What I Take on a Three Day Hike – and What Gets Left Behind
By Lydia Schuldt, guest outdoor writer
There’s a moment before every backpacking trip that I embark on where all my belongings are spread across the floor of my house while I decide what I need to pack and what gets left behind. As someone who has mistakenly overpacked on a multi-day hiking trip in the past, I learned the hard way to never make that mistake again. Lugging extra, unnecessary weight uphill for miles into the backcountry isn’t my definition of fun.
Something I’ve learned about backpacking is that less is more. After a handful of three day hikes in my twenties (that I regretfully overpacked for), I now have my packing list dialed for what I need to bring for a long weekend in the backcountry.
With a mix of my favorite ultralight backpacking gear and the best AKHG outdoor clothing for hiking, I now feel set up for success on a three day hike.
Here’s what I would bring on a three day hike and what gets left behind.
What I Bring: Versatile Clothing Made for the Outdoors
The biggest shift for me was packing the right type of clothes (and less of them). In the past, I would pack a variety of clothing, which would weigh down my pack, making me exhausted. After making the same mistake more than once, I invested in the right type of clothes specifically for hiking. I built out a small and strategic wardrobe of pieces that serve multiple purposes, and now I only bring one of each necessary item.
Hiking Pants & Leggings
For hiking pants, I like to wear something lightweight but durable, with stretch for climbing and enough structure to protect against branches and brush. The best hiking pants for women I’ve discovered are the Shoreside Pants.
I love that the legs roll up and snap when it’s hot and they have UPF 50+ sun protection with a pocket for your cellphone on the right leg. When I’m on a multi-day backpacking trip, I live in these hiking pants. They are lightweight, comfortable, and functional, with multiple pockets for snacks, chapstick, and tissues. Being comfortable while hiking is essential, and the breathability when it starts to get hot is ideal. For men’s hiking pants, I would recommend the Stone Run Standard Fit Pants, a classic favorite.
Although leggings may not protect as well against bugs or brush, I personally still love packing a pair of leggings as well. They provide an extra layer for warmth and I can wear them as a base layer beneath my hiking pants or in my sleeping bag at night.
For a three-day hiking trip, I pack one pair of hiking pants to wear, one pair of leggings for layering and sleeping, and (weather dependent) one more pair of hiking pants or hiking shorts. That’s it for bottom layers on a backpacking trip—nothing else!
Always Pack a Puffy
One essential item for a three day hiking trip is a puffy, especially in colder climates. Instead of packing a bulky sweatshirt or flannel, I opt for a lightweight synthetic puffy coat instead. The best part about puffies is that they are incredibly lightweight and packable, designed for a trip just like this!
The Puffin Hoodie Jacket is the perfect option and you will have significantly more room in your pack if that’s the coat you decide to bring! Bringing a puffer coat is one of the best options for women’s outerwear when the temperature is a bit cooler and you need a lightweight coat for layering.
Waterproof Rain Coat
A reliable waterproof rain jacket is something I ensure to pack on a multi day hiking trip. Weather can change quickly in the backcountry, and staying dry makes a huge difference in overall comfort and safety. The Stormwall Rain Jacket is a great option since it’s rugged and will keep you dry through any kind of storm.
Hiking Tops
My favorite women’s hiking tops are the U.P. Stream Shirt since it’s versatile as a light baselayer/sunshirt and the Tun-Dry Tank Top. For men’s hiking shirts, I recommend the Sunflare High-UPF Cooling Hoodie for ultimate sun protection on hot exposed days or the Renew Bamboo Short Sleeve Crew for a lightweight hiking t-shirt.
Sun protection on the trail is a must, so these UPF shirts are my go-to. They're built to block the sun so you can stay out longer without worrying about burning. I've consistently relied on them in the summer and they are a total game changer for skipping the constant sunscreen reapplication. They are my ride or die hiking shirts when the midday sun is blazing!
I always pack one long-sleeve layering shirt that can also be used as sun protection, plus one hiking tank top or t-shirt to wear underneath. Lastly, I usually bring one more t-shirt (if it’s warm) or another lightweight layer for nighttime (if it’s cold).
I cap it at that for a long weekend in the wilderness for tops!
Other Clothing Essentials
For extra clothing essentials, I suggest bringing merino wool hiking socks, a supportive sports bra for women (one is enough), and an extra pair or two of underwear.
What I Bring: Essential Gear
Once your outdoor clothing is dialed, everything else becomes pretty straightforward. Here is my list of essentials for gear on a three day hiking trip:
Shelter & Sleep
- Lightweight tent
- Lightweight sleeping bag
- Lightweight sleeping pad
Navigation & Safety
- Map or offline GPS
- Headlamp
- First aid kit
- Multi-tool or knife
- Lighter
- Bear spray (if you’re in bear country)
Water & Food
- Water filter or purification system
- Lightweight water bottle
- High-calorie, simple meals (dehydrated backpacking meals are best)
- Snacks
- Lightweight stove & fuel
- One lightweight camping pot and a spork
Other Essentials
- Sunscreen & chapstick
- Lightweight quick dry towel
- Trash bag (LNT- leave no trace always)
- Baseball cap
- Hiking boots
What I Leave Behind: The Stuff That Weighs You Down
As I mentioned before, overpacking for a backpacking trip is a big bummer! And I learned the hard way by packing too much in the past. Here’s what I would recommend leaving behind on a three day hiking trip.
Too Many Clothes
You’re not going to want outfit changes. And it’s ok if you smell bad or you don’t look as classy as you had hoped, you’re in nature and nobody cares! Keep it simple to the list above and don’t pack any unnecessary clothes. If it doesn’t dry quickly or serve multiple purposes, it probably shouldn’t make the cut.
Less is more! Only bring the essentials for clothing.
A Full Toiletry Kit
I used to bring way more toiletries than I needed and now I bring the bare minimum:
- Toothbrush
- A mini travel sized toothpaste
- Any essentials you will need: sunscreen, small hairbrush, meds, sanitary items, hand sanitizer, chapstick, etc.
That’s it! You don’t need your full routine out there.
Avoid packing deodorant if you can handle it, it’s ok if you smell. Don’t pack your full skincare routine, a bottle of shampoo, makeup or moisturizer. And if you decide to bring any soaps into the backcountry, make sure that they are 100% biodegradable.
“Just in Case” Items
This was the absolute hardest habit to break. As someone who loves to have extra luxury items or things to do during down time, I learned that it’s usually not worth it.
- Extra shoes - The only other extra shoes I would ever consider bringing are crocs. They are lightweight and can be strapped to the outside of a pack. Otherwise, leave all other shoes behind besides your hiking boots.
- Books you won’t read
- Duplicate items
- Bulky or heavy cameras
If it doesn't have a clear purpose, it stays behind.
Multi Day Hiking Trips: Less Weight = Better Experience
Every extra pound shows up on a backpacking trip. It will hurt your knees, shoulders, hips as well as your ego. Your energy levels will dwindle and your pace will significantly slow down. Once I stopped overpacking, everything changed.
Hiking felt lighter (literally), but also more enjoyable. I had more energy at the end of the day and felt more confident carrying exactly what I needed. Overall, it made me have significantly more fun on the trail.
Going on a three day hiking trip isn’t about being over-prepared, it’s about being prepared enough. For me, I remember these four tips:
- Keep it simple
- Let go of a “what-if” mindset
- Choose quality over quantity
- Stick to ultralight gear when you can
So if you want to enjoy a three day hiking trip, get packing, but be intentional about what comes along and what stays behind. The lighter you pack, the better experience you will have.