Backpacking Gear Checklist

Strategically Ultralight!

Typically, the ultralight backpacker’s goal is to have their pack weigh as little as possible.  That’s pretty straight forward.  This makes sense for those who are going to be hiking twenty miles a day along trails like the Colorado Trail, Pacific Coast Trail, or the Appalachian Trail.   I’m not that type of backpacker, and I knew I’d never get my pack down to crazy ultralight levels.  I have too much fishing gear and I never want to leave anything behind that I might need.  I also want to have a certain level of comfort that ultralight packers are willing to give up.  Instead of trying to get every piece of gear to weigh as little as possible, even leaving certain items at home for the sake of weight, I decided to pick and choose where to cut down weight strategically. 

Strategically ultralight is a term I use to describe my backpacking philosophy.  It means to pick and choose where to cut down weight instead of cutting weight absolutely everywhere possible.  My pack weight goal is 30 lbs. on the way in, 26 lbs. on the way out with food having been eaten.  By strategically saving weight in some areas, I’m able to carry a comfortable sleeping pad, camp chair, and fly fishing gear while still meeting my pack weight goal.

Below is a list of my backpacking gear, including the manufacturer and weight of each item. Look for future posts reviewing each of these items. I’ll discuss what I like and what I don’t like about each of them, as well as which other manufacturers I considered.

Ultralight (UL) Backpack – Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L backpack (20.9 oz).  Pack customization includes Zpack lumbar pad (.99 oz), shoulder pads (.95 oz), and two belt pouches (1.7 oz).

One Person UL Tent – Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker (pictured above), hybrid double wall tent (28 oz, 103” long interior)

Two Person UL Tent – Durston X-Mid 2 Solid if I’m sharing a tent or if I feel extra space is necessary (39.9 oz, including tent, stakes & sack)

Trekking Poles – Leki ultralight soft antishock (16.6 oz)

UL Quilt – DIY project using materials purchased from Ripstop by the Roll (27 oz)

Sleeping Bag Liner – Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor (9.2 oz)

Pillow – NEMO Fillo Elite Luxury (4.2 oz)

Insulated Pad – Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated 25 x 78 (25 oz, 4.8 R Value)

Ultra Mini Air Pump and Tent Light – Flextail Tiny Pump X (1.7 oz)

Water Purification or Filtration – Katadyn BeFree Gravity Water Filter (6.0 L, 8.9 oz) at camp.  Katadyn BeFree Water Filter (1.0 L, 2.3 oz) while out in the field.

Water bottles – Two empty sports drink bottles (1.3 oz each)

Cook System – Jetboil and Jetboil fuel canister (16.5 oz)

Chair – Big Agnes Mica Basin (2.6 oz) or Nemo Moonlight Elite (1.6 oz)

Bug Repellent/Net – Ben’s 100 Max Formula spray (1.25 fl. oz)

Headlamp – Black Diamond Spot 400 (2.8 oz)

Sattelite Communicator – Garmen In Reach Mini (3.5 oz)

Navigation – iPhone with downloaded offline map and printed map of destination using Caltopo.com (7.1 oz)

Bear Bag and Rope – Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit (3.4 oz)

Other Miscellaneous Checklist Items – Found at any outdoor store such as Jax Outdoors or REI

First Aid Kit

Bear Spray

Air Horn

Odor Proof Bag for food

Matches or Lighter

Titanium Spoon and a Cup

TP and Trowel

Knife/Multi-tool

Solar Battery Cell – Only if needed for longer trips

Kindle Book / Cards – Optional

Sunscreen/Lip Balm

Deodorant/Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Advil/Pepto

Polarized Sunglasses

Pack Liner/Pack Cover – I simply use a big trash bag to protect gear that must stay dry (sleeping quilt and clothing).  In camp I store pack in the vestibule area of my tent.