Any........

T

txhc

Joined
Feb 16, 2011
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174
You guys have any suggestions or links on what is best to take back packing and how to pack it. I am getting into backpacking but dont really have any gear but a pack which is plenty big enough but i really domt have any idea what to put into it or how to pack it. Thanx
 
My favorite site for this type of info can be found here. :D

Seriously though, just do a search for gear lists and you should find something to start you off.
 
A couple of good links so far, especially the one by acv, I like that site, they even have a subforum for gear lists.

Google "backpacking forums" and search for gear lists. Read through the responses, and you'll have a good idea before long.

Here is my gear list for an example, but there are a few things I've changed since making this, and a few things I still want to change.

*You can do much better than the tent I have listed. You can find a two person tent for ~2lbs. and a one person tent for ~1lb.
*I don't carry the tarp if I am taking my tent
*Unless I'm going somewhere with really questionable water, I just take the steripen.
*I replaced the nalgene bottle with a 1 liter pepsi bottle (any 1 liter soda or water bottle will do) I use this to fiilter water with the steripen, and I mix some powdered drink mix in it, so I don't contaminate my water bladder.
*Unless it is forecasted to rain, I leave the rain gear at home. I keep an emergency poncho in my first aid kit that would get me through any freak rain.
*I no longer carry a shovel, my heel or a stick works just as well for cat-holes
*I no longer carry 550 cord, I carry kelty tripteaze instead, it is lighter and reflective.
*Fishing supplies are only taken when I plan to fish, and I only take the spinning reel or the fly reel, not both

Man, it looks like I've lightened up a lot since I made this list, and I still have some lightening to do. My pack is closer to 30lbs. now, with water, but without food. This old list shows me at nearly 40lbs. what a back-breaker...

3990988005_6e3affd06e_o.jpg
 
"Good judgement is the result of experience. Experience is the result of bad judgement."

Get out there and make some mistakes!

Okay, kidding aside, there are probably lots of sites on the internet.

I'm old fashioned... I have a few books on my shelf that have been around since the 70's when I started backpacking.

My favorite is Colin Fletcher's "The New Complete Walker." I think it was in it's fourth edition or so before Colin died.

The most recent editions will thus be a little dated as to the "latest and greatest gear," but Fletcher's wit and wisdom is timeless. That book just made me want to get out there and hike.

He wrote several other books about specific trips: "The Thousand Mile Summer" and "The Man Who Walked Through Time," about a summer trip hiking the length of California and a end to end trip through the Grand Canyon National Park.

Both are worth scouring used bookstores for!

Happy trails! LOL

MP
 
Holy Loaded question Batman!

Thats a tough one to give a quick answer. But I like the list Stingray has. In my earlier days I used to make a list and keep it updated, but not with the weight. I'll put together my list and post here too someday.
 
what to put in it specifically is going to be very much based on

1. level of experience
2. where your hiking
3. when your hiking
4. how long your hiking
5. solo or w/ a partner/group

all of my gear lists follow the same layout, what is under each category varies by season, trip length, where I'm headed, etc

this is my solo 3 day, 3 season list, pretty bare bones- the gear list would change quite a bit (as does the weight :)) when I'm hiking w/ my wife

sololist.jpg
 
Dang, I like your gear list mtwarden, I'm gonna have to take note on some of your stuff. Adding 3 liters of water and your only at ~12lbs. I like!

How low do you find you can comfortably go with your current clothing system? Sleeping system? Is that a bag or quilt? I couldn't find a marmot atom "quilt" with google...

I find I have a hard time with staying warm in camp and when sleeping. I use my 10 degree bag, even when it only gets down to 40degrees at night. The worst part is my face, I could be toasty warm, buy if my nose is ready to freeze off, I have a hard time sleeping.
I suppose once I upgrade my tent, I'll have to work on losing weight from my clothing. If only I could convince the wife to let me spend more money on backpacking gear...
 
stingray4540 said:
How low do you find you can comfortably go with your current clothing system? Sleeping system? Is that a bag or quilt? I couldn't find a marmot atom "quilt" with google...
Click to expand...

I'd like to know too. And, if you don't mind, what's the contents of your first aid and repair kits?
 
stingray4540 said:
Dang, I like your gear list mtwarden, I'm gonna have to take note on some of your stuff. Adding 3 liters of water and your only at ~12lbs. I like!

How low do you find you can comfortably go with your current clothing system? Sleeping system? Is that a bag or quilt? I couldn't find a marmot atom "quilt" with google...

I find I have a hard time with staying warm in camp and when sleeping. I use my 10 degree bag, even when it only gets down to 40degrees at night. The worst part is my face, I could be toasty warm, buy if my nose is ready to freeze off, I have a hard time sleeping.
I suppose once I upgrade my tent, I'll have to work on losing weight from my clothing. If only I could convince the wife to let me spend more money on backpacking gear...
Click to expand...

that clothing system is good to about freezing, maybe a little below. the exlight down jacket is remarkable warm for it's weight, layered over a ls merino top and under the windshirt, add the hat/gloves and pants and it's pretty cozy around camp at the freezing mark

the jacket (and pants/hat/gloves) can also be utilized to augment my sleeping system

the quilt started life as a Marmot Atom (long), I had Tim Marshall (of enlightenedequipment.com) convert it to a quilt. The conversion shaved ~ 9 oz off the bag (went from 26 oz to a little over 17 oz), he reused all of the fill (right at 10z) back into the quilt- so it lofts more now and probably added 5+ degrees to the bag. the advantage to a quilt is that all of the down is on top of you vs a bag where up to half is under you squashed and providing no warmth. the disadvantages to a quilt is it takes a little getting used to (if you roll around a ton, a quilt might not be the best choice) insuring the quilt is well sealed on the edges (there is thin shock cord that goes under your pad to help this

the bivy (besides providing protection from rain spray that can get under a tarp, also protects from bugs- has a noseeum screen at the head) also adds a few degrees to the effective range of your bag/quilt

I tend to sleep on the warm side of the scale, but I've been very comfortable w/ that light quilt (and the addition of my clothing) to the upper twenties

for your face, I always carry a buf in my pocket in lieu of a bandana- you can pull that over to protect your nose/mouth

Shotgun said:
I'd like to know too. And, if you don't mind, what's the contents of your first aid and repair kits?
Click to expand...

not a lot :) the fak contains a 4x5 tegaderm bandage, small roll of gauze, small packet of neosporin, package of steristrips, leukotape (for blisters), small tweezers, small irrigator and small bag of meds (immodium, advil, tylenol, benadryl)

repair kit is ~ 6' of folded duct tape, heavy needle w/ ~ 50' of 30# spectra line, few safety pins, a couple of patches for the Neoair, single use crazy glue, a couple of small zip ties and spare batteries for the headlamp

everything fits into a small waterproof aloksak

several of the "repair" items can also be used as first aid bits
 
Right on, thanks for the comments warden! I really like your system, I'll have to bookmark this thread for when I'm able to start upgrading my gear. I think I'll stick with a tent however, since I can get a double wall for about the same weight, if ever I get around to purchasing a new one.
 
mtwarden said:
real easy to make and they can even pull double duty as a stake :)

pvctrowel.jpg


trowelasstake.jpg
Click to expand...

That's pretty sweet! I use a v shaped alum. tent stake for my trowel. Never had a problem digging a cat hole with it. But I'm sure yours moves a little more dirt than mine.:thumbup:
 
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