For every woman backpacker, there are certain items they need in their gear list. These things make or break how much of an adventure you can have while on-the pack and so with these 20 essentials as well as others not listed here but equally important for any long distance trekker consider packing before setting out!
1. Knee High Boot
The iconic choice for protection against the elements, these will keep your legs warm and dry while also providing a stable walking surface if you find yourself trekking through rugged terrain. You’ll often need this accessory as soon as rain starts falling so plan accordingly!
2. Hiking Boots/Tennis Shoes
Alongside the knee high boot you’ll also need a good pair of hiking boots to help support your ankles and keep them in healthy shape. Your shoes will take a beating on this trip so make sure they can take it! Tennis shoes work well for this too, just be prepared to sacrifice the ankle support when trekking over rough terrain.
3. Long Sleeve Shirt/Jacket
With dense forests and alpine areas comes changing weather patterns and unpredictable atmospheric conditions: one minute its hot and sunny and the next its cold and raining so having a long sleeve shirt or jacket to coincide with your other garments is key in avoiding hypothermia when unexpected days turn chilly.
4. Leather backpack
A good Anuent leather backpack is essential for any trip. This can be your one big purchase so take the proper time to consider its style, capacity, and durability before committing!
5. Water Bottle
Having a source of clean water on you is often necessary for life sustaining reasons as well as comes in handy when needing to dampen down clothing or blankets on cold nights; all of which are better done without first exposing skin contact with unfiltered viruses and bacteria present around campsites (weeks – even months after rain). Having your own supply will save you the disappointment of finding out about this late in the day.
6. Compass
Precise navigation is key to finding your destination so bring a trusty compass with you, one that’s simple and rugged enough to withstand rugged terrain and inadvertent knocks. This will help keep you on track when conditions get bad and help avoid frustration as well as danger of getting lost in dangerous areas; we don’t want that now do we?
7. Waterproof Jacket & Trousers
If rain has taught us anything its that having clothing impermeable to moisture can save valuable warmth and comfort (and dignity) when conditions turn against you and the weather closes in. Be sure to consider where you’re heading because those remote trips often require gear tough enough for high reach.
8. Hat
Having a good quality hat to shield your face from the sun is important not just for vanity but also practicality. Buying a cheap option may have you constantly replacing it due to its sub standard construction so be sure to pick something that can take punishment without deteriorating too quickly.
9. Hiking Poles
Walking sticks or poles help save on energy by giving you something to lean on when descending steep slopes (which happens often) as well as providing enough support to help you balance on slippery surfaces without becoming unbalanced and taking a fall. We wouldn’t want you to slip now do we?
10. Knife
A decent blade can come in very handy, especially for food preparation and making fire by having the ability to easily cut branches or create kindling from dry-ish leaves that may be lying around.
11. Bandanna/Shemagh
This is another cheap accessory that helps shield your face from dust and debris as well as keeping warm when it gets cold at night (and morning). No point leaving home without it! Like most other items mentioned here this article its best to pick one up before you go if they don’t fit within your current budget.
12. Suncream & Lipbalm
Sun exposure is the biggest threat to the health of any traveler, especially women who are more susceptible to sunburns than men due to their lack of melanin in skin tissues (women have less melanin making them fair-skinned). How do you avoid this? Simple, get yourself some high-protection sunscreen and lip balm – no need for it to be expensive just effective!
13. Bandages/Sterile Wound Dressings
There are plenty of nasty insects out in the wild that can cause skin abrasions or lacerations which is why its always best to carry some sterile wound dressings in your backpack. A simple cut can easily get infected when you’re stuck out in remote areas where medical treatment may not be readily available so it pays to be prepared!
14. Water Bladder/CamelBak
Having a decent water bladder is important because there are plenty of places where fresh clean drinking water isn’t readily available and having something like our CamelBak means we don’t have to worry about carrying loads of bottles while hiking through unknown territory. Not everyone likes the taste of plastic so why not use a stylish metal water bottle?
15. Food
Always be sure to have enough food with you because trekking through the wilderness can be hard work and it certainly does your gut no good if its empty.
16. Knife Sharpener
A well crafted blade is useless unless its sharpened frequently so always remember to pack a decent knife sharpener in your backpack otherwise you might find yourself unable to cut anything with it because the edge is dull.
17. HeadTorch
Sometimes you need a little bit of light to see what you’re doing, especially when its dark and all there is around you is the sounds of wild animals moving about in the shadows. Be sure your headtorch can put out enough lumens to illuminate at least a small area so that you don’t have to stumble around blindly trying not to trip over or bump into anything.
18. Towel/Washcloth
Having something like our microfiber travel towel won’t just keep us clean but saves space because it packs up into nothing more than a few threads which means we can fit more kit into our rucksack without making them bulge out! They absorb water very quickly (just like our travel microfiber face cloth) so its not uncommon to find them useful in all sorts of situations.
19. Sleeping Bag Insulation Layer
Never rely on the environment for warmth because it isn’t always reliable (especially on cold nights), therefore it pays to be prepared and carry something like a thick Snugpak sleeping bag liner that can easily be packed away into your backpack when not needed. If you’re traveling alone then don’t forget to pick up an extra one!
20. Instant Coffee & Tea Bags
A hot drink is both refreshing and warming, especially after spending some time out in the wilderness where its easy to become covered with sweat or worse – get yourself covered with insect bites! Not everyone likes instant coffee or tea but its a life saver on cold mornings or during those moments of despair when you need something warming to lift your spirits!
21. Headlamp
An essential device to have with you especially if you’re exploring places that are either dark or where the light fails, headlamps are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes so be sure to pick one up that is both comfortable as well as giving off enough lumens to illuminate a decent area. Don’t forget extra batteries!
22. Koozies/Can Coolers
If you’re going on a camping trip then its always best to think ahead about how you can keep your food and drinks from spoiling during those hot summer months when the sun beats down on us relentlessly – koozies make excellent insulation for keeping our cans and bottles cool while camping or even at festivals They come in various designs too so why not pick one up that represents something important to you?
23. Headphones/Earplugs
Don’t forget your headphones and earplugs (two items which should always be used together) because they can make all the difference between a good nights sleep and an uncomfortable night filled with snoring, tossing and turning. If we don’t want to disturb anyone then I’d advise investing in some decent earplugs made from foam or silicon. Its amazing how quickly our minds get used to soothing sounds like rain hitting the roof of our tent while were sleeping so its good practice to have them on hand just in case.
24. Poncho/Rain Jacket
You never know when it might suddenly start raining while hiking through the woods or even during a visit to the zoo so its always good to have something waterproof on standby, don’t forget that ponchos are great for all sorts of activities where were outside but suddenly caught in a sudden downpour!
25. Stove/Cooking Kit
If you’re looking for an easy way to cook food outdoors then there are lots of cheap camping stoves available which are perfect for boiling water or heating up some soup, they burn white gas fuel which is cheap and readily available at just about any hardware store. If you’re off on a backpacking trip then opt for something lightweight with foldable legs that attach to the side of your rucksack – after all nobody wants to be carrying around excess weight when exploring!
Conclusion
If you’re a woman and happen to be an avid backpacker, we hope this article has helped guide your decision in what gear to carry. We’ve highlighted some of the most important items that are crucial for any trip whether it’s camping or hiking. For more information on how else our team can help with all things travel related, feel free to reach out!
