Hello All,

I'm ready to be torn apart by all of you on my Gear List. Feel free to comment.

It's a bit rough round the edges at the moment. Towards the bottom are the mainly undecided things and also the ones that don't need brands ie duct tape.
I will also be hiking with my girlfriend but she has yet to compile her list.
Most of these items have not yet been purchased but I will have them all soon after Christmas. Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Matt


Pack- Osprey Aether 60
Boots- Salomon Adventure Trek 7 (8.5)
Tent- MSR Zoid 2.0
Sleeping Bag- McKinley Logan (I have this one. Big, heavy & Synthetic)
Sleeping Bag- Marmot Helium (I may get this one. Small, light and Down)

Neck Gaiter- Outdoor Designs Powerstretch Neck Gaiter (can be used as balaclava / hat also)
Hat- Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Micro Dome (may not need if I get the Neck Gaiter)
Gloves- Mountain Hardwear Ascent Glove
Base Top- Patagonia Lightweight Capilene Crew Neck
Base Pants- Patagonia Lightweight Bottoms
Boxer Shorts- Patagonia Capilene Boxers x 2
Socks- Undecided

Waterproofs
Trousers- Marmot PreClip Pant
Jacket- Montane Superfly Jacket (apparently the lightest on the market)
Gaiters- Mountain Hardwear Ascent Gaiter x 2 (May not bother with Gaiters)

Other Clothing
Shirt- Sprayway Ravine II Shirt
Trousers- Montane Terra Convert Pant
T-Shirt- Cloudveil Highlight Short Sleeve Top
Fleece- Mountain Equipment Grid Zip T
Long T-shirt- Mountain Equipment Long Sleeve Tech Top

Other
Sleeping Mat- Multimat Artic
Stuff Sacks- Outdoor Designs / Rab
Bag Liner- Outdoor Designs Liner
Hiking Poles- (Lightweight Leki's)
Camera (possibly)

Food Prep.
Stove (I'm going to make a Pepsi one this weekend)
Pots- Undecided
Utensil- Spork (Spoon and fork in one)
Water Bottles- Undecided

Sun/Bug Lotion
Water Tablets
Bandannas
Headlamp/Torch
Vitamins
Compass- Recta DS50 (has mirror also, useful for Contact lenses)
Knife- Swiss Army
Rope Cord
Tooth Care
Pack Cover- Osprey
Lighters/matches
Small Shovel
Whistle
Spare Batteries
Diary, Pen, Maps etc
Sandals- For Camp wear
Sewing Kit
Toilet Paper
Can Opener- If needed
Nail Clippers
Duct Tape
Soap
First Aid Kit- Probably very small. I never take drugs.
Post-it-Notes
Blister Treatment
Glasses/Lenses- Not sure to wear glasses or Contact lenses yet.
Padlock
Maps, Guides
Binoculars?- Maybe
Watch

Matt...It would help if you tell us what your planned starting date is. Makes a difference on what clothes you need.

Here's a couple of things I see right off the top.

Sleeping bag...go with the down one.

Boxer shorts...dump them.

Sprayway shirt...you've got both a long and a short sleeve shirt listed. Adding this is overkill.

Soap, post-it-notes, padlock, and binoculars are all excess weight you don't need.

Gear choices are a personal issue. there is no one brand or model that works for all.

However, suggest that you consider:

Frogg Togg rain pants instead of Precip rain pants

A one person tent rather than a two person tent

Lexan spoon instead of spork

With LED head lamps, no need to spare batteries.

Only guide book I pack along is sections of Wingfoot or ALDHA Companion.

If you bring a Swiss army knife or mulit tool, make is a small one like the Leatherman Micra.

No matches. Bring a spare lighter

Originally posted by Matt Pincham
Hello All,

I'm ready to be torn apart by all of you on my Gear List. Feel free to comment.

Just remember Matt, no one will agree with everything you've listed and alot of the stuff we pack is a personal choice. So take all of these suggestions with a grain of salt.
A few general comments:
Will your pack choice hold all the gear you listed plus 3 or 4 days food supply?
Be careful with the amount of clothes you pack. I don't remember what time of year you'll be starting and that will determine whether you'll need several items of clothing you listed.
You'll love the Marmot Helium.
I have tried several brands of hiking socks but the Smart Wools have been kindest to my feet. I have been using them for over a 1000 miles on various trails now and can highly recommend them.
You have a lot of shirts listed. But depending when you will be starting you may need them. But I doubt it.
By all means carry a camera. I bought an Olympus Stylus Digital and it is great. The only drawback is it requires a special battery that won't be available along the trail.
Pots? I have never needed more than one. Look for a 1.3 liter titanium. If most of your cooked meals will be the "add water" type, that size will be more than sufficient for two people. It's the size my wife and I have used for 5 or 6 years.
Spork: get a lexan spoon. Very light, and practically indestructible. Cut the handle off so it will fit inside your pot.
We use 32 ounce Gatorade bottles and a 1 liter platypus. The gatorade bottles have a wide enough opening to allow pouring drink mixes in and are sturdy enough for hot water for cocoa or, maybe in your case, hot tea. The platypus will roll up very small when not needed. When I carry the 70 ounce one I use it for a pillow sometimes.
Make sure your Swiss Army knife has scissors. I use them more than the blade. I carry the Swiss army classic, about 1 ounce.
I carried a whistle for 3 years and never used it. It's one of those things that when you need it nothing will replace it but I've stopped carrying mine.
Someone listed a camp shoe a few weeks ago that I bought and really like. A men size 11 weighs just over 11 ounces a pair. Very comfortable. I'll find the link to the website and post it later.
I don't buy food that I need a can opener to eat. Most can items now can be bought with a pull off top anyway. You probably won't be eating a lot of canned food. The biggest problem with canned food is the weight you have to pack in and then the weight of the garbage you've got to pack out.
I have been able to use my scissors on my knife for nail clippers. My wife can't so she packs a nail clipper.
Padlock and binoculars? I have never needed either. Unless you are a dedicated birdwatcher, you won't use the binoculars very much.
So have fun choosing your gear. Make sure it works for you and your girl friend should do the same. I've found what works well for me doesn't always work for my wife. We share the common items we need and each one packs their own personal items needed for comfort on the trail.
Try to not carry anything that only has one use. It's easier said than done but I try to do that.
You're off to a good start.

Have you been a good enough boy for Santa to bring you all this stuff? :D

Santa should hopefully bring me the tent, boots and backpack and maybe a few smaller bits and bobs. Failing that I'll get my Mum, Dad, Sis, Bro and Girlfriend to get them :D

Was planning a start date of 20th Feb 2004. This may stretch to March 5th but will be no later.

Tea? Because I'm British I guess :rolleyes: Hate the stuff...cocoa all the way.

Lexan Spoon...sounds good I'll check it out. I'll get one Large Pot for both of us.

1 person tent? There will be two of us...we're a couple so we're close but I fart a lot so she'll need her space :D Will keep us warm I guess.

No boxers? Go commando? Suppose some tight fit Long-Johns do the same job. Good idea. I'm taking the Spray Way Shirt...prob wont buy one of the other ones instead.

Binoculars and Padlock...I'll drop those. I'll dump post-it-notes...can tear out diary pages instead. Forget the soap also...water will do for washing and I can have proper washes in trail towns.

LED Headlamps last ages...I'll get one of those. Swiss Army knife I have doesn't have scissors. I'll maybe get a new one.

I hope it all fits in the pack. I get to pre-order all the kit and then get a discount on it (my girlfriend works in an outfitters) so I will be able to test it. I'll stick extra in to represent the food space too.

Thanks for the replies so far guys
Matt

hi matt! (got my visa interview set for friday 14th! whooo!)

things i'd ditch
- boxer shorts
- two of the shirts. you have a base layer then list shirt, tshirt, ls-tshirt. pick one besides the base layer. ditch other two.

stuff sacks, heavier than garbage bags...

ditch sun/bug lotion. winter (march start), most bugs wont be around, if you hit blackfly season or whatever, i'd pick some up then. also the AT is the 'green corridor', you probably wont need sunscreen.

id also ditch
compass,
tooth care,
shovel,
sewing kit,
nail clippers (teeth, or knife on pocketknife),
post it notes,
padlock (?),
binoculars,
maps,
watch.

have you got your visa sorted now?

I like the Post-It-Note idea, I'm going to start carrying them to put on the mice. I'd lose the watch though, your rat race is over.

hehe nice BlueJay.

Hey Mad Aussie,

Haven't started on it yet but I'm going to apply online. Tonight is one of my 'AT nights' when I stay in and plan and prepare etc so I might apply for it tonight. It's pretty straightforward so shouldn't take long.

PM me and let me know how your planning's going.
Matt

You don't necessarily have to go commando. Many sport shorts have a mesh brief in them. That's what I use.

The lightweight, ventilated clogs that Uncle Wayne refers to (11 oz. for a men's size 10) can be found at http://www.allheart.com/comfortclogs1.html where you can get two pair (his & hers) for only US$21. I wore them on my recent section hike and absolutely loved them for wearing around camp. I even wore them while tromping through the underbrush to collect wood for a campfire. My only gripe is that they don't compress much, so they take up a lot of room inside the pack.

with drawn

I've used down bags for years on 1-4 week hikes without problems, camping at shelters, with frequent rain. That said, I'm very attracted to the DWR (durable water repellency) treatments that you can on sleeping bag shells. It's amazing at how wet everything can get in a shelter when the fog rolls in or if you get water spray under a tarp or hammock. I would think that the DWR treatment would preclude these types of problems and would be worth the extra few ounces.

As an ultralite bag, I do not believe that the Helium offers a DWR shell.

Originally posted by alpine
The army also thought long term it would also save money because the life of synthetic materials expectency was one third to half longer if stored properly. They belive the down bag used 200 nights of the year has a one year life with out significant loss of rating. The synthetic bags get two years. Remember that is washing it often and storing it properly when not in use.

Alpine,

Looks like you are an expert on most of the sleeping bag issues. I was totally surprised that synthetic bags held up better, I thought it was the other way around and by a significant margin. You reckon it could be related to the washing method or the quality of the down? One thing I have noticed is that the DWR (durable water repellent) finish on my newer down bags is much better than the DWR finish on my older down bag-- enough so that I don't 'freak out' as much when I am getting a lot of condensation. I bought a DWR spray and applied it to my older down back but it still didn't resist water like the newer material. As I set here thinking about it, I noticed the same thing with one of my jackets: the DWR on a friend of mines that was a year newer made me think that I didn't have a DWR finish on my jacket and I sprayed the same DWR on it but didn't see water bead up like on my friends newer jacket. Maybe I need a better DWR spray?

Appreciate your insights and like you, I suspect they will generate a lot of comments with this group... some people get very passionate about their gear choices.

Youngblood

I know this is a serious discussion, but if you are considering the Helium bag, you might want to take a break and check out this link.

http://www.massmoca.org/visual_arts/images/fantastic/quantum_physics_big.jpg

BTW, The photo was taken in North Adams, MA (A trail town just north of Mt Greylock).

Originally posted by Kerosene
The lightweight, ventilated clogs that Uncle Wayne refers to (11 oz. for a men's size 10) can be found at http://www.allheart.com/comfortclogs1.html where you can get two pair (his & hers) for only US$21. I wore them on my recent section hike and absolutely loved them for wearing around camp. I even wore them while tromping through the underbrush to collect wood for a campfire. My only gripe is that they don't compress much, so they take up a lot of room inside the pack.
Thanks Kerosene for posting the link. One of the best purchases I've made recently. First trail test comes this weekend.

Originally posted by Uncle Wayne
Thanks Kerosene for posting the link. One of the best purchases I've made recently. First trail test comes this weekend.

Boy those sure look like Waldies. I've seen them in person at Walasi-Yi and considered them, but have a pair of slip-on water shoes which don't weigh significantly more so didn't have much motivation to buy anything else.

BackpackingDeals.com (http://www.backpackingdeals.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=W&Category_Code=WS)

I have this pack and judging from your rough gear list, I believe that you should be able to fit your stuff. I really enjoy mine and have had no problems with it. I use it for 3 seasons (solo) and typically take it out on weekends. I have not had any problem holding 4 days worth of supplies. Depending on your shelter, splitting gear with your partner should allow you to hold up to 4-5 days worth of food.

Suggest Frogg Toggs also, have them slightly fragile, but really only needed when stopped for the evening.

Keep the soap, personal hygeine prevents illness.
Binoculars, way heavy, but REI has a 3 oz. monocular.

Biggest problem may be bag liner. I have a fleece one to supplement in winter. This and the insulated parka are the items that force me to take my monster pack.

You have one too many shirts(tot 4). May be necessary early on, but not later. You'd be better off with a fleece vest and drop one of the long sleeves. Arms can do with one less covering than the core in my opinion.

Best of luck

use hand sanitizer instead of soap - multiuse item also useful as firestarter

Agreed on hand sanitizer -- and a little goes a long way.

Just be very careful not to try lighting your stove too soon after using the stuff.
:eek:

Matt I have that pack in a medium good luck getting all those goodies in it I leave for my trip from Erwin to Damascus tommorow.

Tonight I played around to see how I wanted it all packed and what felt comportable, All I can say is tight!!

I think there's an Aether 75 also on the market...guess I'll have to get that instead if not all my stuff fits. My tent is 1.9Kg Zoid 2.0 so that's about 4 pounds split two ways. Sleeping bag is approx 2 pounds and compacts to the size of a loaf of bread (they say).

With regards to the shirts (and some of the other stuff on my list towards the bottom) it was mainly ideas...didn't even realise I'd put 4 shirts...was going to choose between them but forgot to put it like that. There's no way I'm taking 4 shirts :p

I've had PM's as well as the replies on here...thanks very much to all. I'm gonna chuck half my ideas (spade, padlock, Post It Notes!!! etc) away so I think I should be able to get the weight down.

I'll let you all know how much everything weighs in a month or two after I've bought the lot. Gonna buy it all at once most likely...so much money! It'll be worth it though.

Take Care
Matt

Hi Matt,

I was thinking about my post to you as I was loading my pack (the large aether 60) last night for a three night trip this weekend. I was able to get everthing on the inside except my thermarest (ultralight long), which went on top. If you have a small sleeping bag as mentioned, you should be close to fitting things in. The newer Aether 60's have both the top loops available and the bottom loops to, if you don't mind hanging stuff. I also keep a small hip pouch on the hip belt, its nice for snacks, hat and gloves, bandanas, small camera. I also picked up the small daypack accessory for this pack, the solo one (I got for 35% off). It weighs about 1/2 pound. I hardly ever use it but it does extend my pack about one extra month weather wise. It would make for a nice addition if you have any plans to do side trips. Best of luck.

Thanks Alligator.

Is that the Osprey Solo like the one that comes with the Crescent 90? It's about 10 or 15 litres or something similar??

Didn't know you could fit that on the Aether but if you can...great news! My girlfriend and I can get a decent discount as she works in an outdoor store. With her discount I probably get things for about the price they cost in America anyway :D Britain is such a rip-off.

Thanks again
Matt

The 60-90 Aether packs accept their "Excessories".
Osprey (http://www.ospreypacks.com)
The Solo is 8 liters and .22kg, there is another that is slightly larger, but weighs twice as much. The Solo will slightly blocks the outside back pocket. I put my hydration bladder in that pocket and my rain cover, so its not a problem. I liked my Aether 60 so much that I bought one for my nephew who graduate high school. Keep an eye on Sierra Trading Post (http://www.sierratradingpost.com) , sometimes the packs go on clearance there, often at the beginning of the year. Got my nephew's pack for around $130.00 there.