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Guides

What to carry, what it should cost, and how to sleep warm in it. Every number here comes from physics, a named standard, or the same catalogue of 313 items the finder ranks — so you can click through and check it.

Choosing your kit

Work out what you need before you spend anything.

How to choose a backpacking kit: the big four, in the right orderTent, bag, pad and pack are one system, not four purchases. Start from the nights you actually sleep out, and buy the pack last.9 min
What size backpack do you need: litres, torso length and fitPacks are sized by torso length, not height. How to measure yours, how litres map to trip length, and how to test a loaded pack before you buy.8 min
How much to spend on a backpacking kitFour purchases, and the split should not be even. Where money earns its keep, where it only buys grams, and three worked budgets.8 min
Sleeping bag temperature ratings: what the number meansWhat an ISO 23537 comfort rating measures, what the lab assumes about your night, and how much margin to leave before you trust the number on the label.8 min
Sleeping pad R-values: the number that decides whether you sleepWhat an ASTM F3340 R-value measures, why the ground takes your heat, how R-values add when you stack pads, and which number suits which night.8 min
Down or synthetic: choosing the fill in your sleeping bagDown wins on warmth for weight and packed size. Synthetic wins wet and cheap. What fill power measures, what treated down fixes, and how to decide.9 min
Choosing a tent: shape, weight, and what waterproof actually meansTunnel, dome or semi-freestanding, what freestanding buys you, what hydrostatic head really measures, and why a second door earns its weight.9 min

Living with it

Packing it, carrying it, sleeping warm in it, and making it last.