Build a Lighter Pack: Free Backpacking Pack Builder and Meal Planner

Good Gear Only is a free place to plan your backpacking gear and trail food. Build pack lists, track base weight by category, plan meals day by day, and check your pack against the trail before you go.

Plan your pack

• PackBuilder: build multiple pack lists, group gear by category, and track base weight and total weight.
• MealPlanner: plan trail food day by day with weight, calories per ounce, and nutrition totals, then add food weight to your pack.

Check your pack before you go

• TrailGuide: park conditions, weather, and permits, plus a check of your chosen pack against your trip.
• TrailSchool: guides on sleep systems, water treatment, base weight, and more.

Research gear

• GearScout: gear reviews with specs, weight, and a buy-or-skip verdict.
• GearVersus: side-by-side comparisons.

Browse gear by category

• Ultralight Tents
• Backpacks
• Sleeping Bags & Quilts
• Sleeping Pads
• Stoves
• Water Filters
• Footwear
• Rain Shells

Featured reviews

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 review
• Zpacks Duplex Tent review
• Durston Gear X-Mid Pro 2 Superlight Tent review
• Osprey Exos 48 review
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 review
• Osprey Atmos AG 65 review
• NEMO Equipment Riff 15 Endless Promise review
• Marmot Bantamweight 15 Sleeping Bag review
• Zenbivy Core Quilt 25° Down Large review
• NEMO Equipment Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad review
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT review
• NEMO Equipment Tensor Trail Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad review
• MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove review
• Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System review

Backpacking guides

• Backpacking for Beginners: Your First Overnight Trip — Plan your first backpacking trip the right way. Food, fuel, gear essentials, group sharing tips, and why borrowing before buying matters. S…
• Backpacking Sleep System Guide: Bag, Quilt, Pad, R-Value Explained — Learn how sleeping bags, quilts, pads, fill power, and R-value work together. Make the right call for your sleep system before your next tr…
• Ultralight Backpacking Gear List: Sub-10 lb Base Weight Guide — A trail-tested ultralight backpacking gear list to hit a sub-10 lb base weight without sacrificing safety or sleep quality.
• Backpacking Water Filter Guide: How to Choose — Squeeze, gravity, straw, or chemical? Compare every backpacking water filter type, pros, cons, best use cases, and care tips.
• How to Reduce Backpacking Base Weight (No New Gear) — Cut your backpacking base weight without buying anything new. A step-by-step pack audit that finds 3-5 lbs of savings in your existing kit.
• How to Choose a Backpacking Tent: A Complete Guide — Single-wall or double-wall? Freestanding or trekking pole? Learn exactly how to choose a backpacking tent for your conditions, budget, and…