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Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

Ultralight, homemade, and customizable—these gizmos solve all kinds of backpacking problems.

Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

Last updated:
October 20, 2025
|  5 min read
A 3-D printer

Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

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Ultralight, homemade, and customizable—these gizmos solve all kinds of backpacking problems.

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Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

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The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

Backpackers are good at improvising creative solutions to problems, especially when it comes to gear. When you’re carrying your life on your back, relying on quick fixes and DIY systems is the name of the game. We also love gadgets and any piece of gear that simplifies time spent on the trail or in camp. So it’s no surprise that the internet abounds with 3D-printed models, designed by hikers, aiming to solve all kinds of backpacking dilemmas. While we haven’t yet tested any of the following, here are 10 designs we think deserve a place in our backpacks.

Don’t have a 3D printer at home? Many libraries, makers workshops, and other creative spaces have printers available for use by the public.

Continue reading to learn more about how to use a 3-D printer to create backpacking gadgets, written by Zoe Gates.

Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

Backpackers are good at improvising creative solutions to problems, especially when it comes to gear. When you’re carrying your life on your back, relying on quick fixes and DIY systems is the name of the game. We also love gadgets and any piece of gear that simplifies time spent on the trail or in camp. So it’s no surprise that the internet abounds with 3D-printed models, designed by hikers, aiming to solve all kinds of backpacking dilemmas. While we haven’t yet tested any of the following, here are 10 designs we think deserve a place in our backpacks.

Don’t have a 3D printer at home? Many libraries, makers workshops, and other creative spaces have printers available for use by the public.

Continue reading to learn more about how to use a 3-D printer to create backpacking gadgets, written by Zoe Gates.

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Editor at Backpacker
Zoe Gates
Zoe Gates is a senior editor at Backpacker where she specializes in skills and survival stories.
Media Mentions

Backpacker: The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

The 3D-Printed Backpacking Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

Backpackers are good at improvising creative solutions to problems, especially when it comes to gear. When you’re carrying your life on your back, relying on quick fixes and DIY systems is the name of the game. We also love gadgets and any piece of gear that simplifies time spent on the trail or in camp. So it’s no surprise that the internet abounds with 3D-printed models, designed by hikers, aiming to solve all kinds of backpacking dilemmas. While we haven’t yet tested any of the following, here are 10 designs we think deserve a place in our backpacks.

Don’t have a 3D printer at home? Many libraries, makers workshops, and other creative spaces have printers available for use by the public.

Continue reading to learn more about how to use a 3-D printer to create backpacking gadgets, written by Zoe Gates.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Editor at Backpacker
Zoe Gates
Zoe Gates is a senior editor at Backpacker where she specializes in skills and survival stories.
Media Mentions
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