Female Summer Start

[Dhorochokaro]

Hello again WB's~
For the past year or so, many of you have come to my rescue with your thoughts concerning my gear list, thru-hike logistics, etc. Last night I was informed that my girlfriend might be interested in hiking a portion of the trail with me next year when I attempt my thru. I am overwhelmed with excitement, but that has also left me to do most of the work creating a potential list of gear. Let me preface this by saying that she is only 5'6" tall and maybe 110lbs soaking wet. She works out everyday, so her fitness level doesn't concern me. She will probably join up with me in PA and if all goes well finish at Katahdin. I created this thread so that I could post a gear list and pick the brains of those who know far more than me if it will be sufficient. I want to minimize costs of gear if she decides not to hike all the way to Katahdin, but it should be adequate enough if instead she decides to do it. I understand this is a bit circumstantial. I am planning to use the Sweetie Pie Summer Doubler (which I will carry afixed to my WM Summerlite, so theoretically we can discount this weight). I will also be carrying the HS TT Squall. As my main concern is her being comfortable, I want to make sure there is the appropriate clothing for her to be warm. In addition, it seems that her gear won't take up an incredible amount of space so I would be curious to hear your suggestions about packs. (Understanding that it has to fit and be comfortable for HER, but maybe some ideas on what to consider) My thoughts are bit jumbled at the moment, but I have tried to get everything down. I thank those for donating the time to read this. As always, all suggestions are welcome.

Dominica's Pack List Height: 5' 5 Weight: 115 lbs.
In-Pack 8.84lbs
Wear 2.08lbs
Consume 12.92lbs
Total In-Pack 21.76lbs
PACK - SHELTER - SLEEPING
backpack Granite Gear Virga
19.0
waterproof pack cover Trash Compactor Bag
1.0
sleeping pad Gossamer Gear Nightlight
8.0
sleeping bag Functional Design Summer Doubler
12.0

CLOTHING
base / wicking layer top Marmot Womens Zip Top
5.0
base / wicking layer top GoLite Womens C-Thru Lite-Weight S/S
4.0
base / wicking layer top Nike Drifit Sports Bra
3.0
base / wicking layer bottom Mtn. Hardware Hyperdry Tight
6.0
base / wicking layer bottom Under Armour Compression Shorts
5.0
insulating top Campmor 200 wt. Fleece
12.0
raingear (hard shell) top Sierra Designs Hurricane Parka
12.0
raingear (hard shell) bottoms Sierra Designs Hurricane Pants
7.0
insulating gloves Smartwool Glove Liners
1.5
warm hat Montbell Fleece Beenie
0.9
socks Smartwool Adrenaline
2.0
spare socks Smartwool Adrenaline
2.0
spare socks Smartwool Adrenaline
2.0
shoes Trail Runners
15.0
camp shoes Crocs/Flip Flops
9.0
clothing stuff sack S-S Ultra Sil 8L
1.1

COOKING - WATER
stove Antigravity Gear Pepsi Can
0.4
primer pan Antigravity Gear
0.1
windscreen Homemade - Aluminum Foil
1.0
fuel bottle REI 8 oz. HDPE
1.0
matches / lighter Mini BIC (2)
1.0
cook pot Evernew Ultralight Ti 0.9L
4.9
cook pot lid Included
0.0
utensil Lexan Spoon
0.4
water storage Camelbak Omega 2.1L Reservoir
6.8
water storage Platypus Sport Bottle 17 oz.
0.7
water treatment Aquamira
3.0
towel MSR PackTowl Small (2)
1.4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
flashlight / headlamp Petzyl Tikka Plus w/ 3 lithium AAAs
2.4
bug dope Small bottle DEET
2.0
lip balm Dermatone chap stick
1.0
toothbrush Children's Toothbrush
1.0
toothpaste/soap Crest Travel Size
0.85
alcohol hand gel 2 ounce bottle
2.0
toilet paper 1/2 Roll
4.0
Wet wipes
first aid Adventure Medical Kit
3.5
whistle Fox 40 whistle
1.0
repair (tools, batteries, etc.)
3.5
sewing kit Eagle Creek Travel Sewing Kit
1.5
cell phone Motorola Razr
3.4
storage bags (for small items) Zip Locs (4x)
0.5

CONSUMABLES
food 1.5 lbs per day (5 days max)
120.0
water 2.27 liters max
76.7
fuel 1 oz per meal (2 meals per day)
10.0

Thank you,
David

[Litefoot]

Looks like a well thought out list to me, and it looks good although I'm not personally familiar with some of the gear. I have a Granite Gear pack and love it.

I do have one small bit of advice for you though. You said, "when I attempt my thru." I think one of the reasons that I was able to successfully complete my thru-hike was that I never considered the possibility that I wouldn't make it. I was going to Katahdin and that was the only option. This created a powerful focus.

"Do or do not. There is no try." :D
- Yoda

Good luck.

[SGT Rock]

I ain't a woman, but I will try to help out.


Dominica's Pack List Height: 5' 5 Weight: 115 lbs.
In-Pack 8.84lbs
Wear 2.08lbs
Consume 12.92lbs
Total In-Pack 21.76lbs

I assume your girlfriend is lower than average body fat for a woman, so her lean body mass is probably around 92 pounds. This means a good target FSO weight is 23 pounds, looks like you are about right on the money.



PACK - SHELTER - SLEEPING
backpack Granite Gear Virga
19.0
waterproof pack cover Trash Compactor Bag
1.0
sleeping pad Gossamer Gear Nightlight
8.0
sleeping bag Functional Design Summer Doubler
12.0

CLOTHING
base / wicking layer top Marmot Womens Zip Top
5.0
base / wicking layer top GoLite Womens C-Thru Lite-Weight S/S
4.0
base / wicking layer top Nike Drifit Sports Bra
3.0
base / wicking layer bottom Mtn. Hardware Hyperdry Tight
6.0
base / wicking layer bottom Under Armour Compression Shorts
5.0
insulating top Campmor 200 wt. Fleece
12.0
raingear (hard shell) top Sierra Designs Hurricane Parka
12.0
raingear (hard shell) bottoms Sierra Designs Hurricane Pants
7.0
insulating gloves Smartwool Glove Liners
1.5
warm hat Montbell Fleece Beenie
0.9
socks Smartwool Adrenaline
2.0
spare socks Smartwool Adrenaline
2.0
spare socks Smartwool Adrenaline
2.0
shoes Trail Runners
15.0
camp shoes Crocs/Flip Flops
9.0
clothing stuff sack S-S Ultra Sil 8L
1.1

15 ounces for a pair of shoes! Wow, she must have some small feet! I also guess you are sharing shelter.




COOKING - WATER
stove Antigravity Gear Pepsi Can
0.4
primer pan Antigravity Gear
0.1
windscreen Homemade - Aluminum Foil
1.0
fuel bottle REI 8 oz. HDPE
1.0
matches / lighter Mini BIC (2)
1.0
cook pot Evernew Ultralight Ti 0.9L
4.9
cook pot lid Included
0.0
utensil Lexan Spoon
0.4
water storage Camelbak Omega 2.1L Reservoir
6.8
water storage Platypus Sport Bottle 17 oz.
0.7
water treatment Aquamira
3.0
towel MSR PackTowl Small (2)
1.4

My only real comment so far is that Camel Bak. I carry a simple 3L bladder from Platypus and it only weighs 1.5 ounces. You could switch that out and she could drink from a bottle instead of using the hose and save you about 1/4 pound.



MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
flashlight / headlamp Petzyl Tikka Plus w/ 3 lithium AAAs
2.4
bug dope Small bottle DEET
2.0
lip balm Dermatone chap stick
1.0
toothbrush Children's Toothbrush
1.0
toothpaste/soap Crest Travel Size
0.85
alcohol hand gel 2 ounce bottle
2.0
toilet paper 1/2 Roll
4.0
Wet wipes
first aid Adventure Medical Kit
3.5
whistle Fox 40 whistle
1.0
repair (tools, batteries, etc.)
3.5
sewing kit Eagle Creek Travel Sewing Kit
1.5
cell phone Motorola Razr
3.4
storage bags (for small items) Zip Locs (4x)
0.5

Some thoughts here:
2 ounces of Deet and hand cleaner is probably more than she will need. Get some one ounce bottles and repackage that stuff. Same thing for the chap stick - cut it down and put it in some smaller container. I have a thing of lip balm from BPL that weighs like 0.1 ounces. I also thing whistles are over rated after doing some search and rescue. Banging metal on metal works better and you already have a pot, BTW I have an Evernew pot and it doesn't weigh that much - does your weight include the bag or something? You can loose the bag. A half roll of toilet paper and wet wipes seem excessive, but then again I ain't a girl. An as for a sewing kit. Take out a couple of safety pins, some sewing needles, and put them in some cardboard and then take the roll out of a package of floss. That is all the sewing kit you need. I would also lose the cell phone, but that is me - seems like if you are both together, then there is no one important left to call.




CONSUMABLES
food 1.5 lbs per day (5 days max)
120.0
water 2.27 liters max
76.7
fuel 1 oz per meal (2 meals per day)
10.0

Thank you,
David
I don't know what section you are hitting, but seems on for the stuff you are doing, and she can probably get by on 1.5 pounds of food a day for 5 days. I don't know if she really needs to carry 2.27 liters of water ever, but it is possible I guess.

Some things I didn't see that you may or may not have considered: Journal, maps, guidebook, camera. I imagine you are sharing some of this stuff since you are hiking together.