My Gear
Over the years my pack has slowing shrunk... the incredible shrinking pack!
There are a few reasons for this.
Technology - Over time technology has improved the quality of gear, and allowed for a more comfortable camping experience at a greatly reduced weight. Gortex, tent designs, improved fabrics, lighter and stronger alloys, etc.
Experience - With many years under one’s belt, you have a better understanding what you "really" need, and you further discover the many items you don't. Plus you also learn the limits of your own personal comfort levels depending on various weather conditions. Some people can get away with a much lighter sleeping bag, while other are just fine sleeping on a ultra thin sleep pad. Experience can teach so much!
Money - As one "matures" there is often more money available for that fancy new piece of ultralight gear that will save you a few grams from your base weight. Grams quickly add up... and when you consider that over multiple 30 kms days... it can be a lot of welcome relief for your old knees.
In order to compare with others, there is standard terminology. First and foremost is Base Weight. It is the total weight of your entire gear kit, excluding consumables. Consumables are food, water, and fuel.
Backpacking Styles:
- Traditional - carries a base weight over 20 pounds,
- Lightweight (LW) - carries a base weight under 20 pounds,
- Ultralight (UL) - carries a base weight under 10 pounds,
- Super-ultralight (SUL) - carries a base weight under 5 pounds.
So if we consider 10 pounds of consumables for a 5-day backpacking trip... then your Total Weights are 30 lb for lightweight, 20 lb for ultralight , and 15 lb for super-ultralight.
My Gear
Typically my base weight is never the same from trip to trip. Seasons, eco-systems, partners and length of trips are considerations. I also have my favourites. For instance... the Big Agnes Hitchen UL sleeping bag is uber warm and comfy, yet much heavier than my super light Big Agnes Pluton UL. On the other hand, my Enlightened Equipment Quilt is in-between... yet I rarely sleep well in a quilt when temperatures get cold... that's just me! So when conditions are questionable, I generally reach for the heavier, warmer and safer option.
Another example is my pack choice. Typically my Gossamer Gear Kumo is the first pack I grab, however it has its limitations. So when I need more volume, or weight capacity ... I pull out my big boy work horse - the Zpacks Arc Haul.
The Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 - the near perfect pack for self proclaimed ultra-lighters (image courtesy of Gossamer Gear)
Also seasons play a major role. In the fall there are few bugs, so I can leave behind my repellent, epipan and head net... yet it can be cooler, so a warmer bag or jacket may be considered.
The ecosystems also steer decisions. If I'm in bear country, I may want a bear canister... or perhaps bear spray. Also if its a damper environment, I may choose a more forgiving synthetic jacket rather than down.
So much to think about... however they all fall into 2 main categories; comfort and safety. How comfortable do you want to be, and how safe do you need to be?
Pack Contents - My Gear
Items |
Brand / Model |
Weight (Grams) |
Choice (Grams) |
PACK |
|
|
|
|
Pack - a* |
Gossamer Gear / Kumo 36 (36L capacity***) |
459 |
459 |
|
Pack - b* |
Zpacks / Arc Haul (62L capacity***) |
680 |
- |
|
Pack / Liner - a* |
34 |
34 |
|
|
Pack / Liner - b* |
51 |
- |
|
|
Pack / Liner - c* |
JR Gear / UL Dry Bag - 30L |
66 |
- |
|
Pack / Strap Case - a* |
14 |
- |
|
|
Pack / Strap Case - a* |
42 |
- |
|
SLEEPING |
|
|
|
|
Pillow - a* |
55 |
55 |
|
|
Sleeping Bag - a* |
454 |
454 |
|
|
Sleeping Bag - b* |
626 |
- |
|
|
Sleeping Bag - c* |
765 |
- |
|
|
Sleeping Bag - Sack |
26 |
- |
|
|
Sleeping Pad - a* |
Gossamer Gear / Evazote R? (0.3x48x150cm) |
90 |
90 |
|
Sleeping Pad - b* |
Therm-a-Rest / NeoAir Uberlite R2.0 (51x183cm) |
250 |
- |
|
Sleeping Pad - c* |
Therm-a-Rest / NeoAir XLite R3.2 (51x183cm) |
340 |
- |
|
Sleeping Pad - d* |
Therm-a-Rest / ZLite R2.6 (51x183cm) |
410 |
- |
|
Sleeping Pad - e* |
Klymit / Static V Insul Ultralite R4.4 (51x183cm) |
431 |
- |
|
Sleeping Pad - f* |
Thermarest / Prolite R2.4 (51x183cm) |
510 |
- |
|
Sleeping Pad / Repair |
21 |
- |
|
|
Socks / Sleep |
68 |
- |
|
KITCHEN |
|
|
|
|
Cup |
Snow Peak / Ti 500 (Cup & Hot Lips) |
75 |
- |
|
Food bag / Canister - a* |
73 |
73 |
|
|
Food bag / Canister - b* |
215 |
- |
|
|
Food bag / Canister - c* |
725 |
- |
|
|
Pot - a* |
Vargo / BOT 700 (cold soak & cook) |
135 |
- |
|
Pot - b* |
118 |
118 |
|
|
Pot - cover |
17 |
- |
|
|
Spoon - a* |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Spoon - b* |
13 |
- |
|
|
Spoon - c* |
16 |
- |
|
|
Stove - a* |
30 |
- |
|
|
Stove - b* |
75 |
- |
|
|
Stove / Fuel Container |
30 |
- |
|
|
Stove / Windscreen |
Primus / Cut Down |
26 |
- |
|
Stove / Windscreen |
35 |
- |
|
SHELTER |
|
|
|
|
Bivy Sack |
476 |
- |
|
|
Footprint |
50 |
- |
|
|
Pegs - a* |
42 |
- |
|
|
Pegs - b* |
Sorex / Carbon 6" x 10 |
60 |
60 |
|
Tent - 1 person - a* |
Zpacks / Plexamid (no bag, pegs) |
420 |
420 |
|
Tent - 1 person - b* |
Gossamer Gear / The One (no bag, pegs) |
659 |
- |
|
Tent - 1 person - c* |
Tarptent / Protrail (no bag, pegs) |
671 |
- |
|
Tent - 1 person - d* |
765 |
- |
|
|
Tent - 2 person* |
964 |
- |
|
|
Tent - 3 person* |
1330 |
- |
|
CLOTHING PACKED |
|
|
|
|
Base / Bottom |
154 |
- |
|
|
Base / Top |
160 |
- |
|
|
Gloves / Shell* |
28 |
- |
|
|
Gloves / Insulation* |
39 |
- |
|
|
Hat / Warm - a* |
25 |
25 |
|
|
Hat / Warm - b* |
30 |
- |
|
|
Vest* |
255 |
- |
|
|
Jacket / Sweater - a* |
261 |
261 |
|
|
Jacket / Sweater - b* |
Outdoor Research / Illuminate - Hoody / Down |
333 |
- |
|
Jacket / Sweater - c* |
Patagonia / Nano Puff - Collar / Synthetic |
337 |
- |
|
Rain / Jacket |
180 |
180 |
|
|
Rain / Pants |
160 |
- |
|
|
Rain / Kilt |
71 |
71 |
|
|
Sack |
20 |
- |
|
|
Socks / Spare |
60 |
- |
|
|
Underwear |
57 |
- |
|
ESSENTIALS |
|
|
|
|
Bug / Head Net* |
Wonka Brand |
20 |
- |
|
Bug / Repellent* |
Ben’s 30 Deet (in small Nalgene container) |
34 |
- |
|
Compass |
Brunton Mini (also on watch & phone) |
15 |
- |
|
Cream - Repackaged |
Baby Cream (in small Nalgene container) |
20 |
20 |
|
Dental Floss |
Oral B / Glide / 4 m |
4 |
4 |
|
Ditty 1 |
6 |
- |
|
|
Ditty 2 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
Epipen* |
Epipen |
76 |
- |
|
First Aid |
Adventure Medical / Kit.3 + extras |
78 |
78 |
|
Glasses |
18 |
18 |
|
|
Headlamp Batteries |
CR2032 x 2 |
8 |
8 |
|
Knife |
Victorinox / Classic Mini (stored in 1st aid kit) |
22 |
22 |
|
Light - Flashlight |
Olight / 1R OES (rechargeable) |
12 |
12 |
|
Light - Headlamp |
25 |
- |
|
|
Light - Headlamp - Batteries |
CR2032 x 2 |
8 |
- |
|
Lighter |
Bic Mini |
11 |
11 |
|
Lip Balm |
Chapstick |
9 |
9 |
|
Medicine - Repackaged |
Aspirin / Benadryl / Imodium / Ibuprofen |
14 |
14 |
|
Paper & Pencil |
Rite in the Rain & Pencil |
22 |
- |
|
Sanitizer - Repackaged |
Whatever brand - in 30ml Nalgene |
37 |
37 |
|
Sun - Repackaged |
Aveeno Baby 50 FPS - Stick |
34 |
34 |
|
Tape - Duct |
Lucky Duct |
11 |
11 |
|
Tape - Leukotape |
Leukotape / Repackaged |
20 |
- |
|
Toilet Paper |
38 |
- |
|
|
Tooth Brush & Paste |
Travel Brush and Paste |
40 |
40 |
|
Towel - Small |
29 |
- |
|
|
Trowel |
15 |
15 |
|
|
Wallet |
15 |
- |
|
|
Water Container - a* |
39 |
39 |
|
|
Water Container - b* |
Nalgene Cantene 1L (pee bottle also) |
62 |
- |
|
Water Container - c* |
Nalgene HDPE 1L (waterbottle also) |
108 |
- |
|
Water Purify - a* |
Acquatabs - in small Nalgene |
20 |
20 |
|
Water Purify - b* |
52 |
- |
|
|
Whistle |
Fox 40 / Micro (also on most packs) |
5 |
- |
BASE WEIGHT TOTALS ** |
BASE - Grams ( UL < 4536 g ) |
|
2208 |
|
BASE - Pounds (UL < 10 lb ) |
|
4.858 |
|
ITEMS WORN |
|
|
|
|
Bandana |
Cotton |
33 |
33 |
|
Briefs |
57 |
57 |
|
|
Buff |
37 |
- |
|
|
Gaiters |
28 |
28 |
|
|
Hat |
67 |
67 |
|
|
Knife |
35 |
35 |
|
|
Pants * |
302 |
302 |
|
|
Shirt / Long* |
249 |
249 |
|
|
Shirt / Short* |
176 |
- |
|
|
Shirt / Warm* |
321 |
- |
|
|
Shirt / Wind* |
Sierra Designs / Wind (discontinued) |
167 |
- |
|
Shoes - a* |
630 |
630 |
|
|
Shoes - b* |
772 |
- |
|
|
Shorts * |
200 |
- |
|
|
Socks |
60 |
60 |
|
|
Trekking Poles |
300 |
300 |
|
|
Watch |
Casio / Protrek ( compass , altimeter, barometer) |
58 |
58 |
|
TOTAL WORN |
1819 |
||
CONSUMABLES |
|
|
|
|
Water |
½ day |
1000 |
1000 |
|
Food |
3 Days - Yummy |
1500 |
1500 |
|
Fuel / Alcohol |
Alcohol / 250ml |
250 |
- |
|
Fuel / Canister |
212 |
- |
|
|
Fuel / Esbit |
Esbit / Tabs x 6 |
24 |
- |
|
TOTAL CONSUMABLES |
2500 |
||
EXTRAS |
|
|
|
|
Battery pack |
Powertraveller Extreme - 12,000mHa |
274 |
- |
|
Book |
Paperback |
100 |
- |
|
Camera |
Canon - G5X, H2O sack |
391 |
391 |
|
Camera / Bag |
102 |
- |
|
|
Camera / Batteries |
Canon G5X's x 3 & sack |
75 |
75 |
|
Cellphone - H2O |
35 |
- |
|
|
Cellphone & Case |
iPhone 7 & Otterbox Case |
189 |
- |
|
Headphones |
46 |
- |
|
|
Sit Pad |
60 |
- |
|
|
Tripod |
52 |
52 |
|
|
TOTAL EXTRAs |
518 |
||
|
TOTAL CONSUMABLES |
2500 |
||
|
TOTAL BASE |
2537 |
||
|
TOTAL TOTAL **** (3 days) |
Grams |
|
5226 |
|
Pounds |
|
11.50 |
|
|
* depends on season and/or environment - e.g. generally 1 x 1L water bottle is needed in much of Ontario, however 3-6L of water containers are required in the desert |
|||
|
** choose lightest option from chart - will substitute and/or add items to increase comfort and/or safety. My actual base-weight will vary on all adventures. I can definitely survive with the listed base weight if the temperatures are moderate…however with perhaps reduced comfort and/or safety. |
|||
|
*** The total capacity includes outside pockets and to the start of the roll top/extension collar. |
|||
|
**** TOTAL TOTAL is based on summer, stove-less, 3 day hike |
|||
|
∑ Pending delivery... not tested yet |
|||
|
BW MAR 21, 2019 |
|||
The Protrail solo tent by Tarptent is light, easy to pitch, awesome ventilation, reasonably priced, and tough as nails - Frontenac Park, Ontario
