TRUE’S BACKPACKING GEAR LIST

This is my personal list of backpacking essentials, yours will vary; this is subjective.

This is NOT the end-all list for every situation.

Please take care in your personal planning to consider your/groups special needs, location including altitude, season, micro climates, weather patterns, level of skill and fitness, general health, allergies, along with age, medications and dietary needs.

NO ONE can predict or plan for every emergency, situation or circumstance or the additional gear that may be needed. extreme care should be taken in your personal and group choices for your trip.

BEFORE you leave

Test and try out everything-equipment, clothes, gear, stove, water purifier, get that tent up in the rain, in the dark, know how it works, NO guess work, take a weekend trip to try out a new piece of gear. your 1st day on a 6 month trip is the wrong time to figure out it does not work.
TRY OUT your clothes…for goodness sake. Do they work when it is wet? how quickly do they dry? how heavy are they wet? can you wring them out? shirts and pants do they work with your pack? do they bunch up? rub? is there a bad seam when your pack is on? what about your socks? hiking shoes/boots? your feet will swell. get professional advice from your outfitter for fitting shoes/boots. check out helpful backpacking web pages. lightweight gear is the most comfortable to hike with, BUT does it suit your personal needs, and will it keep you safe? read trail journals, check out the gear of people heading to the same trail.
MAKE A LIST and check it twice. you would not believe the stupid things i have forgotten. Make every item in your pack a thoughtful choice.

TRUE’S BACKPACKING GEAR LIST

PACK- ULA Catalist- I LOVE this backpack, it carries my heavy, me and the dog load. It has hip belt pockets and outside pockets to carry water and my tent poles. When picking a backpack-keep it as light as possible with the amount of suspension you need for your load. Get professional help in sizing. I recommend doing research on which packs are most loved by thru-hikers with similar needs as yours. YOU WILL LIVE WITH THIS ON YOUR BACK.
TENT-MSR HUBBA HUBBA-I like a tent and fly. You can set up the fly without the tent. You have to love getting out of a down pour for a break. It is freestanding and tall enough to sit up in. One drawback I found on really cold windy nights, there can be a spray of condensation. I’ve used the Six Moon design Luna Duo, and liked its roominess-not freestanding, uses trekking poles. I guess it would have the same condensation issues. Tarps are light and people love them. I am too weinie to sleep with ants, bugs, spiders, and snakes.
SLEEPING BAG- LL Bean 15 degree down or 0 degree-know thyself, I sleep cold. you can’t beat down for weight to warm. The big problem is keeping it dry after days and days of rain. I keep my sleeping bag stuffed in a plastic garbage lined sil nylon stuff sack. If the sun pops out so does my bag. When the dog and I are wet, we wait to be a little drier before the bag comes out of the stuff sack.
SLEEPING PAD-THEMAREST Ridgerest 3/4 inch full length and a 1/2 an old pad for the dog-the ground is cold and hard. A pad weighs little compared to the guilt of kicking your dog off your pad onto the cold ground. Foam pads are inexpensive, do not punture, I feel they are warmer and lighter than inflatables and helpful over barbed wire.
HYDRATION SYSTEM= purifier-aqua mira, filter, bleach……I’ve used everything and nothing. I have not found the best thing ever YET.
WATER BOTTLES- One that can withstand heat, like a nalgene, aluminum, whatever just in case of severe cold you can fill it with hot water for warmth. Soda bottles the number depends on how long your water carries will be. And a water bag, 6 liters to carry water at camp.

MESS KIT

CUP-LEXAN with a shock cord tied to my pack-light weight, cheap, heat resistant, to scoop water.
SPOON-whatever, keep it light. bright colored is best
KNIFE-i’m not going to tell you what mine is, because it has sentimental value and weighs a ridiculous amount.
STOVE-MSR Pocketrocket- this is a canister stove. you can find the canisters in MOST places not everywhere. a stove is optional especially in really hot areas. I’ve used an alcohol stove, but takes longer and it is pretty tipsy. I was so afraid of starting a wild fire in the windy desert, i couldn’t use it.
POT AND LID-MSR titanium-its low weight.
LIGHTER AND WATERPROOF MATCHES-small bic lighter put matches and lighter in seperate ziplocks
DOG BOWLS-just 2 Gladware round food storage containers. I keep 1 for water only.

PERSONAL

TROWEL-plastic bright orange-you dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep without one
Toilet paper-I always carry extra. Someday that will pay off.
WET WIPES- unscented, for waterfree washing.
BIODEGRADABLE SOAP-2 ounces of Dr. Bronners. For washing well away from the water source. the bottle goes in a small ziplock.
LIP BALM/MOISTURIZER-Burts Bees
TOOTHBRUSH, AND PASTE/POWDER AND FLOSS
SUNGLASSES

GADGETS/Misc

FIRST AID KIT
ROPE
HEADLAMP-petzel
WATCH-SUUNTA vecter- it has an altimeter and alarms, besides it is made in Finland.
CELL PHONE-with plug- it should always be off. Respect the experience of those around you.
WHISTLE-light weight on you pack, easy to reach.
DUCT TAPE
WALKING STICK-I carry one LEKI, two are too hard with the dog.
DOG LEASH- just a regular ribbing lease carabinered to my backpack.
PERMITS, GUIDES, MAPS, DATA BOOK, in 2 separate ziplocks. 1 out and easy to get to with that days maps and information. the rest put away.
COMPASS, or GPS- I use a map and compass. my hiking partner in Montana had a GPS,yeah, it was very helpful at times.

CLOTHING- I’ve heard this described as a system. that is exactly how to think of your clothing.

UNDERWEAR- sports bra and panties- 1 bra and panties on. 2 extra panties
TOPS-this what you hike in everyday, usually a longsleeve patagonia light weight capeline, if it is buggy or in the desert, I wear a longsleeve button down uv shirt.
PANTS-running tights-hind, nike, sugoi, as long as they are summer weight and quick drying. a little skirt over them (to cover the butt) sugoi moblie pant-they weigh little and pack small.
JACKET-my favorite is an Ibex softshell, it has a wool blend lining. a little more weight than I’d like but it is so great to hike in on a cold rainy day(under my rain jacket) patagonia full zip down sweater or marmot dryclime. when the conitions will be cold and rainy I carry 2 jackets. so one will be dry.
LONG UNDERWEAR-top and bottom- chili’s, they are like a poliprolene. this is what I sleep in. if it’ll wet and cold, I bring an extra top to hike in .
SOCKS-low cut smartwool-3 pairs
RAIN PANTS AND JACKET-pants are mountain hardware conduit, jacket is northface flight series-this is 7 ounces. I’ve used marmot precip and liked them. marmots jacket 11 ounces? a bit heavier long and has pockets. I miss the pockets.
TRAIL SHOES-merrell moab goretex
HATS-baseball cap and ski cap
BANDANA
GLOVES
SARONG-this is my favorite peice of gear. it is a skirt, dress, shawl, towel, sheet, scarf, sunshieldish.
OPTIONAL ITEMS -gaiters-to protect your socks, keep rain and debris out of your shoes. I plan to buy dirty girl gaiters on line for my next trip (not waterproof) bugjacket with hood.fording shoes or scandals. town/camp shoes. all these I have carried at times. not always.

DOG HIKING GEAR

DOG BOOTIES AND LINER SOCKS- booties from dogbooties.com, you buy them seperately. I carry 6 booties and 4 socks
DOG PAPERS- rabies and health certificates
We already have the leash with carabiner, dog bowls, and pad. many dogs carry packs and do well with them. mine never has.
DOG SUPPLIMENTS, MEDS- talk to you veterinarian before you leave. I carry fish oil, glucosamine, and homeopathic remedies for both of us.

BAGS/etc

GARBAGE BAGS- at least 2 large preferably 3. one lines the pack inside before the stuff sacks go in. 1 is used as a pack cover.
STUFF SACKS- siliconized cordura, lined with plastic.
ZIPLOCKS-large and small, anything that can leak will.

FOOD

I shop in town whenever I can. if you have special dietary needs mail-drops will be the best solution. my dog food is in mail-drops. Chances are pretty good I forgot something on the list. Let me know.

LINKS TO GEAR MADE IN U.S.A.

Love these products, I have personally used them or my friends have.

Henry Shirers Tarp Tents