Gear List
For those interested, below is the current gear that I use on hiking trips
Backpacks
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40L (2lbs)- most comfortable pack, has replaced the larger Mariposa as my gear has gotten lighter and more compact
HMG Daybreak Ultra 17L (1lb, 4oz)- daypack, perfect size, faulty zipper
ULA Catalyst 75L (3lbs)- largest pack I own, best for bear country with food carries longer than 4 days, BV500 fits inside horizontally (helps with weight distribution)
HMG Daybreak Ultra 17L (1lb, 4oz)- daypack, perfect size, faulty zipper
ULA Catalyst 75L (3lbs)- largest pack I own, best for bear country with food carries longer than 4 days, BV500 fits inside horizontally (helps with weight distribution)
Sleeping Bags
Western Mountaineering Summerlite (1lb, 3oz)- 32F most trips, "thin version" of the Megalite bag that weighs 5oz less
Western Mountaineering UltraLite (1lb, 13oz)- 20F very cold trips (high elevations Peru, Colombia etc)
Sea to Summit Spark I (14oz)- warm trips with lows > 50F
Western Mountaineering UltraLite (1lb, 13oz)- 20F very cold trips (high elevations Peru, Colombia etc)
Sea to Summit Spark I (14oz)- warm trips with lows > 50F
Shelters
Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1P tent (1lb, 4oz)- double walled, wind stable, easy to set up in rain, small vestibule/lack of headroom is the compromise for the low weight, head will rub against wall and can get wet in cold weather with no wind, Laser Photon is said to be a more durable version although I have not found any reason to switch, my go-to tent for deserts/good weather/quick trips into the mountains/saving weight. The Nordisk Lofoten tent is a fraction lighter and cheaper than the Laser Ultra, but has even less headroom (70cm vs 87cm)
Big Sky Chinook 1P tent- double walled, 3lb 1oz with 3 poles (4 season mode, freestanding), 2lbs 7oz with 2 poles (3 season, semi-freestanding), lots of room never touch the walls, strong tent with three poles good for windy beaches or rocky terrain like Iceland where freestanding tents are more useful I got the heavy aluminum poles since reviews for carbon poles stated they tend to snap in wind. I added six guylines for strength, useful youtube video on how to attach guylines here, my go-to tent for bad weather areas/car camping
Tarptent Cloudburst 3- single walled with 6oz liner to help with condensation, 3.75lbs with liner, group tent for two or three people, wind stable with extra guylines attached, optional third pole in center of shelter to increase stability, my go-to tent for group camping
Hyperlite Mountain gear UltaMid 2 Shelter- still use for packrafting/winter camping, two man tent, wind stable, in hindsight the UltaMid 4 may be a better investment as it would give more room, becomes a double walled shelter if using the bug insert (less condensation but still touch walls with two people), fabric is slow to dry compared to most, takes up lots of pack space
Big Sky Chinook 1P tent- double walled, 3lb 1oz with 3 poles (4 season mode, freestanding), 2lbs 7oz with 2 poles (3 season, semi-freestanding), lots of room never touch the walls, strong tent with three poles good for windy beaches or rocky terrain like Iceland where freestanding tents are more useful I got the heavy aluminum poles since reviews for carbon poles stated they tend to snap in wind. I added six guylines for strength, useful youtube video on how to attach guylines here, my go-to tent for bad weather areas/car camping
Tarptent Cloudburst 3- single walled with 6oz liner to help with condensation, 3.75lbs with liner, group tent for two or three people, wind stable with extra guylines attached, optional third pole in center of shelter to increase stability, my go-to tent for group camping
Hyperlite Mountain gear UltaMid 2 Shelter- still use for packrafting/winter camping, two man tent, wind stable, in hindsight the UltaMid 4 may be a better investment as it would give more room, becomes a double walled shelter if using the bug insert (less condensation but still touch walls with two people), fabric is slow to dry compared to most, takes up lots of pack space
Raingear
Columbia Outdry Featherweight Shell (8oz, discontinued)- Shakedry technology, solves the problem of having to get a new rain jacket every few years from the water repellent failing after extended use, only jacket on the market with this technology now is the more expensive Gore Wear GTX
MontBell Torrent flier Jacket (9oz)- colder temps or very rainy places, expensive but doesn't lack any features and only 9oz
Outdoor Research Helium II jacket (6oz) -warmer places with no risk of hypothermia, small stuff size, "just in case" rain jacket on dayhikes, no way to tighten the hood, the reason why I tend to prefer the Outdry or Torrent flier for longer backpacking trips
MontBell Versalite rainpants (4oz)- not durable, looser fit seems better for longevity, best for wide trails (thorns/branches will cause tears) or long walks in mostly sunny environments (lightweight)
Outdoor Research Foray Pants (10oz)- when the seven day forecast looks bleak, heavy but durable enough for off trail adventures
Zpacks Vertice rain mitts (1oz)- for use in colder rain to keep hands dry while using trekking poles with possum down gloves (1.4oz)
MontBell Torrent flier Jacket (9oz)- colder temps or very rainy places, expensive but doesn't lack any features and only 9oz
Outdoor Research Helium II jacket (6oz) -warmer places with no risk of hypothermia, small stuff size, "just in case" rain jacket on dayhikes, no way to tighten the hood, the reason why I tend to prefer the Outdry or Torrent flier for longer backpacking trips
MontBell Versalite rainpants (4oz)- not durable, looser fit seems better for longevity, best for wide trails (thorns/branches will cause tears) or long walks in mostly sunny environments (lightweight)
Outdoor Research Foray Pants (10oz)- when the seven day forecast looks bleak, heavy but durable enough for off trail adventures
Zpacks Vertice rain mitts (1oz)- for use in colder rain to keep hands dry while using trekking poles with possum down gloves (1.4oz)
Sleeping Pads
Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (12oz)- most trips, Thermarest pads hold up better than others which tend to lose air overnight after continued use
Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm (15oz)- cold temps, high elevation pad, more insulation
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow (3oz)- esp good when sleeping on your back, curved for your neck, small pack size
Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm (15oz)- cold temps, high elevation pad, more insulation
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow (3oz)- esp good when sleeping on your back, curved for your neck, small pack size
Trekking Poles
Black Diamond distance carbon Z trekking poles (10oz)- very lightweight, fold nicely when not in use, tend to snap every 18 months but still prefer over heavier ones
Footwear
Nike Terra Kiger 4- I use trail running shoes with merino wool socks with an extra pair of dry socks for sleeping at night. I will sometimes pair the trail runners with gore tex oversocks (if the ground is wet but there is no rain), yet when these get soaked through I take them off so the feet can breathe. Oversocks can also be used exclusively at camp to protect dry sleeping socks from wet shoes, giving the feet an extra few hours to recover each night. For places with knee deep mud I will wear MLD full length gaiters. I buy shoes a size large as feet tend to swell when hiking and also for comfort with oversocks. I put wet socks inside the sleeping bag under my body to help them dry at night.
Bear Canister
Bear Vault 450- lightweight, shorter trips 4 days or less
Bear Vault 500- lightweight, larger size, trips with long food carries >5 days
Ursack- most flexible for storage inside pack, but not all places approve its use
inReach Mini (4oz)- carry in bear/venomous snake country when solo hiking, use the freedom plan, can text and get weather updates anywhere in the world using the iridium satellite network
Bear Vault 500- lightweight, larger size, trips with long food carries >5 days
Ursack- most flexible for storage inside pack, but not all places approve its use
inReach Mini (4oz)- carry in bear/venomous snake country when solo hiking, use the freedom plan, can text and get weather updates anywhere in the world using the iridium satellite network
Packrafting
Alpacka Gnarwal- whitewater series major improvement over the alpacka series, internal storage helps with control/vision and whitewater deck with spray skirt makes rafting cold rivers in the north more enjoyable as the velcro system on the alpacka series could not keep water out of the boat, bow bag on front of boat for daily essentials
Kokatat Swift Dry Suit- paddling suit really necessary for cold water runs esp on rainy days, can limit layers underneath on sunny days, in warmer water rain gear will suffice with "rolled up sleeves", not rolling up sleeves will eventually cause all layers to get wet from paddling
ULA Epic ~65L (2lbs)- packraft secured on the bottom with included straps, use a piece of rope to tie around the bag to keep paddles from shifting on extended walking portions
Kokatat Swift Dry Suit- paddling suit really necessary for cold water runs esp on rainy days, can limit layers underneath on sunny days, in warmer water rain gear will suffice with "rolled up sleeves", not rolling up sleeves will eventually cause all layers to get wet from paddling
ULA Epic ~65L (2lbs)- packraft secured on the bottom with included straps, use a piece of rope to tie around the bag to keep paddles from shifting on extended walking portions
Hats
Neck Gaiter- most sun hats do not cover neck well enough on windy days, can be paired with any hat, can put in bag on cloudy days
Other
Suunto M3 Compass- adjustable declination, declination calculator website here, useful video on orienting map & compass here
Nitecore NU25 USB Headlamp (1.2 oz)- bright enough for extended night walking (360 lumens) and USB rechargable at just over one ounce
HydraPak Flux Flexible Bottle (3.4 oz 1.5L)- rolls up when not in use, solves the problem of SmartWater bottles falling out of the pack on accident when empty
Dermatone Lip Balm- does not freeze or melt, SPF 30
Nitecore NU25 USB Headlamp (1.2 oz)- bright enough for extended night walking (360 lumens) and USB rechargable at just over one ounce
HydraPak Flux Flexible Bottle (3.4 oz 1.5L)- rolls up when not in use, solves the problem of SmartWater bottles falling out of the pack on accident when empty
Dermatone Lip Balm- does not freeze or melt, SPF 30