The Ultimate Men’s Outdoor Gear Guide

Gear
Written By Andrea Ference

I write this gear guide with a very big caveat that I am not, in fact, a man in the outdoors. I have spent over 1,000 nights in my tent over the past ten years and can confidently provide advice and gear recommendations for women who fit a very specific profile. However, when it comes to men’s gear guides… they are one of my most asked for resources and also one that I always felt like a fraud when thinking about writing.

This gear list was built with the help of you, my community, and includes pieces recommended from men of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. In some of the more gender neutral pieces (water filters and camp kitchen staples for example) I did add my favourites to the list.

A very big thank you to the 100+ outdoors men who took the time to send in their gear suggestions. An especially big thank you to Austin Webster, Brent Seal, Jason Metcalfe, John Howton, Justin Mungarro, Matthew Kwan, Matt Leister, Matt Wentzell, Michale Sugianto, Mitchel Jones and Whit Garey - who emailed me with their full extensive gear packing lists and were able to make this hopefully a really great resource for men in the outdoors looking for great quality tested gear.

The Ten Essentials are fully outlined here in my Ten Essentials Blog Post. They are also noted with a small asterisk (*) on the below packing list - all ten should, in some capacity, be with you on every hike and backcountry camping trip.

The Ten Essentials

Daypack

Backpack

If you have a little

Tent

Bivy and Tarps

Sleeping Bag

Liner

Sleeping Quilt

Sleeping Pad

Camp Pillow

Headlamp

Lantern

Hiking Poles

Map + Compass

Satellite Phone + Subscription

Drybags

Insect Repellant

Bug Net

Bear Spray

Bear Bin

Knife

Sunscreen

Lipchap with SPF

First Aid Kit

I attached a few to get you started below. However, building your own is always better - that way you know what is in it and can buy higher quality products. The band aids in the first aid kits for instance tend to be small and plastic and dry out within about a year and should be replaced often and with larger, cloth, bandages. Also check drug expiration dates!

I keep a small medical kit that I have doctored up as well as a blister kit in my backpacking bag. Some suggestions for this include:

  1. Tweezers – pulling splinters, thorns or ticks

  2. 1 sheet or roll of moleskin – most common hiking injuries are blisters.

  3. Afterbite dressing - bug bites are another common hiking injury

  4. Pill capsule containing Painkillers, Allergy, Pepto, ASA (for heart attacks).

  5. Duct tape – don’t bring the whole roll, wrap duct tape around a small cylinder such as tent pole.

  6. Quick Clotting Gauze – hemostatic gauze for large trauma (you can actually use women’s menstrual pads for this - a tip from a firefighter)

  7. March Battle Wrap - high performance compression wrap for large trauma used by the military.

  8. Large 3” bandage – for minor deep cuts.

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner (plus enough for one extra day)

The BEST dehydrated meals

Snacks

Energy bars, energy gels, beef jerky, sour patch kids (any candy really), mixed nuts, olives, chocolate bars (on day one before they melt), dried fruit and hard cheese are some of my current go-to trail snacks.

Electrolytes

Water Filtration

Water Bottle

I like to use Nalgene bottles. In colder temperatures they can be filled with hot water and double as a hot water bottle - and the smaller (16oz) is perfect for electrolytes.

Water Bladder

For summer use only, the hose will freeze in colder temperatures. I also really like the Camelback bladders however, they only attach to Camelback branded backpacks. The Osprey is a more universal attachment.

Camp Stove + Fuel

Utensils

Bowl, Plate & Pot

Coffee Cup

Coffee Maker

I will go with either the Aeropress (and bring pre-ground coffee) or you can check out my full Instant Coffee blog - they tend to be a little pricier but there are some really great (and uber lightweight) options when it comes to coffee. In all honesty - without being able to control water temperature and weights the instant will generally turn out better than any of the below brew methods.

Waterproof/Rain Jacket

Wind Jacket

Waterproof/Rain Pants

Down or Synthetic Jacket

Mid layer, Fleece or Sweater

Hiking Pants

Hiking Shorts

Short sleeve Top

Base layer Top

Base layer Bottoms

Underwear

Clothes to Sleep In

  • I bring an entirely separate outfit when camping - it keeps my sleeping bag clean (the dirt, oils and sunscreen on our bodies can damage your gear), some schools of thought beleive it will keep food smells low when camping in bear territory and also makes me feel better. For me it will be either a secondary base layer set or a pair of tights and a tank top depending on the weather. I keep this in its own little pouch in my backpack.

What you will need in this respect varies quite a bit depending on where you are going and the facilities provided - some drive up campgrounds offer full bathrooms with heated showers - no need for a trowel or wag bag. However, in some remote alpine and desert areas you are not legally able to leave human waste and will need to carry out your no.2’s. This can be intimidating at first but with a little preparation it is nothing to worry about. I wrote a blog going into more details that you can check out via the link below.

How to go to the bathroom in the outdoors

Hand Sanatizer

Toilet Paper + Plastic Bag to carry out in

There is also a product called Dude Wipes if you are looking for a little backcountry luxury.

Trowel or Wag Bags

Toothbrush + Toothpaste

Toiletries

I am a big fan of the Ursa Major Face Wipes and have turned a handful of my male hiking friends onto them. After a long day of sweating and sunscreen it feels nice to go to sleep with a clean face.

Microfiber Towel

Camera gear

Charging cords and power bank

  • I have yet to find a power bank that I love - but if you have any recommendations leave them in the comments and I will update this section!

Cards, book, journal, tablet, headphones, etc.

  • Not a necessity. I personally will download a few podcasts and listen to them when I am camping and then bring along a deck of cards (I like this one) and the game Pass the Pigs. But know a lot of people who enjoy reading when camping.

Toque/Beanie

Ball Cap

Gloves

Waterproof Matches*

Printed Permit (if required)

Ear Plugs

Repair kit for gear*

ID, cash, keys & cellphone

Whats in my camera bag

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission on any purchase made - at no additional cost to you. As always, all ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!

Andrea Ference
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