Tents, packs and sleeping bags dominate the gear conversation, but Backpacker's editors reckon the real trail heroes are the tiny things. In a new roundup, they name ten under-appreciated items that live permanently in their packs — and for anyone planning a multi-day hike this year, a few of these could quietly upgrade your trip.
The picks are refreshingly unglamorous. Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy swears by a microsuede bandana towel (the Nomadix) that dries faster than cotton and carries a UPF 50+ rating for sun coverage around the neck. The underwear pitch is just as practical: wool or wool-blend briefs like Branwyn's Essential Bikini or Ibex's Natural Bikini wick sweat and resist odour, which matters a lot by day four of a thru-hike. Senior Gear Editor Benjamin Tepler champions a wrap-around satin sleep mask from Kitsch — the design avoids the adjustment clips that dig in when you sleep on your side.
Other picks solve classic camp annoyances. With fire bans common across the American West for much of the hiking season, Associate Editor Will Brendza suggests a tiny personal lantern as a campfire stand-in: not strong enough to toast marshmallows, but enough glow for evenings without hunting for dry wood. A long-handled GSI Outdoors spoon with soft silicone edges gets his other endorsement, because it lets you scrape every last calorie out of a freeze-dried meal pouch. Roy's travel-savvy alternatives include miniature scissors (they handle most knife jobs and are allowed in carry-on luggage), small flip-top contact-lens cases for decanting toothpaste or medication (around $14 for a pack of 100), and a single 3-in-1 charging cable plus a tiny adapter so a phone, e-reader, headlamp and Garmin watch can share one cord.
Rounding out the list: a balloon of a lantern diffuser that turns your headlamp into tent lighting for card games, and an ultralight collapsible dog bowl from Atlas Pet Company that folds into a pocket and clips to a leash or pack — handy if your four-legged friend comes along.
None of these cost much, weigh much, or take up space, which is exactly the point. Experienced hikers know that comfort on trail is usually decided by small frictions: wet socks, a rough night's sleep, a dead headlamp, cold evenings under a fire ban. This list is a useful checklist for first-time backpackers assembling a kit, and a decent prompt for veterans to audit what's actually earning its spot in their pack. If you're flying to a trailhead — in the US or elsewhere — the carry-on-friendly scissors and consolidated charging cable are especially worth copying. Full details and product links are in the original feature.
