It’s a new year which means it’s time for another arbitrary reason to do some swapping and upgrading of my backpacking gear outfit.
I’ve been in New Zealand for nearly four months now (one more to go) and I’ve changed, added, or upgraded enough of my backpacking gear since my final Continental Divide Trail gear list to justify the publishing of my 2018 Gear List (v1.0).
This is sure to change throughout the year as I make my way to Nepal and then to Japan, but as it stands right now, here’s what’s in my backpack (as well as the name of that backpack).
THE BIG STUFF
- BACKPACK | Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest (Medium, Black)
- SHELTER | Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum (Review)
- SLEEPING BAG | Western Mountaineering Versalite (Review)
- SLEEPING PAD | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, Regular (Review)
CLOTHING (WORN)
- HEADWEAR | Trucker Hat
- SUNGLASSES | RayBan RB2140 Wayfarer (54 mm)
- TOP | Bluffworks Meridian Dress Shirt (Slim Fit, Large)
- SHORTS | Patagonia Strider Pro (5″ Inseam)
- GAITERS | Outdoor Research Sparkplug
- SOCKS | Darn Tough Uncle Buck Boot Cushion (Review)
- SHOES | Merrell Moab 2 WP Low
CLOTHING (PACKED)
- HEADWEAR | Icebreaker Flexi Chute Neck Gaiter
- RAIN JACKET | Montbell Torrent Flier (Review)
- DOWN JACKET | Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka (Review)
- RAIN PANTS | Montbell Versalite
- SOCKS | Darn Tough Hiker 1/4 Cushion (Review)
- BUG PROTECTION | Sea to Summit Head Net
CARRIED/ON BODY
- TREKKING POLES | Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
- FANNY PACK | Thru. Summit Bum
- FANNY PACK STRAP | Thru. Galaxy Comfy Strap
- PHONE | Pixel 2 XL (64GB, Black)
- HEADPHONES | Anker SoundBuds Curve
- CASE | Lifeproof Fre
THE KITCHEN
- STOVE | Jetboil Minimo
- UTENSIL | Snow Peak Titanium Spork
- FIRE | Mini Bic
- STORAGE | Assorted Ziplocs
THE OTHER STUFF
- HEADLAMP | Petzl Tikka XP
- WATER TREATMENT | Katadyn BeFree
- WATER BOTTLE | Hydrapak Seeker 2L Collapsible
- WATER BOTTLE | 1L Smart Water bottle
- KNIFE | Petzl Spatha Knife (Review)
- FOOD BAG | Ursack S29.3 AllWhite
- STAKES | Vargo Titanium x6
- STAKES | MSR Groundhog x2
- GROUNDSHEET | Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum Footprint
THE ELECTRONICS
- POWER | Anker PowerCore+ 20100 USB-C
- PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON | SPOT Gen3
- CABLE | USB-C
- CABLE | Micro USB
- CHARGER | Tronsmart USB Type C Wall Charger
THE CAMERA GEAR
- CAMERA | Sony Alpha a6500
- LENS | Sony Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS
- CAMERA | GoPro HERO6
- TRIPOD | Joby GorillaPod Action Tripod
- EXTRA BATTERIES | Wasabi Power Battery x2
- MEMORY | Sandisk MicroSDHC V30 32GB Extreme Pro
- MEMORY | SanDisk Extreme 16GB SDHC UHS-I Card x2
- ACCESSORY | Peak Design Capture Clip (Review)
- ACCESSORY | SANDMARC Pole (Compact Edition)
- COVER | Peak Design Shell (Review)
THE BATHROOM
- TROWEL | TheTentLab The Deuce of Spades 2
- TOILET PAPER | Make it soft
- TOOTHBRUSH | Travel size
- TOOTHPASTE | Travel size
- HAND SANITIZER | Travel size
- SUNSCREEN | Travel size
THE OFFICE
- CARDS | Credit/Debit
- RUBBER BANDS | Quite useful
- DUCT TAPE | Basically first aid
- NOTEBOOK | Write stuff down!
- PEN | Pilot G2 0.7
- DICE | 5 for Yahtzee!
DETAILED VIEW
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest
THE GOOD: Lightweight, waterproof, durable, comfortable, can accommodate extra gear like snowshoes and an ice axe
THE BAD: Hip belt pockets could be improved, tricky getting things in/out of side pockets with the pack on
34.04 oz (965 g) – $360 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Hyperlite Mountain Gear | Backcountry
Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum
THE GOOD: Easy to set up, tons of floor space, two vestibules, one of the lightest fully freestanding two-person tents available, great weather protection
THE BAD: It needs to be treated nicely (thin fabric), the $70 footprint is stupid expensive
37 oz (1.05 kg) – $599 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Western Mountaineering Versalite
THE GOOD: Warm, incredible zipper, lightweight, compressible
THE BAD: It’s expensive (but definitely worth it)
32 oz (907 g) – $575 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT ON: Backcountry | Amazon
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Regular)
THE GOOD: The warmest weight to warmth ratio of any pad in its weight class, available in three sizes, excellent customer service
THE BAD: Takes 15-20 breaths to blow up, one-way valve can be a pain when reaching max fill
12 oz (340g) – $170 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Bluffworks Meridian Dress Shirt
THE GOOD: Look good on and off the trail, keeps me warm in cooler weather and warm in cooler weather, anti-microbial, wrinkle-free, chest pocket
THE BAD: Starts to stink after three or four days of sweaty and continued use (rinse to solve this)
$125 US
FIND IT AT: Bluffworks
THE GOOD: Four stretchy pockets (big enough for my Pixel 2 XL with a case), one zippered pocket in the back, built-in liner
THE BAD: You’ll have to use more sunscreen to cover up those sexy legs
$65 US
FIND THEM AT: Patagonia | REI | Backcountry
Outdoor Research Sparkplug Gaiters
THE GOOD: Keep rocks/sand/spiders/etc. out of your shoes (also when fording rivers), keep socks/feet cleaner, excellent customer service (OR will replace them)
THE BAD: Lightweight material is prone to holes
1.2 oz (34 g) – $20 US
FIND THEM AT: Outdoor Research
THE GOOD: Comfortable, merino, cushioned underfoot, lifetime guarantee means you can have them replaced
THE BAD: Nothing
2.2 oz (62 g) – $20 US – Detailed Review
FIND THEM AT: Darn Tough | REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Come in wide sizes, durable, comfortable, insoles actually offer support
THE BAD: I’m still not blister-proof
13 oz (369 g) – $120 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Icebreaker Flexi Chute Neck Gaiter
THE GOOD: Warm, wool, striped, stretchy, lightweight, versatile
THE BAD: I only just now discovered this
3 oz (85 g) – $25 US
FIND IT AT: Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: 2.5-layer Gore-Tex, chest pocket, pit zips, draw cord in hem and hood, weather-resistant zippers
THE BAD: Breathes about as well as you would expect a rain jacket to
8.6 oz (243 g) – $269 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Montbell
Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka
THE GOOD: Warm (3.4 oz / 96 g of 1000 fill power down), DWR treatment, elastic cuffs, hem and hood adjustments, lightweight
THE BAD: Expensive, long and annoying name
8.4 oz (237 g) – $439 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Montbell
THE GOOD: Incredibly lightweight, elastic waist, pack down small
THE BAD: No ankle zippers
3.6 oz (103 g) – $99 US
FIND THEM AT: Montbell
THE GOOD: Does not obscure vision as badly as some other head nets I’ve used, drawstring adjustment around the neck
THE BAD: Mosquitoes can bite through this if it’s against your skin, you look like a dummy wearing a head net
0.8 oz (23 g) – $10 US
THE GOOD: Simmer control, boils water incredibly quickly, stove and (small) gas can conveniently pack into the pot
THE BAD: It’s not technically necessary, the plastic cup on the bottom will break
14 oz (400 g) – $135 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: It’s a titanium spork – like a spoon AND a fork, lightweight
THE BAD: You’ll probably lose it, the spoon is a little shallow for eating soup efficiently
0.3 oz (8.5 g) – $10 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
THE GOOD: Excellent locking mechanism, comfortable grips (love cork)
THE BAD: Not super compact (but still smaller than other poles I’ve used)
17 oz (482 g) – $170 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: An awesome amount of space for such a lightweight fanny pack, one exterior pocket large enough for a large cell phone, two interior pockets, water-resistant, huge sex appeal
THE BAD: I wish there was a way to affix the waist strap to the pack (I guess I could use a safety pin)
2.5 oz (71 g) – $39 US
FIND IT AT: Thru.
THE GOOD: Bright, great battery life, red light, three brightness levels
THE BAD: Not the smallest option available
4.2 oz (119 g) – $50 US
THE GOOD: When new it filters water like a champ, lightweight
THE BAD: Clogs up over time and is difficult to clean, can only be used with HydraPak bottles
2.3 oz (65 g) – $45
THE GOOD: Lightweight, sharp (excellent at cutting cheese)
THE BAD: Doesn’t lock closed, cheese gets stuck in the hole in the back of the knife, you really don’t need a knife
1.4 oz (40 g) – $40 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Ursack S29.3 AllWhite Bear Bag
THE GOOD: Bearproof food protection, compact
THE BAD: Heavy for a food bag (but lightweight for bear protection), gets incredibly dirty (why is it white!?)
7.7 oz (218 g) – $79 US
FIND IT AT: REI
THE GOOD: Excellent camera, quick charge via USB-C, water-resistant, awesome fingerprint reader
THE BAD: No expandable storage, no headphone jack
6.17 oz (175 g) – $850 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Excellent camera, quick charge via USB-C, water-resistant, awesome fingerprint reader
THE BAD: Some people report not being able to hear me well when talking with the handset, expensive for a case
1.3 oz (35 g) – $90 US
THE GOOD: Has USB-C, can quickly charge itself and other devices, durable, two USB outputs, large capacity
THE BAD: Heavy
16 oz (454 g) – $69 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Can be used to send Check-in Messages (includes GPS coordinates), can send custom messages (must be programmed from a computer with internet), can track your location at fixed intervals, can be used to call for help in an emergency
THE BAD: Send rate for Check-in Messages don’t have a 100% success rate being sent, customer service is garbage
4.2 oz ( g) – $150 US
FIND IT AT: REI
THE GOOD: Great sound quality, comfortable, no wires to get in the way of your straps
THE BAD: Have to be recharged, can block out nearly all ambient noise, get tangled with my eyewear retainer (fancy, huh?)
0.6 oz (17 g) – $99 US
FIND THEM ON: Amazon
Tronsmart USB Type C Wall Charger
THE GOOD: Two USB inputs (one USB-A and one USB-C), folding plug, quick charge compatible
THE BAD: A little bulky
2.4 oz (68 g) – $15 US
THE GOOD: Awesome camera, lightweight (for the quality of its images and range of featured), compact (fits in my jacket pocket), in-body stabilization, 4K movie recording
THE BAD: Expensive, limited lens selection
14.25 oz (404 g) – $1400 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS
THE GOOD: Love the focal length range for travel and hiking, takes beautiful photos, lightweight compared to other options available (but still no pancake lens)
THE BAD: Not full-frame compatible (if I ever have the money and desire to upgrade), sometimes get some vignetting at wider focal lengths, not the best performer in low light
10.9 oz (308 g) – $999 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Takes fantastic photos, the video stabilization is great, touchscreen works well, USB-C
THE BAD: The battery could always be bigger (buy a spare if you’re going to be filming a lot)
4.13 oz (117 g) – $400 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Makes camera accessible, easy to secure and remove camera, can lock camera in place, can be placed on any strap
THE BAD: Can sometimes be fickle when putting camera back in
3 oz (84 g) – $70 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Peak Design
THE GOOD: Keeps camera protected in the rain when using the Capture Clip
THE BAD: I always take it off to shoot photos since it makes adjusting the zoom/focus rings tricky
2.4 oz (68 g) – $40 US
FIND IT AT: Peak Design | REI | Amazon
SANDMARC Pole (Compact Edition)
THE GOOD: Adjustable to a number of lengths, compatible with other GoPro accessories, easy to mount and dismount camera from pole
THE BAD: Heavy, even though it’s the “compact edition” it could be more compact, it’s basically a selfie stick
7 oz (198 g) – $30 US
FIND IT AT: SANDMARC
FINAL THOUGHTS
My next stop is Nepal and I already know that I will be updating this list for that trip (aka adding gloves, base layers, pants, and another jacket).
This year I will probably be trying out my first non-freestanding shelter and my first bivy as well. It’s taken a long time for me to reach this point, but I’m excited for what will (hopefully) be a good switch.
If you have any comments or questions about the gear list, then be sure to leave a comment or get in touch!
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