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What to Pack for a 30-Day Hiking Trip?

Planning a month-long hiking trip can be challenging.  You will need to bring sufficient clothing, food, and accessories to ensure the hike is both enjoyable and safe.  In addition, you will need to ensure that the items you bring along can fit in your backpack and that you do not run out of the essential items.

Below, we are going to review what to pack for a 30-day hiking trip.  This review will touch on both the essential items needed, as well as some comfort items to help you have a more enjoyable trip.

Disclaimer

Please note, we here at Ball Are Life are affiliated with the Amazon Associates Program.  This means we may receive a small commission from any purchases made via our links below.  This is at no additional cost to you.  While we appreciate the additional commission, we would never recommend a product or service which does not align with our core values nor any product which we would not use ourselves.

A Large Camping Backpack

It should come as no surprise that our initial recommendation is a large backpack.  As you are planning a 30-day hiking trip, you will want to purchase a camping backpack which is large enough to fit all your belongings and one that is rugged enough to not rip or tear during your trip.

In addition, you will want to purchase a camping backpack which has multiple pockets.  This will help you to place different items in different pockets for ease of access and provide you with additional space.

For a 30-day hiking trip, your backpack is, essentially, your main source of accommodation, sustenance, and comfort.  Be sure to choose one that is large enough to hold all your items and one that is rugged and durable for the trip.

Our personal recommendation?  The TETON Sports Scout 3400 Backpack.  A number 1 bestseller on Amazon and for good reason.  The TETON Sports Scout 3400 Backpack is a rugged internal frame backpack that is made to fit any user.  Thoughtfully designed, this backpack has a padded back panel for maximum comfort and channeled air flow.  And with a 55-L capacity, you should have sufficient space and room within the backpack for all your needs.

What to Pack for a 30-Day Hiking Trip?

Camp Tent

As you are planning a 30-day, or month-long, hiking trip, you will also need to consider the best camping tent for your needs.  Contrary to a single night of camping, your 30-day hiking trip requires a more sturdy and durable camping tent.

When assessing the ideal camping tent for you needs, it is important to consider the weather and the space you need.  If you are planning on sleeping in the tent alone, then you should opt for a bit of a smaller tent.  However, if multiple people will be sleeping in the tent, then you should opt for a larger tent that can accommodate multiple people.

In addition, camping tents come in one of two different season types.  Either 3 or 4-season.  For 3-season tents, they are able to withstand weather condition in summer, spring, and fall conditions.  4-season tents, however, can also handle wintery conditions, including snow and ice.

Lastly, weight is an important consideration.  Unless you are planning on remaining at the same campsite for the full 30-days, you will want to purchase a camp tent that is as lightweight as possible.  This will help you to avoid fatigue as you trek between campsites and will take less room in your bag.

Our recommendation?  The Coleman Dome Tent with an added screen room.  Coleman is an established, well-regarded tent manufacturer.  And with over 100-years in business, they must be doing something right.  This tent utilizes dark room technology which blocks over 90% of sunlight, so you can sleep comfortably even when the sunrises.  In addition, the Coleman Dome Tent is waterproof and helps to reduce heat so that you can sleep comfortably.

Camp Clothes

Perhaps the most difficult and challenging aspect of planning for a 30-day hiking trip is what clothes do you bring?  Firstly, it is important to consider the season and expected weather during your hiking trip.  Depending on the expected weather, you will want to pack either heavier, more warming clothing or lighter, more breathable ones.

However, you don’t want to overpack.  As you will be limited in space by what you can carry in your backpack, choosing which items of clothing to bring will take time and careful consideration. 

Ideally, you should look to bring clothing, which is difficult to tear, lightweight and easy to carry, durable, and difficult to dirty.  You will likely need to re-wear multiple pieces of clothing, so choose wisely.

Our personal list of clothing items to bring on a 30-day hiking trip:

What to Pack for a 30-Day Hiking Trip?

Sleeping Bag

As you will be hiking for nearly a month, a comfortable, heavy-duty sleeping bag is a must.  Depending on weather conditions and outdoor temperature, you will want to opt for either a synthetic or down sleeping bag.  Synthetic sleeping bags are generally more affordable, non-allergenic, and are able to insulate even when damp.  Down insulated sleeping bags, however, are more lightweight and perform better in colder weather.  In addition, down insulated sleeping bags compress better and can be easier to pack and haul.

Similarly, sleeping bags come in a variety of different shapes.  Depending on your needs, you can choose between a rectangularly shaped sleeping bag, a semi-rectangular shaped sleeping bag, a mummy shaped sleeping bag, or a double bag sleeping bag.

Lastly, sleeping bags come in three different temperature ratings.  The summer season sleeping bag is sufficient for weather conditions over 30-degrees.  The 3-season sleeping bag is sufficient for temperatures between 15-30 degrees, and the winter sleeping bags are sufficient for temperatures below 15-degrees.

We personally prefer the Kelty Cosmic Down Sleeping Bag which is ideal for 3-season camping.  Water-resistant and incredibly warm, this sleeping bag utilizes a draft collar to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.  And with a soft, butter-like feel, you’ll remain comfortable and cozy no matter how many nights of camping you have ahead of you.

Trekking or Hiking Poles

We’ve previously discussed how to use trekking or hiking poles and continue to encourage all hikers to invest in a sturdy pair of hiking poles.  These poles will help you maintain stability during your hike.  In addition, trekking poles are a great way to distribute the stress from hiking throughout your entire body, rather than relying solely on your legs to do all the work.

Filterable Water Straws

Water is perhaps one of the most important needs to our survival.  And when hiking, water may be a scarce resource.  While it is important to pack a sufficient amount of water for your needs, you don’t want to be left without. 

That is why we wholeheartedly recommend the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle.  With a 2-stage, integrated filter straw, you can drink from a variety of water sources without fear of contamination, bacteria, or sickness.  The LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle protects against a whopping 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.99% of parasites, and 99.999% of micro-plastics.

Satellite Communication Device

Let’s face it, if you’re going on a 30-day hike, you will likely lose charge and battery on your electronic devices.  And while we encourage purchasing a couple of portable phone chargers, they will likely not last you the full trip.  That is why we recommend purchasing a dedicated satellite communication device.

These devices will allow you to send 2-way text messages using a dedicated network.  You can also trigger SOS messages from within the device and track your location in real-time, helping to ensure you don’t get lost while on your hike.

An absolute must-have, we highly recommend the Garmin 010-01879-00 InReach Mini.  Portable and easy to use, this satellite communication device will help you in case of emergencies and is an absolute necessity for longer hiking trips.

Non-Perishable Food Items

On a long hiking trip, you will need to bring along a sufficient amount of non-perishable food items.  This can include granola bars, trail mix, nuts, seeds, fresh, whole fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated, such-as apples and bananas, and energy bars.

In addition to the above items, it is worthwhile to invest in ready-made food items.  We highly, highly, highly recommend the Mountain House Classic Bucket.  This bucket contains 24-servings of freeze-dried meals in 12 pouches.  Simply add hot water to the pouch and you’re ready to eat within 10-minutes.  No prep, no cleanup, no mess!

As a personal recommendation, you may want to unpack the bucket and place the individual pouches in your backpack to save space and reduce overall weight. Similarly, as you will be hiking for 30-days, it may be advisable to purchase two buckets to ensure you have a sufficient amount.

What to Pack for a 30-Day Hiking Trip?

First Aid Kit

Although we hope you will never have to use one, bringing along a First Aid Kit is a smart and advisable decision.  A First Aid Kit will help you to bandage any wounds, ice any burns, and will provide you with a plethora of antibiotics, pain medicine, and gauzes.  Highly recommend the portable first aid kit, with over 299 pieces of all-purpose items.

Toiletry Bag

You will also want to bring along a toiletry bag with you.  For such a long hiking trip, a toiletry bag will help you maintain some levels of comfort.  In addition, depending on which one you purchase, multiple toiletry bags will also contain wet wipes, insect repellent, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Pocketknife

It seems like pocketknives have lost favor in recent years.  However, we continue to bring along and use a pocketknife on all of our camping and hiking trips.  Not just useful for cutting hedges and small pieces of firewood, pocketknives can be used to fix camping gear, opening packages, slicing rope, cutting food, and making sparks to start a fire.

We highly recommend the KEEGOP 17-n-1 Tactical Tools.  With a pocketknife, multi-use spoon, flashlight, compass, water bottle clip, flint stone scraper, tactical pen, and credit card knife, you will be well prepared for anything you encounter on your trip.

Conclusion

A 30-day hiking trip is a difficult, arduous, and physically fatiguing trip.  However, packing the correct, proper, and right items can help to make your monthlong trip more enjoyable and safer.  We highly recommend purchasing all the necessary gear and doing your research before embarking on your trip.  And as always, enjoy your trip!