My Ten Essentials of the Backcountry

If you’re an avid outdoors person, I’m sure you’ve already heard of the “10 Essentials.” In short, these are the 10 items that you should always have in your pack in the backcountry so that you keep yourself safe, in one piece, and walking out of the woods at the end of your trip without shedding serious blood.

These have slightly changed with the addition of iPhones/GPS/etc, but in no particular order, the modernized list is:

• Navigation (map and compass)
• Sun protection
• Insulation (extra clothing to keep you toasty warm)
• Some type of light (headlamp or flashlight)
• First-aid supplies
• Fire
• Repair kit and tools
• Extra Food
• Extra Water
• Emergency Shelter

This list is critical and in no way do I mean to take away from the importance of these items. However, if you’re going into the backcountry for five days and you didn’t know to bring water or sunscreen, I think you and I need to sit down and have little chat! Regardless, the 10 Essentials came up in a conversation with Will over the weekend, and I’ve been thinking about them ever since. You see, Will actually flew down to Texas via his affiliation with Backpacker magazine. He teamed up with the Colorado Board of Tourism to do two TV spots on various morning shows, as well as a few presentations at local Eddie Bauer stores with Tom Danielson. The Essentials were a topic in his presentations, so that got my wheels turning. And you know what? I daresay I have my OWN essentials that always make it into the backcountry with me!

In no particular order, they are:

1. Candy. And no, this doesn’t follow the “extra food” mentioned above, although I guess it really could. There is nothing—and I repeat, nothing!—better than some sugary goodness at the end of a long day on the trail. Super expensive dark chocolate coated in sea salt is one of my all-time favorites, but I’ll settle for anything. Additionally, I love LOVE having Swedish Fish and/or dark chocolate covered espresso beans while hiking. They give me something to do (eat), take my mind away from the pain in my body, and give me some serious energy.

2. Baby Powder or Dry Shampoo. Ok, I’ll own it! At the end of the day, I’m still a girl and I absolutely HATE the way my hair feels after 4-5 days on trail without showering. Totally grosses me out and looks pretty horrific too. Luckily, we now have this amazing invention called dry shampoo that comes in tiny bottles that are wicked light and easy to pack in. It gives me a sense of dignity in the backcountry and makes me smell better too! On those rare occasions where I can’t find a travel size bottle, I’ll usually pack in some baby powder. This soaks up all the extra oils in your hair plus it can be used in your shoes, pants, wherever. Pretty handy stuff!

3. Chapstick. I swear, this stuff is my life source! My lips are super sensitive to sunburns and with Colorado’s blazing hot sun, it happens frequently. I’ve had my fair share of sun blisters, and I hope to never experience those again! I always have a least one or two tubes of chapstick with me while hiking, and they more than likely have SPF 20 or 25. Granted, I end up walking out of the woods with a white rim around my mouth from the sun line, but I don’t care. It sure feels a hell of a lot better than a sun blister!

4. Bandana. I started carrying a bandana in college and the habit never went away! I don’t wear them on my head so often (since I always wear a hat instead), but having one with me has been a lifesaver in so many circumstances. The list of uses is endless, but I’ll see what I can come up with: pot scrubber; a belt in a pinch; a means to tie up your rolled Thermarest; a cool rag to dip in water and wear on your neck; a rag to wipe Tally down after she rolls in deer poop; TP in case you run into a serious emergency (only happened once, don’t judge!). The list seriously goes on and on. Plus, the wisp of fabric barely weighs anything, so what do you have to lose?

5. Paper and Pencil. Part of this comes from my gear testing ways, but it also comes from my need to write about everything in general. I even carried a journal with me back in the day on my bike trip, and I wrote in it every single night. Not only are those memories awesome to go back and read, but I can attest to the dozens of times that extra scrap paper came in handy while trying to start a fire.

6. Solar Blanket. Again, I suppose this falls into the category of emergency shelter that was referenced above, but I think it’s worth noting. These suckers cost no more than $1.99 at a Target or KMart, and they are so worth every penny. Not only will they keep you warm if you’re in seriously dire straits, but they also act as a great signal for a rescue vehicle in the sky. Plus, they weight absolutely nothing so there really is no harm in carrying them with you. I’ve purchased dozens over the years and never had to use one, so I’m pretty sure they’re stashed in tucked-away pockets throughout all of my outdoor gear!

7. Carabiners. I ask you- who doesn’t love a good carabiner?! To me, these fall into the same category as the bandana. They are so useful for everything! I started carrying them when I used to hike with Nalgene bottles because they made it so easy to attach the water bottle to the outside of my pack. These days, I hike with a hydration bladder and a Hydro Flask, but that doesn’t mean the good ol’ ‘biner doesn’t get used. It helps strap additional gear to the outside of your pack, and totally works to keep your pants together in an emergency if you…um…accidentally rip the snap off the waist belt. It can also keep tent flies and poles in working order if something falls apart and you need to get yourself through the night. The unlocking variety are fairly light and cheap, so it doesn’t hurt to have a couple around.

8. Leatherman. I am positive there are other brands out there that are just as good, but I’ve had my Leatherman Wave for over 10 years, so I strongly stand by this multi-tool and can’t handle the thought of learning to use another. If you’re unfamiliar, a Leatherman is a little folded up piece of metal that unfolds to expose a bunch of glorious tools that you will need while camping. My Wave has needlenose pliers, four different blades, a pair of little scissors, a can opener, wire cutters, and various screw drivers, just to name a few. I’m not ashamed to admit that this is the only tool I had in my own home (along with a shoe in place of a hammer, naturally) until recently!

9. Tampons. Ew, gross, I know, but whatever. They work! In addition to serving their designed purpose for gals, these suckers are super multipurpose. Lots of peeps visiting Colorado for the first time get bloody noses from the dry air and high elevation, and I swear that nothing works better than a small tampon crammed up the nostril! You can also unravel them and use the cotton as padding if you cut your hand or your finger. Personally, I go with the OB version since they have no applicator which means minimal trash to carry out of the woods.

10. Collapsible Bowl. One dish that does it all! There are a zillion different brands on the market, so I’m reticent to say that one works better than the others. Personally, I just bought a large collapsible mug that I love because I can use it for my coffee, water, and meals. When I’m done, it’ll be super easy to clean up and pack back down to use for later. I used to carry tupperware containers and while they are equally lightweight, the space in the backpack became an issue.

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For all of you hikers or backpackers, what’s one thing you never leave behind?