I’ve got a ton of gear, but here’s the stuff I love and currently use the most:

Backpack: An old REI Flash 65 pack that hasn’t been made since 2011. It’s got a lot of miles on it, so I might be upgrading soon to another lightweight pack. Probably an Osprey Exos 58, but I’m open to suggestions.

Sleeping Bag: Also an old REI bag from 2010. I find that a 20° down bag is the most versatile, and that a Cocoon silk liner pairs well with it to keep me comfortable well into the low 20’s. The liner also doubles as my primary sleeping bag in the summer.

Sleeping Pad: An old REI Flash inflatable sleeping pad from 2012. I also use my foam pad from time to time, but only if I know that I’ll be sleeping on grassy surfaces or fallen leaves. I use the inflatable pad on hard or rocky surfaces for more cushion, or just to be safe if I’m not sure what my sleeping situation will be, which is often the case. I use a hand pump made by Exped that works with my REI pad to minimize moisture problems, and the pump doubles as a pillow when I stuff it into a sweatshirt.

Tent or Hammock:  Tents are more useful in high alpine environments where trees are sparse, scraggly, or completely absent. They’re also better for camping with other people. I have the Big Agnes Jackrabbit SL3. I absolutely love this tent, but it’s no longer for sale. Big Agnes still sells the Copper Spur UL3, an almost-identical tent but in an ultralight form, albeit at a higher price. I’ve set up and slept in a number of Big Agnes tents and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

I’ve had three people in my tent and it’s definitely snug. Typically it’s only me and one other person in the tent, which allows us to bring our packs inside and have plenty of room for our shoes in the vestibules.

I also have a hammock and fly setup for solo adventures or other odd sleeping situations. The hammock is also fun to bring along on picnics and car camping trips as a place to relax. The hammock linked above is large enough for two.

Shoes: Most commonly I use my Altra trail runners. If I’m going somewhere a little wetter, colder, or super uneven I may wear my Salomon backpacking boots. The boots continue to serve me well, but I more frequently opt for the lighter weight trail runners. I wear my Vibram FiveFingers when I go somewhere that is primarily flat, grassy, or sandy, and only if I’m traveling light. They’re extremely comfortable both as trail shoes and as camp shoes, and it doesn’t matter if they get wet, unlike shoes and socks. I get a lot of use out of them off of the trail as well.

Water Treatment: I love my Platypus gravity filter. At almost 12oz, it’s not the lightest water treatment method available, but the option of carrying up to 8 liters of additional water has been extremely reassuring during some late-season rocky mountain trips. Care for it as instructed and it should work well on the trail. You can also shorten some tubing if cutting every last ounce is your goal.

Trekking Poles: I only use my Black Diamond trekking poles when I do hiking with large changes in elevation, or when I anticipate river crossings. I’ve used them in places like the Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop and on the Teton Crest Trail. I don’t often use them on Midwestern trips where I travel very light, but I suggest that you try them out locally to get used to using them before you take them on your first alpine trip. I prefer the set linked above for their flick-locks, which have never failed me, and cork handles, which dry quickly and are very comfortable.

Bear Canister: A must have (and often required) when traveling in bear country, I prefer the Backpacker’s Cache as the coin latch mechanism is extremely easy for humans to open, no matter the temperature. I love the see-through feature of the BearVault, but I’ve witnessed enough of my hiking buddies fumbling with the opening mechanism on cold mornings that I won’t be buying one myself unless there are some design improvements. (Pro tip: your bear canister also doubles as a camp chair.)

Stove: The MSR PocketRocket stove is hard to beat as far as price and weight are concerned, and it will work under most conditions that a three-season backpacker will face.

Rain Jacket: Rain jackets are important in the mountains or in the upper-Midwest where temperatures can drop quickly with a rainstorm, even in the summer. The Marmot PreCip rain jacket has held up well for me for years, despite hard usage. This is great for an entry-level jacket.

Odds & Ends:

Traditional  wide mouth Nalgene water bottle

Organizational stuff sacks – I prefer mesh for my snack bags

Compression dry sack – for your sleeping bag and spare dry clothes

Headlamp – it doesn’t need to be super-bright or fancy, but might be nice to have a good one in case you ever find yourself having to hike at night in an emergency.

Sea to Summit iPood Pocket Trowel – for digging your bathroom

Toilet Tissue

Bug spray – this stuff is natural, organic, smells great, and has worked well for me

First aid kit

 

So now if you see me on the trail you’ll be able to identify me by my gear. Feel free to email me with any questions or comments, and subscribe for future updates on destinations, gear, and other backpacking topics.