Gear Lists

Will’s Gear List
(3-day summer trip in the mountains)

Will’s Dream Gear List
(3-day summer trip in the mountains)

Will’s Cold Weather Gear List 
(3-day winter trip in canyon country)

Comments on Selected Gear

Will’s Gear List
(3-day summer trip in the mountains)

The following is a list of the gear Will currently uses on a solo summertime backpack in the mountains. Its hard to keep up with the latest and greatest ultralight gear, but Will continues to upgrade as much as practical. On the Gear Talk and Gear Options pages, we discuss desired features and identify some of the best ultralight gear currently available. 

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Will’s Dream Gear List
(3-day summer trip in the mountains)

Ultralight gear keeps getting better and better. The following is a list of the gear we would use today--our dream list--selected from gear currently available. Again, the list is for a summertime backpack in the mountains. We added the cost of the items that would change.

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117.3
7.3

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Will’s Cold Weather Gear List 
(3-day winter trip in the desert)

Ultralight gear works fine for cold weather trips too. We don't snow camp in the mountains anymore (getting too old for that!), but there are lots of good opportunities to backpack in the desert and canyon country during the colder months. That usually means warm days (30's-50's) and long/cold nights (teens-20's). We try to hit a good weather window to avoid winter storms. One obvious difference from warm weather backpacking is the need to carry warmer clothing and a warmer sleeping bag. Because of the extra gear weight and volume, a higher capacity pack is also needed.

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194.0
12.1

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Comments on Selected Gear

GoLite Breeze Pack
I have used the GoLite Breeze (size Large) for 4 years. We modified it by adding a sternum strap and a waist belt. As modified, the pack weighs 14.2 oz. The sternum strap helps to keep the pack from shifting when I'm doing some scrambling, but the waist belt does not add much except to give my shoulders a rest once in a while. Because of its smaller capacity, I use the Breeze pack mostly for shorter trips (2-4 days) in the summertime. Although its rated to carry up to 20#, it's comfortable (for me) up to about 15#. Above that weight the shoulder straps, which are a bit hard, cut into my shoulders. Also, if I stuff the pack tight with gear, it gets hard and stiff and does not carry as comfortably. The Breeze rides a little higher on my back, which I like. Read my owner review of the GoLite Breeze at BackpackGearTest.org.

GVP Gear G4 Pack
The G4 pack is about 50% larger than the Breeze. We modified mine by adding a sternum strap and permanent padding in the shoulder straps and waist belt. We also replaced the Velcro pack closure with a drawstring closure like the Breeze. As modified, the pack weighs 14.2 oz. The G4 pack is rated to carry up to 30#, but (for me) its comfortable up to about 20#. I once carried 29# in it on an 8-day trip, and did not like it at all. What I really like about the G4 pack is its outside mesh pockets. They are ultra convenient for carrying a variety of gear. My sleeping pad slips into another mesh sleeve to serve as a back pad. This also gives the pack a little more structure for carrying a load.

GoLite Trek Pack
I use the Trek pack for cold weather trips and longer summer trips where more volume and weight carrying capacity is needed. The pack (size Large) weighs 35 oz. It has a few load adjusting and carry features like an integrated back pad, load leveler straps, and compression straps. It is rated to carry 30# comfortably. I prefer to carry less than 25# in it, but have carried up to 29# in it with reasonable comfort. I would definitely use this pack instead of the G4 for my next long trail hike. The Trek has outside mesh pockets, but they are smaller. It makes me miss the large external mesh pockets on the G4. Read my reveiw of the GoLite Trek at BackpackGearTest.org.

Summer Sleeping Bag
I used a Marmot Arroyo for 3 years and recently sold it. At 29 oz, this bag is a bit heavy by today's standards. One thing I loved about the Arroyo was its 63" girth, which allowed me plenty of room to wear clothes inside the bag to extend its temperature range. I have slept in the Arroyo down to an honest 15 degrees by wearing lots of clothes inside it. I don't necessarily recommend extending a bag that far, but its not hard to extend a bag 10 degrees. I now use either a Rab Quantum top bag (32 degrees/17 oz) or a Mountain Hardwear Phantom bag (21 oz/32 degrees). Both are excellent UL bags. The Rab top bag is the extra wide option, with the bottom (uninsulated) panel narrowed to fit my sleeping pad. Since it is hoodless, it works best for mid-summer in the mountains.

I owned a WM Highlite for 3 years and did not use it that much, so I sold it. It's rated at 35 degrees and weighs just 17 oz. The Highlite is appropriate for the mountains only in mid-summer and in canyon country during the warmer months. I encountered a few "surprise" cold nights and slept warm in this bag down to about 25 degrees by wearing lots of clothes inside. Read my review of the WM Highlite at BackpackGearTest.org.

Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag
I have always maintained that a 30 degree bag is all that is needed in the mountains in the summertime. That's July and August. For the shoulder months (June and September) in the mountains and fall/winter/spring trips in canyon country I take a Marmot Helium, which is rated at 15 degrees. My Helium with 800-fill down weighs 2#. It is an excellent LW bag.

Rainwear
Frankly, I am frustrated with trying to find lightweight, durable rainwear. For several years I used a Frogg Toggs Pro Action suit for rainwear and as an outer shell layer in camp. When my first FT rainsuit wore out prematurely, I sent it back to the company and they kindly replaced it free of charge. In spite of their good support, I cannot recommend FT rainwear for backpacking. It simply is not durable enough. I wear my rain jacket and pants for wind protection when needed and also as an outer shell layer in camp. The FT cannot take that kind of use, especially the pants. In camp I sit on logs and rocks, and the abrasion is too much for the FT pants. The jacket is heavily pilled, down to the membrane, under the arms and where the arms brush against the body. So the jacket is not going to last much longer. I considered the Montane Superfly rain jacket (8 oz) as a replacement, but ended up purchasing the RainShield O2 Hooded Jacket (5.8 oz) which is just as non-durable as the FT jacket. I will wear my Montane Featherlite Smock (3.4 oz) as an outer shell layer in camp, and save the RainShield jacket for rain only. The RainShield jacket breathes better than Gore-Tex and is much lighter and less expensive ($30).

At 8.9 oz, the Moonstone Storm Flight pants are a bit heavy by UL standards. They originally weighed 9.6 oz, but we substituted a drawcord waist fastener for the original webbing waist belt. What I like about these pants is their extra leg length and good fit. I have a 32" inseam, which is fairly long. I had been using the Marmot PreCip pants (7.9 oz), but they are a little too short and ride on my boot tops. The Moonstone pants are 4" longer than the Marmot pants, so the cuffs cover my boots well and act as a gaiter. Rain pants need to be durable and fit well, so I don't mind carrying an extra ounce. I have tried the Frogg Togg pants (7.3 oz), but they are not durable enough. I have also looked at the GoLite Reed pants (5 oz), but they do not have ankle zips. Perhaps I will get a pair and modify them. Eventually I will find rain pants that are durable and lightweight, but for now the Moonstone pants are the best that I can find.

Feathered Friends Helios Jacket
The Helios jacket in size large weights 16 oz. I opted for the 800-fill down, which makes it really puffy. The outside shell material is lightweight ripstop with no DWR. Their size L runs a little small and barely fits me; I should have ordered the XL. The Helios provides a lot of warmth for minimal weight, and is perfect to wear in a sleeping bag to extend its warmth. If I had it to do it over again I would want a LW shell material with DWR, but I would not go for the EPIC or DryLoft shell which is heavier and overkill in my opinion. I am not planning to replace my insulated jacket anytime soon, but if I did I would opt for the WM Flight Jacket (10.5 oz).

Cabela's Down Pants
I purchased these in size Large-tall to get the extra length. At $35 they are a great value. Interestingly, they come with very heavy, long knit cuffs that weigh about 5 oz. We replaced the heavy cuffs with stretchy fleece and got the weight of the pants down to 13.2 oz. I take these pants on winter backpacking trips and wear thin long johns under them and my rain pants over them in camp. If needed, they are great for extending the warmth of my sleeping bag.

Stoves
I have used the Snow Peak GigaPower canister stove for about 3 years and have mixed feelings about it. It worked flawlessly for a long time, then I started having problems with it. It started burning at a low level, then not at all. When I checked Snow Peak's website, I found out that using other brands of fuel with the SP stove invalidated the warranty. I had been using a variety of canister fuels. When I contacted SP I was prepared for them to turn me away, but they kindly asked me to send it in and they replaced the jet for free. The lesson learned out of this is that the interchangeability of canister fuels is a pretty muddy issue. The valve used on fuel canisters is a K28 Lindal valve, which is an industry standard. But each manufacturer wants you to use their brand of fuel because it is "optimized" for their stove and they have no control over the composition of other canister fuels. There seems to be some truth to the issue that some fuels don't work as well as others. I used the Coleman canisters a lot, and that is apparently what plugged up the jet on my GP stove. Canister stoves are not as foolproof as they appear! Another problem with a canister stove is the canisters. An empty 225g canister weighs 5 oz; a full one weighs about 14 oz. I end up with a bunch of canisters with only 1-2 days of fuel left in them, so I end up taking a 5 oz canister to provide me with 2 oz of fuel! 

My first experience with an alcohol stove was a Brasslite Turbo II-D, which I reviewed for BackpackGearTest.org. The advantages of an alcohol stove are their lightweight (the Brasslite Turbo F weighs just .8 oz), reliability, and the fact that you carry only the fuel you need. Since my experience with the Brasslite, I have tested and reviewed several alcohol stoves for www.BackpackingLight.com. My current favorites are the ThermoJet MicroLite and Hiknakd stoves (sells on e-bay), which weigh less than 3 ounces with windscreen and potstand. 

During the summer of 2003 I did a lot of solo backpacking and started taking no-cook meals. That eliminated about 12 oz by not taking any cooking gear. All I needed was a 1 quart container to eat out of and a spoon (.7 oz). I found that no-cook breakfasts are no problem; there are lots of good things to take for a good cold breakfast (see our Food and Cooking page). However, dinners are more of a challenge. I experimented a lot and found some good nutritional combinations, but none of them are as good as a hot dinner. There are definitely tradeoffs, but I like the simplicity and weight savings. When it is stormy, it is nice not to have to fiddle with a stove and cooking.

Shelters
The shelter I use depends a lot on the season, where I am going, how long, and the weather forecast. For shorter summer trips with a good weather forecast I take only a bivy or bag cover. I really love sleeping under the stars, weather willing. If the forecast is iffy I take a 1-person tarp/poncho to make sure I have shelter and rain protection if needed. For longer trips, trips during our summer rainy season, and trips with my spouse I take a Tarptent.

The Tarptent (30 oz) is a single walled tent made of silnylon. If you are hesitant about sleeping under a tarp, then the Tarptent is the shelter for you. It is extremely easy and fast to put up, easily repels storms and bugs, and is very lightweight. Read my review of the Tarptent at BackpackGearTest.org. The Squall (2 person) weighs only 4 oz more than the Virga (1-person), so it is not a bad idea to get the Squall and use it for 1 or 2 people. I strongly recommend getting it with the optional sewn-in floor and extended beak. The new Squall 2 is even better for little extra weight.

Digital Cameras
Digital photography is so much easier and better for backpacking than film cameras. We can take all the pictures we want on our outings, then conveniently upload them to our computer and store them. Our first lightweight digital camera was the Logitech Pocket Digital (1.8 oz/$100). It's very light and convenient, but its resolution (1.2 MP) is simply not adequate to provide decent pictures. We do not recommend it in its present configuration. If the resolution were increased to at least 2 MP it would be worth considering. Our current camera is a Pentax Optio S5i (4.4 oz with battery, memory card, and lanyard). We like it because it is very compact and light, has good resolution (5 MP), and has a lens cover that automatically snaps into place. Using a 512 MB high speed memory card, we have plenty of memory for all the pictures we want to take. Digital cameras just keep getting smaller and better! 

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