THREE SEASON GEAR LIST:
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During the summer of ‘08 I spent a lot of time outside camping in an ultra-light style. I did ambitious trips in Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and Oregon. I had a lot of hands-on tinkering with my kit.

The list below does NOT sacrifice comfort or hunger. I went thru my notes and came up with the “boiled-down” system I used during these trips. These were mostly trips with a partner (or many partners) and the numbers below reflect a solo trip. Add a partner and the weights come down - albeit slightly.

This list is NOT sub-ultra-light, but is pretty much what I take and know I can be perfectly comfortable and content.



Notes about the gear list below:
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a) Warm weather summertime temps in the northern rockies.
b) Solo
c) On and off-trail travel

Two PACK WEIGHT totals noted below, one for a 2-day trip, the other for a 12-day trip. Same gear involved in both, only the consumables are different.





TREKKING CLOTHES WORN [ 61.9 oz total ]
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shoes - montrail HARDROCK = 31.6  [worn]

hiking socks - thin low = 0.6 oz  [worn]

gaiters - dirty girl = 1.5  [worn]

hiking pants - patagonia stretch jackalope synthetic = 11.6 oz  [worn]

synthetic long sleeve top - Patagonia SPF hoodie = 7.5  [worn]

short sleeve synthetic top - patagonia LW capaline = 4.6 oz  [worn]

nylon hiking shorts - simple, no undies = 4.2 oz  [worn]

sun hat - nylon baseball style =  1.5 OZ  [worn]

sunglasses with retainer - hipster = 1.2 oz  [worn]

watch on a string = 0.6 oz  [worn]




PACKING [ 8.8 oz total ]
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Back Pack - G6 whisper, with shoulder foam inserts = 5.4 oz

pack liner - hefty white TRASH COMPACTOR bag = 2.4 oz

stuff sacks - only 2 (food & cook gear) = less than 1 oz




COOK GEAR [ 9.2 oz total ]
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titanium mug - small MSR = 3.1 oz

mug lid - foil = 0.3 oz

spoon - short handled BPL titanium = 0.3 oz

stove - white box = 0.8 oz

titanium wind-screen - BPL w/ homemade tyvec holder = 0.4

fuel bottle - lil'nipper platy w/ BPL red squirt tip = 0.6

bear hang cord - approx. 40 feet = 1.9 oz

bic lighter - dinky = 0.4 oz

pot grabbers - auto supply = 1.4 oz (yes, these are porky! I know.)




SHELTER [ 12.9 oz total ]
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shelter - spin tarp twin, with cords on = 9.8 oz

titanium stakes - set of 10 = 3.1 oz




SLEEPING GEAR [ 38.9 oz total ]
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sleeping bag - BPL cocoon quilt 60 = 13.4

sleeping pad - BPL TorsoLite with evazote glued on for the feet = 15.1

bivy sack - BPL vapr = 5.8

balaclava - BPL cocoon 60 = 1.8 oz

sleeping socks - short wool blend - 1.7 oz

mr. pillow - dual chamber inflatable = 1.1 oz




CLOTHES CARRIED [ 33.2 oz total ]
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rain pants - none!

insulated jacket - BPL cocoon 60 = 13 oz [part of sleep system]
 
rain coat - drop-stopper dry ducks = 6.2 [part of sleep system]

wind shirt - GoLite wisp = 3 oz [part of sleep system] 

puffy pants - cocoon 60 no-zip = 7.9 oz [part of sleep system]

warm hat - simple thin pile = 1.4 oz [part of sleep system]

glove liner - simple thin synthetic = 1.1 oz [part of sleep system]

extra hiking socks - thin low = 0.6 oz




OTHER ESSENTIALS [ 22.5 oz total ]
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water bottle - platypus 2 liter size = 1.3 oz

toiletries in a ziploc baggie - less than 2 oz!
[note: tooth brush, tooth paste, single edge razor, compass, Dr. B’s soap]

water treatment - aqua mira, repackaged = 2.4 oz (enough for a week)

lip balm - tiny = 0.3

sun block - repackaged neutragina 45 = 0.8 oz

bandana - trimmed slightly = 0.4 oz

headlamp - petzl e+lite = 0.8 oz

camera - canon elf w/case = 7.4 oz

MSR coffee filter - gold = 0.9 oz

misquote head net - simple, no wire, doubles as stuff sack = 0.2 oz

maps - cut down (weight depends on trip) let’s say = less than 3 oz

first aid - simple, minimal = 3 oz 




CONSUMABLES
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food weight = 22.2 oz per day
(+)
alcohol fuel weight = approx. 3 oz per day
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(=) 25.2 oz per day


2 day trip = 50.4 oz total (3.15 pounds)

12 day trip = 302.4 oz (18.9 pounds)

1-liter of water weighs approx.: 34 oz




WEIGHT DATA:
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TREKKING CLOTHES WORN [ 61.9 oz total ]
(this is NOT added to the BASE weight)

PACKING [ 8.8 oz total ]
COOK GEAR [ 9.2 oz total ]
SLEEPING GEAR [ 38.9 oz total ]
SHELTER [ 12.9 oz total ]
CLOTHES CARRIED [ 33.2 oz total ]
OTHER ESSENTIALS [ 22.5 oz total ]
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BASE WEIGHT = 125.5 OZ (7.8 pounds)


PACK WEIGHT:
2 day trip without water = 175.9 oz (10.9 pounds)
2 day trip with 1-liter of water = 209.9 (13.1 pounds)


PACK WEIGHT:
12 day trip without water = 427.9 oz (26.7 pounds)
12 day trip with 1-liter of water = 461.9 oz (28.8 pounds)


NOTE:
====
There are times when I carry BEAR SPRAY. The can and holster I use weigh 13.2 ounce, and that number can be added to the totals above.



WHAT I DON’T TAKE
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- no rain pants
- no ground cloth
- no toilet paper
- no trekking poles
- no “real” knife
- a whistle (I can use my fingers, and it’s LOUD!)
- no underwear (my hiking shorts work fine)
- no GPS or altimeter (I can read a map)
- and, usually I don’t take bug repellant. (but sometimes I do)



[extra]

I USE JUST TWO STUFF SACKS!
==========================
My packing system is shown below.


1.
ONE actual stuff sack for the cook kit.

2.
ONE actual stuff sack for the food.


Other storage noted below:
=====================

a.
ONE simple ziploc bag for my toiletries

b.
ONE simple ziploc bag for my maps

c.
I put my sleeping bag inside my non-waterproof bivy-sack as an extra bit of protection.

d.
I line my backpack with ONE trash compactor bag. This is waterproofing for absolutely everything.

These are heavy gage white plastic bags designed for kitchen trash compactors. I have never found anything better or lighter. They are white, so it's easy to find stuff in the bag, and they last for multiple trips.

Edited by mikeclelland on 12/01/2008 09:31:15 MST.

Note - The list above has a handful of very specific pieces of ultra-light weight gear. THat said, it isn't anything too extreme. (well, maybe the G6 pack is a little specialized)

I just made up another list, with less specialized gear. More of a list for folks just stepping into this realm.


A "pretty good" 3-season LIST:
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http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=16992&skip_to_post=128752#128752


Compare and contrast these two lists. The "standard" list comes in a little bit lower in weight, but it requires a little extra dedication by the user (skill and specilized gear).

The other list (above) and this (below) are divergent with certain gear.

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MC! list (the posting above) BASE WEIGHT = 125.5 oz (7.8 pounds)

Pretty Good list BASE WEIGHT (link) = 232.7 oz (14.5 pounds)

A difference of: 107.2 oz (6.7 pounds)
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M!

Edited by mikeclelland on 11/30/2008 16:10:33 MST.

Mike, no poles, no tarp pole listed, can you rely on being below treeline, or finding convenient sticks?

Joshua wrote: "no poles, no tarp pole listed, can you rely on being below treeline, or finding convenient sticks?"



Yup, I use sticks.

If I plan to camp above tree line, I just grab a set of sticks (one snort, one long) and carry these up to the high country.

I've done it a lot, and it's never been an issue.

"WHAT I DON’T TAKE...
- a whistle (I can use my fingers, and it’s LOUD!)"

Thanks for the suggestion. I googled this and practiced a bit this afternoon. Made some progress. I haven't gotten the finger technique. The similar fingerless one is coming along as is the thumbs/hands one. The 5g saved is negligible, but the security gained may be immeasurable.

People have asked me to demonstrate my whistle volume, and I have learned NOT to demonstrate in a room, I need to go outside.

I lived in NYC for a while, and I could stop cabs for blocks around!

Edited by mikeclelland on 12/01/2008 15:54:46 MST.

Mike - this would be a great opportunity to demonstrate your illustration skills. I just read a few sets of directions (why aren't I working?), and all I'm getting is a slobbery hissing. Maybe because I'm laughing too much?

If I ever win the lottery, one of the things I am going to do with the money is pay someone to teach me to whistle like that.