The Best “Luxury” Backpacking Products
What is a luxury backpacking product?
Luxury has a little bit of a different meaning in the world of backpacking. Often these are things that you would consider necessities when front-country camping, but when you have to carry them on your back, they’re often easier to leave at home. Luxury items can be anything from a chair to toiletries to air pumps. Everyone’s list of luxury items will be different, and mine even change depending on the type of hike I will be going on. A kindle might be a great choice for a two-day hike where I will be spending lots of time at camp, but not so practical for a multi-day long haul hike where you roll into camp in the evening, too tired to read. Here is an overview of some of the items I consider “luxurious” to bring on a backpacking trip.
1) Ultralightweight Chair
If there is one luxury product that I will die defending, it’s my backpacking chair! As I’ve gotten older the thought of sitting on a tiny foam pad or sitting on the ground after a long day of hiking makes me shudder. The ability to being able sit back, off of the ground, and put my feet up at camp just can’t be beat. You might be thinking “Why would you carry a heavy camp chair all the way up a mountain?!?” The big clunky camp chairs you sit on by the fire are a far cry from the newest ultra-lightweight backpacking chairs that are now available. The Big Agnes Skyline Ultralight Backpacking Chair weighs just under 2 pounds (771 grams) and packs down to the size of a large water bottle. I stick mine in the outermost compartment of my pack for easy access. These chairs are also super easy to assemble at camp, it takes me about 1 min to put mine together. Because this chair is so easy to use, I will often use it at pit stops along the trail, like during a lunch break, and I can easily store it away in my pack when I’m done.
2) Air Mattress Pump
When I first saw someone bring out an air pump on a backpacking trip I laughed out loud. So bougie! After giving it a little more thought though, I realized it’s actually pretty ingenious. These little pumps save you from having to blow up your sleeping pad and pillow with your mouth, which can cause mold to build up inside your sleeping pad. Gross! They are also much more convenient then using the air-sac your sleeping pad comes with. This Flextail Mini Air Pump can inflate 40 sleeping pads on one charge, so you can inflate your mattress AND all your friends’! This little air pump weighs only 3 ounces (94 grams) and fits in the palm of your hand, making it super easy and barely noticeable to pop into your pack. The Flextail pump also has a light that can be used as a lantern inside your tent, true luxury!
3) Camp Shoes
Another “luxury” item that has turned into a must-have for me is camp shoes. Being able to take off your hiking shoes at camp to let your feet breathe is so nice. Having a pair of camp shoes is also convenient for late-night bathroom runs, or the early morning shuffle to the cooking area. There are so many different options for camp shoes, it really just depends on personal preference. I like bringing a pair of Crocs with me, they are lightweight, quick drying, and pretty indestructible. They also clip onto the back of my pack and I don’t have to worry about them getting wet. Some people prefer a sandal like the classic Teva Women’s Sandals, or slippers such as the Thermoball Traction Mule from The North Face. Taking your hiking shoes off at camp also allows them to dry if needed and air out so they don’t get smelly. Whatever pair you choose, you’ll be glad you brought them!
4) Power Bank
If you like to take a lot of pictures and videos while you’re backpacking, then a power bank might be something you’ll want to bring. I love taking short videos over the course of the trip and compiling them into a longer video when I get home. The problem with that is that videos can quickly drain my phone battery. This Anker Power Bank allows you to get four full charges and fits in the palm of your hand. Even if you aren’t an amateur videographer, your phone can also die in cold weather. I have definitely left my phone outside of my sleeping bag and woken up to 1% battery life. This is especially important if you are using your phone as an emergency satellite messenger (see this blog post for more information on GPS messengers). Power banks are smaller than ever and often contain multiple charging cords making it easy to charge your phone, headlight, air pump, or Kindle.
5) Kindle/E-Reader
I love, love, love reading books at camp. During the dreary winter months I am visualizing myself at camp on a warm summer day reading a great book. The problem is when backpacking, I really don’t want to carry a book in my bag. Books are heavy and bulky and also can get ruined easily if they get wet. You are also limited to reading the book that you picked, and if you are a mood reader like me, that can be a problem! This is where an e-reader like a Kindle comes in. By packing an e-reader you have a lightweight device that can store hundreds of books. The Kindle for example, allows you to read during the day and night, so you can tuck into your tent nice and cozy with a good book or sit in your camp chair reading while your dinner rehydrates. E-readers are also super light, the Kindle weighs just 5.6 ounces (158 grams) with a battery life of 6 weeks?!? Just pop your reader into a ziploc bag for water protection. So download your books, your friend’s books or your partners books and share the love.
6) Hammock
A true luxury item, a hammock can be a great camp accessory. From a basic hammock to a full hammock tent, prepare to get comfortable while you rock yourself to sleep. There are a lot of different lightweight hammocks out there, I was able to get my nylon hammock from Costco for around $20. This type of hammock is very lightweight and compact, with adjustable ropes so you won’t have too much trouble finding the perfect pair of trees. Nylon hammocks often have a built in carrying case, so you won’t ever lose it and my particular hammock can hold two grown adults with a weight limit of 400 lbs. Before you pack your hammock though, make sure that the site you hiking to has trees around the tent pads!
Bringing little “luxury” items backpacking can take your trip from being average to extraordinary. We all have little things that will make us feel more at home, more connected, and more comfortable. You don’t always have to pack the minimum amount of gear backpacking, sometimes it’s okay to put a few extra items in your bag that will brighten up your trip! From camp shoes to power banks, what luxury items do you like to bring backpacking?