Ultralight Backpacking Gear List

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 Essentials List (opens new page)

 Day Hike List

 Overnight Hike List

 Additional Gear for Spring/Fall

 Additional Gear for Summer

 Additional Gear for Winter

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for "ALL" DAY HIKES:

Start with the Fourteen Backpacking Essentials. Then add:

DAY PACK

Large enough to fit all your gear inside, and preferably with compression straps, sternum strap, & padded belt & back.

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HIKING BOOTS (or Shoes)

Appropriate for the terrain you’ll be in. If appropriate, remember to treat them, before you go, with Nikwax or some other waterproofing agent.

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BASE LAYERS: ( NO COTTON ! (unless you are sure it is appropriate for the environment in which you will be traveling) )

___ Lightweight thermal underwear top
___ Lightweight thermal underwear bottom

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INSULATION:

___ Light Fleece Jacket--200 or 300 weight
___ Light Fleece Vest--200 or 300 weight (optional, use your good judgment)

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OUTER SHELL:

___ Windproof, waterproof, highly-breathable Parka or Jacket--pit zips, 2-way zipper, & pack pockets for ventilation; adjustable hood & hem; and large enough to allow layering underneath.

___ Windproof, waterproof, highly-breathable Pants--full-length side zips for easy entry & ventalation.

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OTHER BACKPACKING ESSENTIALS:

___ Hiking Socks & Liners (+ extra pair)
___ Quick-drying hiking shorts (wear over the thermal underwear in cool weather)
___ Thin fleece gloves (e.g., lightweight Patagonia Synchilla)
___ Fleece Cap or Balaclava (must cover ears)
___ Baseball cap (wool, synthetic--cotton ok in warmer weather)
___ Toilet Paper

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FOOD: (Take enough for the day & extra for one meal)

___ Gorp (nuts, seeds, dried fruit, m&ms)
___ Hard Cheese (lasts longer)
___ Jerky (beef/turkey) or salami
___ Cookies
___ Crackers
___ Tiger's Milk Bars
___ Licorice Sticks
___ Kudos
___ Bear Valley MealPacks
___ PowerBars (Berry)
___ Chewing Gum
___ Gatorade
___ Bagels, English muffins
___ String cheese (individually wrapped)
___ Chocolate & candy
___ Dried fruit (raisins, apples, pears, peaches, bananas)
___ Dried meat and fish
___ Giant pretzels
___ Raw fruit / vegetables
___ Nuts
___ Pop Tarts
___ Fig/Peach/Apple Newtons

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OPTIONAL:

___ Hiking Staff
___ Bandanna (cotton ok)
___ Sit pad
___ Gore-Tex Socks (in damp environs, keeps feet warm & dry)
___ Gaitors (long for snow or short for scree)
___ Pack Rain Cover
___ Pack Towel (1)
___ Camera & extra film
___ Parachute Cord (many uses)
___ Duct Tape (many uses)
___ Monocular or Binoculars
___ Reading Glasses
___ Field Watch
___ Altimeter / Barometer (especially if going offtrail)
___ Moleskin (if not part of First Aid Kit)

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"ALL" OVERNIGHT HIKES:     

___ Start with the Fourteen Essentials.
___ Add DAY HIKES gear. Then add the following:

BACKPACK

___ In lieu of the "day-hike" rucksack or daypack, you'll probably need a pack with more capacity to carry the additional over-night gear. A pack with approximately 3000 to 4000 cu in is satisfactory for long weekends and packs with 4400 + cu in are generally used for week-long treks. You'll need to experiment to find what works for you.

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SLEEPING SYSTEM:

___ Sleeping Pad (if on snow, consider closed-cell / open-cell combination--e.g., full-length, closed-cell Cascade Design RidgeRest & 3/4 length, ultralight, open-cell Thermarest)

___ Sleeping Bag: 3-Season (light 20 degree bag should be enough most of the time)

___ Sleeping Bag: Winter (If you have only one bag (e.g. the 20 degree bag above, you can add warmth to it by using it together with a bivy sack and/or by wearing some or all of your clothes to bed.) If you can afford it, and go out in the Winter frequently, you might want to invest in a Winter bag (e.g. a zero degree bag; dryloft will keep your insulation dry; a draft collar is a must).

___ Tent (3 or 4-season) or Gore-Tex Bivy Bag (if it snows at night, you might need to knock the snow off your 3-season tent). If you go out frequently in the Winter, you might want to invest in a bomb-proof 4-season tent.

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COOKING:

___ Lightweight Trail Stove (white gas--e.g., Whisperlite; or butane/propane--e.g., Primus Titanium)

___ Stove Fuel--white gas or butane/propane canister (if melting snow for water, take more fuel).

___ 1 medium pot w/lid & pot handle
___ Lexan spoon

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FOOD: (Here are some suggestions for you to choose from)

Breakfast:
___ Hot chocolate
___ Coffee, Tea
___ Instant Hot Cider
___ Instant Oatmeal (variety)
___ Instant Cream of Wheat
___ Malt O' Meal (w/brown sugar)
___ Granola
___ Nature Valley Granola bars (variety)
___ Dried fruit (apples, raisins)

Lunch:
___ Gorp (nuts, seeds, dried fruit, m&ms)
___ Bagels
___ String Cheese
___ Hard Cheese (lasts longer) ___ Jerky or salami
___ Cookies
___ Crackers

Dinner:
___ Instant soup (Lipton's Chicken Noodle & Cream of Chicken)
___ Freeze-dried dinners (preparable in their own foil container)
--Mountain House: Lasagna, Spaghetti, Pasta Primavera, Chili Mac
--Mountain House (All Natural): Noodles & Chicken, Chicken Polynesian, Beef Stroganoff
___ Mountain House Freeze-dried desserts (Fruit Crisps--peaches, strawberries)

Dinner Spices (keep dry in small transparent canisters)
___ onion powder
___ garlic powder
___ pre-mixed, ground dried herbs
___ pepper (red or black)

Other Non-Cook Nourishment--Good for Snacks
___ Tiger's Milk Bars
___ Licorice Sticks
___ Kudos
___ Bear Valley MealPacks
___ PowerBars (Berry)
___ Chewing Gum
___ Gatorade
___ Bagels, English muffins
___ String cheese (individually wrapped)
___ Chocolate & candy
___ Dried fruit (raisins, apples, pears, peaches, bananas)
___ Dried meat and fish
___ Giant pretzels
___ Raw fruit / vegetables
___ Nuts
___ Pop Tarts
___ Fig/Peach/Apple Newtons
___ Crackers

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OPTIONAL

___ Optional if going light & fast overnite with Bivy: Lightweight Tarp for rain/snow cover
___ Candle Lantern
___ Miniature playing cards; cribbage set, etc.
___ Therm-a-Rest'R Lite Chair Kit (weighs 10 oz and fits all 20-in-wide Thermarest mattresses)

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ADDITIONAL GEAR FOR SPRING & FALL     

BASE LAYERS: ( NO COTTON ! )

___ Midweight thermal underwear top
___ Midweight thermal underwear bottom

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OTHER ESSENTIALS:

___ Midweight fleece gloves or mittens
___ Waterproof overgloves or mittens

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OPTIONAL:

___ Snow Shovel
___ Avalanche beacon
___ SnowShoes & Poles w/touring baskets
___ Ice Axe (for mountain trips in snow & ice)

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ADDITIONAL GEAR FOR SUMMER     

OPTIONAL:
___ light shorts for swimming
___ synthetic T-shirt (e.g., coolmax)
___ light water shoes (e.g., Speedo Surfwalker, Nike Water Shoes)
___ sun hat w/neck shroud

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ADDITIONAL GEAR FOR WINTER     

BOOTS:

___ In addition to substantial leather boots, appropriate for Winter conditions, you can also consider plastic boots and sorel insulated boots, as possible options.

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BASE LAYERS: ( NO COTTON ! )

___ Midweight or Expedition-weight thermal underwear top
___ Midweight or Expedition-weight thermal underwear bottom

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OTHER ESSENTIAL GEAR:

___ Midweight or Expedition-weight Insulated fleece gloves or mittens
___ Waterproof overgloves or mittens

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OPTIONAL:

___ Down Sweater
___ Insulated Boots (e.g., Sorel Bighorn--rated to -40 degrees).
___ Hand Warmers (e.g., Grabber Mycoal air-activated warmer)
___ Snow Shovel
___ Avalanche beacon
___ SnowShoes & Poles w/touring baskets
___ Ice Axe (for mountain trips in snow & ice)
___ Insulated Water-Bottle Blanket