The basic 4 if $$ were not a concern

1. Buy some books on lightweight backpacking.

2. Read 'em and then window shop.

3. Rent gear or borrow if at all possible. Even if it's not exactly the gear you're considering it will give you ideas.

4. Buy your pack last, so you know all the rest of your gear will fit in. (hint: don't get a framless pack 1st time out)

5. Buy "conventional" gear like canister stoves, light inflatable foam pads, one or two person silnylon tents depending who will be going along with you. Later you can get into more esoteric gear like alcohol stoves. Caldera Cone stoves, ESBIT stoves, etc.

6. If backpacking only in SoCal, yes, a quilt will be adequate. But for the mountains a mummy bag will be warmer for the weight. It can get below freezing in the Sierras in summer and you'll need a bag to go below 30 F.. (Don't ask how I know.)

"6. If backpacking only in SoCal, yes, a quilt will be adequate. But for the mountains a mummy bag will be warmer for the weight. It can get below freezing in the Sierras in summer and you'll need a bag to go below 30 F.. (Don't ask how I know.)"

I took a quilt (EE 0 degree 750 duck down) down to around -3* F, and was fine. I would agree that a bag does tend to be more comfortable and fool proof for more serious cold weather, but 30 degrees does not qualify as serious cold to me, and i live in VA currently. (back in my younger MA days, that was shorts weather for just casual walking around).

I guess this just goes to show that personal experience can vary a lot. A certain amount of experimentation is helpful and will show a person what works best for them.

I'd actually propose the opposite….

Most of us have spent SOOOO much money on this gradual transition when in reality it was just fear of the unknown that made a $12 stove purchase actually turn into $200 worth (after you've bought and gone through 3-4 set ups…)

There is a ton of info on this site, and Link has a wonderful collection of links to most of the greatest blog posts/books/information for newbie ULers.

I'd actually encourage you to get what you think looks good – try it out – and if you don't like it, then either send it back (if the backyard test didn't work for you…) or sell it here on gear swap.

And honestly? If you really look around I think conventional gear is just as expensive if not more expensive than the cottage guys.

And I love my quilt all the way down to single digits.

"Most of us have spent SOOOO much money on this gradual transition when in reality it was just fear of the unknown that made a $12 stove purchase actually turn into $200 worth (after you've bought and gone through 3-4 set ups…)"

THIS. I could have bought property with all the money I wasted figuring things out. I did sell off the "wrong" stuff as much as I could, but here I am with enough gear to outfit three friends from top to bottom….

I think sleeping out in the wilderness is a lot of mental and a little loft. I have noticed that people who insist to me that they are "always" cold and that I will be cold with that "eensy weensy too light quilt" are apparently getting exactly what they expect. I remember pulling the quilt out of the box it came in and thinking "NO WAY! NO WAY! NO WAY! TOO LIGHT!" but then, remembering all the people who swore that quilts work fine, I cracked open my brain just a little to the possibility and tried it – I will never ever ever ever ever go back. Mummy bags? Bleh.

Maybe the reason "we" have wasted money on conventional gear is there used not to be lightweight gear.

Now, there's no reason to buy conventional.

I've read that the reason conventional gear is so heavy, is that a few people have problems with gear breaking, so the conventional manufacturers just make the gear super-robust to reduce this problem. You do have to take care of lightweight gear more.

Don't let teenagers near lightweight gear : ) I remember backpacking with teenage nieces/nephews. The exploded a platypus water bag by pumping water into it with pump filter.

>> I've read that the reason conventional gear is so heavy, is that a few people have problems with gear breaking, so the conventional manufacturers just make the gear super-robust to reduce this problem

IIRC, it's Ray Jardine who talks about this in "Beyond Backpacking". He talks about how gear manufacturers used to, and still do, portray nature as this malevolent force that's trying to kill you, but their tough gear will give you the edge you need to survive.

There's also the fact that most outdoor gear has an implicit, sometimes even explicit, lifetime guarantee; so if you're the manufacturer and you want to reduce having to hassle with warranty claims, you're going to build it like the proverbial brick sh*thouse. Some of the cottage manufacturers are pretty explicit about the fact that you need to be careful with their gear and that even then do not expect it to last forever. Not an issue for most of us; if you're enough of a gearhead to be a member of this forum, you're very likely to find a piece of gear you like more (primarily because of technological advances) before the current one wears out. And some things are explicitly "throwaway"; we do not expect them to last anything close to forever, but the light weight makes it worth it – a good example is the polycryo groundcloths, that weigh 3+ oz for a two-person size, but probably won't last much more than a season of moderate use – but they cost only $10 or so.

I regret buying conventional gears. Never once while hiking, I felt the need for supposed ruggedness. Even then the stuff I buy from the cottage industry is technically stronger than the stuff off the shelf. The only difference is the stronger the material, the thinner the manufacturers can get away with. That's why some of the fabric have issues with abrasions. But I don't normally face those issues in everyday hiking.

But again, I tend to be quite conservative. I made a stupid light decision once when a day hike in the winter turned into an overnighter because of a moose charge. But looking back, even preparing for an overnighter wouldn't had helped me in that situation, only SLIGHTLY more comfortable. Still would had gotten cold and wet.

If I do "need" conventional gears, they are not really conventional at all. They are highly specialized gears for very technical sports. For instance, I ordered Stone Glacier KRuX a few weeks ago. The suspension is so good, that it feels like an ultralight backpack at 3.74 lbs (1.7 kg) which carries better than the majority of the backpacks available off the shelf. But again, it's a $600 purchase with the bag– or about $300 for the frame alone. It's not ultralight, but it's one of the few frames that can carry in excess of 60 lbs (36 kg) in comfort. I wouldn't carry it for thru-hiking.

So, if I want rugged gears, they're going to be custom-made, or high-end stuff like McHales. Yes, they might be expensive, but honestly most of the stuff at REI or MEC sucks and I regret making cheap decisions when it comes to tents, backpacks, sleeping bags and so on. Thinking about rugged rain gears for hunting.

But again, durability and rugged only really makes sense if one partake in sports which 99% of the mainstream don't. All of my rugged stuff are for those highly specialized hobbies.

But I never once felt I needed those rugged gears while camping or hiking. It's only when I am doing more serious stuff like climbing, that I wish I spent more money or gotten better gears.

The only time I would buy conventional is when there are no better alternatives available, eg. 4 qt pots from Open Country (winter camping or group camping), SOLite from Therm-a-Rest, lexan utensils, MicroPUR (Aquamira are a bit more difficult to find in Canada), Sawyer Mini and so on.

And that's not elitism. So far, most of the stuff I bought are cheaper than what is available at my local outdoors store, even though they carry all the big-name brands for fashionistas and low-end stuff for impoverished people.

Example: My 30 F quilt is cheaper than any sleeping bag I found at a hiking store– I would need to go to an Army surplus store to find something cheaper (we don't have one in town, and ordering one will just make that sleeping bag just as expensive as the quilt).

" but I would love to learn about some of the high end equipment out there that I could potentially collect up over time."

Backpacking really isn't about the gear. It's about the the experience. You said you are new at this, so you are in the learning stage. The backpacking experience requires practice. As you practice, you gain experience. Don't focus on the gear, focus on the how. I didn't look closely at all the resources, but there were some good ones.

Don't worry about the lightest weight. A while back someone posted a $300 kit put together at Walmart or some place similar. That should do, if you can keep your gear under 20 lbs. Over time, with experience, you will learn what works for you and what doesn't. As you expand your hiking horizons, you can dip your toes into the gear waters.

Wow. What a question…

For solo use, I assume?

Cuben MLD DuoMid.

A quiver of WM bags.

I'd still probably just use a 1/4" full-length evazote pad with a torso-length Thermarest as my pad, and a SuperLight Bivy. It works for me.

A custom McHale pack, LBP 37", roll top, full spectra- just for the sake of conspicuous consumption. (And a $1300 pack sure is conspicuous.) He'll pretty much make anything you want, and his 3.5oz Full Spectra/Cuben fabric looks interesting. Otherwise, a 50L bag with minimalist suspension from any of the usual respected cottage manufacturers- MLD, GG, etc. Not a fan of cuben bags, though. I bushwhack too much.

As a retired geezer I get pretty much what I want, price be damned. I'm old and "need" light, quality gear.;o)

TENT-> Tarptent Moment DW (a tarper or hammocker I ain't)

SLEEP SYSTEM-> WM overstuffed Megalite bag & Thermarest Prolite mattress

PACK-> Osprey EXOS 58 (This pack not only light but very comfortable)

COOKSET & STOVE-> Caldera Cone ti Sidewinder & mating 3-cup aluminum anodized pot and ESBIT/BGET tab holder setup
or Brunton Crux canister stove and MSR/DIY windscreen

** I am thinking of a Six Moon Designs cuben fiber Skyscape X as a solo UL tent.

This stuff is light but not exactly "UL". The pack and sleep system is close to UL.
The Moment DW is a 4 season tent with the ripstop interior and X-ing pole. I like its design over anything else I've tried or seen.

I remember when i left my crappy little town in Iowa immediately after highschool and headed west, i was fixated on the idea of getting everything i needed in one fairly small, rugged backpack. I got a Zues Exo tent, Kelty Lightyear 25 bag, Some really badass ArcTeryx pack, and a snow peak stove. That gear got some miles on it, to be sure. The sleeping bag is beyond recovery, and i just barely replaced it after ten years of hard service. The tent is retired but i cant get rid of it. The pack was stolen on Maui, the stove i sold here. I never really stopped fixating on having what i need in my pack.

I got out of the dirt and into a hammock while living on Maui, and wont go back. I made a few packs, countless alcohol stoves and pots, a few hammocks, camp saws, knives….. Its a fun obsession. This season i was finally able to get serious and upgrade some stuff, i spent 500 dollars or so but now i have a new pack, bag, tiny titanium knife, direct solar charging for a few electronics….and a 40oz base weight. It is mind boggling to think about the evolution of my kit and the technology compared to shopping for "lightweight" gear at Cabelas in 2004. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the old-timers on here who continue to evolve the kits and enjoy the outdoors.

But really, all a person needs is some decent shoes and some time to spare :)…..some dont even need shoes.

For Summer:

Shelter: MLD Cuben Grace Duo
Pack: MLD Exodus
Sleep System: WM Summerlite/Thermarest NeoAir XLite
Cooking System: Snowpeak Giga Power manual and 700ml Ti pot/lid

I could lose some weight out of my cooking system, but I like the convenience of the canister stove. I find this a really convenient and comfortable system for 3-season hiking, down to freezing or just below. Below that, I start swapping out other items.

"Don't focus on the gear, focus on the how."

Well said, Nick.

On that note; focusing on the "how" helps inform what tools are required in order to end up being somewhere between being comfy and staying alive.

Summer, Winter, humid, precip, length of trip, kids, scouts, solo… All these have different answers to your question.

Before gear, I'd recommend connecting with either a local group or a person with relevant experience in your area, in order to learn the basic skills (which will have little to do with the actual gear being used.)

Enjoy the Ride, friend!

Do you like camping? You've never been camping but you are already buying backpacking equipment? You should first spend a few nights camping before you start buying backpacking equipment.

You spent a lot of time talking about what you do like and what you don't like, but you need to realize everything in backpacking is a compromise. You said you would like more room in your tent to spread out. We all would, but are you willing to carry that extra weight many miles up a mountain? That is when the smaller more cramped tent becomes more comfortable. Don't look at equipment just based on the features you like in the store. Compare the weights and determine what features you want to haul around.

"A custom McHale pack, LBP 37", roll top, full spectra- just for the sake of conspicuous consumption. (And a $1300 pack sure is conspicuous.)"

I'll respectfully disagree with the 'conspicuous consumption' moniker for a quality piece of gear, which is known for its quality materials, faultless construction, and legendary comfort.

A McHale can only be a 'conspicuous consumption' purchase if the purchaser buys it to attain some sort of social status.

I own two McHales, each for a specific purpose. I will never need to buy another pack. I have noticed that many who criticize McHale's, based only on price, spend much more money on a never ending search for the perfect pack. Why not buy your last pack the first time? Of course, a McHale may not fit the needs of every backpacker, so it may not be relevant to many people.

When purchasing gear, or any other product, there should be several components to the buying decision: function, durability, and cost. Somewhere in this mix of goals is the right piece of gear for each person, based on their budget. The trick is to purchase based on these goals, not some arbitrary social perception. A more expensive product should have tangible qualities that set it above the offerings of lower priced competitors.

Now a Telsa would be, in my opinion, a conspicuous consumption purchase. It is totally impractical. If I decided to drive one from my house to the state capital of my state, it wouldn't even make it half-way.

Whenever possible, if it fits my budget, I try to purchase the best product possible. I have found that Premium products, not to be confused with Luxury products (purchase intent) last longer and fulfill their function much better.

Dean, my comments are in no way a reflection on you. Just my perception of the world.

Once you decide you'll be committed to backpacking, there is a lot to be said for buying quality, buying once, and then ignoring most of the marketing hype. The following is what I have and what changes I'd make in an idea world, if any.

-Western Mountaineering Ultralight and Antelope MF

These are both a decade or more old, and still going strong. I'd make the Antelope a little narrower, and change nothing else. After using a few my conclusion is that quilts are mostly hype. The weight savings is usually given back by the lack of warmth which comes with the lack of a hood and proper draft collar.

-Thermarest Prolite (XS and L)

Perfection. The bouncy castle pads are too fragile and I wouldn't pay over 80 dollars for a mat even I won the lottery.

-Seek Outside BT2

Perfect 1-2 person mid. I intend to purchase a Hilleberg Anjan for humid and buggy conditions.

-Seek Outside Unaweep 3900

Most versatile pack around. Most of the mods I made last year have been integrated into the newer generation. Only change I'd make with an infinite cash reserve is build it from 100% woven spectra fabric, but the cost/weight savings over D-P laminates doesn't make much sense.

Sleeping Bag
I like quilts in the warmer half of the year because of the ease of venting and egress. I like a quilt that opens right up into a blanket for the summer. I've never used one, but the EE Revelation Pro looks like the best thing available. I'll take one in 850 Downtek GGD and rated to 20F.

For the winter I like bags. If I was buying now I'd go with Western Mountaineering Antelope MF or maybe a Kodiak.

Sleeping Pad
NeoAir Xtherm. It's light, comfy and warm enough to use year round. Great pad. I sleep a little better on Exped pads but they're too fragile (baffles delam, thinner fabric punctures easier) and they don't have the cleaver NeoAir insulation.

Shelter
MLD Cuben DuoMid + solo inner. Easy choice, but no cuben floor on that inner – just not durable enough for a floor.

Pack
I'd like 3 packs: A frameless pack (<1 lbs) for light loads, a pack with frame stays for medium loads (~1.5 lbs) and then a beefier pack for big trips, packrafting and winter trips (~2.5 lbs). For the frameless pack, my new MYOG Cascadia pack (post coming soon) is easily my favourite small load pack that I've had. For medium loads I really liked the ULA Ohm before it became the 2.0. The 2.0 still looks good but I'd want it in a waterproof fabric. Hybrid cuben will suffice, although ideally it would be Xpac X33 bottom, X21 back and TX07 sides and extension collar.

I haven't used a big pack I like, but Dave's Unaweep sounds worth a try.

Shelter: MLD Supermid silnylon, net perimeter and custom net door patch. Palace for 2 and dogs. For my purposes I don't think there exists a better shelter at the time.

Quilt (much prefer these to bags): EE Prodigy, imo the best one out there with Climashiled Apex. If money were no object I'd get a top of the line DWR treated down quilt (maybe).

Pack: ZPacks Arc Haul, about to press the "buy" button. Don't think much compares to it in the same weight and price range. If money were no object I'd get a McHale.

Pad: Ridgerest Solite at the moment. Like to keep it simple!

Cooking: Sidewinder Ti-tri inferno, with 1.3l Evernew pot. Again for me it's the best option!

Why sleep on the ground when you can hang above the ground dwellers.

1. Shelter – Hammeck Netty i have and HG cuben tarp I wish I had. I wouldn't mind trying a Warbonnet XLC.

2. Insulation – HG/EE down quilt set (3 seasson I have.) If $ no object I might have a summer and maybe a winter set too.

3. Packs – ULA Circuit I have. ULA Ohm and Zpacks Arc Blast I'd really like to try

4. Cook kit – Caldera Ti-Tri and Evernew 1.3L I have. I'd like to try a smaller solo kit, maybe a mug with a Flat Cat Snow Leopard set. I'm also interested in the MSR Windburner when canisters are required.

I'm pretty lucky, and have corrected many early mistakes made to save $. Buy the best gear you can afford! One day I'll get that cuben tarp and lighter weight pack, but I'll still use the items I have until they are unserviceable.