Gear List

While this isn't a complete list of everything I'm taking, it's most of the big stuff.  The rest is just details and junk to fill in the cracks in my pack.  I spent quite a bit of time researching gear, deciding what I wanted and looking for good deals.  I got a lot of stuff online, through Amazon, Altrec and other outdoor sites and some at Dick's Sporting Goods and REI.  I not taking hardly anything I already had.

Backpack:  ULA Catalyst.  A simple yet very well thought out design and really lightweight.  It's got a single main compartement, 2 side pockets, a mesh front pocket and a couple pouches on the belt.  The top rolls up like a waterproof bag.  It's fairly water resistant by itself but I've also got a cover for it when the rain is really coming down.

Tent:  Tarptent Notch.  This tent uses my hiking poles for support with no poles of its own.  I've sealed the seams since my hike in Georgia.  Considering how little it leaked then and how hard it rained the entire night, it should now keep me dry with no problem.

Sleeping Bag:  I got a Marmot down bag.  It's going to be a bit warmer than I need most nights, but when it's freezing and the wind is howling I'll be so glad I've got it.  I have a Neo Air Trekker air matress.  I found a large on sale for cheaper than a regular so it's longer than it needs to be, but I'll be sleeping in luxury.  I'm using my insulated jacked, stuffed in a little sack as a pillow.

Stove:  I debated about a stove for quite a while.  I built a couple pop can stoves that burn alcohol as fuel.  They're outrageously light but they also seem a bit clumsy.  So I opted to go with a Jetboil.  It uses butane canisters that last quite a while and shouldn't be too difficult to find in stores along the way.  The whole system packs up into the pot very neatly.

Water Filter:  My backpack has a sleeve for a 2-liter hydration pack in it, with a hose so I can drink while hiking.  The filter got, a Sawyer In-Line Filter, is designed to be spliced right into the hose.  I can load the water bladder up with whatever water I find and just drink right from the hose.  The filter sits in the top of the pack when it's all loaded up.  It can be backwashed when it starts to get clogged up and is guarenteed to last for 1,000,000 gallons.  I don't think I'll be drinking that much, so it ought to last the whole trip.  I've got a large water bag and a couple smaller water bottles for stocking up in areas where water is scarce.

Electronics:  I'll be taking a smartphone, mp3 player, camera and Garmin GPS.  To power it all along the trail I got a Goal Zero solar panel and battery pack.  The battery pack charges 4 AA batteries I'll use it to recharge the other items, or I can charge them off the solar panel directly.  On sunny days I can hang the panel on the back of my pack.

Other items:  Rain jacket, warm hat, sun hat, gloves, a few pairs of socks, trail running shoes, insulated jacket, hiking poles, clothing and a bunch of other misc camping items.

In all my pack should be around 25 pounds, minus food and water, so typically 35-40 while hiking.  Below are some pictures showing the gear all spread out then magically fitting into the pack and the water filter sitting on top of the rest of the gear inside the pack.  The food will fill up the top area for easy access.  The top allows for great flexibility in terms of volume since it can just be rolled and buckled down.





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