Two years ago I started backpacking again, on the Superior Hiking Trail along Minnesota’s North Shore. I have hiked half the SHT (about 150 miles) so far, 4–6 days at a time. There are many more experienced backpackers than me, so I make no claim to be an expert. But I will still share my checklist in case it helps someone getting started, and since I use it myself. I will continue to update and annotate it as I have done for my winter camping checklist for the BWCAW.
A few notes, first.
- I am not trying to go ultralight. Just light-ish.
- I like gear but I’m not obsessed with it and I don’t think you should be, either. Find something that meets your needs and budget and fits in your backpack and go hiking!
- The Superior Hiking Trail is well marked and well traveled, so I am unlikely to get badly lost or find myself in a desperate survival situation. This is reflected in the gear I choose to bring.
And a general tip. On each trip I make two lists:
- Things I didn’t bring that I wish I had.
- Things I brought that I didn’t use.
This has been extremely helpful for refining my packing list.
Sleeping
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Pillow
Kitchen
- Stove and fuel
- Metal cup with lid (since I pack dehydrated meals for dinner this is all I need for cooking)
- Long-handled spoon
- Water bottle or bladder
- Water filter
- Trash bag
Food
- Instant coffee packets or tea bags
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- Dinners
- 1 extra meal
Clothing
- 1 long-sleeved shirt
- 1 short-sleeved shirt
- 1 short-sleeved cotton blend T-shirt for sleeping (optional but recommended)
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of pants
- 2 pairs of underwear
- 2 pairs of socks
- Shell
- Rain pants
- Fleece or insulated top
- Base layer/long underwear bottoms
- Hiking hat
- Bandana
- Hiking boots/shoes
- Flip-flops
Personal/miscellaneous
- Backpack
- Power bank and cords
- Ditty bag
- Headlamp
- Spare batteries
- Paracord and carabiner for hanging food bag
- Spare cord for clotheslines, etc.
- Swiss army knife
- Potable water tablets
- Mini lighter
- Matches in a waterproof case
- Bug spray or lotion
- Sunscreen
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- First aid kit
- Band-aids
- Gauze and tape
- Moleskin/blister care
- Bug bite cream (After Bite or Benadryl)
- Antibiotic ointment
- Athletic tape
- Toilet paper
- Trowel
- Kindle
- Cash
- Clean clothes for the drive home
If you bring a dog
- Dog pack
- Collapsible dog bowl
- Dog food in an even number of sturdy plastic/silicone bags
- 2 water bags
2 Comments
Hi there! Thanks for sharing this – super helpful for a first-time backpacker like myself. I have a tangentially related question regarding your 4-6 day hikes on the SHT: how do you get back to your car at the end?? Do you have a friend pick you up, or are there guides/services in the area that shuttle hikers back to their starting point? I would love to do maybe 2 or 3 nights on that trail, but figure I can’t count on being able to Uber it back to my car 😛 Any tips would be appreciated!
I park at the end, get a ride to the start, and hike back to my car. There are a few shuttle services:
Expect to pay about $100, so it’s not cheap, but Uber isn’t an option except maybe for the Duluth section. You can sometimes find other rides in the SHT Facebook group. Some people hitchhike. And for a shorter hike, you might be able to stash a bike at one end.
Have fun!