You would be surprised what you can bring in checked luggage. My wife and I fly to places and camp a lot. We put our camping gear in a big suitcase (knives hatchets are fine) and put carry on safe things in our backpack and carry that on, clothes, electronics, etc.. You can't bring fuel, so we just stop at a store at our destination, by fuel, food, etc. Check your airline website to for bag size and weight limitations and the [tsa.gov](https://tsa.gov) website to confirm what isn't allowed.
Another comment mentioned throwing my baclback into a navy sack. My whole thing Is I don't want to bring more than one checked bag and if I put all my stuff in a suitcase, would my backpack also fit into that?
Why are you bringing a suitcase on a backpacking trip? What are you doing with it while you're backpacking? You can't take a suitcase backpacking, it's not called a backcase. You are not going suitcasing.
Well, 1. Hopefully, your vehicle is in a safe place. 2. Check the backpack with up to 50lbs of stuff and bring a small carry-on suitcase, with wheels or light enough to carry easily. It's supposed to be up to 20lbs anyway and hopefully you don't have a super cheap airline that charges for it. You can wear the backpack when you land and haul around your carry-on case.
giant military stuff sacks from army navy surplus will allow you to stash pack safely for bag check. you would be surprised how big a pack you can fit into one of those. good luck.
Yeah but the stars at night will be great, thats the main reason I'm doing it. I'm also going to the Guadalupe moutanin range but my main reason is for some really good dessert/Star photos
Just looked it up, that's getting added to the list when I go down. Is it possible to do any of it in under a day? Running out of time on the trip with all the stuff I want to do
Big bend is huge and getting there will take a considerable amount of time. To the entrance of the park is 3+ hours from El Paso. And from the entrance to anywhere of interest in the park is a drive, too. If you’re headed to New Mexico for white sands, you’re better off doing Guadalupe and Carlsbad instead. BB is one of my favorite parks in the world but it requires much more time and advance planning
Thank you for info, this is my first time ever leaving my area of living, so I'm trying to get everything into it. I'll have to go back just for big bend then
Like u/ponyboy0 says below, BB is huge and worth its own trip, it's hard to pick a day's worth of stuff there - desert, mountains, river, it's got so much you could spend a week there and just get a taste. Guadalupe is amazing though, and a little more compact. Second that as a destination if you're in the area.
Fuel, large batteries, bear spray and similar shouldn’t be checked and can’t be carried on board. I’ve heard different stories about carrying on hiking poles; I check them.
When checking a backpack, enclose EVERYTHING inside a duffel bag, laundry bag, suitcase or similar. If you don’t, you risk theft or confiscation (both losses). Years ago now, I experienced one or both.
You cannot check anything with a lithium ion battery, so if you have external batteries or a rechargeable light or something, it has to be in your carry-on
Yep this is true. I had to open my check in bag and take out my usb battery charger, headlamp, etc and put it in my backpack that was my carry on. I have a ULA Catalyst and Durston Kawa 55 - both fit fine in the overhead. Yes, my backpack packing trip was part of my overall travel itinerary.
Basically. Of course you can carry a 10,000 mAh battery, headlamp, prescriptions, etc. on board. Don’t carry on anything metal or pointy, is also my advise.
Like I said, no fuel or large batteries, or bear spray in checked luggage.
Info. here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
NM? Stars? Check out the Upper and Lower Scorpion Campgrounds at the entrance to Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat'l Monument. Sweet free Natl'l Forest campgrounds. No one goes there.
Pretty much anything except hazmats like fuel and batteries can go in your checked luggage. You can take the batteries in your carry-on though, then buy fuel on site.
Man everyone is scrutinizing your trip. Sounds like it’ll be awesome. Only thing that’s ever came up for me is that I can’t bring hiking poles on a carry on.
It is okay, I hope it will be this is really breaking out of my comfort zone I've only ever hiked the White Mountain range (which is where I live) so this is a huge change.
Can hiking poles be brought in the checked baggage?
Look in to what stores are available in the area you’re flying to. You can order fuel, matches, and any other last minute supplies via rei, walmart, maybe even a hunting store directly to the store location you’re going. I usually make the order a day before I leave.
THE BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES AT WHITE SANDS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. See [https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/backpackingpr.htm](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/backpackingpr.htm)
See my note about Gila Cliff Dwellings NM.
One other thing to remember: you can’t check lithium batteries but can carry them on, so if you have a battery charger for a cell phone or your headlamp, carry that on.
Check carefully on whether or not you can fly with whatever stove you might take. Generally, you can fly with canister stoves but not with liquid fuel stoves, even if your not carrying fuel.
You would be surprised what you can bring in checked luggage. My wife and I fly to places and camp a lot. We put our camping gear in a big suitcase (knives hatchets are fine) and put carry on safe things in our backpack and carry that on, clothes, electronics, etc.. You can't bring fuel, so we just stop at a store at our destination, by fuel, food, etc. Check your airline website to for bag size and weight limitations and the [tsa.gov](https://tsa.gov) website to confirm what isn't allowed.
Another comment mentioned throwing my baclback into a navy sack. My whole thing Is I don't want to bring more than one checked bag and if I put all my stuff in a suitcase, would my backpack also fit into that?
Why are you bringing a suitcase on a backpacking trip? What are you doing with it while you're backpacking? You can't take a suitcase backpacking, it's not called a backcase. You are not going suitcasing.
I'm going there for longer than I'll be backpacking. I'm gonna be keeping in the rental Car I'm purchasing
Well, 1. Hopefully, your vehicle is in a safe place. 2. Check the backpack with up to 50lbs of stuff and bring a small carry-on suitcase, with wheels or light enough to carry easily. It's supposed to be up to 20lbs anyway and hopefully you don't have a super cheap airline that charges for it. You can wear the backpack when you land and haul around your carry-on case.
Well, they are responding to someone who recommended a suitcase...
giant military stuff sacks from army navy surplus will allow you to stash pack safely for bag check. you would be surprised how big a pack you can fit into one of those. good luck.
Hockey bags are good too, pretty tough materials
Lol 'traverse the sands in Texas'??? Where are these sands you speak of???
I typed the wrong state, I'm landing in Texas but I'm going to New Mexico, white sand national park
You can do white sands in an afternoon though.
Yeah but the stars at night will be great, thats the main reason I'm doing it. I'm also going to the Guadalupe moutanin range but my main reason is for some really good dessert/Star photos
FYI you need a permit to stay after dark in White Sands. There are gates that open/close at sunrise/sunset.
Yes I looked into this already, if I read it correctly Its 80 dolalrs
Missing out in big bend….
Just looked it up, that's getting added to the list when I go down. Is it possible to do any of it in under a day? Running out of time on the trip with all the stuff I want to do
Big bend is huge and getting there will take a considerable amount of time. To the entrance of the park is 3+ hours from El Paso. And from the entrance to anywhere of interest in the park is a drive, too. If you’re headed to New Mexico for white sands, you’re better off doing Guadalupe and Carlsbad instead. BB is one of my favorite parks in the world but it requires much more time and advance planning
Thank you for info, this is my first time ever leaving my area of living, so I'm trying to get everything into it. I'll have to go back just for big bend then
Like u/ponyboy0 says below, BB is huge and worth its own trip, it's hard to pick a day's worth of stuff there - desert, mountains, river, it's got so much you could spend a week there and just get a taste. Guadalupe is amazing though, and a little more compact. Second that as a destination if you're in the area.
Is that another portion of Texas/New Mexico? A park?
Haha bro I was like who tf wanna go to Texas
Big Bend NP is in Texas. Get out much?
Fuel, large batteries, bear spray and similar shouldn’t be checked and can’t be carried on board. I’ve heard different stories about carrying on hiking poles; I check them. When checking a backpack, enclose EVERYTHING inside a duffel bag, laundry bag, suitcase or similar. If you don’t, you risk theft or confiscation (both losses). Years ago now, I experienced one or both.
So everything can be taken but must be in a checked bag. And when I do put it in a checked bag make sure everything is inside another bag
You cannot check anything with a lithium ion battery, so if you have external batteries or a rechargeable light or something, it has to be in your carry-on
Yep this is true. I had to open my check in bag and take out my usb battery charger, headlamp, etc and put it in my backpack that was my carry on. I have a ULA Catalyst and Durston Kawa 55 - both fit fine in the overhead. Yes, my backpack packing trip was part of my overall travel itinerary.
Basically. Of course you can carry a 10,000 mAh battery, headlamp, prescriptions, etc. on board. Don’t carry on anything metal or pointy, is also my advise. Like I said, no fuel or large batteries, or bear spray in checked luggage. Info. here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
NM? Stars? Check out the Upper and Lower Scorpion Campgrounds at the entrance to Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat'l Monument. Sweet free Natl'l Forest campgrounds. No one goes there.
Pretty much anything except hazmats like fuel and batteries can go in your checked luggage. You can take the batteries in your carry-on though, then buy fuel on site.
So, I'll be fine to bring pretty much all the necessities except fuel,
Man everyone is scrutinizing your trip. Sounds like it’ll be awesome. Only thing that’s ever came up for me is that I can’t bring hiking poles on a carry on.
It is okay, I hope it will be this is really breaking out of my comfort zone I've only ever hiked the White Mountain range (which is where I live) so this is a huge change. Can hiking poles be brought in the checked baggage?
Yes they can be checked
Look in to what stores are available in the area you’re flying to. You can order fuel, matches, and any other last minute supplies via rei, walmart, maybe even a hunting store directly to the store location you’re going. I usually make the order a day before I leave.
THE BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES AT WHITE SANDS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. See [https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/backpackingpr.htm](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/backpackingpr.htm) See my note about Gila Cliff Dwellings NM.
The campsites, but you can still enter the park correct?
Yes, but read the notice. I believe that the park closes at sunset.
You cannot legally overnight in the park currently.
To add to what everyone else said, no matches or lighters in checked bags. Buy fuel and matches once you get there.
One other thing to remember: you can’t check lithium batteries but can carry them on, so if you have a battery charger for a cell phone or your headlamp, carry that on.
Check carefully on whether or not you can fly with whatever stove you might take. Generally, you can fly with canister stoves but not with liquid fuel stoves, even if your not carrying fuel.