The best thing I've learned from long distance backpacking is that I'm happiest when I have the very least. You're constantly asking yourself, "what else could I do without?" I'm always reevaluating and finding new ways of doing things to shave another ounce here and there. It has been a satisfying practice, and actually more fulfilling than the much more popular practice of accumulating more possessions in life.
I am not an ultralighter, however, as you'll see by my 12 lb. gear list below. I know I could cut it to 7 or 8 lbs, but I choose to carry a few things I don't really need, like my camera equipment, a heavier but more comfortable sleeping pad, and a tent rather than an ultralight tarp.
Below is everything I'll have on the trip, along with the weight of each item that will contribute to my pack's overall base weight (the weight not including consumables like food, water, and fuel.) I'll keep this list up to date throughout the trip on my bio page.
I am not an ultralighter, however, as you'll see by my 12 lb. gear list below. I know I could cut it to 7 or 8 lbs, but I choose to carry a few things I don't really need, like my camera equipment, a heavier but more comfortable sleeping pad, and a tent rather than an ultralight tarp.
Below is everything I'll have on the trip, along with the weight of each item that will contribute to my pack's overall base weight (the weight not including consumables like food, water, and fuel.) I'll keep this list up to date throughout the trip on my bio page.
Item | Description | Weight (oz.) |
Packing | ||
Backpack | Gossamer Gear Maripossa Plus | 24.70 |
Shoulder Pouch | Zpacks Shoulder Pouch, For Camera | 0.50 |
Pack Liner | Trash Compactor Bag | 3.40 |
Total:
|
1 lb. 12.6 oz. | |
Sleeping | ||
Tent | TarpTent Notch | 29.00 |
Ground cloth | Trash Compactor Bag, combined with liner bag | 3.40 |
Seeping Bag | ZPacks 20°F 900 Fill Power Down Solo | 23.00 |
Sleeping Pad | Full Length NeoAir XLite | 12.50 |
Total:
|
4 lb. 2.7 oz. | |
Kitchen | ||
Cook Pot | Evernew .9L Titanium Pot | 3.85 |
Spoon | Plastic Spoon | 0.28 |
Stove | Homemade Alcohol Stove | 0.88 |
Fuel bottle | Plastic Soda bottle | 0.63 |
Lighter | Mini Bic | 0.39 |
Food Bag | Homemade Nylon Drawstring Backpack | 2.05 |
Waterproof Bag | Bread Bag, for food packaging that isn't waterproof | 0.28 |
Water Bottle | 16 oz. Plastic Soda Bottle | 0.63 |
Water Storage | Two 64 oz. Sawyer Water Pouches | 2.40 |
Extra Storage when needed | 2L Soda Bottle | 1.69 |
Filter | Sawyer Mini Squeeze Filter | 1.50 |
Total:
|
14.58 oz. | |
Clothing (Worn) | ||
Shirt | Smart Wool Microweight 150 base layer | n/a |
Pants | Kuhl Convertible Pants | n/a |
Underwear | Synthetic boxer briefs | n/a |
Socks | Darn Tough Vermont Merino Wool Socks | n/a |
Hat | Kuhl Baseball Cap | n/a |
Shoes | Salomon Speedcross 3 Trail Runners | n/a |
Total:
|
n/a | |
Clothing (Packed) | ||
Shirt | Adidas Synthetic T-Shirt | 3.10 |
Thermal Pants | Terramar Merino Wool | 4.10 |
Extra Socks | Darn Tough Vermont Merino Wool Socks | 1.20 |
Extra Socks | Injinji Toe Socks | 1.48 |
Rain Jacket | Marmot Minimalist Gore Tex Jacket (will replace in Mojave for lighter jacket) | 15.60 |
Insulated Jacket | Mont-bell UL Down Jacket | 8.40 |
Sock Hat | Handmade Ginger Yarn Co. Merino Wool Sock Hat | 2.00 |
Bandana | Buff | 1.20 |
Total: | 2 lbs. 5.08 oz. | |
First Aid & Gear Repair | ||
Toothbrush | 0.40 | |
Toothpaste | Travel Size | 1.13 |
Chapstick | 0.32 | |
Sunscreen | 2.00 | |
Gauze Roll | Used with duct tape for bandages | 0.11 |
Anticeptic | 0.04 | |
Excedrin | 0.20 | |
Floss | Also used for thread in gear/clothing repair | 0.04 |
Toilet Paper | 0.50 | |
Zip Loc for Storage | Quart-size | 0.13 |
Zip Loc for Laundry | Gallon-size | 0.50 |
Hand Sanitizer | 1.00 | |
Duct Tape | On Trekking Poles | n/a |
Sewing Needle | 0.00 | |
Total: | 6.37 oz. | |
Miscellaneous | ||
Trekking Poles | Leki, Carried | n/a |
Headlamp | Black Diamond ReVolt | 3.50 |
Cell Phone | Samsung Galaxy SIII, Kept in pocket | n/a |
USB Charger | Micro USB and Wall adapter | 1.48 |
Headphones | Yurbud Ironman Earbuds | 0.50 |
Bug Repellent | 100% DEET oil in eyedropper bottle | 1.50 |
Compass | 0.88 | |
Map/Guidebook pages | Halfmile's PCT Maps Printed on Waterproof Paper | 3.00 |
ID | Driver's License | 0.18 |
Debit Card | 0.18 | |
Cash | About $60 | 0.04 |
Zip Loc Bag | For waterproof wallet | 0.13 |
Safety Pins | For hanging wet laundry on pack/line | 0.04 |
Fishing Line w/ hooks | For clothesline and fishing | 0.18 |
Cord | 50' Kevlar cord for hanging bear bag | 0.90 |
Razor Blade | May replace with knife, not sure yet | 0.04 |
Total: | 12.55 oz. | |
Nonessentials | ||
Journal | Homemade Grocery Bag Notebooks, Kept in Pocket | n/a |
Pen | Space Pen Refill Ink, Kept in Pocket | n/a |
Camera | Panasonic Lumix LX7 | 10.76 |
Memory cards | 162 GBs of SD Cards, in Zip-Loc bag | 0.93 |
Extra Batteries & Charger | Panasonic Lumix LX7 | 4.76 |
Tripod | Gorilla Grip Mini Tripod | 1.60 |
Microphone w/ cables | For Podcasting, Samson Go Mic with base removed | 2.26 |
GPS Tracker | Spot Gen3 w/batteries | 4.10 |
Solar Charger | Bushnell Solar Wrap | 3.10 |
Total: | 1 lb. 11.51 oz. | |
Total Base Weight: | 12 lb. 1.39 oz. | |
Winter Gear | ||
Ice Axe | Black Diamond Raven Pro | 15.60 |
Traction System | Kahtoola Microspikes | 13.40 |
Gloves | ZPacks Fleece Mittens | 1.20 |
Total: | 1 lb. 14.20 oz. | |
Total Base Weight w/ Winter Gear: | 13 lb. 15.59 oz. |