Camping items on the ground
Camping items on the ground

How To Pack Your Life In A Backpack

It’s time for gear chat! The most exciting part of planning your thru-hike in my opinion, is to check out and acquire all the equipment you need. But what you need and what you want may differ.

Disclaimer: I’m not an ultra-light hiker, nor do I aspire to be. For some of you some of my gear choices will seem luxurious, while some might wonder how I can go by with so little. It’s so individual! I think this will work for me, and I’m sure I learn along the way and might change up my gear as I go. So let’s start!

Continue reading to learn more, written by Ines Zettl.

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Ines Zettl

Hello there, Trekkers! I‘m Ines, your girl from Austria, and in 2025 I’m thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I love sunsets and naming all the flowers I pass while hiking. While I had my fair share of climbing mountains in the Alps, my longest trek (in terms of consecutive days) so far has been one week - a far cry from what the AT is! This will become the adventure of a lifetime. I’m truly excited for all the highs and lows the AT can throw at me, so hike along with me to discover the wonders and pains that makes a thru-hike.

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Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

ゾーイ・ゲイツ
Editor at Backpacker

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In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
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For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

フィリップ・ヴェルナー
Author and Backpacker