Essentials

As I’m sure you’re sick of hearing already, packing light is A Very Good Thing. On the other hand, there are many items that are essential and should be brought with you, and some others that are very handy but might not be immediately obvious. There is a checklist of stuff to take in Basics #11, but I’m also going to go through my recommendations of what to bring and what not to bring item by item. If you’re buying things specifically for your trip, remember that quality is definitely cheapest in the long run. In particular, the six things you do not want to skimp on are your main pack, daypack, camera, shoes, guidebook, and map(s). Each of these is vital to your trip, and saving money by buying a cheap version of any of them is asking for trouble.

The best book on selecting packs, shoes, and a number of other relevant items is Backpacking One Step at a Time by Harvey Manning (Vintage Books). Although this book is written primarily for campers, the sections on packs, boots, and equipment are more than worth the price. Manning has probably forgotten more about those three subjects than I ever knew.