Backpacking Packs - Camp Kit Journal

Loaded backpack with rain cover and waterproof liner laid out on wet trail shows how to keep backpack dry in heavy rain.

Backpacking Packs

How to Keep Your Backpack Dry in Heavy Rain: Covers vs Liners

A pack cover alone won't keep your gear dry in sustained rain. Pair a fitted rain cover with an internal waterproof liner or dry bags to protect your load.

Osprey Eja 48L long term review: loaded women’s backpack and camping kit at a natural campsite.

Backpacking Packs

Osprey Eja 48L Long Term Review for Multi-Day Backpacking

A long-term look at the Osprey Eja 48L for multi-day backpacking, covering fit, capacity, comfort, and how it compares with other lightweight packs.

A hand adjusts a rain cover on a loaded backpack on a wet trail—do you need a rain cover for backpacking?

Backpacks

Do You Need a Rain Cover for Backpacking? A Practical Fit Guide

Learn when a backpacking rain cover is worth carrying, how to choose the right fit, and why internal waterproofing like dry bags or pack liners should come first.

Loaded backpack and tape at a campsite show how to measure torso length for backpack fit.

Backpacking Packs

How to Measure Torso Length for Backpack Fit: Adjust Straps Right

Learn how to measure torso length for a backpack using C7 and iliac crest landmarks, then adjust the hip belt first, followed by shoulder straps, load lifters, and sternum strap for a pain-free carry.

Hands pack a foam sleeping pad inside a backpack at camp: how to pack foam sleeping pad inside backpack.

Foam Pads

How to Pack Foam Sleeping Pad Inside Backpack: No External Straps

Learn how to pack foam sleeping pad inside backpack, shape it as a cylinder, and avoid external straps while keeping gear balanced and pad protected.

Backpacking trauma kit vs first aid kit laid side by side on a campsite rock, size comparison.

Emergency

Backpacking Trauma Kit vs First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide

A backpacking trauma kit focuses on severe bleeding control, while a first aid kit handles blisters and minor cuts. Learn which supplies to carry based on your route, weight limit, and skill level.

Backpacking pack liner vs dry bags setup beside an open backpack at a natural campsite

Backpacking Packs

Backpacking Pack Liner vs Dry Bags: What to Use and When

Pack liners waterproof your whole main compartment for less weight, while dry bags give separate waterproof pockets at the cost of bulk. Learn when each system fits your trip and how to pack and seal them fast.

Lightweight vs heavy-duty backpacking pack comparison at a real campsite, two loaded packs and camp gear laid out

Backpacking Packs

Lightweight vs Heavy-Duty Backpacking Pack: How to Choose

Match trip length, base weight, and camp comfort to frame, fabric, and fit before choosing a lightweight or heavy-duty backpacking pack.

Compact overnight kit beside a 25L pack at a campsite for this Gossamer Gear Loris 25 review

Backpacking Packs

Gossamer Gear Loris 25 Review: Is 25L Enough Overnight?

The Gossamer Gear Loris 25 can handle one or two mild overnights with compact tarp-and-quilt gear. This review covers what fits, how it carries, and when a larger pack makes more sense.

A backpack rain cover fitted over a loaded pack beside a tent at a natural campsite.

Backpacking Packs

Backpack Rain Cover Buying Guide: Fit and Features to Check

This backpack rain cover buying guide explains what to check before you buy, how to fit a cover so it does not slide, and when the extra few ounces are worth carrying.

Gear laid out beside an open backpack at a campsite, helping answer what size backpack do I need for backpacking

Backpacking Packs

What Size Backpack Do I Need for Backpacking? Start Here

Use gear volume and trip type—not one magic number—to choose your pack size. Learn how 20L to 75L capacities match day hikes, multi-day backpacking, and cold-weather trips.