I've found after years and many thousand miles of hiking, that backpacking and hiking gear can change frequently.  And backpacking gear varies based on the individual hiker and their own personal preferences and tolerances.  When I was planning for my Appalachian Trail thru hike and many backpacking trips, it was helpful to see what other hikers were carrying and what they used and what worked best. 

Below are links to my Lighterpack Gear lists as well as gear I recommend based off gear I've used and liked.