Plan and Prepare
Overnight Backpacking Checklist
Must-have gear for overnight backpacking and camping trips on the Appalachian Trail.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Setting up your personal shelter
- Storing your food properly & bear safety knowledge
- Backcountry bathroom skills
- Backcountry navigation skills, including how to read a map and compass
- A.T. safety skills
- Emergency preparedness
- Reporting incidents
- Knowledge of the 7 Leave No Trace principles and how they apply on the A.T.
- Learn these essential skills and more by visiting appalachiantrail.org/explore
CLOTHING
- Hiking shirt (base layer top)
- Hiking shorts/pants/skirt/leggings/dress (base layer bottom)
- Underwear/bra
- Insulating mid-layer
- Insulating jacket
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Socks
- Hiking boots/shoes
- Camping/sleeping clothes
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Sun hat/protection
- Blaze orange clothing during hunting season
EQUIPMENT
- First aid kit – including personal medication
- Personal shelter (tent, tarp, hammock)
- Backpack
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Map/compass/trail guide
- Water bottles or bladder
- Emergency Whistle
- Water treatment system
- Bear canister (best method) or the gear needed to do a proper bear hang (durable stuff sack and ~50 foot of rope/cord)
- Lighter
- Headlamp
- Trowel and unscented hand sanitizer
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries – including handwashing kit
OPTIONAL
- Rain pants/skirt
- Bug spray
- Camp shoes/sandals
- Hiking poles
- Gaiters
- Bandanas
- Buff/neck gaiter
- Pocket knife
- Cookware and stove
- Mug/cup
- Earplugs
- Town clothes
- Spice kit
- Satellite communication device
- Battery charger for phone
FOOD
- Enough calorie-dense, lightweight food to last you to the next resupply point or your end point
- Food storage system
- Bear canisters recommended
- Bear hang set up: ~50 foot rope & bag for all edible and scented items.
- Fuel & lighter
- Stove & pot
- Spoon / spork
- Mug
Download the PDF version of this checklist