I would love to hear about your favorite gear:

Pack:

Trekking poles:

Shelter:

Sleeping bag:

Sleeping pad:

Rain shell:

Rain pants:

Windshirt:

Base layer:

Mid layer

Insulation layer:

Pants:

Shorts:

Shoes:

Socks:

Hat:

Gloves:

Stove:

Cookware:

Water treatment:

Water container:

Knife/multi-tool:

Compass:

GPS:

Camera:

========================================

My favorites:

Pack: Osprey Exos 46

Trekking poles: Black Diamond Approach flick locks

Shelter: SMD Gatewood

Sleeping bag: MH Lamina 20

Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest Prolite small + Z Seat

Rain shell: Patagonia Rainshadow

Rain pants: Marmot Precip

Windshirt: GoLite "original"

Base layer: GoLite C-Thru

Mid layer: MH Polartec Power Stretch zip tee

Insulation layer: MH Compressor

Pants: Outdoor Research Pursuit shoftshell

Shorts: Ex Officio Amphi Shorts

Button-down Shirt: Ex Officio Airstrip Lite

Shoes: Merrell Pulse II mid

Socks: Thorlos Everyday

Hat: Tilley T5

Gloves: MH Tempest

Stove: Coleman F1 (canister), Caldera Cone (alcohol)

Cookware: Brasslite ti 500ml pot, Snow Peak ti bowl, Lite My Fire ti spork, GSI Infinity Insulated mug

Water treatment: Steripen Protector, MicroPur MP-1 tablets, Katadyn Hiker Pro filter

Water container: Nalgene HDPE

Knife/multi-tool: Benchmade Griptilian, Leatherman Style CS, Victorinox paring knife

Compass: Suunto MC-2

GPS: N/A

Lighting: Fenix E01, Petzl e+lite

Camera: Pentax Optio W90

Pack: ULA Circuit

Trekking poles: Gossamer Gear Lightrek 4

Shelter: TT DR 2010

Sleeping bag: WM Alder MF for Fall/Winter, Lafuma x600 for Spring/Summer

Sleeping pad: Kooka Bay Custom Mat

Rain shell: I just bring an 0.88 cent poncho. SUL.

Rain pants: See above

Windshirt: Marmot Driclime Windshirt

Base layer: GoLite Wildwood Trail Shirt

Mid layer: Patagonia Capilene 3

Insulation layer: Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka

Pants: REI Sierra Convertible Pants

Shorts: Pants are zip off

Shoes: Solomon XA 3d pro ultras

Socks: Wright Sock Coolmesh II Quarter Socks

Hat: MH Transition

Gloves: MH Powerstretch

Stove: Snowpeak Gigapower Ti

Cookware: Anything from Evernew

Water treatment: Frontier Pro in gravity mode

Water container: Evernew

Knife/multi-tool: Gerber LST

Camera: Panasonic Lumix ZS7

Wow this is a lot of categories....

Pack: ULA Ohm* (all around pack), Zpacks Zero w water btl pkts (SUL pack)
Trekking poles: GG LT4's (3 season)
Shelter: HMG Echo I*
Sleeping bag: GoLite Ultra 20*
Sleeping pad: NeoAir Small*
Rain shell: undecided
Rain pants: MYOG CT3.5K.18 Cuben
Windshirt: Montbell UL Windshirt
Base layer: The lightest, quickest drying synthetic (ie. GoLite DriMove Lite)
Mid layer: don't use
Insulation layer: Montbell Ex-Light Vest (summer), not sure for 3 season
Pants: not sure
Shorts: don't use
Shoes: not sure
Socks: DeFeet Levitator Lite Low*
Hat: OR Seattle Sombrero or something similar but lighter
Gloves: Thin wool gloves
Stove: Tri Ti Caldera Cone with 12-10 Stove*
Cookware: Evernew 900ml (solo) or 1.3L (two people)
Water treatment: AquaTabs
Water container: Platy or light plastic water bottle
Knife/multi-tool: Baladeo 22g
Compass: undecided
GPS: don't use
Lighting: Zebralight H51 (if maybe night hiking) or Petzl e+Lite (for around camp)
Camera: undecided

* = Exceptional gear that I highly recommend. The other items are either good but not outstanding, or I don't have enough experience with to highly recommend.

Edited by dandydan on 11/07/2010 17:17:23 MST.

Pack: Mchale LBP

Trekking poles: Black Diamond Contour

Shelter: MLD SoloMid

Sleeping bag: Golite 3 Season Quilt

Sleeping pad: Neo Air

Rain shell: OR Zealot

Rain pants: None

Windshirt: None

Base layer: First Ascent Paradise Hoody

Mid layer: Mamot Super Hero Softshell

Insulation layer: BPL Cocoon Hoody

Pants: Cloudveil Prospector

Shorts: None

Shoes: Montrail Stratos

Socks: Injini

Hat: OR Sun hat

Gloves: OR pl100

Stove: Monatauk Gnat

Cookware: MLD 800 pot

Water treatment: Micropur tabs

Water container: Platypus

Knife/multi-tool: Fallniven F1

Compass: Suunto

GPS: None

Pack: Just sold some packs, waiting on spring to try something new. That MLD burn looks pretty sweet for most of my trips: 2-4 days)
Trekking poles: REI Peak UL – no locking/slipping issues with mine. Have been very durable for me.
Shelter: GG the one
Sleeping bag: WM megalite
Sleeping pad: neoair (L)
Rain shell: Rab drillium
Rain pants: undecided (use golite reeds)
Windshirt: undecided (use montane marathon)
Base layer: Patty Cap 1 / Icebreaker 150
Mid layer: Patty Cap 2 / Icebreaker 200
Insulation layer: Patty R1 hoody / EB FA downlight
Pants: undecided (would like some Arcteryx gamma lt’s, but too spendy for me right now)
Shorts: Arcteryx rampart long
Shoes: Inov-8 x-talon 212
Socks: drymax lightweight trail running / icebreaker hike lite mini
Hat: Patty trim brim
Gloves: undecided
Stove: Ti-Tri
Cookware: Evernew 900ml
Water treatment: Steripen opti
Water container: platy 1 & 2 liter
Knife/multi-tool: SOG flash I
Compass: Brunton button
GPS: Garmin 60CSx
Camera: undecided

Only just got out of high school and havent had a lot of access to different types of gear but ill list the things that i have had good luck with

trekking poles: exped alpinlites
pack: kathmandu katabatic (only 35L), havent used my big pack much
rain jacket: arc teryx theta ar, not very light but havent got wet so far, have had some other jackets that are lighter but they have all soaked through after a while
rain pants: mont austral pants, again not the lightest but a bit heavier duty for bushwhacking
socks: rei light hikers are pretty versatile
shirt: some sort of marmot running shirt

have recently got a lot of new gear so hopefully be able to fill in all of the other items in the next couple of months

Edited by Newkirk on 11/07/2010 14:38:00 MST.

My gear list is constantly evolving, but there are a few things that are "definites", so perfect in weight and function that they are not likely to be exchanged any time soon. I'll omit the stuff I don't have such strong feelings about.

Pack: MLD Burn!!! (for any trip with resupply options within 5 days). I'd like to do the AT with this pack)

Trekking poles: Don't need em

Shelter: Poncho tarp (MLD pro)

Sleeping bag: WM summerlite

Sleeping pad: Neoair short for comfort. Ridgerest cut to torso (4 oz) size when weight is priority.

Rain shell: poncho tarp above

Rain pants: none

Windshirt: yes. Montbell UL wind parka currently, but open to trying the houdini when available.

Base layer: any microweight merino (smartwool spring/fall, ibex indie for winter)

Mid layer. Capilene 3 (winter only)

Insulation layer: Patagonia Nano Puff

Pants: Columbia Titanium Convertible

Shorts: above

Cookware: The new BPL 550 SUL is not likely to be surpassed. Perfect size, weight, and form for my solo hikes. Really nicely done.

Water treatment: aqua mira tabs

Water container: cheapo 1 L water bottle

Knife/multi-tool: I agree with Dave- Fallkniven F1 is my favorite. I carry a Mora classic though for weight savings.

Edited by Ike on 11/07/2010 14:40:22 MST.

Pack: 3 season-Golite Pinnacle, 4 season/alpine-Kelty Phantom full spectra (circa 1998), home-made Gossamer Gear G4.

Trekking poles: Black Diamond flick-loc

Shelter: Warbonnet Blackbird (below tree line), Modified Golite Hex 3 (above tree line), old Sierra Designs Stretch Dome (Winter/heavy snow).

Sleeping bag: Exped Wallcreeper, custom Bigfoot quilt, various under quilts for hammock, Marmot Never Summer (winter).

Sleeping pad: Exped 3/4 down mat, Gossamer Gear Thinlighte pad(when on the ground)

Rain shell:Custom poncho, TNF Apex soft shell jacket.

Rain pants: Arc'tyrex Gamma LT soft shells.

Windshirt: REI OXT bike jacket--3.5 oz.

Base layer: No-name synthetics.

Mid layer: No-name fleece.

Insulation layer: Marmot Guide's down vest, Eddie Bauer down vest, LL Bean down jacket (winter).

Pants: REI Sahara or Arc'terx gamma LT soft shells, Utilikilt.

Shorts: Utilikilt.

Shoes:Keen Tarkhees, TNF Hedgehogs, NB Country Walkers Waterproof.

Socks:Alpaca wool socks.

Hat:Golite Team cap.

Gloves: REI wool mittens/finger-less gloves (3 season), Outdoor Research Snowline gloves (winter).

Stove: Vargo Jet-Ti canister, Brunton remote fuel line (winter w/Vargo Jet-Ti), Vargo Triad alcohol stove (3 season).

Cookware: Ancient Open Country pot/lid (3.5 oz.).

Water treatment: Aquamira Drops.

Water container: Platty (3 season), home-made aluminum bottles for winter (Coors cans with screw off lids).

Knife/multi-tool: Mora Miki w/custom sheath, Gerber LST, Swiss Army Classic.

Compass: Brunton 12 NL compass.

GPS: Nope..map/compass only.

Camera:Fuji FinePix XP10 waterproof/shockproof digital.

BF

Pack: MLD Burn (customized)

Trekking poles:

Shelter: Fly Creek UL 1

Sleeping bag: Montbell Super Spiral #3

Sleeping pad: Neoair (small)

Rain shell: Montbell Peak shell

Rain pants: Montbell Peak pants

Windshirt:

Base layer: Misty Mountain Suntrail

Mid layer: MEC Arco Crew

Insulation layer: Montbell UL Down Inner Jacket

Pants: Columbia (convertible)

Shorts:

Shoes: Merrell Moab Ventilators

Socks:

Hat: Tilley LT5B

Gloves: MEC Windstoppers, MLD (event) mittens

Stove: Primus Micron

Cookware: SnowPeak Ti Minisolo (with nested cup)

Water treatment: Steripen

Water container: Nalgene cantene

Knife/multi-tool: Gerber Winchester

Compass: Suunto

GPS: Garmin Foretrex 301, Garmin Vista Hcx

Camera: Pentax Optio W60

Pack: ULA Ohm

Trekking poles: GG LT4

Shelter:MLD speedmid/netting skirt

Sleeping bag:BPL/Nunatak arc-x (similar to arc specialist)

Sleeping pad:exped downmat though I typically use a Prolite plus 48 inch

Rain shell:Rainshield 02

Rain pants:Golite Whim

Windshirt:OR hooded pullover (not sure model number)

Base layer:Patagonia wool2

Mid layer: none

Insulation layer:Cocoon Hoodie

Pants:Railrider extreme adventure

Shorts:Tadgear nylon

Shoes:inov-8 terroc

Socks:smartwool adrenalin

Hat:OR baseball cap or bandana

Gloves:Rab ? model

Stove:Bushbuddy/Snowpeak gigapower

Cookware:Evernew 900

Water treatment:Steripen

Water container:playpus

Knife/multi-tool:Jaarvenpa puuko

Compass:basic silva baseplate model

GPS:none

Camera:casio (don't know model number)

================

Pack: McHale Chasm (if I had to pick only one)

Trekking poles: Leki ultra-lites, non anti-shock

Shelter: MLD Grace Duo Spinntex Tarp

Sleeping bag: Nunatak Arc Specialist Epic

Sleeping pad: Neo-Air

Rain shell: Marmot Pre-cip

Rain pants: OR ?

Windshirt: NA

Base layer: Patagonia #2

Mid layer Patagonia #3

Insulation layer: Montbell Thermawrap parka

Pants: REI Shara

Shorts: REI Shara, same as above

Shoes: Montrail Hurricane Ridge, Montrail Torre GTX

Socks: Darn Tough

Hat: Tilley

Gloves: REI ?

Stove: Jet Boil, (Caldera Cone,Fosters can,Gram Cracker Esbit stove)

Cookware: JetBoil, MLD 850ML mug, MSR. Titan Kettle

Water treatment: Aqua Mira

Water container: 1 qt Gator-Aid's, 1 liter platty's, 2-3 liter platty's with hyd. tube

Knife/multi-tool:

Compass: Silva ?

GPS:

Camera: Nikon Coolpix ?

I don't have time right now to rethink such a list... but my perfect (or nearly so) gear covers many of these categories.

--mark

Pack: One of my homemade ones, Talon 22

Trekking poles: Homemade, GosGear grips on fiberglass XC ski poles

Shelter: MLD Trailstar

Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering, BPL synthetic

Sleeping pad: Ridgerest

Rain shell: Arc'teryx Alpha SL pullover

Rain pants: Montane Featherlite

Windshirt: Houdini

Base layer: Cap 2

Mid layer powerstretch hoody

Insulation layer: pile hoody, Patagonia DAS

Pants: Patagonia Traverse

Shorts: Patagonia Ultra

Shoes: LaSportiva Crossleather

Socks: Darn Tough 1/4 crew

Hat: Headsweats visor

Gloves: OR Omni

Stove: BPL ti wing

Cookware: various

Water treatment: Sweetwater

Water container: Nalgene

Knife/multi-tool: Tiny Gerber, Swistec Tool

Compass: Suunto MCA

GPS: ----

Camera: Canon S90

Interesting to see lack of GPS in so many lists. Maps are cool!

Pack: Six Moon Designs Swift ‘10

Trekking poles: Gossamer Gear LT4

Shelter: Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter

Sleeping bag: Golite Ultra 20

Sleeping pad: Thermarest Ridgerest

Rain shell: DriDucks

Rain pants: Golite Reed

Windshirt: Montane Aero

Base layer: Mountain Hardwear Wicked T

Mid layer: None

Insulation layer: Mont-Bell UL Down Inner Jacket

Pants: REI Sierra Convertible

Shorts: Under Armor Running Shorts

Shoes: Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra

Socks: Smartwool Adrenaline 1/4

Hat: Mountain Hardwear Micro Dome

Gloves: Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Gloves

Stove: Trail Designs Caldera Cone

Cookware: Backpacking Light Firelite 550

Water treatment: Aquamira

Water container: Gatorade Bottle

Knife/multi-tool: Spyderco Ladybug

Compass: Sunnto M-2

GPS: None

Camera: Olympus Stylus 720WP (maybe not the best, but has served me well for over 4 years)

I hiked 5% solo, 95% with my wife, now we are starting to hike with a 4 years old.

Pack: didnt found one i was 100% happy with

Trekking poles: Komperdell KC3

Shelter: spinntwinn / kifaru paratipi / shangri la5 depending of number of people , and expected conditions

Sleeping bag: valandré mirage short zip

Sleeping pad: neoair

Rain shell: rab drillium or vertical shelter ultra depending of condtions

Rain pants: vertical mp+

Windshirt:

Base layer:silkbody / BPL hoodie / driza bone 270g/m2 from hot to well below freezing

Mid layer : usualy none if one : arcteryx delta LT zip

Insulation layer: cocoon vest / hoodie / nunatak skaha+ from 3 seasons to alpine winter

Pants: summer still testing,
winter schoffel glenwood

Shorts:i dont use shorts

Shoes:best fit for me is lowa renegade, still searching something lighter and comfortable

Socks:summer : xsock, winter smartwool midweight

Hat: still testing

Gloves: icebreaker 200 + BPL VB mitts + odlo undergloves if alpine winter

Stove: Bushbuddy when possible, primus express spider otherwise

Cookware: BPL sul 1100

Water treatment:micropure forte

Water container:platy

Knife/multi-tool:ladybug , fallkniven wm1 sometimes ( like when fishing and doing fires )

Compass: plain silva 26g

GPS:usualy none except when snowshoeing or countries with only 1/200 000 maps... then etrex legend C

Camera: olympus EP2

Edited by Fre49 on 11/08/2010 07:19:27 MST.

Pack:MLD super prophet

Trekking poles:carbon komperdells

Shelter:um, so far squall classic from gossamer gear

Sleeping bag:JRB shenandoah

Sleeping pad:z-lite, suluk46 pf

Rain shell:marmot mica

Rain pants: ?

Windshirt: ?

Base layer: capilene 2 or smartwool l/s zip

Mid layer: capilene 3

Insulation layer: depends, down sweater or montbell down vest

Pants: ?

Shorts: salomon XT lite

Shoes: hmm. for backpacking maybe the crosslites, but for running MT101

Socks: smartwool crews for cool/cold, injinji for warmer

Hat: free visor from a race

Gloves: OR fleece, not sure which model

Stove: oh man, only one?! fosters can trail designs setup

Cookware: again fosters can

Water treatment: micropur tabs

Water container: platy, recycled gatorade or water bottle

Knife/multi-tool: homemade from my friend

Compass: silva a10? simple cheap and works

GPS: - none

Camera: - none

For Pacific Northwest and XL or XXL Kit -

Pack: Granite Gear Nimbus (usually modified version @ 2lbs)
Trekking poles: LL Bean fixed length ski (cheaper & lighter)
Shelter: Grand Trunk/OES/Te-Wa Hammock Setup or GoLite Hex 3
Sleeping bag: MontBell #1, #2, or #4 depending on conditions
Sleeping pad: POE Ether
Rain shell: In the market - unhappy with most everything
Rain pants: Never wear them - DriDucks if I do take them
Windshirt: LL Bean 3oz version no longer made. Best ever!
Base layer: In the market - pretty impressed by light Merino
Mid layer: Various synthetic t-shirts. Mostly mesh.
Insulation layer: Patagonia Down Sweater or First Ascent
Pants: Running pants with the mesh cut out. Light, cheap
Shorts: Usually swimming trunks with the mesh cut out
Shoes: New Balance trail shoes or Vasque trail shoes
Socks: Injinji or thin Merino depending on conditions
Hat: In the market - unhappy with almost everything except a ball cap
Gloves: Lavawool thin gloves or OR fleece if it's winter
Stove: SOTO for canister, Caldera Sidewinder if it's Esbit
Cookware: Evernew 0.9
Water treatment: SteriPen Opti
Water container: GSI Mug
Knife/multi-tool: Varies, but just got a Baladeo 22
Compass: Small basic one - stays in my pack 99% of the time
GPS: Motion X GPS for iOS usually. Gecko 301 for high use.
Camera: Backpacking buddy with semi-pro skills :)

My wish list includes:

1. light eVent rain parka and pants
2. Newest Steripen
3. Caldera Cone Tri-Ti stove
4. Hilleberg Nallo winter tent
5. Ortovox S1 avalanche beacon
6. Cabela's down underwear pants (to wear with my EB down jacket to extend the range of my WM Megalite bag)

Edited by Danepacker on 11/08/2010 10:34:40 MST.

TENT> TT Moment
BAG> WM Megalite
PACK> '08 REI Cruise UL 60 W/side pockets
STOVE> Brunton Flex or Vargo Jet-Ti canister stoves
MAT> Thermarest Prolite
H2O> Steripen Adventurer/Katadyn Micropur chlorine dioxide tabs
RAINGEAR> Cabela'sRainy River PacLite GTX suit
JACKET> Eddie Bauer First Ascent Downlite jacket
PANTS> 5.11 brand nylon "canvas" tactical pants
GPS> Garmin Colorado 300
KNIFE> Gerber LST lockblade

Edited by Danepacker on 11/08/2010 10:23:05 MST.