Cheers to the Gear: My Almost Final List

After months of research, testing, tears, massive failures,  and occasional triumphs, I’ve finally figured out (tentatively) what gear I’m taking with me on my SOBO hike.

Given that I’m very new to backpacking, I decided to forgo the ultralight route, at least as I start out.

The Big Three

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo  – 24 oz

Six Moon Designs Single Stake Set – 2.5oz

Osprey Eja 58 Pack – 2.6 lb

Sierra Designs Cloud 20 Degree – 1.75 lb

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad – 14oz

-Sewn together sheet used as pack liner – 6 oz

Kelty Cairn Trekking Poles – 1.17 lbs

 

Clothes (Worn)

La Sportiva FC 4.1 GTX Boots – 1 lb. 14 oz (for the pair)

Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion – 3.2 oz (for the pair)

Injinji Crew Liner Socks – 3 oz (for the pair)

Ex Officio Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs – 1.24 oz

Patagonia Barely Bra – 2 oz

Aspen Boulder Convertible Pants – 8ish oz

-Craghoppers Nosilife Adventure Shirt – 7 oz

Buff – 2.9 oz

-REI Co-op Bucket Hat

-Sunglasses – 3 oz

 

Clothes (Carried)

Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion – 3.2 oz (for the pair) (x2)

Injinji Crew Liner Socks – 3 oz (for the pair)

Ex Officio Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs – 1.24 oz (x2)

-Midweight Leggings (for base layer + sleep) – 9 oz

– Midweight Long-sleeved Half-zip (for base layer + sleep) – 7 oz

Frogg Toggs Ultra-Light 2 Rain Suit – 10.4 oz

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket – 8 oz

Patagonia Houdini Jacket – 4 oz

Gordini Generator Basic Liners – 4 oz

-Winter Beanie – 5 oz

Sea to Summit Headnet – 2 oz

 

Water Filtration/Kitchen

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter System – 2.5 oz

Platypus Platy Water Bottle (70 oz) – 1.3 oz (x2)

-Smartwater bottle (1 liter) – 1.5 oz (x2)

Aquamira water treatment – 1 oz

-Smartwater spare lids – 1 oz

-Sawyer bladder – 1 oz (x2)

Esbit Ultralight Folding Pocket Stove – 2.9 oz

-Esbit replacement fuel tablets (6 count) – 3 oz

-Foil windscreen – 0.5 oz

-Lighter – 18 g

-Matches – 15 g

-Fold-up fork – 3 oz

-Cook Pot + lid + cup + Talenti jar – 6 0z

LOKSAK OPSAK Odor-Proof Barrier Bags – 0.8 oz (x2)

Bear Vault BV500 – 2 lbs 9 oz

 

Toiletries/Hygiene

Deuce of Spades Trowel – 0.6 oz

-Toilet paper – 8 oz

-Toothpaste – 0.75 oz

-Travel toothbrush – 1.3 oz

-Floss – 1 oz

Biodegradable soap – 3 oz

-Microfiber towel – 2 oz

-Bandana – 1 oz

-Pee pag – 1 oz

-Menstrual cup – 2 oz

Sawyer Picaridin insect repellent – 3 oz

Neutrogena Sun Block – 3 oz

-Hand Sanitizer – 1 oz

Pstyle – 0.6 oz

Opsak w/ opaque liner bag (for pack out) – 1 oz

First Aid/Repairs

I took a Wilderness First Aid class with NOLS (so if anyone needs a sprained ankle taped, I’m your girl!), and my first aid list is built off what I learned there, plus copious amounts of allergy meds, since I’m allergic to the outside world (ironic, I know). Most of the following list can be found at your local drug store, or on the world wide web.

-NOLS Wilderness First Aid Pocket Guide – 0.2 oz

-Mom’s Stuff – 2 oz

-Double Antibiotic – 1 oz

-Hydrocortisone – 1 oz

-Desitin – 1 oz

-Benedryl – 1 oz

-Excedrin – 1 oz

-Ibuprofen – 1 oz

-Zyrtec – 1 oz

-Tweezers + safety pins – 0.5 oz

-Irrigation Syringe – 0.2 oz

-Tegaderm – 0.5 oz

-KT Tape Pro – 1 oz

-2nd Skin – 0.5 oz

-Benzoin tincture – 0.5 oz

-Roller Gauze – 0.5 oz

-Athletic Tape – 1 oz

-Trauma Shears – 1 oz

Leatherman Micra – 1.8 oz

-Duct tape – 2 oz

-Zip ties – 1 oz

-Paracord – 3 oz

 

Electronics/Navigation

Black Diamond Spot Headlamp – 3.25 oz

-Phone charger + cord – 2 oz

-Phone – 5.22 oz

-Phone Case – 3.2 oz

-Headphones – 0.8 oz

Anker Portable Charger (20100mAh) – 12.56 oz

-HalfMile Maps + Trail Notes

Both the paper kind and the app.

-Guthook Maps App

-PCT Water Report

Suunto M-3 D Compass – 1.62 oz

 

Winter Gear

Kahtoola MICROspikes – 11 oz (for the pair)

-CAMP Neve Ice Ax – 1.2 lbs

 

Luxury Items

Part of the reason I’m hiking is to record natural sounds for my future TV/film work, so I devoted an extra pound of base weight for my audio gear. I may end of regretting it, but for now, I’m willing to add the extra weight.

-Journal pages + pen – 2 oz

-Audio Gear – 16.54 oz

 

Total Base Weight: 22.27 lbs

So not ultralight, but also not terrible. I’m sure I’ll ditch/adjust/replace things along the way, but for now, I’m (kinda) ready to go.

 

For a look at my Lighterpack, please click here.

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments 1

  • Keith Fultz : Jun 22nd

    Injinji is a great choice. I have found that Permethrin on the clothes more effective than Pecardin. Please consider leaving the toilet paper and using a portable bidet $13 and far more hygienic and rash protecting. I would also recommend some hand lotion. The humidity, wind and sun and dry and crack your hands incredibly over 1 week can be very painful. Chapstick is also very valuable. I am not too sure about the Spade. As important as digging a hole may be, and we hate to see toilet paper, the reality in most high mountain regions is that it is hard to dig into rock granite. Remove a big rock and cover as good as possible. My credentials is that I have hiked the JMT both SOBO and NOBO. I have hiked up Mt Whitney 21 times. And hope to do it again this summer with my daughter. My base weight is under 16 lbs. And be sure to check conditions and reports before you carry the heavy ice ax. I would also encourage you to could a couple of meals with your chosen fuel before you go. I am not a big fan of Esbit. I much prefer my Ultra rechargeable Steripen over the Sawyer water purification system. I have found it requires too much energy to use at high altitudes. I am sure many people have there own preferrences and https://backpackinglight.com/ is a great source of info. Good luck and God bless. It is a wonderful hike.

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