The Backpacking Checklist - 18-Pound, 3-Day Backpack, is essentially a full-three-season, backcountry gear checklist configured for a three-day weekend in the Cascade Mountains.

In some cases, I have lighter, less rugged gear, but I'm not confident that it would keep me reasonably comfortable in harsh weather, during an extended multi-day outing.

Depending on weather conditions and traveling conditions & situations (e.g., lay-over days, availability of water, etc.), this backpacking gear list will change. The gear list pack weight could be several pounds more or less, accordingly.

• The 18-pound, 3-Day Pack
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
  
• The Gear I Wear
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
  
• Options That Add Weight
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
• Lightweight Gear Suggestions
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
• Other Useful Gear Lists
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 18-pound, 3-Day Gear Checklist

CLOTHES  				          WEIGHT in OUNCES
___  extra socks(1)smartwool l.h. & (1)wigwam liners  	3.77
___  marmot lightweight DriClime thermal bottom         5.11  
___  patagonia expedition fleece gloves			1.62       
___  OR gore-tex "lobster claw" rain mitts		1.31    
___  rei windstop fleece cap (covers ears & neck)	1.62       

___  mec northern lite primaloft vest                   7.94
___  mec northern lite primaloft pullover   	       11.70

___  marmot precip rain/wind parka w/stuff sack        12.88		     
___  marmot precip rain/wind pants w/stuff sack         7.80 		
						     _______
                            Subtotal for Clothes:      53.75

SHELTER & SLEEPING SYSTEM
___  western mountaineering caribou sleeping bag,     
     in the stuff sack (instead of WM Ultralite)       22.00
___  bibler bivy sack (in place of tent)	       20.00         
___  mt.washington closed-cell mattress                 7.37 		
						     _______
          Subtotal for Shelter & Sleeping System:      49.37

PACKING
___  mountainsmith mountainlight 4000 pack
    (approx 4000 cu in)                                41.87
___  equinox pack rain cover				3.67
___  stuff sacks, freezer bags, & garbage sacks		 
    (not already accounted for),                        3.23
						     _______
                            Subtotal for Packing:      48.77

COOKING & WATER
___  katadyn hiker water filter w/stuff sack           11.00			
___  2 platypus 1-liter water bottles			2.00
___  evernew titanium cook pot w/lid (.9 liter)         4.87
___  mesh “kitchen” bag	(includes condiments,
          lexan spoon, toothbrush & powder)             2.80 
___  primus micron cook stove w/piezo starter           3.46  
___  matches (backup for cook stove)			0.35
___  bear bag						3.49  	 
						     _______  
      Subtotal for Cooking (without food & fuel):      25.19   

NAVIGATION
___  zeiss monocular (in fleece pouch)                  2.25
___  suunto a1000 compass          			0.78
___  maps (2 @ .2 oz per map)				0.40
___  paper, pencil, reading specs  			0.49
___  petzl zipka led headlamp w/ 6 AAA
     batteries (3 are xtra)                             3.42			
___  (1) white photon micro light		        0.21 
						     _______  
                         Subtotal for Navigation:       7.55          

ESSENTIALS & OTHER ITEMS
___  first aid kit		                    	6.00				 
___  (*) swiss army classic knife	                 ~
___  (*) waterproof matches				 ~
___  (*) firestarter					 ~ 
___  (*) duct tape					 ~ 
___  (*) fox plastic whistle				 ~ 
___  all (*) items in small freezer bag			3.30				
___  sun glasses in hard case		        	2.61				
___  skin-so-soft bug guard/sun block			3.00
___  sting-eze bug-bite/bee-sting relief		0.78
___  spf-30 lip balm		     	                0.35			
___  tent repair kit               			0.49
___  expedition sewing kit              		0.74
___  pack towel						1.52 
___  toilet paper					1.50
						     _______  
                   Subtotal for Essentials & Other:    20.29         

						     _______  
                           Subtotal of Subtotals:     204.92
          


  PACK WEIGHT AT START OF 7-DAY OUTING NOT
  INCLUDING FOOD, WATER & FUEL:                 12 lbs 12.92 oz 
  ==============================================================


___  Fuel for 3 days:                                   
       (3.5 oz of fuel + canister)                      6.65
___  Food for 3 days (20 oz per day x 2 "full" days):  40.00
     (first morning, fill-up with high-octane food
      at the trailhead & the third night, feast at the
      local pizzeria)
___  Water 				               32.00
     (average amount carried at any given time)
						     _______
                          Total Weight in Ounces:     283.57

__________________________________________________________________

  TOTAL PACK WEIGHT AT START OF 3-DAY OUTING:   17 lbs 11.57 oz 
                     		               ================


----------------------------------------------------

THE GEAR I WOULD BE WEARING

This is typically what I would be wearing while carrying
the 18 pound pack.
                                                  Weight in Ounces
___  cotton or wool baseball cap                        2.00 			        
___  marmot lightweight DriClime thermal top         	4.85           				   
___  patagonia activent vest			        5.00    
___  altimeter with neck lanyard		        2.00			 	  
___  hiking shorts                                      6.25		  
___  smartwool light hiker socks & liners               3.77 					  
___  montrail hurricane ridge gtx shoes	 	       30.00
___  msr pure carbon trekking poles                    17.00


----------------------------------------------------


OPTIONS THAT REDUCE WEIGHT                        
                                                  Weight in Ounces



----------------------------------------------------


OPTIONS THAT ADD WEIGHT                               
                                                  Weight in Ounces
___  extra socks(1)thorlo hiking & wigwam liners    	4.80
___  PUR hiker water filter			       12.38
___  two 16oz nalgene water bottles                     6.03
___  mini gaitors					3.70
___  patagonia midweight thermal bottom                 7.00		
     (instead of marmot lightweight bottom)
___  ground cloth / tarp                                6.00
___  bug mesh pants                                     3.00  	       
___  patagonia puffball micro-loft jacket	       17.50       
___  feathered friends volant gtx/down jacket          18.95       
___  marmot gore-tex stormlight parka w/stuff sack     18.50       
     (instead of marmot pre-cip parka)
___  marmot gore-tex stormlight pants w/stuff sack     10.50 
     (instead of marmot pre-cip pants)
___  mountainlight 5200, 5200 cu in 	               49.00	        	
     (instead of mountainlight 4000)
___  large first aid kit			       10.00		
     (instead of optimist first-aid kit)
___  cribbage game in fleece pouch        	        4.25              
___  insulated mug w/o lid				4.35
___  insulated mug lid				        0.50		
___  therm-a-rest ridgerest mattress                    9.00 		
___  therm-a-rest ultralite mattress                   16.00 		
___  slinglight chair w/o headrest                     17.00
___  therm-a-rest ultralite chair                      10.15
___  therm-a-rest open-cell sit pad                     5.70
___  streamline fishing hand-line & tackle              4.00 
___  telescopic fishing rod & daiwa UL7 reel            9.65 
___  olympus epic camera w/xtra film & mini-tripod      7.85		

___  leica 8x20 binocular (in its fleece pouch)         8.70
     (instead of zeiss monocular)
___  camp 6-point crampons                              8.00
___  kahtoola KTS ultralight 10-point crampons         19.20
___  camp XLA 210 ultralight ice axe                    8.64
___  voile ultralight snow shovel                      23.00
___  northernlites elite snowshoes                     37.75

Other Useful Gear Lists

Hiking Essentials
Gear List (1)
Gear List (2)
Seasonal Gear Lists
18Lb, 3-Day Pack
The Day Hiking Pack