Expanded Gear List

I had been writing some posts about my thoughts on gear, equipment, etc.  In addition, I thought I’d write about my own personal gear list.

Big Three

Tent, sleeping bag, back pack.

1. Osprey Exos 58 (with brain removed) 38 ounces.
2. Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 with tent pegs, etc. 48 ounces.
3. Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friends.  28 ounces.  Zips together with my wife’s bag.  Slightly custom (it is a men’s short).
4. Thermarest Neoair (with bag pump/bag pump nozzle). 12 ounces.
5. Trekology inflatable pillow (the second one I’ve bought, my wife swiped the first one 😉 ).  Three ounces.

Total is 129 ounces or 8 pounds. (Ouch)

Clothing:

Rain

1. Rain jacket:  Outdoor Research Helium Hybrid.  8.5 ounces.  Functions as a wind shirt as well as a rain jacket. (Failed me early)
2. ULA Rain skirt: 3 ounces
3. Gaiters: 5 ounces
4. Osprey Pack Cover: 3.5 ounces (my wife kept an Osprey cover for her pack even after she traded the Osprey in for a different brand.  Price/Weight/Quality are a good mix)

20 ounces.

Base Layer (for sleeping — either a base layer or a sleeping bag liner is really needed).  It is important to have dry clothing to switch into to sleep at night. In the morning I put whatever I was wearing the day before back on so that I’ll have dry clothes again the next night. Since I am switching to dry clothes, I also use them for a sleeping baselayer

1. Underwear
2. REI Quarterzip Merino Wool: Dark Blue (that top lasted me until I lost it in 2024. I still miss it).
3. Patagonia Mid-Weight Capilene Bottoms:  Black (as of 2025 I still carry them)
4. For summer use I have Tek microfiber/spandex baselayer in white.  It was very cheap (about nine dollars total for top and bottom)

Usually I would go Merino Wool for clothing layers and I tend to shop what is cheapest.  I got very good deals on all of these and Capilene is neat stuff. (I bought and used wool and went back to Capilene).

Hiking Clothes

1. Underwear 
2. Warm weather top is a WoolX Lightweight long sleeve t-shirt (I’m wearing it in the picture for this entry).  It was a great deal at the time.  Works in hard sunlight to prevent sunburn, disperses sweat and helps cool me off.  I have used Under Armor and similar things.  Some have treatments to help them avoid picking up the stench that many artificial fibers pick up when used for a long time.
3. I also have a white/ivory buff by Buff that matches the lightweight top. (Also in the picture).
4. Cold weather top is Minus 33 Degree Heavyweight merino wool long sleeve t-shirt. The reason for the different brands has to do with what was at the low price point at the right time.  Watch out to make sure that you are getting 100% merino wool (sometimes the low price options aren’t actually 100% merino wool).  Checking the prices when you buy is important. (Now I use 10% or so nylon/spandex because it wears worlds better)
5. REI convertible pants. Relaxed fit, Nylon/Spandex.  REI pants have gone through a number of redesigns.  I bought these for about twenty dollars from a guy who sells remainders. 
6. Black Diamond Fleece Hoody.  Fleeces all insulate about the same for about the same weight. We had a factory outlet store with great prices near-by once.  This one is 20 ounces. It was designed for lasting a long time over warmth. (I have moved to do much lighter fleeces since).
7. Socks.  I have both Smart Wool and Darn Toughs.  Depends which shoes I’m wearing, which ones fit the best (which was a surprise to me).  I’m still working it out.
8. Sleep socks.  I sleep in the Costco hiking socks.  They are surprisingly good socks.  

I don’t carry all of this at the same time.  For cold weather, one set.  For warm weather, another set.

Puffy

1. I have an REI down puffy I got on sale.  11.0 ounces.  Dark blue.
2. I also have a Patagonia down alternative (nano-puff) I got on sale (discontinued color.).  The two of these together came to under a hundred dollars (about fifty or less each). 12.5 ounces.  Warms while wet.  Bright Green.

I only carry one or the other.  I like them both and have traveled all over with both (though not at the same time).  When you’ve stopped for the night and it starts to chill down, it is time to put one on to keep warm.  I’ve been tempted to use the Patagonia Nano in place of the hoodie and just carry a down hood (I have one I picked up to go with my quilt [which is now redundant given the switch to a sleeping bag]).  That would be warmer and lighter.