Gear Check List- Am I missing anything?

imported
#1

EMS Internal Frame pack
Tarptent Squall
Campmor 20 F Down Bag
+5 deg Cotton Bag liner
Packa (rain gear)
Swiss Army knife (w/ tweezers and can opener)
small pair of scissors & nail clippers
1 cold weather UnderArmour shirt
1 cold weather UnderArmour pants
1 warm weather UnderArmour wicking shirt
1 cotton hooded sweatshirt
2 cotton t-shirts to be worn over wicking shirt
1 pair Columbia zip pants
4 pairs cotton socks
2 pairs boxers
longsleeve cotton shirt and cotton PJ pants 4 sleeping
1 pair New Balance trail runners
1 1.5L MSR Blacklite Pot & lid
1 set Lexan spoon, knife, & fork
1 MSR pocketrocket w/ 11oz fuel canister
4 packs of waterproof matches
1 packtowel
Katahdyn Hiker water filter
4 oz platypus water bag
2 20z gatorade bottles (for H20 throught the day)
assorted toiletries
Digital Watch w/ Altimiter and Thermometer
mercury thermometer keychain w/ windchill chart
pocket radio w/ headphones for weather reports & music needs 2 AA’s
RayOVac LED headlamp needs 3 AA’s
Cannon Digital Camera w/ 1 GB memory card needs 4 AA’s
20 AA batteries for the above
2 bic lighters
Wingfoot’s book
Thoreau’s Walden
journal w/ pen & pencil
wallet w/ ATM card some cash & ID

I think thats it… am I missing anything major?

Nomad

#2

Guess this board doesn’t like lists, so it ignored all my ENTERS. Sorry ab the jumble. Hopefully you can make sense of it.

Nomad

#3

Are you going to need a sleeping pad, first aid (medications), duct tape? just suggestions! seems like a lot of cloths too.

Anthony

#4

Alot of cotton items mentioned in your list. Synthetics are the better option all around. Things potentially missing from list are, sleeping pad? hat/gloves? pack cover? As odd as it sounds, check to make sure your waterproof matches actually light. I personally went through an entire box without one spark. It you’re going to carry 2 lighters, why the use for 4 packs of matches.

Pepper PA

#5

I would def do without the cotton - one t-shirt should be enough - a fleece jacket would be my choice instead of a sweatshirt - buy lithium AA’s (last longer, and only half the weight - they cost 3 times as much, but last 5 times as long) and only carry enough to reload the heaviest user - aka - the camera, so with two in the radio and three in the light and four in the camera, plus four extras, you would have 16 on you, there is a light out there that only requires one AA - thus reducing that a little, but I wouldn’t go out and buy one right now. BTW - I sent myself 4AA lithium’s with each mail drop - and only needed them about one out of four (once a month) They just lasted forever. A bandanna is useful for many situations too.

scuba

#6

Might seem petty, but all three utensils should be necessary. I would go with the spoon.

Anthony

#7

This is just my two cents, to be taken in the spirit of advice, not criticism. IMHO…

I would leave all the cotton clothes and items at home, especially the hoody and the socks. Cotton clothing weighs a ton when it gets damp and has no insulating value at all.
Ditto the cotton bag liner…silk is better.
Knife with can opener is good if you plan on eating lots of canned food.
Get a second wicking shirt to keep dry for camp at night.
Find two pair of synthetic boxers…exofficio or terramar or capilene or whatever.
Walmart even sells cheap synthetic stuff…I’d take that before I’d take cotton anything. The thin 100% nylon dress socks are great as liners.
Leave out the fork and knife, just take the spoon.
Leave out three packs of matches. Only need one. The two bics are fine. And those should be the tiny kind of bics, not the regular large ones…I still have two tiny ones I got years ago for camping. I just replaced them this winter.
The watch has a thermometer, so leave out the keychain one.
Yes, swap out the batteries with lithiums. Energizer e2 are good. Walmart also sells these.
That’s about if off the top of my head.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Tyger

#8

I’m goibng to start w/o a sleep pad. I’m usually pretty good w/ asleeping on hard surfaces. If need be, I’ll pick one up at Neel’s Gap.

The packa is a combination pack cover/ poncho. So I’m good on that end.

I’m not an ultalight zealot, so I’m ok w/ bringing 3 seperate utensils.

The battery advice is useful. I’ll be sure to pick up some lithiums. I realized my headlamp requires AAA’s, so I gotta throw that into the mix too.

The keychain themometer is 1 oz at the most. Plus its more accurate than my watch b/c its not thrown off by my bod temp.

I didn’t see the harm in wearing cotton at camp, since I wont be sweating by that point. But maybe I’ll look into getting another synt. shirt. Also I’ll probably bring a pair of mesh shorts for sleeping in the warm weather.

Any other suggestions?

Nomad

#9

Bad move on the sleeping pad. There function is not primarily for comfort, but insulation. When you are laying in your sleeping bag, any insulation under you is being compressed. Sleeping bag get there temp rating more or less from the amount of loft provided. Since your bag will have 0 loft on the bottom it will provide 0 warmth. You will lose so much body heat through the ground that even if you bag was rated to -20, you would still feel cold. A generic foam pad that’s only 1/4" thick will make a huge difference and only set you back $5-$10.

Pepper PA

#10

nomad,

looks like a complete list. the only comment i have is to replace your cotton hooded sweatshirt with a fleece top IMMEDIATELY!!!
the fleece will be more comfortble, warmer, easier to keep clean/dry, and MOST importantly, lighter!!!
if you’re worried about $$$, check out ebay, campmor, or sierra trading post. i’m sure you can find something for under $30. and lets be honest, you’re going to spend at least $10 to mail it home the first chance you get.
i’d also leave both cotton T’s at home.
when it comes to backpacking, i have to agree with Pepper PA: Cotton kills.

lg

#11

OKAY REPEAT AFTER ME…

“COTTON IS EVIL!”…

“COTTON IS EVIL!”…

“COTTON IS EVIL!”…

remember this mantra…& you will do fine on the trail.:smiley:

see ya’ll UP the trail!

“Jaybird”

#12

nomad-
here is the situation: somehow your pack cover was not on all the way, or it has been raining for consecutive days, anyway there are many, many forseable situations when that layer, the sweatshirt layer, will get wet. this is no big deal with a fleece, you can put it on and hop in your bag and it will dry itself in a few hours. on the other hand a sweatshirt needs direct sunlight for like 90 minuites, and when its wet you will be so cold youd rather be naked. seriously. its sounds easy now, but you will learn it is impossible to keep everything (and sometimes anything) dry, the strategy with clothing is damage control, or what can dry quickest when it gets damp. not soaked, just damp. damp cotton never dries!

no cotton, man.

yea, and its gonna be real cold and the main reason you need, NEED, a sleeping pad is for insulation. without it on a 15 degree night your body is busy trying to spread its warmth throughout the whole surface of the earth. a noble cause, but this leaves no heat for you. the pad will bounce that heat back to you. i suppose an emergency blanket on a good layer of leaves would work too. but we all know that unless you are really unique, really unique, you will end up buying a pad in neels gap. and its so expensive there!

and there is absolutely nothing wrong with paying no attention to us and going out and learning for yourself. you wont be the only one, and you probably wont die. hey, just have fun.

milo

#13

KNIFE should only weigh 1 oz and have ONLY a tiny blade and pair of scissors (well tweezers are ok but not nec.). You shouldn’t need a can opener bc you should avoid carrying canned foods. Tuna & chicken are available in pouches.
DITCH the small pair of scissors

cut your pack towl in half. make sure it’s not one of those thick ones, but the thin lighter less bulky ones

Consider aqua mira in place of your filter. Drops are a good option in the beginning, when water is plentiful (south) and you are heavy with winter gear. When you lighten up and the weather warms and water is more scarce, get your filter back.

Does 4 oz platypus carry 4 oz or weigh 4 oz? You should be able to carry 2L of water on you in the south.

1 gatorade bottle at most if you have a 2L platy, and this is only for making hot cocoa or lemonade. If possible, swap your gatorade for a lexan nalgene, which you can pour boiling water into.

DITCH the mercury thermometer keychain w/ windchill chart. You have a thermometer on your watch.

TOILETRIES - all you need are sunscreen (smallest size available), toothpaste, and toothbrush. Forget about soap.

KEEP 2lighters, ditch all but 1 book matches (for tics)

WALLET - don’t carry some heavy leather job. Use the lightweight waterproof ziplock kind or heck just use a ziplock

DUCTAPE - wrap a little around each of your poles - a must

FIRST AID - vitamin I (ibuprofen), moleskin, the aforementioned duct tape, neosporin is all you need

BOOK - you may find yourself too exhausted to read in the beginning, but you can wait and see

JOURNAL - don’t carry some heavy leatherbound beautiful thing. Carry a tiny notebook that you can mail home every so often

WINGFOOT - lots of people end up only carrying a few pages of wingfoot at a time, just what they need till their next bounce box

MAPS? don’t know if you’ve got them. They’re not necessary. If you are, consider cutting out only the profiles - that’s all you’ll ever look at unless you’re slackpacking

Clothing (you can get help with this at Neel’s Gap):
1 silkweight long sleeved capilene
1 midweight long sleeved capilene
1 midweight capilene pants (can wear as long underwear or PJs)
1 shortsleeved synthetic t shirt
socks should be smartwool/synthetic NOT COTTON
optional: thin silk sock liners - helps prevent blisters
1 pair running shorts
1 pair rain pants - you do NOT need rain pants AND zip pants
1 rain jacket
winter hat
later - summer hat for sun protection
NO underwear
NO extra clothes for sleeping
NO 2nd pair of hiking clothes
1 patagonia puff ball - expensive but WORTH IT. Only 9 oz and packs down small. You can buy this at Neel’s gap if you’re on the fence.

camera 1

#14

pack cover, bear bag (waterproof preferably), small length of thin rope for bear bag, sleeping pad (z-rest/ridgerest are lighter than thermarest and can be used to lunch/nap on during the day), silk bag liner rather than cotton, small stuff sac for clothes.

(Also, I didn’t see your comment above till now about the accuracy of your keychain thermometer)

I’m jealous! Have a great hike!

camera 1

#15

“NO extra clothes for sleeping”

So you just sleep in your dirty clothes?

Nomad

#16

Welcome to filth like you’ve never known it! In the winter it’s not so bad bc you don’t sweat hardly at all, although it will feel pretty intolerable at first. Not all people share the “one pair of hiking clothes” philosophy, but I think most do. What you’ll usually find is that not all your 1 set of clothes ends up getting used to hike in all that often. My midweight capilene almost never got worn during the day. I’d start out in a tshirt with a long sleeved silkweight over it. Halfway up the first hill I’d take off the LS, and later put it back on at lunch. But the midweight would stay in my pack all day. If it was windy I’d put my rain jacket over my LS while hiking. So the midweight almost never saw the light of day. I also almost never hiked in my long underwear. Once you get going you’re like a nuclear furnace generating heat. But you definitely need those layers once you stop moving.

As far as staying clean, the best thing you can do for yourself is wipe down your face, legs and hands when you come to a nice stream, which are all over the place in GA and NC. You’ll feel much better.

PS. I thought of a couple more things - gaitors and (of course) trekking poles.

camera1

#17

Almost forgot - camp shoes. The best I’ve seen are called Crocs. They’re super duper lightweight, waterproof, and practically indestructable. You can get 'em at Neels Gap if you can’t find them near you. A simlar version, Waldeees, does not have the heel strap. The heel strap is critical in my opinion because it allows the beloved camp shoes to double as water crossing shoes. I don’t think I would’ve made it to the end without them. They have these ridges inside that are like therapy for your poor abused sad feet. In fact I’m wearing some now!

Ok now I will shut my big trap! :smiley:

camera1

#18

Although Under Armour is not cotton, I would not suggest it. You want to have loose layers. I have used Under Armour alot and it works well,if you can keep it clean. But It is going to stink bad being right against your skin for such a long period of time. And as it gets dirty (and smelly) and stops breathing I think it will loose alot of it’s warmth.

Buckwheat

#19

You should carry a sleeping pad if for nothing else other than saving your down bag. But it also insolates you from the ground which you need to be. It will also help soften that rock or root you are going to end up sleeping on. As far as cotton I agree with everyone else, get rid of it. It will get wet and it will be a pain to dry, not to mention the fact it could kill you. For your own sake at least consider not carrying cotton socks. As far as the cotton bag liner you would get better service out of a silk one. For one it will dry overnight after washing and secondly it just feels good. It does seem you have too much clothing. You don’t need two pairs of convertible pants. I carried two wicking t-shirts, a pair of pants and a pair of shorts to sleep in. I had two pairs of briefs and two pairs of synthetic socks and liners. You would also be better off with a fleece jacket rather than the cotton sweatshirt. You need matches in case both lighters give out? I thru-hiked using one full-sized bic lighter that I still have. I carried a pack of matches just in case. It isn’t a bad idea to have an extra set of cloths as far as shorts and shirt. I came into 502 shelter soaked from a downpour. If I had not had the extra dry cloths I would have been miserable. My cotton items consisted of two bandanas. Well I also had half a bandana doubled over and tied to my pre-filter using a rubber band. It helped save filters in the Hiker. I only used three the entire hike.

If your reason for not having a sleeping pad is space or weight, you are carrying too much. Synthetics are so much lighter too. If nothing else please take those two pieces of advice.

Two Scoops

#20

“1 pair Columbia zip pants”
Maybe the wording was misleading, but I’m only bring the pants I’ll be wearing.

“Almost forgot - camp shoes.”
For camp shoes I’ll use a pair of Reef flip flops.

“But It is going to stink bad being right against your skin for such a long period of time. And as it gets dirty (and smelly) and stops breathing I think it will loose alot of it’s warmth.”
Isn’t this true of all syntetic material?

As far as Nalgene bottles, I’m bringing a vacum Thermos for coffee/tea, and my Gatorade bottles will work fine for water.

I’m not a gaiter (sp?) or pole guy, so I’ll do w/o those pieces of gear.

I AM going to REI tonight and I’ll pick up a cheap Foam Pad and maybe another synthetic shirt.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions!

Nomad