I often have folks ask me about what gear I carry with me when camping. Many of my friends know that I don’t like to take a heavy backpack, not anymore anyway. I have worked hard to trim the fat, eliminating what I don’t need while at the same time ensuring that I have what I want.
Most issues around weight can be solved by throwing money at them. Lighter and newer products are coming out all the time. Often there is a trade off between the durability of the product and the weight but it is one that fast and light backpackers are comfortable making.
I’m going to address the big three first, backpack, sleeping system and shelter.
Backpack
I use the smallest volume backpack for the job needed. I have two different packs. Normally I can get away with a fast and light pack but for bigger adventures, mountaineering that require protection, I have a bigger bag capable of carrying heavy loads.
Sleep System
- Marmot Plasma 30 – 650 g
- -stuff sack 21g
- Exped UL7 air mat – 345g this mat is no longer available, I would buy the thermarest Xlite
- North Face synthetic – rated to negative 7 degrees- 1150g, this is reserved for winters in the alpine.
Shelter
- 2 person — Big Agnes Fly Creek 2 UL 1049 g, if I take out the pegs it comes in under 900 grams
- 3 person — Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 1670 g
Cooking
Super Ultra Light backpackers will forgo the cooking portion of their trip and so they can save weight in their pack by leaving the stove and fuel at home. For me, I love my coffee too much, I have to take a pot and Cooking system. Typically I’ll eat boil-in-bag dinners, nuts and dried fruit, and Clif bars and wasabi peas for my food.
Stove
- For alpine or anywhere I cannot have a fire — Jetboil Sol Titanium, 500 g
- Coastal hiking and backup stove, Snow Peak Litemax Titanium stove 54g Snow Peak Titanium Cookset –
- Sea to Summit long Spoon 12g
- Fuel Canister
Water Treatment
Water treatment is imperative when in the back country. There are a lot of different treatment possibilities out there but they fall into three categories: Mechanical, Chemical, Light and Thermal. Each carries with it advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion its important to have at least two different methods on hand for treatment in different situation.
Mostly what you carry will be determined by the terrain you are travelling. In this way you’ll know what you will need to carry. For instance, will you have to draw water from a much puddle or a slew? Better bring a filter, the particulate will cause problems with most of of the other methods.
There is a lot of information available online already. I don’t plan on reinvent it. Here are two comprehensive articles. Bear in mind, these folks want to sell you products. That’s okay, you have to drink someones Kool-aide. Part 1, Part 2
- Steripen Ultra Violet Light Pen
- MSR Mini Works
- Aqua tabs (these are my backup, I carry enough for 5 litre of water but try not to use them)
First aid Kit -250 g
- Ibuprofen
- Antihistamine
- steri strips
- plasters
- abdominal pad
- sting stop
- BZK wipes (these are great for wiping armpits too)
- krazy glue
- moleskin/duct tape
- breathing membrane with one way valve
Personal Care
- toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Anti Antiperspirant
- soap flakes
- toilet paper
- hand sanitizer
Clothing
- Long John -wool/poly blend
- Synthetic sweater with hood
- Wool socks
- Rain/Sun hat — OR Research Halo
- Moutain Laurel Designs Rain Pancho
- Arterex Alpha SV Rain Jacket
- Arterex Rain Pants
- Thin Touque
- Bandanna
Miscellaneous
- Headlamp
- GPS Garmin Map 64S with Backroads Map installed
- Personal Locator Beacon
- Maps
- Compass
- Knife — Leatherman Squirt PS4 with 25 feet of 2 mm tac cord
- bear cache
- ice axe -Raven Pro 65 cm
- crampons – Black Diamond contact strap crampons
Camera
- Nikon D800 with 28-300 mm lens and a Chest Harness 2,500 g