Essential Hiking and Backpacking Accessories of 2023
Essential Accessories for Hiking and Backpacking — From the Ultra Cool to the Ultralight
June 3rd, 2023
It’s the little things. Beyond your backpack, tent, and sleeping bag, what else should you carry? What are other things to pack that you will actually need and use? We polled backpackers with a collective 100,000 miles of backpacking to get the answers.
Note that not everything on this list is carried on every trip. Our actual packing list varies based on the length of the trip, the terrain, the season, and overall climate.
If you’re looking for other backpacking gear for your trip, check out our Best Lightweight Tents guide, Best Backpacking Backpacks, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Sleeping Pads stories.
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Hiking and backpacking accessories checklist
| ACCESSORY | WEIGHT (OZ) |
|---|---|
| Footwear accessories | |
| Altra Gaiters | 2.6 |
| Gear Aid Aquaseal SR | 1.0 |
| Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Hiking Insoles | Varies |
| Gear repair and maintenance |
Footwear accessories
Gaiters - ALTRA GAITERS
If you’re wearing low hiking shoes or trail runners, you might know the frustration of getting rocks and grit in your shoes. It can be frustrating to stop and remove rocks, not to mention that fine grit can contribute to blister formation.
Enter the lightweight gaiter. These aren’t the gaiters that come up to your knees. These just cover the tops of your shoes and come up to just above the ankle. Bonus - they keep your shoelaces tied as well. For more fun patterns and colors, try Dirty Girl Gaiters.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE ALTRA GAITERS
Shoe Repair - GEAR AID AQUASEAL SR
It's common for backpackers to have hiking shoe and hiking boot failure in the wilderness...more often than we’d like to remember. Soles separate, toe caps delaminate, you name it. Gear Aid Aquaseal SR (the product formerly known as Freesole) has saved us many, many times and we’d never be without it. Many hikers will pre-treat their shoes if they know where problems happen regularly with their shoes, as does with certain trail running shoes.
VIEW PRICES ON Gear Aid AquaSeal SR
Insoles - Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Hiking Insoles
We would argue that if insoles can offer even a marginal improvement in foot fatigue or pain has major, positive consequences. When your feet hurt, life sucks. We've hiked thousands of miles of insoles, stopped using them, and then added them back again when our feet could not stand rocky trail any longer. Our guide to Should I use Insoles with Hiking Shoes? delves into the benefits of insoles for foot fatigue, blister prevention, foot alignment, and general footwear fit.
VIEW PRICES ON Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Hiking Insoles
Gear repair and maintenance
Gear Repair - TENACIOUS TAPE
Got a hole in your down jacket from a campfire ember? Use Tenacious Tape. Did your sewing kit needle poke a hole in your dry bag? Use Tenacious Tape. Did a rock put a hole in the bottom of your tent? Use Tenacious Tape.
We’ve repaired multiple Down Jackets with Tenacious Tape and that hasn’t come off in years. Multiple washings and heavy use too. This stuff works. These simple steps to repair down jackets take less than a minute and can revive gear practically back to new.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE TENACIOUS TAPE
Sleeping Pad Repair: Inflatable Repair Kit
There’s nothing worse than laying on your sleeping pad and hearing the sound pshhhhhhh as it deflates (ask us how we know). Unless you’re carrying a foam pad, carry a patch kit. It’s light and the kind of thing you’ll be so happy to have when you need it. Super glue and Aquaseal and multi-purpose Tenacious Tape can help in a pinch. Still, we recommend carrying the patch kit specific to the manufacturer of your sleeping pad. Many pads now come with the kit; replacement kits are also available. Alternately, Tenacious Tape makes a Flex Patches which are specifically designed for inflatables to form airtight and water tight seals needed for sleeping pads. Watch our video on how we repaired a sleeping pad while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE INFLATABLE REPAIR KIT
Sewing Kit - GEAR AID SEWING KIT
You never know when you might need to do emergency repairs on your clothes or shoes. You can swipe one from your next hotel stay, assemble one at home, or buy a lightweight kit from Gear Aid. We like the Gear Air kit because it has 2 needles - small and large. The large needle can be used with dental floss as thread for heavy duty repairs, such as shoes or boots. Sewing kits should be part of every Emergency Preparedness Kit. They are handy not just for gear repair, but for first aid, too.
VIEW PRICES ON THE GEAR AID SEWING KIT
Adhesive - KRAZY GLUE SINGLES
Super glue is another great multi-use product, which they now sell in mini single-use versions. Use it to close a minor wound or seal a blister until you can get proper medical care. And of course, use it to repair your gear too!
VIEW PRICES ON THE KRAZY GLUE SINGLES
Insect and tick protection
Tick Prevention - SAWYER PERMETHRIN PUMP SPRAY
While Permethrin isn't an item we'd carry on trail, it's an essential we use on our gear before we start a backpacking trip.
Ticks are the animals we fear most in the backcountry. They are found in all the US lower 48 states, and one species even in Hawaii. Non-native ticks are making their way to Alaska as well. And the diseases they carry...well, you really don’t want to catch one. [The Lone Star tick bite can make you allergic to red meat.]
Permethrin is an insecticide that can be sprayed onto clothing and gear to kill ticks. Studies have shown that it is more effective than repellents for ticks, but less effective for mosquitoes. Sawyer makes it easy to treat your clothes AND gear with permethrin with a pump spray. The fabric of most backpacks and backpacking tents can be treated with permethrin (check manufacturer’s information).
You can also buy factory treated permethrin clothing that lasts for 70 washes.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE SAWYER PERMETHRIN PUMP SPRAY
Insect Repellent - SAWYER PICARIDIN LOTION
Mosquitoes can ruin a trip. That’s why most hikers carry some kind of insect repellent. We like picaridin rather than DEET. Studies have found no significant differences in performance between the two but picaridin does not have the same neurotoxicity concerns. Like DEET, picaridin repels both mosquitoes and ticks. But unlike DEET, picaridin does NOT destroy your gear.
Studies show the lotion stays on your skin up to 14 hours vs only 12 hours for sprays.
The 4-ounce bottle is probably too much to carry on a trip so we recommend buying a smaller container and repackaging.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE SAWYER PICARIDIN LOTION
Tick Removal - TICK KEY
When hiking in tick country, it’s essential to check yourself for ticks every day. If you do get a tick, remove it quickly and easily with a tick key. Weighing 9 grams, there’s no reason not to carry one.
Just slide the tick into the slot on the Tick Key and pull the key away from your skin. Easy! It's something we carry on any section of the Appalachian Trail, for spring or summer hikes on the Superior Hiking Trail, and even on sections of the Pacific Crest Trail.
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Hygiene and waste management
Potty Trowel - DEUCE OF SPADES
Leave No Trace Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly. For human waste, we need to dig catholes 6-8” deep (4-6” in the desert) and 4-6” in diameter. This can’t be done with a hiking pole or a random stick, trust us on this. The Deuce of Spades potty trowel comes in 3 different weights (0.45, 0.60, and 1.0 ounce versions) and 8 different colors. You can use them handle up or handle down for even more digging power. It's made the worst part of the day a little better–and that's why it's made Treeline Review writer's Favorite Gear for the PCT list.
VIEW PRICES OF THE DEUCE OF SPADES
TP Removal - DOG WASTE BAGS
For toilet paper, we recommend packing it out. The easiest, cleanest, cheapest way we’ve found is to use dog waste bags. Drop your used TP on the ground, put the dog waste bag over your hand and wrist, and pick up the TP. With your clean hand, pull the bag over the other hand and tie off the bag...just like you would with dog waste. We recommend unscented bags.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE DOG WASTE BAGS
Nail Clippers - SO ILL
Fingernails and toenails break easily and often in the backcountry and nail clippers make the situation much easier to deal with. Even if you’re going out for a short overnight, we’d still recommend carrying nail clippers. The So iLL nail clippers come in two sizes and the green color makes them easier to see in your bag. This is a brand popular with climbers, who often need short nails.
VIEW PRICES OF THE SO ILL
First Aid and Footcare
Sports and Medical Tape - LEUKOTAPE
If there’s one lesson we’ve heard repeatedly from backpackers it’s that preventing blisters is wayyyy better than treating them. Leukotape is in our backpacking kit for this very reason. Leukotape is a sticky but breathable and flexible sports tape. It’s also tearable by hand which makes it convenient to use. At the first sign of a hot spot, we stop, clean the area well, and apply a piece of Leukotape. It stays on for days (even with wet feet) but is easy to remove once you get to town.
VIEW PRICES OF THE LEUKOTAPE
Water Treatment Backup - BLEACH IN MINI DROPPER BOTTLE
While we much prefer carrying a water filter and purifier for backpacking, we recommend carrying a lightweight backup method. Our choice: bleach. It’s the recommended method during emergency situations and a little goes a long way. Buy some black mini dropper bottles (bleach is light sensitive) and fill one with bleach. Just make sure it is unscented bleach!
COMPARE PRICES OF THE BLEACH IN MINI DROPPER BOTTLE
Comfort and recovery
Massage Ball - RAWLOGY CORK MASSAGE BALL
On the trail, one of my rituals every night in the tent is to massage my feet. Even if it’s only for 30 seconds, it makes a huge difference. I was positively DE-lighted when I found this massage ball that’s light enough to carry on a backpacking trip. Designed by hikers for self-massage, it only weighs 1.4 ounces (and the mini version only weighs 0.7 ounces!). And they’re made from recycled wine corks so they’re grippy even when wet. We like this ball so much it's on our How to Take Care of Your Feet While Hiking & Backpacking guide and our Stocking Stuffers for Outdoor Lovers list.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE RAWLOGY CORK MASSAGE BALL
Long Handle Spoon - TOAKS TITANIUM
Don’t like getting food all over your hands (or your dirty hands all over your food) eating out of those freeze-dried meal pouches? Neither do we. A long handled spoon is an absolute must. We like the Toaks titanium version with the polished bowl made by TOAKS, the same maker as our winner of Best Backpacking Cook Pot. It’s easier to clean spoons with a polished bowl, while the matte handle gives more grip. It comes with an orange nylon storage sack which makes it easy to see in your food bag (and keeps the spoon clean). The long handle is also great for stirring your rice or pasta in your cook pot because it keeps your hand a nice distance away from the heat. You can also use it to unlock your bear can!
VIEW PRICES OF THE TOAKS TITANIUM
Anti-Friction Cream - TRAIL TOES
To help protect the feet and body from the ABCs (abrasions, blisters, and chafing) of outdoor adventures, we highly recommend carrying some kind of anti-friction cream. Our favorite: Trail Toes. We’ve used this cream for thousands of miles for blisters, back and hip chafing, and even on the days when we knew our feet would be wet all day as a protective barrier. Best yet, it comes with a small container to repackage.
VIEW PRICES OF THE TRAIL TOES
Waterproofing and storage
Dry Bag - SEA TO SUMMIT Ultra Sil DRY BAG
Some gear you really, really want to make sure stays dry. Top of that list is your sleeping bag - down or synthetic. Even if we have a “waterproof” backpack, and even if we use a trash compactor bag in our “waterproof” pack, we recommend using a dry bag for your sleeping bag. The Ultra Sil Sea to Summit 5L can fit a sleeping bag and only weighs 0.9 ounces, and we think it’s worth the weight.
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PACK LINER - HEFTY TRASH COMPACTOR BAGS
Most hikers agree: the best way to keep your gear dry is to line the inside of your backpacking backpack with a trash compactor bag. They’re thicker than regular trash bags and much more puncture resistant. They’re extremely light. If the weather forecast looks good, you can leave it folded up in the bottom of your pack. And in our experience, they work better than any external pack cover we’ve ever used. True trash compactor bags can be hard to find, so we recommend buying online or at an Ace Hardware store. They come in big boxes, but will need replacing occasionally. Send yourself fresh ones in resupply boxes or share with other hiker friends.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE HEFTY TRASH COMPACTOR BAGS
Waterproof Phone Case - OTTERBOX DEFENDER
The best way to keep your phone safe from water, dust, and shock is to use a phone case specific for your phone model. Many hikers have had great success with the OtterBox Defender. These dropproof, shatterproof, waterproof, dustproof phone cases give piece of mind when you're on the trail. Plus, they're handy in "real life" off the trail, too.
VIEW PRICES OF THE OTTERBOX DEFENDER
WATERPROOF ELECTRONICS BAGS - LOKSAK waterproof bags
Waterproof bags also work to protect electronics like GPS watch chargers and wireless earbads against water and dust. We don’t recommend Zip Locks. Better than a Zip Lock: LOKSAK waterproof bags. They’re much thicker and protect against sand, humidity, and water.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE LOKSAK WATERPROOF BAGS
BEAR AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION
Odor Proof Food Bag - LOKSAK OPSAK
Sleep better at night knowing your food is protected from bears and rodents with an odor proof food bag. We recommend the tried and true LOKSAK OPSAK. They’re thick, they’re durable, and they only weigh 0.8 ounces.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE LOKSAK OPSAK
Bear Spray - Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Spray
Bear spray is like pepper spray for bears and is a good idea for hikers and backpackers who enjoy spending time outdoors in bear country. Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park highly recommend users who hike into the backcountry to have bear spray on hand. Most thru-hikers on the Continental Divide Trail will carry bear spray for 1000 miles while they are in grizzly country.
If using bear spray, it may also be worth also getting inert bear spray to practice how to use the live canister. The inert bear spray is the same shape and size, but instead of having a pepper spray inside, it has a harmless substance. It’s much less expensive than the real thing, so it’s perfect for training.
Note that not all national parks allow bear spray-notably Yosemite and Kings Canyon ban them, so check to see what parks you'll be hiking in before you go. Also, be aware that they can’t be brought on planes (they are an aerosol, after all).
COMPARE PRICES OF THE COUNTER ASSAULT BEAR DETERRENT SPRAY
Bear Canister - Bear Vault BV 425 Sprint Bear Canister
A hard-sided bear canister is also required for overnight backpacking in more and more national parks. Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and John Muir Trail thru-hikers all will need to carry a bear canister for part of their trip. When it comes to balancing weight, volume, and price, the Bear Vault BV 425 Sprint is one of our favorite bear cans. Although bear cans tend to be heavy, we were surprisingly pleased by this smaller new can, that is lighter than older versions we've carried. It's perfect for overnight and weekend trips. But if you're on a thru-hike or out for longer, you'll need something with bigger capacity like the giant BV 450.
VIEW PRICES OF THE BEAR VAULT BV 425 SPRINT BEAR CANISTER
Bear Proof Bag - Ursack AllMightey
Even if your hiking destination doesn't require bear canisters, you'll still want something to protect your food from critters. The Ursack is made by laminating ballistic-weave fabric with Kevlar to thwart bears, mice, raccoons, and squirrels. We've carried the Ursack on the Continental Divide Trail, Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies, and Pacific Northwest Trail. It protected our food and gave us peace of mind. It's certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, but isn't approved in some areas.
VIEW PRICES OF THE URSACK ALLMIGHTEY
Electronics
Portable Charger - NITECORE NB 10000
So. Many. Electronics. Phone, headphones, satellite messenger, camera, headlamp may all need to be recharged on a longer trip. Battery packs are now fairly cheap, light, small, and powerful. We’ve had great success with the Nitecore NB 10000. It has dual USB and USB-C ports to charge two devices at the same time. The carbon fiber case reduces weight and helps resist punctures, impacts, and abrasions. It’s IPX5 rated, meaning it can resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water. Everything we look for in outdoor applications.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE NITECORE NB 10000
3-way USB Cable: Anker 3 in 1 cable
Tired of carrying a different charger for every device? If you're on a backpacking trip long enough that you'll need your own power source, you'll also need to bring cables. The 3 in 1 cable has a lighting connector (for iPhones), micro USB connector, and USB-C connector. Plus, the braided cable is more durable than many other cables. This one cable can do it all and reduce the clutter in your electronics bag. Pro tip: opt for white if you can. It'll stand out better against leaves and dirt in camp at night.
VIEW PRICES OF THE ANKER 3 IN 1 CABLE
Miscellaneous accessories
BUFF
It’s UPF 50, moisture wicking, quick drying, and can be worn 12 different ways. So. Many. Uses. Here’s a non-exhaustive list:
Sun protection
Cold protection
Dust protection
Wind protection
Bug protection
Keeps your beanie on your head when you sleep
Keeps your hair out of your face when you hike
Dish rag
Personal flair
VIEW PRICES OF THE SYNTHETIC QUICK DRY BUFF
Diaper Pins
No, we’re not carrying diapers. We use diaper pins to pin our wet socks to our pack to dry out during the day. They’re much sturdier than regular safety pins and can handle the weight of wet hiking socks. We put one on each side of our pack on the daisy chain, not the actual pack material itself (you really don’t want to puncture that).
VIEW PRICES OF THE OSO COZY DIAPER PINS
EXTRA BATTERIES
These days you likely only need extra batteries for your headlamp (although rechargeable headlamps are getting really good these days). The batteries always seem to run out when you need them most. We recommend carrying one set of whatever size you need and keep them in a place that’s easily accessible.
LOCAL CURRENCY
Whether you’re hiking in your home or in a foreign country, it’s always smart to carry cash.
Many, many times my credit card has been canceled on trail due to fraud and cash is my only backup. Not all small towns have ATMs so bring some with you. We’ve also known hikers who had to resort to waiving cash trying to get a hitchhike.
Importance of hiking and backpacking accessories
Sometimes, small things can make a big difference. After thousands of miles of backpacking, our team has found these minor items can improve morale, make us feel more comfortable, and help us enjoy time outdoors even more. Although not as important as big four items–our backpacking tent, sleeping bag, backpacking backpack, and sleeping pad, these little items are things we won't leave home without. Hiking and backpacking accessories are the tools that enable us to navigate diverse terrains, overcome obstacles, and make the most of our outdoor experiences.
Why we chose this gear
Essential accessories are just that–things that we don't like to leave home without but also that are smaller items. We chose this gear after thousands of miles of backpacking. We learned the need for these items through trial and error. For example, we used to dry wet gear from our backpack with safety pins. Only after discovering a hiking sock had fallen off did we upgrade to diaper pins. Similarly, we used to carry 3 different cables for our electronic devices. Only after discovering the existence of 3-in-1 cables did we switch over to one cable that charges (almost) everything.
Importance of being well-prepared
Being well-prepared with the right gear and accessories is crucial for a safe and enjoyable hiking or backpacking experience. Each item on the list serves a specific purpose, whether keeping your feet comfortable, protecting you and your food from wildlife, or helping you handle unexpected situations. By equipping yourself with the necessary gear–big and small items–, you can mitigate potential risks. By making you feel more comfortable outdoors, you can focus more on nature or challenging physical or navigational goals instead of being stuck dealing with gear minutiae.
Enjoy the outdoors responsibly
As hikers and backpackers, it’s important to remember the principles of Leave No Trace and practice responsible outdoor ethics. Minimize your impact by properly disposing of waste, following established trails, and leaving natural resources undisturbed. We also recommend familiarizing yourself with The Outdoorist Oath and even taking a free workshop with them. By doing so, we can preserve the beauty of nature and ensure its availability for all people, including future generations, to enjoy.
Having the right hiking and backpacking accessories can make a significant difference in your ability to responsibly enjoy the outdoors. The right accessories can help minimize risks (Principle 1 is Plan Ahead and Prepare) and also reduce your impact (Principle 3: Dispose fo Waste properly).
WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US & ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Naomi Hudetz is a thru-hiker and co-founder of Treeline Review. She brings decades of private sector experience in project management, budget and pricing projection, and long-term business vision, strategy, and goals.
Naomi left her corporate career to pursue her passion for the outdoors. She received the Triple Crown award for hiking for completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trail and has hiked numerous other distance routes including the Great Divide Trail across the Canadian Rockies (twice), Grand Enchantment Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, the Arizona Trail, (most of) the Idaho Centennial Trail, the first known thru-hike of the Blue Mountains Trail, and the Oregon Desert Trail.
She is former Treasurer of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West and is based in White Salmon, Washington.
You can read all of Naomi’s Treeline Review stories on her author page.
