Well this is petty much my gear list for Feb 3,2007 start
External Jansport backpack 5Lbs
Warlus Tent 4 Lbs 2oz little heady but great tent
Sleeping bag 0deg. 4Lbs might switch out for 20deg down bag 2Lbs 4oz
Clothing List
Underwear Wickers shirt 7oz pants 7oz
Three Pair nylon shorts 3oz ea
Three pair Smartwool socks 5oz each
Socks liners 1oz x3 3oz
Tee shirt x2 4oz each 9oz
Marmot Precip jacket and Pants total 18oz
200 weight fleece jacket 12oz
REI Gossamer Primaloft Jacket 16oz fold in to it own pocket this will be for around camp might leve fleece home just take the Gossamer can wear the precip over it and the fleece to. Itry the fleece and precip toget on cold raining days stay nice and warm
Campmor windban mitts flip over with hytrel 3.5oz
Balaclava 5oz

Let know what you think about this list Thank:confused:

Everything's fine so far.

29 people will shortly tell you to switch to a lighter pack. Don't worry about it. The Jansport will do fine.

Other stuff looks OK, but what about the rest.....stove, cookset, water treatment, sleeping pad, repair kits, personal care stuff, etc.? You seem to be missing some fairly vital stuff.

9 lbs between tent and pack. Ouch. Plus what Jack sez... there are some important items missing.

Not only should you get a lighter pack, but a lighter bag and tent, if you can afford it.The latter two are twice as heavy as they ought to be. Make sure you get a light pad regardless, they're cheap.

Save one t-shirt and two pairs of shorts for later. Leave fleece at home.

Its not much weight, but I can't imagine why you need 3 pairs of shorts.

Oh, I just saw you're starting at the beginning of February. You may not find a 20 degree bag sufficient but you wouldn't catch me out in that sort of weather so I can't say from experience, others will no doubt weigh in shortly. Mid-March I was very glad to have a 15 degree bag.

Are you going to bring a sleeping pad? Cooking gear? Personal kit?

EDIT: Oops, I see that Baltimore Jack and Terrapin Too already mentioned these items. That's what I get for replying without reading all the previous responses.

fresh clothes sound nice, but without a shower, how necessary are they? nobody will notice if you stink, i promise. you'll grow accustomed to being grimey.

Oh, I just saw you're starting at the beginning of February. You may not find a 20 degree bag sufficient but you wouldn't catch me out in that sort of weather so I can't say from experience, others will no doubt weigh in shortly. Mid-March I was very glad to have a 15 degree bag.

"Won't catch me out in that sort of weather" ?? I don't understand, long winter backpacking trips are GREAT. Please explain.

Partinj, I like your choice of pack and tent. There's a temporary ultralight fad now that will pass so don't worry about carrying whatever you want, a book, candles, apples and oranges, cabbage(!), canned soup, radio, a deck of cards, a bigger 4 season tent, a beefy thermarest. Did I mention a book?

Here's a twist: Carry 10-12 days worth of food and fuel so you won't have to leave the trail so much. See how long you can stay out without hitting a store.

February is COLD and though my winter clothing list is similar to yours, I add another fleece hat with the balaclava, 2 sets of gloves(light and heavyweight), and a warm down jacket. A zero down bag is part of my standard load, too.

Not having to go to town so often is nice, in theory.

But 12 days worth of food, for most people, weighs in the neighborhood of thirty pounds.

Personally, I'd rather carry less weight and food, and use discipline in my town stops, i.e., get in, get what I need, and then get back out to the woods. Carrying a week and a half's worth of supplies is not a barrel of laughs.

I'm not a big fan of ultra-lightweight, but your "big three" do seem pretty heavy. Pick one to be on the heavy side -- is your pack a favorite? Are you married to your tent? -- then switch out the other two "big threes." I had this rule for my big three: one had to be cheap, one had to be super-lightweight, and one had to be both -- a splurge, in a way. The cheapie could be heavy, and the super-lightweight could be expensive, and that did balance things out nicely.

You mentioned switching your sleeping bag...can you switch to the lighter bag, then bring a good liner just for the colder months? I've had good luck in winter temps with a 2-pound, 15-degree bag, plus a Marmot liner. You can lose the liner later.

Like the others said, you're missing vital stuff, which is why we try to keep our "big three" down as low as we can, to leave room for that other stuff, like stoves, food, headlamps, etc.

Please post updates as you modify your gear...and remember that ultimately it's YOU that carries and uses the stuff, not all of us fools on WB.

I will be the first of the 29 people to say that this set up is WAY TOO HEAVY! It is your hike but you might agree with me after a few hundred miles...

Bah humbug... Start off with the heavy stuff because that is what you know the best. Replace something 30 miles in at Walasi Yi, Franklin, NC has a great outfitter, replace something else, Hot Springs, NC, Damascus, VA, all good outfitters. By Damascus you will probably be carrying new gear, but the only way you will know what to buy is to go out there and learn what you truely need after hiking for a few weeks. So you back, legs, feet will be suffering (as if they wouldn't be suffereing anyway), but you will get some kick ass gear that you won't replace again.
Three pairs of shorts is a bit much. I hiked with two prs during the summer. I would add nylon hiking pants or convertables.
I would switch out the sleeping bag as a zero degree is not neccessary. You still have a walrus tent?!! rock on, much better name then MSR, keep it till the spring/past atkins, va and switch to a tarptent or tarp and bug bivy. You can save an almighty pound by swithing to a one man tent. IF you do replace the tent, send the Walrus to: Scott Shurlow, 4405....
TB

Yes i am take stove it is the snow peak giga power 3.5oz grease pot from Kmart 3oz first aid kit&misc. 12oz mini mag lite with head strap 5oz.the reason for three pair of shorts one pair will be in waterproof bag in case
eer thing get wet i will have a backup pair nice and dry:eek:

You can save a lot of money and pick from the first outfitters hikers box at Neels Gap. It is full of stuff at the start of the year.

Partinj, you need a pad to put under your sleeping bag. At the very least an Ensolite or Evazote pad -- these are cheap and light, but bulky.

I'll make a positive comment and pat you on the back for the REi Gossamer. It's a solid piece that you'll be very happy with.

REI Gossamer combined with Marmot Precip will keep you toasty in camp. You won't need the fleece jacket. Except for extremely cold days, you'll probably be hiking in shorts and a t-shirt and using the gossamer and precip when you stop for breaks and lunch.

Suggest that you swap out the mini-mag/headstrap for a Petzl headlamp---the one with a flip down red lens. I'm pretty sure it weighs about half the mini mag and throws more light using 3 AAA's. Red lens is less irritating to others in the shelter and helps keep you night vision going.

Didn't see any bear bag line. Many uses including clothesline to dry shorts and tshirts.

29 people will shortly tell you to switch to a lighter pack. Don't worry about it. The Jansport will do fine.

I must agree here..Ignore all the people who will tell you to get a lighter pack..How the pack carries and transfers the weight to your natural center of gravity and allows you to walk in a more natural manner is more important than trying to save a pound or two (Or even 3) and get a less efficient pack..People are so obsessed with numbers they over look this simple fact time after time..A well designed and fitted pack that weighs 6 pounds will actually make the weight feel lighter and conserve more of your energy than a 3 pound pack

Get the gear calculator software. It has made such a diff in figuring out my weight! Also, do what makes you feel comfortable. These guys here arent carrying your pack, you are. If you want to pack a little heavier than some thats your pref. Also, the thread on cutting pack weight helps lots when doing the smallest thingsto cut weight! Either way, best of luck on your hike. Lots of us wish we could be out there with ya.:cool: