overnight hiking camping checklist

see also:

• gear to take car camping
• overnight ultralight bushwalking shelters and equipment
• tips for camping in the rain
• camping in Victoria
• camping off-grid - power, batteries, solar, fridges
• the perfect coffee when camping

• https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles
• plan ahead - small groups, prepare for extreme weather, avoid high demand, repackage food to avoid waste
• camp on durable surface (established camp sites, rock, gravel, dry grass) at least 200' from a stream
• dispose of poo waste properly
  • bring a small shovel and dig at least 15cm deep cat holes for toilet 200' from stream and cover see how to poo in the bush
    • better still bring “poo pots” and take your poo back to a toilet
      • a non-collapsible waterproof container you can carry waste in
      • poo into a corn starch bag, then you squash all the air out of the bag and put it into the poo pot
      • you then can put the corn starch bags into the toilet as they are biodegradable
  • use small amounts of biodegradable soap
  • scatter strained dishwater
• leave what you find
• minimise campfire impacts - use a stove and also a candle lantern for light
• respect wildlife and avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter
• be considerate to other visitors
• see also camp ground etiquette

• backpack
• tent 2 person tent is perhaps ideal for most if hiking this should be under 2-2.5kg
• tent pegs 110g
• sleeping bag rated down to expected minimum temperatures 600g
• sleeping bag liner - silk or if very cold region, consider a thermal liner 60g
• insulated sleeping mat 590g
• +/- pillow 120g
• head torch and batteries 100g
• trekking poles 480g
• total excl. backpack = 3400g

• camera 650g (eg. Olympus OM-D E-M1 mark II + 12mm f/2.0 lens)
• telephoto lens (eg. Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 with MC14 1200g)
• camera batteries 50g ea
• tripod for above camera using trek poles 500g
• total = 2500g +/- 350g for extra lens such as fisheye

• map in water proof container
• compass
• GPS device
• radio beacon EPIRB 280g
• whistle
• mylar type thermal blanket (reflective surface also works well for signalling) 45g
• inform others as to where you are going and when you will be back
• if you wear glasses, take a back up pair in case they break or get lost!

• sunglasses
• sun hat
• sunscreen

• rain jacket 350g
• waterproof overpants 150g
• total = 500g

• 1L water bottle
• 3L water wide neck flask to carry water to camp site for cooking, etc
• consider water filter or sterilisation tablets (but these do not kill cryptospiridium cysts nor viruses)
• consider Camelbak All Clear UV sterilisation kit and bottle
  • unlike tablets or filter devices, kills >99% viruses, bacteria and protozoa (giardia, cryptosporidium) and does it within 60secs with agitation of the 750mL bottle
  • 1 full USB charge will do 60L water
  • BUT adds 256g to your kit and requires clear water - if cloudy, pre-filter then run through micro filter twice, then do 2 cycles of UV
• 450g + 2000g water?

• mug 90g, spoon, knife +/- fork
• bowl 90g +/- plate
• consider chopping board, tea towel, scourer
• stove
• fuel
• matches
• pot / frypan / kettle
• sink
• food
• snacks
• rubbish bag to bring home any rubbish

• multi-tool knife 100g
• repair tape 30g
• scissors
• needle and thread

• blister patches
• band aids
• cotton buds
• tissues
• analgesics
• aspirin
• usual meds and adrenaline epiPen if anaphylaxis risk
• compression bandage for snakebite or injury

• consider toilet paper or wet wipes (gas lighter to incinerate them)
• trowel for toileting hole 100g
• toothbrush (for ultralight, use a childrens bamboo handle brush) / toothpaste (consider chewing toothpaste tablets then brushing) / floss / comb
• take care of your feet in particular on long hikes
  • keep your toe nails trimmed otherwise you may get black toenails or cause skin damage to adjacent toes - bring nail scissors or Swiss army knife with scissors on long through hikes
  • keep your feet washed and dry as often as possible
  • always take your socks off while you are having a break from hiking so your feet can breathe and dry out
  • clean your socks regularly
  • always take two pairs of socks - one for night and one for hiking and then alternate socks each day
  • prevent blisters by ensuring:
    • feet are as dry as possible
    • if a part starts to hurt, stop and address it as soon as possible - look for the cause and fix it, consider adding protective elastoplast or similar
    • if you get a blister, pass a needle and thread through the blister and leave the thread in there whilst hiking to keep it draining so fluid doesn't accumulate resulting in the blister de-roofing and cover with elastoplast or similar - obviously remove the thread as soon as you can get it managed properly - a blister can be a source for life threatening cellulitis infection so prevent them!
  • elevate your feet when having a break to freshen up your feet and leg muscles
• tips to stay clean see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrNF9ZScXk
  • use a bidet instead of toilet paper on long through hikes
    • saves carrying soiled paper home with you in your backpack
    • cleans your butt better than paper - aim the water stream so it is not under your butt but hitting it from the side - don't want soiled water falling back onto your bidet
    • can attach a bidet device to a drink bottle or have a separate bidet bottle
  • take a super-concentrated biodegradeable liquid soap - can store it in a tiny eye drops plastic squeeze bottle (make the hole larger) which will last a week of hiking a few drops at a time

• boots or sturdy runners
• socks
• gaiters 210g
• shorts or lightweight trouser
• shirt

• candles if communal hut - not so safe for tents!
• snacks
• +/- wine
• music, earphones (?smartphone and power pack 130g)
• +/- book
• warm dry clothes:
  • dry shoes and socks
  • thermal long pants and top
  • trousers
  • down vest or puffy jacket 520g
  • beanie 120g
  • gloves 120g
  • spare shirt?
  • total = 1000-1500g

• Aarn body pack
• rear backpack:
  • shelter, etc 2900g
  • wet weather clothes 500g
  • water 1000g
  • warm clothes 1000g
  • miscellaneous excl. food, stove 800g
  • tripod 500g
  • total excl. backpack 7.5kg
• front packs:
  • water 1300g
  • photo gear 2500g
  • snacks
• hike wear:
  • gaiters, trekking poles 750g