Gear List
For those interested, below is the current gear that I use on hiking trips (Updated March 2018)
Backpacks
The three brands I use that combine comfort and weight savings are Gossamer Gear, HMG, and ULA
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L (2lb, 3oz)- used for several years, main backpacking pack for 5-7 day trips, outer pockets have lots of room for storage
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40L (2lbs)- similar to Mariposa but slightly smaller, use for weekend trips around Colorado, starting to find that I can use for longer trips now as my gear has gotten lighter and more compact
HMG Daybreak Ultra 17L (1lb, 4oz)- daypack
ULA Catalyst 75L (3lbs)- largest pack I own, best for bear country with food carries longer than 4 days, BV500 fits inside horizontally
ULA Epic ~65L (2lbs)- packrafting pack
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L (2lb, 3oz)- used for several years, main backpacking pack for 5-7 day trips, outer pockets have lots of room for storage
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40L (2lbs)- similar to Mariposa but slightly smaller, use for weekend trips around Colorado, starting to find that I can use for longer trips now as my gear has gotten lighter and more compact
HMG Daybreak Ultra 17L (1lb, 4oz)- daypack
ULA Catalyst 75L (3lbs)- largest pack I own, best for bear country with food carries longer than 4 days, BV500 fits inside horizontally
ULA Epic ~65L (2lbs)- packrafting pack
Sleeping Bags
Were it not for Western Mountaineering bags I would probably have converted to using a quilt, but have switched back to using a full sleeping bag to prevent the draftiness found on cold nights in a quilt. I pay the extra money for Western Mountaineering bags because of the quality of their zippers and the weight/packing size is comparable to most quilts
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 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
Shelters
I have tried many and found that I prefer double walled tents for the lack of condensation despite the extra weight they have compared to single walled. Also as I tend to hike in areas with less than perfect weather, I want a tent that is wind stable and sets up with the inner permanently attached to the outer so the inside doesn't get wet in the rain. With these preferences in mind, Terra Nova and Big Sky make some of the best quality lightweight 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
Shelters I no longer use:
-Gossamer Gear One: lots of room for the weight, huge inside space can store everything in the tent, cheap price, not wind stable/condensation from single wall make it unusable for most of the hiking that I do, would be great in warmer climates with sheltered campsites
-Hilleberg Atko 1: lasted many years with minimal signs of wear, replaced with Terra Nova brand tents with similar design and less weight
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
Shelters I no longer use:
-Gossamer Gear One: lots of room for the weight, huge inside space can store everything in the tent, cheap price, not wind stable/condensation from single wall make it unusable for most of the hiking that I do, would be great in warmer climates with sheltered campsites
-Hilleberg Atko 1: lasted many years with minimal signs of wear, replaced with Terra Nova brand tents with similar design and less weight
Raingear
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 so it is rather useless in windy conditions and the sole reason why I tend to prefer the Torrent flier for longer backpacking trips
MontBell Versalite rainpants (4oz)- these rip easily, still looking for durable lightweight rain pants
Zpacks Vertice rain mitts (1oz)- for use in colder rain to keep hands dry while using trekking poles with possum down gloves (1.4oz)
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 so it is rather useless in windy conditions and the sole reason why I tend to prefer the Torrent flier for longer backpacking trips
MontBell Versalite rainpants (4oz)- these rip easily, still looking for durable lightweight rain pants
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
Footwear should be based what works for you (experience) with pack weight and support needed as factors to make an initial decision. I would argue though that everyone needs to avoid having wet feet for extended periods. While boots do well to keep feet dry, I got repeated blisters with them and have switched to trail runners with gore tex oversocks in wet conditions. 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 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 country when solo hiking, use the freedom plan, can text and get weather updates anywhere in the world using the iridium satellite network
Hats
Outdoor Research SunRunner Cap- can be hot and difficult to use on windy day, but protects ears and neck from the sun
MontBell UL Trekking Umbrella (6oz)- best for providing shade in the desert, not ideal for rainy places as your bottom half will still get rather wet
MontBell UL Trekking Umbrella (6oz)- best for providing shade in the desert, not ideal for rainy places as your bottom half will still get rather wet