Gear

The beginnings of a list of my backpacking/camping gear.  Will eventually expand to include specs and commentary.  I have no material connection with any of these companies.

Shelter

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1.  A very roomy 1 person free-standing tent.  Relatively light at about 39 oz.
• Tarptent Notch. A very light (27 oz) and compact 1-person tent.
• Marmot Fortress 2.  A great tent for car-camping.

Sleeping

• ZPacks – 10 degree quilt/bag
• Western Mountaineering – Caribou MF bag (35 degree).  A few ounces lighter than the ZPacks.  I use it when temps are warm enough.
• Cocoon silk bag liner.  Keeps much of the body oils and dirt off the bag.
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir (small).  Light and comfortable.  This is used for most backpacking trips, with the emptied backpack under my lower legs.
• Exped Downmat Winterlight mattress.  Used for cold weather (<25F) backpacking trips.
• Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Insulated mattress.
• Mountain Hardwear – Switch 20 sleeping bag.  Used only for car camping now.
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir (large).  Used only for car camping now.
• Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOlite.  Formerly used under the large NeoAir for very cold backpacking trips.  Now used only for car camping.

Backpacks

• GoLite Jam 70.  My size large pack weighs 1.033 Kg.  This is my main pack.
• Osprey Aether 85.  Not as heavy as you might expect (5 lbs).  Used only for Rocky Mountain trips now, where I must carry a bear canister.
• Kelty Redwing 3100 (51L).  My first pack.  Used for day hiking and trail work.  I’ll probably never get my stuff shrunk down enough to use this for backpacking.

Cooking

• Super Cat alcohol stove.  The main stove.  Small, light, easy, but don’t spill it!
• Jetboil Flash.  Used mostly for car camping now.
• GSI Minimalist cook set.

Water treatment

• SteriPen Journey.  The primary defense.
• Katadyn MicroPur MP1 tablets.  Secondary defense.
• MSR MiniWorks filter.  No longer used – too heavy and bulky.  I suppose I might still take it if I knew I would be in an area with rather silty or gross-looking water.

Miscellaneous

• ACR ResQLink PLB
• BearVault 500 food canister.  Doubles as a camp seat.  Screw the lid down all the way before sitting on it or you’ll jam the threads!
• BearVault 450 food canister.  A mistake.  66% of the capacity but still 88% of the weight of the BV500.
• Therm-A-Rest Z Seat.  Great to sit on in camp, or while taking a break on the trail.
• Motorola MR350 2-way FRS/GPRS radio (with NOAA weather channels).
• Spovan Elementum II Altimeter/Barometer/Compass/Timer.  Hangs from a belt loop rather than worn on the wrist.
• Garmin eTrex 20 GPS receiver.

Updated Aug 2019

All products were purchased with my own money.  I have no material connection with any companies, products or services mentioned in this post.