“I could have sworn I had nicer clothes than this… this is 80% old gym stuff!”
Packing for a 3-week trip that evenly splits city adventures and backpacking is no easy feat.
I learned that first-hand when trying to pack for a 19-day Washington excursion that took us everywhere we could think to go.
I loaded up my messenger bag, carry-on, and my main piece of luggage – my Gregory Baltoro 75.
My Backpack: the Gregory Baltoro 75L
I bought this pack at REI, knowing absolutely nothing about backpacking. I’m a larger person, which means I have clothes that weigh more and take up more space than the average person – which is why I need a big pack no matter how long my trip is.
Inisde, I packed all my gear for backpacking, as many outfits as I could fit, and my Columbia hiking boots.
Backpacking Gear List: The Basics
Here’s a very basic rundown of what I packed for the backpacking portions of the trip:
- Tent: Hyke & Byke Yosemite 2P
- Sleeping Pad: ThermaRest Trail Scout
- Sleeping Bag: Hyke & Byke Katahdin 15
- Entertainment: Martin Backpacker Guitar
- Water Filtration: Lifestraw Flex Advanced Filter, 1 Gallon
- Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 350
- GPS/Rescue Beacon: Garmin InReach Explorer Plus
- Hydration Pack: Gregory Hydro 3D (3L capacity)
- First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kit Lightweight 7
- Pillow: Cocoon Air Core Inflatable Camping Pillow
Other Important Gear
Because this was going to be a work/vacation combo trip, I needed reliable power and wifi the entire time. This was especially important considering the first three days would be aboard the Amtrak Empire Builder.
Here was my setup:
The total cost of the setup was about $115 (including the data plan), which isn’t bad, all things considered.
Next Up: Traveling to Cincinnati Union Station!
Stay tuned for more on my 3-week adventure to Washington!