Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day
An example of what a lightweight backpacker might take on a 3-day outing.
by Ryan Jordan | 2011-10-11 03:00:00-06
Revised and Updated: October 2011
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Length of Trip: 3-Day Weekend
Context: The gear list provided below is an example of how a lightweight backpacker might select equipment for a 3-day weekend outing. Generally, the choices below are suitable for most 'three-season' conditions in the mountain ranges of continental U.S., recognizing that some level of skill and experience is required to successfully use this equipment kit in inclement conditions. More experienced backpackers can trim weight even further from this list, while less experienced backpackers will find that an extra pound or two of clothing, shelter, and/or food will give them a more acceptable level of comfort and safety.
Some examples of brands and models/styles are listed below for reference only. They neither represent an endorsement of that particular product nor a suggestion that the product listed is the best choice in the context of any particular situation.
(Right) Participants in Backpacking Light's Wilderness Trekking School "2011 Ultralight Backpacking Boot Camp" travel for a week on Montana's Beartooth Plateau with starting pack weights of less than twenty pounds. Ryan Jordan photo.
|
Clothing Worn |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| hat with brim | wide-brimmed water-resistant nylon hat | REI Lightweight Fitness Runner's Cap | 2.0 oz (57 g) |
| hiking shirt | lightweight merino wool long sleeve crew | Patagonia Wool 2 Merino Crew | 7.4 oz (210 g) |
| underwear | trim-fitting support shorts, boxer-style | Rail Riders Ultralight Boxer Briefs | 3.0 oz (85 g) |
| hiking pants | soft shell stretchwoven long pants | Patagonia Rock Guide Pants | 10.5 oz (298 g) |
| hiking socks | lightweight merino wool trail running socks | Darn Tough Merino Wool Micro Crew | 1.5 oz (43 g) |
| hiking shoes | breathable synthetic trail running shoes | Inov-8 X-Talon 212 | 16.0 oz (454 g) |
|
Other Items Worn / Carried |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| trekking poles | adjustable, carbon fiber | Gossamer Gear LT4 | 7.2 oz (204 g) |
| whistle | pealess whistle on Spectra cord | ACR Whistle, AirCore Spectra cord lanyard | 1.0 oz (28 g) |
| watch | compass / altimeter watch | Suunto Core | 1.6 oz (45 g) |
|
Other Clothing |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| wind shirt | thin, breathable full zip, hooded wind shirt | Patagonia Houdini | 4.3 oz (122 g) |
| insulation layer | high loft synthetic or down jacket | Western Mountaineering Hooded Flash Jacket | 9.0 oz (255 g) |
| rain jacket | waterproof-breathable, full zip hooded jacket | GoLite Malpais Trinity | 7.5 oz (213 g) |
| rain pants | waterproof-breathable, simple pull-on | GoLite Tumalo | 7.0 oz (198 g) |
| warm hat | light fleece balaclava | Outdoor Research Wind Pro Balaclava | 2.0 oz (57 g) |
| warm gloves | wool liner gloves | Outdoor Research Omni Gloves | 1.5 oz (43 g) |
| rain mitts | waterproof-breathable shell mitts | Mountain Laurel Designs eVENT Rain Mitts | 1.0 oz (28 g) |
|
Sleep System |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| overhead shelter | solo tarp shelter | Mountain Laurel Designs Silnylon Solomid | 13.0 oz (369 g) |
| tent stakes | titanium skewer style | Gossamer Gear Tite-Lite (8) | 1.6 oz (45 g) |
| ground cloth | pallet shrink wrapping or similar ultralight/ultratough material | Gossamer Gear Polycro | 1.6 oz (45 g) |
| sleeping bag | variable girth down bag | Katabatic Gear Palisade Down Quilt | 17.5 oz (496 g) |
| sleeping pad | torso sized closed cell foam or inflatable pad | Gossamer Gear Nightlight Torso | 3.5 oz (99 g) |
|
Packing |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| backpack | lightweight internal frame pack | Hyperlight Mountain Gear Windrider | 25.6 oz (726 g) |
| stuff sacks | Three (3) for insulating clothing, sleeping bag, storm clothing | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Cuben Fiber L & XL Stuff Sacks | 1.1 oz (31 g) |
|
Cooking and Water |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| stove & cookpot | integrated canister cookset | Jetboil SOL Ti | 8.5 oz (241 g) |
| fuel container | canister, small size | Jetboil 100g fuel canister (empty) | 3.5 oz (99 g) |
| utensil | spork | Light My Fire Titanium Spork | 0.6 oz (17 g) |
| water bottles | 1L soft side bladders | Platypus 1L (two) | 1.8 oz (51 g) |
| water treatment | chlorine dioxide | Aqua Mira Kit | 1.1 oz (31 g) |
| food storage | bear bag | Zpacks "Blast" Food Bag, 12.5 x 20.5 O.P. Sak, 6" x 6" stuff sack for "rock", and 50 ft 2.5 mm Spectra Rope | 3.0 oz (85 g) |
|
Other Essentials |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| maps | custom printed on waterproof paper | National Geographic Topo! | 2.0 oz (57 g) |
| light | LED headlamp | Petzl e-Lite | 1.0 oz (28 g) |
| first aid | minor wound care & meds | assorted wound & blister care and medicines | 2.0 oz (57 g) |
| firestarting | emergency firestarting - waterproof | Light My Fire Firesteel Mini + Four Seasons Survival Tinder-Quik Tabs in 4"x5" Aloksak | 1.0 oz (28 g) |
| sunglasses | 100% UV blocking, plastic lenses/frames | any old pair will do | 1.0 oz (28 g) |
| sunscreen | 100% UV blocking, waterproof, paste | SPF 30+ in tiny tubes | 1.0 oz (28 g) |
| insect repellent | 100% DEET | repackaged in tiny dropper bottle | 0.5 oz (14 g) |
| personal hygiene | assorted toiletries | toothbrush, soap, toilet paper, alcohol hand gel, in 4" x 7" Aloksak | 2.0 oz (47 g) |
|
Consumables |
|||
| FUNCTION | STYLE | EXAMPLE | WEIGHT |
| fuel | canister, small size | Jetboil, 100g | 3.5 oz (100 g) |
| food | 2.5 days | 22 oz / day | 55.0 oz (1559 g) |
| water | average carried | half quart | 16.0 oz (454 g) |
|
Weight Summary |
||
| (1) | Total Weight Worn or Carried | 3.14 lb (1.42 kg) |
| (2) | Total Base Weight in Pack | 7.83 lb (3.55 kg) |
| (3) | Total Weight of Consumables | 4.66 lb (2.11 kg) |
| (4) | Total Initial Pack Weight (2) + (3) | 12.49 lb (5.66 kg) |
| (5) | Full Skin Out Weight (1) + (2) + (3) | 15.63 lb (7.08 kg) |
Citation
"Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day," by Ryan Jordan. BackpackingLight.com (ISSN 1537-0364).
http://backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00234.html, 2011-10-11 03:00:00-06.
Related Articles
Lightweight Backpacking 101: An Introductory Manual for Lightening Your Load Today (1st Edition - August 2001)
What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking: Part 1
COPYRIGHT ©2003-2012 BEARTOOTH MOUNTAIN PRESS LLCU.S. Library of Congress Serial Registrations: BackpackingLight.com (electronic, ISSN 1537-0364) & Backpacking Light Magazine (print, ISSN 1550-4417)
BACKPACKING LIGHT® and the FEATHER/MOUNTAIN icon are registered trademarks of the Beartooth Media Group, Inc.
Reader Comments
You must login to post comments.
Forum Index » Editor's Roundtable » Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day
(hikinggranny) - MLife
Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge
I don't use a stuff sack for my sleeping bag, either, but I use a dry bag. The alternative is a waterproof pack liner. The two (pack liner vs. lightweight dry bags for sleeping bag and another for insulating clothing) weigh about the same. I believe that Ryan's pack (HMG Windrider) is waterproof? If so, he shouldn't need anything.
I agree about the sleep socks. I get cold easily, so I use Goose Feet. Ryan evidently doesn't even take a second pair of hiking socks! Either he wears wet socks in his sleeping bag (hard on the loft) or he has awfully warm feet!
My cook kit (Primus Micron Ti stove, 550 ml Ti pot, Ti foil windscreen) weighs half as much as Ryan's Jetboil. With the windscreen (used with great caution, of course), I'm sure mine is just as fuel-efficient, maybe more so in cold weather because with the full length windscreen the canister doesn't get cold when in use.
Sporks tend to put holes in plastic bags when stirring; I use a long-handled Lexan spoon.
These are all individual preferences, though--YMMV, HYOH and all that. Some folks want a pack so light that they can't even feel it on their backs (they're over in the SUL forum). Others (like me) want everything else really light so we can take a few luxury (or, in my case, essential) items (thicker sleeping pad, warmer sleeping bag, etc.), or heavy photographic equipment, or fishing gear, or a six-pack of beer, or be able to go out for 10 days without resupply, while still having a lightweight pack that is easy to carry. (That's why I pay attention to what's in the SUL forum.)
Edited by hikinggranny on 10/14/2011 14:12:30 MDT.
(funnymoney) - MLife
Locale: Sunshine State
Thank you for sharing YOUR list.
I agree that many of us would add something or change something. But I like seeing what others carry. Always refreshing and I learn or reinforce why I do what I do.
Todd
(TarasBulba) - MLife
Locale: Rocky Mountains
It's interesting to see how the gear has evolved over the years! My original list included a 4 oz. Gossamer Gear Whisper pack, Montbell Thermal sheet sleeping bag, GG Nightlight, and an alcohol or esbit stove...a perfect SUL kit. Now I have expanded my repetoire to include a Goloite Peak pack (~20 oz.), Montbell Super Stretch bag, Neo matress, and Jetboil Ti Sol. This gives me the latitude to head out SUL or light and comfortable. During winter I move up the weight scale some and pack it all in an Osprey Exos 58 to handle the extra bulk and weight.
(StevenDavisPhoto) - M
i would replace the hat with a buff. more versatile and lighter weight.
(dkramalc) - MLife
Somebody skipped the "skin cancer" thread...or are you talking about replacing the balaclava?
Edited by dkramalc on 03/29/2013 00:24:45 MDT.
(justin_baker) - M
Locale: Santa Rosa, CA
A hat shields your eyes and face from the sun. A buff doesn't really do anything to protect you from the sun.
If you are talking about replacing a warm hat with a buff, sure it's going to be lighter but it won't be very warm at all. A warm hat is worth the weight.