The classic book "Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills," Stephen M. Cox and Kris Fulsaas, editors, lists "ten essentials" that are widely acknowledged as the true essentials when traveling in the back country. You might not need quite as much gear for a backpacking trip as for a mountaineering expedition, but you should still plan to be self-sufficient and adapt the ten essentials to suit your personal style and preferences.
Map, Compass and GPS
The very nature of backpacking indicates that you'll travel some distance by foot. Unless you know the area intimately, keep a topographical map handy. It's even a good idea to bring one if you are familiar with the area. Make sure you know how to read the topo map, which can help you locate your position by referencing the contours of land around you. Although a GPS is a useful navigation aid in the back country, carry a compass as backup, and know how to use it.
Flashlight or Headlamp, and Sunglasses
Have illumination handy so you can work around camp or travel, even after the sun goes down. A flashlight serves for illumination, but a headlamp lets you keep your hands free for any other tasks. Bring sunglasses for when you suffer from the opposite problem of too much light instead of too little. Sunglasses help protect your eyes even during the winter, when sun glare off the snow and ice can be surprisingly strong.
Food and Water
If you're going on a two-night backpacking trip, you don't need to pack as if you're heading for a Himalayan expedition. In fact, you could probably survive the trip without any extra food or water at all, but you'd be uncomfortable. High-fat, high-calorie emergency foods like candy bars provide energy in an emergency, and favorite snacks can help buoy your mood. For hydration, you can either pack in all the water you need, which can get very heavy, or bring a water filtration or treatment system if you know fresh water will be available.
Fire Starters and First Aid
Fire provides emergency heat and illumination. Bring a lighter or waterproof matches to start a fire. Emergency kindling or fire starters, such as balls of wax melted and mixed with sawdust, make getting and keeping the fire going easier.
Tailor your first-aid supplies to your own abilities and knowledge; there's no point in hauling along something you don't know how to use. Moleskin, SAM splints and tweezers are all multifunctional, easy-to-use additions to a lightweight first aid kit.
Knife, Stove and Repair Tools
A sturdy knife is an important survival tool, and it also comes in handy for nonemergency situations from opening cans of beer to shaving kindling off a piece of firewood.
Although a camp stove isn't strictly necessary, it's your easiest and lowest-impact way of cooking food or boiling water. Some parks might prohibit campfires outside of established fire rings, which leaves your camp stove as the only cooking method.
Carry a basic repair kit for problem-solving issues like a ripped tent or damaged O-rings in your stove. Duct tape, cordage and zip ties are useful, all-purpose tools to include in your repair kit.
Extra Clothes, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen
You don't need to bring your entire wardrobe, but carry extra layers in case you get wet or the weather turns cold. In some places, the temperature can drop dramatically between daytime and nighttime. Bring a hat to protect your head from both sun and rain.
Insect repellent helps keep off mosquitoes, along with ticks and other potentially harmful insects. Bring sunscreen, even in the fall and winter and in less sunny conditions. The sun's UV rays come through even when it's cloudy.
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