you can have the similar model for women.
3-day backpacking checklist – Inner Layers for Men
For women, you can go with this Rocky Thermal Underwear for Women Fleece Lined Thermals Women’s Base Layer Long John Set which is very light, soft and warm. It can keep you comfortable in cold weather and also settles in nicely with outer wear.
34. Shorts
Depending on the weather, you must have a couple of shorts at least in your 3-day backpacking checklist. Walking and cardio for all day can get you pretty warm so I always wear shorts unless it is really cold or snowy weather. My favorite is Wrangler Men’s Canvas Utility Hiker Short. It is very comfortable and rugged. Strong and soft fabric and perfect for hiking and backpacking.
It all depends on your personal choice. Get the shorts that you are comfortable for walking long hours of the day.
35. Sports Bra
You need a comfortable and absorbing sports bra for your 3-day backpacking checklist. You definitely don’t want anything fancy for your travel.
I recommend this Champion Women’s Spot Comfort Full-Support Sport Bra (left picture) which is made of nylon and spandex and is very comfortable. It has secure hook and eye enclosure; you can easily wash with hands and wicks for moisture management. Smooth lining and bottom band feel great against skin and doesn’t hurt for long travels with backpack.
My second favorite is the Under Armour Women’s Mid Printed Sports Bra (right picture) It is made of mainly polyester and has elastic enclosure. It fits with the skin pretty tight and is ultra-light. It has double-layer HeatGear fabric delivers superior next-to-skin feel.
36. Quick dry undies
ExOfficio Women’s Give N Go Sport Mesh Print Hipkini is always on my 3-day backpacking checklist. This is the most comfortable undie I ever tried.
They are delicate, the hues are clear, they don’t tie or roll, and the edging texture is very pleasant. Just make sure to cut the label with the scissors before you use them as its just annoying on long backpacking trips.
These are available in 2 sizes only.
37. Hiking Socks
I always keep 2 pairs of socks on my 3-day backpacking checklist. I always alternate them and wash when I get the chance.
My go to and recommend socks for backpacking are the Darn Tough Vermont Hiker Boot Full Cushion Sock.
I have been using the Darn Tough Vermont Hiker socks for years and they still seem new with all the use and abuse. These are available in 3 sizes and multiple colors. These are made up of more wool and bit of nylon. These are machine washable and fully cushion on the bottom.
38. Hiking Boots
The most under rated item on the 3-day backpacking checklist is the hiking boots. If you have shoes that are not the right ones for you, your backpacking trip most likely will be messed up, you will be in pain and might injure yourself as well.
You must get tough, rugger, waterproof, comfortable and breathable boots.
There are quite a few boots that you can use, caterpillar ones are also lasting. However, my favorite are the Oboz Bridger Low B-Dry Hiking Boots. They are available for men and women.
Don’t try to save money on the boots. Good hiking boots are always a bit heavy on the pocket but when you are out there camping or backpacking, the last thing you want is to have a ripped up torn boot.
39. Spare clothes
Always keep spare clothes and make them a part of your 3-day backpacking checklist. I always keep extra socks, undies, pants, shorts and shirt. You never know when your clothes get into something and get torn, wet or unwearable.
40. Camp Shoes
You must keep a pair of camp shoes in your 3-day backpacking checklist. For the time you are not backpacking, you need a comfortable pair of shoes or sandals that you can wear, walk around and let your feet get some air.
I used to wear Nike sandals but my favorite camp shoes now are Teva Women’s Hurricane XLT Sandal. These are very light, completely made of rubber, reasonably high sole (about one inch).
Men can get similar Teva Men’s Hurricane XLT Sandal. It is almost the same as the one for women with a bit higher sole (about 1.5 inches).
41. Gloves
Always keep gloves on your 3-day backpacking checklist. Gloves keep your hands protected against brushing with hiking poles, trees, branches or rocks. You can save a large amount of blisters if you keep on your gloves at all times.
I use Mountain Made Outdoor Gloves for Men & Women which feel very comfortable and reasonably warm. I do recommend to wear inner gloves if you plan to backpack in sub-zero temperatures.
Related: Best cold weather hunting gloves
42. Sunshades
Don’t miss sunshades or sunglasses on your 3-day backpacking checklist. The sun rays get really strong as you hike on the mountains so get a good pair of UV blocking sunglasses when you head out.
Related: Best camping Sun shades and shelters
43. Hat
Hat is a must for my 3-day backpacking checklist. It doesn’t take space; I always tie it along the strap of the backpack. It keeps you safe form the sun rays and gets you going for longer duration.
44. No Cook Food
I always keep some no-cook meals in my 3-day backpacking checklist. It depends on what kind of location you are planning to backpack. If you don’t expect any fresh food, then pack some ramen, oatmeal or anything that you like. I always keep some of the no-cook food with me for the days I don’t feel like cooking or just hungry for a change of meal other than oat mean.
You can check the variety of no-cook meals perfect for backpacking trips in my detailed post best 5 no cook backpacking meals.
45. Lighter
If you are not a smoker, there is a good possibility you might miss out on getting a lighter so put it in your 3-day backpacking checklist. You can actually get a couple of lighters just in case. Not that they cost much and they are small enough to slip through the pocket so backup is always good.
You can get any lighters however I prefer BIC lighters that almost lost as long as you don’t lose them and never disappoint. You can find them in any super-market, gas station near you.
Download Backpacking Checklist 3 day ( Printable)
Download PDF file for this checklist and keep a print out when you are preparing for your backpacking trips.
If you liked the checklist, please go through the other blogs I have written than may be helpful for camping and backpacking.
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