Buckeye & Swift’s 2021 Gear Essentials List
Check out our top backpacking gear picks for families to go explore!
Packs
The number one essential gear for your trip – if your pack isn’t comfortable, then you are not going to be a happy camper. Here’s our top picks for both youth and adults.
FOR YOUTH:
REI Tarn 40 Pack Our favorite for growing youth with adjustable back panel, removable lid (aka “brain”), and eco-friendly materials.
Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier
Our baby Meru loves this pack. The sunshade is brilliant to protect your little one.
Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 60 Pack
Granite gear packs are light, durable, and comfy. Still use our PCT 2,650 mile thru-hike pack after all these years later.
Women’s Osprey Aura AG 65
Buckeye received this as a valentine’s gift and it was hands-down the best gift ever. Fits snug and secure on hips, well designed pockets/zippers, and plenty of room.
Osprey Talon 33 Pack
Swift used this pack for EcoChallenge World’s Toughest Race Fiji (Comes out on Amazon Prime August 14!).
Now our everyday diaper bag, great bag for all purposes.
Tents/Shelters
There is a fine balance between weight to have to carry and comfort in your home away from home. We’ve tested these beauties out and highly recommend.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 Tent We find this to be a dream – coming in at 2lbs, 10oz and both durable & spacious for two people, or partners with a little one.
NEMO Apollo 3P Bikepacking Tent
Lightweight floor-less design makes for a dry shelter that sleeps 3 comfortably.
ENO Single Nest Hammock
Cozy and wrapped in a hammock is an awesome way to sleep when you can hang a hammock. This design is both lightweight & durable. We love it!
Sleep Setup
The key to warmth in your sleeping bag is trapping your own heat. If your bag is not fitted properly, you’ll be wasting energy heating extra air space within the bag. For our young trekkers, we recommend getting a larger bag but tying the foot of the bag below their feet so as to reduce empty space in the bag.
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
This foam pad folds up like an accordion to clip on outside of pack. No blowing up your mattress or dealing with holes necessary! Plus it makes for an easy ground cover to site on any time you want to rest.
Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus Sleeping Pad
For those looking for a little more cushion, this ProLite Plus provides a more cushy padding without weighing you down.
Women’s Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 Sleeping Bag
Men’s Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 30 Sleeping Bag
Men’s REI Co-op Igneo 25 Sleeping Bag
Water-resistant with 650 fill down, this lighter weight bag is pleated in such a way to provide maximum insulation and comfort.
SOL Emergency Bivy XL
Wind & waterproof, for the extreme adventurer or multi-day racer, this bivy will keep you warm at night to catch a few zzz’s.
Marmot Never Winter Limited Edition 30 Sleeping Bag
Marmot bags have the best baffles and they refill the down. This has been our go-to for 18+ years.
Kitchen Essentials
There’s nothing like a warm cup of coffee or tea in the morning, with epic views snuggled in your tent. These kitchen items have helped in the creation of yummy, warm meals anywhere on the go.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Stove
For backpacking trips, this is a simple, easy to use stove setup with ability to adjust flame and limited maintenance needed.
MSR WhisperLite International Backpacking Stove
For international travel, the WhisperLite is number 1. Able to use gasoline from gas stations so you are less limited in fuel selection. However, maintenance required and practice needed to use on your own. (We can help with that!)
Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink 10L
Simply dunk in a lake or stream for water at camp – we use this to have a way to filter water with ease at camp as needed.
MSR Alpine Spatula
If you love pancakes as much as I do, you’ll need it.
Opinel No. 8. Beechwood Handle Knife
The best all-around knife you can buy, especially for the price point.
GSI Outdoors Folding Cutting Board
Need something to cut your cucumber on?
Dromedary Bag – 6 liters
This is a bombproof water storage bag. It can handle kids dropping it on rocks, serves as a camp hand wash station. It also makes a descent pillow. 😉
Nalgene Polyethylene Bottle 4 fl.oz.
To carry a water treatment for the dromedary bag.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter System
This system saved our life when we were sick in India so much so that we could not even filter water by pumping. Simply by sucking from the spot, water is filtered before reaching your mouth. Easy to clean. Swift uses this during long distance bike races as well.
Katadyn Be Free Collapsible Water Filter Bottle – 33.8 fl.oz.
Favored as a quicker alternative for longer bike packing races.
BearVault BV500 Food Container
Keep your food protected, organized, and have a camp chair to enjoy.
humangear GoBites Uno Sporks
Buckeye has *yet* to break these sporks… an impressive first among many tested “unbreakable” brands.
TOAKS Titanium Single Wall 450mL Cup
Our go-to mug for coffee and hot cocoa
Other Gadgets
Always make sure to have these in the backcountry!
Petzl Actik Core Headlamp We’ve gone through a lot of headlamps throughout the years.
Seat to Summit Head Net
Mozzies will drive you mad, keep ‘em off your face.
Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass
Accurate, quick dial, and can handle a few drops.
Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles
Loved for years by us, these sturdy and easy to use poles fold up nicely.
Backcountry Clothes for the Family
Key ingredients to the proper attire: Warm jacket, rain jacket, durable pants & shorts, sun shirt, hat/glasses, wool socks & breathable/washable undergarments. Good to go! Here’s some of our recs to start.
Girls’
Girl’s Marmot Hyperlight Down Jacket
Columbia Benton Springs III Overlay Fleece Jacket
Kids’ REI Co-op Groundbreaker Rain Jacket
Kids’ Sunday Afternoon Ultra Adventure Hat
Boys’
Boy’s Marmot Hyperlight Down Jacket
Boys’ REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pants
Kids’ Sunday Afternoon Ultra Adventure Hat
Women’s
Women’s Marmot Highlander Down Hoodie
Women’s Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Women’s Columbia Silver Ridge Lite Shirt
Men’s
Men’s Patagonia
Torrent shell 3L Jacket
Men’s Smart Wool Merino Sport 150 Hoodie
Men’s prAna Stretch Zion Straight Pants