My 12lb Baby: The Gear List

Ahhh, everyones’ favorite post: the gear list!  Here she is in all her glory!  We’ve come a long way, this gear list and I.  It seems like just yesterday she was tipping the scales at 50 pounds and now she’s made her way down under 13, Im so proud of her.

Sorry for all the emotion, but I think any backpacker would agree that the best way to describe the relationship between a hiker and his gear list is that of a parent and their child.  We’ve done a lot of growing up these past few months, many long nights weighing every shred of gear, counting ounces, snipping off every piece of unnecessary cordage, and watching endless youtube reviews.  And finally after a great deal of time and effort, I’m finally ready to show her off to the whole world! 😛

(click to zoom)

The Pack

Gossamer Gear Mariposa (29.55oz) – size medium pack/small hipbelt, bits and pieces removed and some cordage added.

Trash compactor bag (1.4oz) – this will line my pack and keep everything inside safe from the elements.

Shelter System

HMG cuben fiber 8.5′ x 8.x5′ flat tarp (11oz) – includes 6/3ft & 2/6ft guy lines.

Stakes (4.3oz) – 6 shephard hooks, 4-8″ easton aluminum spikes w/ cordage, includes stake bag.

Polycro (1.6oz) – footprint.

Sleeping System

Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt (20oz) – 20 degree quilt, 900 fill DownTek, regular length and width, 2 sleeping pad straps included.

Zpacks medium+ dry bag ( .9oz) – cuben fiber bag for my quilt.

Thermarest neoair xlite (12.6oz) – sleeping pad, regular size.

Clothing Packed

Patagonia UL down hoody (10.95oz) – insulating layer,size medium.

Patagonia torrentshell (11.4oz) – rain jacket, size medium.

Patagonia strider pro 5″ (4.5oz) – very breathable/quick drying, lots of pockets, size medium.

Patagonia cap 4 bottoms (4.7oz) – thermal layer, size medium.

Patagonia cap 4 top (6.55oz) – thermal layer, size medium.

ULA rain kilt (2.55oz) – rain pants, very breathable.

Thermarest fleece pillow stuff sack (1.75oz) – stuff sack for clothes & doubles as a fleece pillow.

Enlightened Equipment down booties (2.45oz) – size xl,20d, 4oz APEX 15-30 degree rating.Down socks=the answer to cold feet at night!

Darn Tough crew socks (2.55oz) – second pair of socks.

Rei polartec gloves (2.2oz) – touchscreen capability, will be sent home with warmer weather.

Smartwool beanie (1.95oz) – wool hat, send home with warmer weather.

Kitchen System

Granite Gear air zippsack 16L (1.6oz) – food sack.

Loksak (1.5oz) – food storage, odor/water resistant.

MSR pocket rocket (3.25oz) – nice stove,good simmer control.

Leatherman C33x (2.4oz) – knife.

Pac-towel (1oz) – camp towel.

Platypus 2L (1.3oz) – Dirty water storage.

2 Smartwater 1L bottles (2oz) – cheap, light, nice lids that can double as back-flush system for water filter,all you really need.

Sawyer squeeze (3.6oz) – water filter, screw on platypus bottle and squeeze to filter water.

Titanium long handle spoon ( .65oz) – utensil, get to the bottom of the pot w/o getting your fingers dirty, easy to clean.

GSI soloist pot/cup (9.15oz) – cooking pot, cup, strainer, very easy to clean.

DIY pot cozy ( .8oz) – keeps your pot & food nice and warm, also covers pot’s sharp corners from cutting into backpack.

Bic mini ( .6oz) – lighter.

Electronics

HMG CF8 stuff sacks x2 ( .3oz) – storage & organization is key in packing.

Anker external battery (12.65oz) – 20,100mah battery, bigger battery=less time stopping to charge it.

Petzl tikka R+ (3.95oz) – headlamp, rechargeable battery.

Headphones/cables/wall charger (4.35oz) – wirez.

Sony RX100 (9.65oz) – great camera, small but still tons of capabilities, also 3 memory cards, 1 extra battery, card reader for iphone, & sock to protect it  included.

Sticpic ( .3oz) – attatches camera to trekking pole, nice camera angle #selfies

Mini tripod (1.2oz) – camera angles.

iPhone 6s (5oz) – not pictured. camera/phone/maps/etc.

Emergency/misc.

HMG CF8 stuff sack ( .2oz) – pack it all in.

TP/bandades/ibuprofen/toothbrush (1oz) – hygiene.

Repair kit ( .9oz) – cuben fiber/air mattress/etc patch kits, needle & thread, toenail clippers.

Worn

REI sahara (5.3oz) – synthetic t-shirt, quick dry, doesn’t hold smell, super comfy.

Colombia silver ridge zip pants (10.5oz) – zip offs, quick drying.  Will be sent home w/ warmer weather.

Darn tough ankle socks (2.1oz) – great socks, merino wool.

Altra Lone Peak 2.5 trail runners (20.9oz) – LOVE these shoes, will be hiking exclusively in these shoes for my entire hike.

Leki Thermolite XL (16oz) – one of my favorite pieces of gear, have changed my very clumsy feet and constant twisted ankles and helped me to hike farther, faster, and safer, also use them for tarp system as poles.

Gossamer Gear Hipster (1.5oz) – fanny pack, great storage with quick accessibility, also +1 for fashion points.

Dirty girl gaiters ( .95oz) – cheap,keeps out dirt,stones, debris, less stopping to clean out shoes=more hiking.

DIY Drink Water Hat (3.1oz) – $5 ebay hat + $2 Drink Water patch(not pictured).

 

And there she is, my little baby.  Coming in right at 12.25 pounds to start off, and she’s only going to get lighter from here!  She may not be beautiful to you but she’s everything I’ll need to hike all 2189.1 miles of the Appalachian Trail this year!

I’m a very proud parent 🙂

 

Any questions/tips/thoughts/concerns?

Shoot me a comment or hit me up on Facebook!

Also follow along with me on Instagram!

Heading out on my journey TOMORROW!!!

So next you’ll be hearing from me will be from the trail!

Happy hiking!

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Comments 6

  • TBR : Mar 14th

    Nice set-up. Well thought out bundle of comfort. Enjoy your hike!

    Reply
    • Scotty Hayden : Mar 14th

      thanks! much research and trial and error went into it!

      Reply
  • Shawn : Mar 14th

    I knew I pack was over supplied. I was over thinking it all. Not much time to trial and error. Just research. Clothes are lower on totem pole it seems than basics like gear. So synthetic wins. Hydration a must and comfy makes it good??

    Reply
  • Irvin Valle (coach) : Mar 16th

    Well thought out list. Good luck on your hike start tomorrow

    Reply
  • Luis : Mar 18th

    I couldn’t believe how much gear was actually in your bag the other day! And how light it all was!!! Cuben Fiber for daaayz! 🙂 God bless you brother! Prayin’ for the journey!

    Get after it!

    Reply
  • Mary : Mar 19th

    Love this, I feel like every thru hiker I follow needs a playing card with a gear list. Hit us up when you’re close to Hamburg, we just moved to pa from oh and go on that stretch a lot

    Reply

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