Maine Hikes - 3-Day Backpacking Gear Guide

🛶 Maine Hikes: 3-Day Backpacking Gear Guide

The best gear for exploring Maine’s wild places – curated by backpackers, for backpackers.

🎒 The Big Three

Backpack

🥇 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L

Ultralight, waterproof Dyneema pack made in Maine—rugged and perfect for long trips.

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💰 Osprey Atmos/Aura AG 65

Legendary comfort and ventilation with Anti-Gravity suspension. Heavy, but makes 30 lbs feel like 20.

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🪙 REI Co-op Trailbreak 60

Affordable and dependable, includes rain cover and sturdy support. Great for weekend warriors.

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Tent

🥇 Zpacks Duplex Classic

The ultralight Dyneema tent of choice for thru-hikers—spacious, storm-proof, and barely over 1 lb.

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💰 Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2

Lightweight, freestanding, and backpacker-tested. Excellent ventilation and space for two.

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🪙 Naturehike Cloud-Up 2

Budget-friendly freestanding tent with a rainfly and decent performance in wet conditions.

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Sleeping Bag

🥇 Feathered Friends Swallow UL 20

Premium down insulation with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. Perfect for cold Maine nights.

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💰 REI Magma 15

Great balance of weight, warmth, and compressibility. Ideal for three-season use.

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🪙 Kelty Cosmic Down 20

Trusted budget option with real down insulation. A solid choice for beginner backpackers.

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🧥 Clothing System

Base Layer (Top + Bottom)

🥇 Smartwool All-Season Merino

Wool base layers that breathe, wick, and don’t stink—perfect for Maine’s wild swings in weather.

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💰 REI Lightweight Base Layer

Synthetic comfort that dries fast and doesn’t break the bank.

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🪙 Decathlon Forclaz Merino Blend

Surprisingly good wool blend for the price.

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🥾 Footwear

Hiking Boots or Trail Runners

🥇 La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX

Waterproof and lightweight hiking boots with excellent traction for rocky Maine trails.

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💰 Altra Lone Peak 8

Trail runners with a wide toe box and great ground feel, ideal for dry conditions and light packs.

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🪙 Merrell Moab 3

Durable and cushioned hikers that perform well on varied terrain without breaking the bank.

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📦 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re backpacking Baxter, tackling the Bigelows, or chasing trout in the 100-Mile Wilderness—this gear guide has you covered. Don’t forget to test your kit before heading out, and adjust based on the season and your route.

Tag @mainehikes in your trail photos—we’d love to feature you!