Recomendations for a newbie?

Hey John, FWIW, if you just select items from my gearlist, you would come in at under $1000 (I think) – and I think I have a pretty decent setup. :)
You're starting from scratch here, so it really is good to spend some time reading up on what people like and dislike, along with the conditions you will be expecting. You'll soon find that it becomes a serious addiction, and most people here, including myself need help. :)
Have fun and ask away, there is plenty of knowledge here!

$1000 is plenty. You would have countless options without needing to find amazing sales, buying used, or making gear yourself. If your budget was $400.. that’s when it takes some real creativity.

I have a bunch of info my my analysis and recommended gear set of pages which you might find useful. there is a link on that page to another specifically about saving money.

If I was given a budget of $1000 I would purchase the following. Note: these aren’t necessarily the items I use today, but they are quality items I think have an especially good price / performance ratio. Prices are close approximation (sometimes coming from my memory, a few just looked up):

Sleeping Bag – jackrbetter “No Sniveller” quilt $270
Pack – granite gear vapor trail $150
Pad – pacific outdoors thermo $50
Headlamp – big box led $10
Tarp – six moon designs gatewood cape $110
Pack Cover – see above
light down jacket – I would look for close out high loft synthetic vest $50 (patagonia outlet, etc)
hat – sunday afternoon $30?
shoes – inov-8 flyroc 310 $90
Midweight long sleve top – powerdry on closeout $30
synethitc t – I wouldn’t… I would take a LS supplex shirt. you should be able to find syntheic t for $10-15 on close out
pants – nylon supplex zipoffs on closeout $30
shorts – see above

close out would be searched for at STP, campmor. etc.

–mark

I have asked for countless advice on these boards and have received a lot of help from many people. One of the best pieces of advice I received was not to rush out and buy a complete kit at once. Gear selection is in my estimation best done piecemeal. If at all possible, I'd recommend trying out gear first, or at least figure out what kind of lightweight backpacking style you're most comfortable with following. Then buy a selected piece of gear and give it a whirl. It does little good running out and buying a bunch of nice gear only to find out it doesn't fit your pack. Learning to load your pack with efficiency and trail comfort is one of the joys of backpacking.

Some of the people on the board adhere to the Super UL philosophy, which is terrific. Myself, I like a few creature comforts (such as a thicker pad for my sleeping bag) and am willing to trade a little weight for these comforts. Others are more interested in minimizing weight above all other considerations. There is no one "right" philosophy. This is a supposed to be fun, after all.

Is $1,000 enough? I'd most certainly respond, "yes!" Clothing is the easiest component to find on sale. The tent vs. tarp vs. bivy is a much tougher call. There are advocates of all styles out there.

If you would like to borrow a tarptent (www.tarptent.com) I can loan you a first generation Squall tent with a floor and bug netting, if you'd like to give it a whirl. Tarptent is one one giants of the lightweight community. The Squall is fairly light (around two pounds), can fit two people and is luxurious for one. It is already seam sealed. The Contrail is a lighter, more adjustable one-person shelter offered by Henry Shires of Tarptent. Using the Squall would at least get you introduced to SilNylon camping and the tarptent experience. Again, there are other great tents and shelter choices out there, too.

Take care and have fun! The Oregon coast is terrific….

Dirk

Thank you all for the great answers! Have given me a lot to think about and definitely more research to do.

I have about two months to pick my gear, and do plan to buy only a few pieces at a time and give it some good testing before I hit the trails.

Went out to the Oregon coast last summer and a did a shot 10 mile hike of the coast near the end and was blown away by how awesome it was. I have been yearning to go back ever since, and now that I have the opportunity I can fulfill my wanderlust.

And again, thank you!

Having lived in the upper reaches of California at one time, the coast can get pretty windy depending upon the season. Even in the summer, it could gust wildly. If you are camping on the bluffs above the beach, this isn't a huge issue (other than the wind). But if you make camp near the beach, blowing sand can be an issue, especially if you are using a tarp. Having sand in the sleeping bag isn't a great experience.

The first thing I would do is buy a scale. You can get one at a business supply store. Then, start weighing everything. Put down the weight of everything on a spreadsheet (or a piece of paper if you prefer). Then, take a look at the list and ask yourself "Can I get something lighter?". The answer is almost always yes. The question then is whether it is worth it you. Cost is definitely an issue, but so is durability and comfort. For the most part, ultralight gear costs the same or less than standard gear. Of course, replacing everything means buying the same sort of item twice. This forum is a great place to ask that question. For example, you mentioned that your only really lightweight gear is your rain jacket and pants. Those are great rain jacket and pants, but you can get something lighter. Propore jacket and pants (O2, DropStoppers, etc.) will save you significant weight. They also are very cheap. However, they are not very durable. You can rip them quite easily (unlike the Precip). They also don't have pit zips or pockets. Such are the typical trade-offs.

I would also recommend a couple other things to get yourself some ideas. First is to look at what other people bring. The "Gear List" forum (on this site) is a great place for that. Many of the manufacturers web sites also contain great gear lists. I found out about Propore by viewing Glen Van Peski's gear list at http://tinyurl.com/2k8fvs.

Also take a look at as many of the little ultralight shops as possible. The really cool thing is that the manufacturers often list their "competitors" right on their web page. For example: http://community.sixmoondesigns.com/

One more thing: I would second the Granite Gear Vapor Trail backpack idea. There are lighter packs out there, but I think it makes sense to get a compromise pack until you know that you can get your pack weight low enough. I switched from a big Gregory pack to a Vapor Trail and it was just as comfortable carrying the same weight. That isn't true with many of the very lightweight packs (although they are great packs if you can get your weight low enough).

The scale is the single most beneficial piece of equiptment for LIGHTWEIGHT camping. No foolin! Below is a really good one.

Pelouze 5 lb. Digital Postal Scale

approx: $35

L I N K :
http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=20073778&searchString=postal+scale&productId=ARS20125

You seem to have money. But if you do not, you can make a whole lot of the stuff you need, although not all in the next few weeks. You might borrow stuff for your upcoming trip, figure out what you really need, then make it or buy used at your leisure. There is a Make Your Own Gear forum on BPL, and lots of people can help.

I had to outfit five people, and I did it fairly inexpensively somewhere between lightweight and UL via making my own and eBay.

John im just starting out as well on my less is more adventure. from what ive found you need to know: where you are going and prepare for that climate, the always practical dress in layers, and finally if you are just starting go cheap (except on your sleeping/shelter system JRB is NICE). i found that gear is more expensive than clothing (even Kmart sells synthetic material). heres a small rundown of my major gear components, and i think ive paid around $300.

GG Mariposa $99
Hi-Tec (sleeping bag) $50
Adventure Medical Kits Bivy 2.0 $30
ID SilPoncho $75
Ti Stakes $22
Wood stove $2
MSR whisperlite $65
MSR pot $20

if you dont like tarptents theres some really good deals at sixmoondesigns and all over, also BPL.com is amazing (as im sure you know).

RESEARCH!!!

hope i helped…aloha!

I would second Mike recommendation about having a good scale. I didn't list a scale cause I sort of assume people have them for baking and other kitchen stuff. I am fond of the oxo 1130800 scale. Take up to 11 lbs, illuminated display, and the display pulls away from the scale which is useful when weight more bulky items which overhang. It's a bit more expensive $49.

Matthew…

I would caution against using the AM bivy 2.0 over your sleeping bag. It doesn't breath so everything inside it will get damp.

–Mark

That one's easy…..your backpack! I received that advice and it has proved to be priceless. Until you are exactly sure what your other gear will be there's no way to know for sure which packs to consider (volume and weight carrying specs). Got mine to where the ULA Conduit was perfect.

I second everyone's remarks on a scale, and on doing plenty of research. You can have good gear and stay under $1,000 for sure – unless you end up changing your mind and buying something twice.

Hi John,

I agree with the idea of pack last. When I was stepping into ultralight I started with a Golite Breeze pack and was motivated by pain to quickly drop my pack weight!

Then again, you're starting fresh. If you start with ultralight in mind and make wise choices, you should be fine.

I'd start with the biggies- pack, bag, shelter. I'd go ultralight but not superultralight. Consider skipping the bivies and tarps for now. They'll always be there later if you go that far. There's lots of choices out there but here are some of my moderate ultralight favorites (at a reasonable cost):

pack- Golite Jam, Gossamer Gear Mariposa. Everyone is right that Ula packs are sweet too. Mountain Laurel Designs has lots of great stuff too, but it's a tad more spendy.
bag- Golite bags. People like Montbell bags but I've found them to be chilly for the rating. I find the JacksRBetter bags to be too roomy, but thy are sweet. If you're diving in, I'd go for a Golite Ultra. Start with a quilt!
shelter- Six Moon Designs or Tarptent are great options for tarp shelters that will also carry you through bug season. Maybe a Tarptent Squall 2 or a Six Moon Designs Lunar (if you like more space). Gossamer Gear The ONe is a cool solo shelter…

Next, if you go to a stove, this one is easy- Trail Designs Caldera. The MSR Ti Kettle is a great little pot and it's cheap. If you stick to easy meals, it's all you'll really need. Of you could skip it- I often do.

Water purification. Make life simple and get Micropur tablets. Also a 1L Platypus and a 3L Platypus- the first for drinking and the second for around camp or desert use.

Pad- lots of choices here. Are you a tough sleeper? If so, the Torsolite and Gossamer Gear Thinlight are a good 3-season combo. The insulated Big Agnes Aircore pads are good all rounders and a bit more comfy.

You've got good rain gear. Now you'll think about clothing. No fleece- get puffy synthetic insulation instead. Get running shoes, not boots. Buy a good warm hat (and a balaclava if you get a hoodless quilt).

Last, think about getting a subscription here. the reviews are so helpful and so are the reader reviews and forums. But so many of the items you'll be interested in have thorough, professional reviews that will help greatly in your decision. Sure, I work here, but before that I was like you- I used this site SO much to get started.

And buy a book- Lighten Up!. It will be brilliant for you at this stage.

Have a blast! Incredible adventures await!

Welcome to BPL,

Doug

I always think in terms of bangs-per-buck. Your goal is to save weight not bleed cash.

For each item on your list weigh it and see what a L or UL alternative weighs and then see what it costs as well.

Try to replace the things first that lose the most weight for the least money AND you are most comfortable with doing.

A sleeping bag is still a sleeping bag but a Tarp is a change of technique when camping.

The big three are the obvious ones to hit but you might find that your 'just-in-case' gear is heavy and that trimming it's weight saves you a lot at no cost.

Water and food are always heavy and so how much spare do you have left at the end of each day / trip – a sensible contingency or enough to feed an army?

Remmeber, the goal is to minimise weight and minimise spend. Some examples:

Replace a Thermarest with a foam mat: Saves 2-300g costs: $10

Replace a Gas stove with an Esbit one: Saves 200+g costs: $10.

Replace a Tent with a commercial tarp: Saves 500-1000g cost: $100+

Carry 1L less water: saves 1000g and is free

Carry less spare clothing: free

Hire someone to carry your kit: $$$$$$, saves everything ;-)

Replace Pack: Saves 750g, costs $100+.

Mike's got a great point here. And one of the biggest weight saving approaches is to just leave stuff at home that you don't need.

After every trip, I'll look at what I used and what I didn't and reconsider my list for the next trip.

But when I think about my transition, it was tradign the 6 pound pack for a 1 pound pack, my 5 pound tent for a 1.5 pound Tarptent, and eventually trading a 3 pound bag for a 1 pound quilt. That 10 or so pounds was where I started it all.

But Mike is totally right- there are many places to save weight that cost very little.

In the ultralight world, things tend to be cheaper, which is nice. Where this is not true is sleeping bags, synthetic insulation clothing…that sort of thing. But shoes, jackets, stoves, foam pads, tarps…unless you get very specialized, this stuff is much cheaper.

Enjoy!
doug

I would recommend working the weight you carry down in stages. Trying to achieve a UL or SUL pack right away could easily lead to some expensive mistakes.

Try to get your skin-out weight down to 18-20 pounds as a first goal; you can easily do this on a limited budget and you needn't sacrifice much in the way of comfort to do so.

Begin by looking at each piece of gear that you are presently carrying and see whether you can leave it behind; you might be surprised at how much weight you can shed just doing this exercise rigorously. Then, decide where your comfort zone is with the "big three"; your shelter, pack and sleeping gear. Some folks want a tent. air pad and sleeping bag, others are happy with a 3'x3' tarp and sleep standing up in their clothes. These decisions have to be yours. Then, go through the rest of the gear and decide where you want to cut weight. Some folks, myself included, don't want the fuss of Nesbit or alcohol stoves and prefer the convenience and speed of a cannister stove; again, your decision.

But, don't just go out and buy gear based on the recommendations of others. Only you know your needs; see what is available, give it a lot of thought and then, buy what suits YOUR purposes. Finally, try it all out at home first; don't wait till you are in a rainy windstorm to pitch your new tarp for the first time.

Thanks for advice about the scale, picked one up and did some quick measurements of some of the gear I had in sight:

Sleeping bag: 54.1 (3lb 6.1oz)
Tent: 75oz (4lb 11oz)
Pillow: 7.6oz
Rain Pants: 12.2oz
Rain Jacket: 15oz
Wind Jacket: 23oz
Skin Layer Top: 8.1oz
Skin Layer Bottom: 6.5oz
Water Filter: 15.2oz
Stove Set: 24oz (1lb 8oz)
Shoes: 32oz ea (2lb)
Balaclava: 2oz
Convertible Pants: 14.8oz

So as you can see there is much room for improvement. In the process of doing lots of research now and looking more into certain gear.

The Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape with the Bug Net are looking to be my favorite shelter so far. For bags I was thinking either the Marmot Hydrogen or the GoLite Ultra. And the Vapor pack seems a good one to get started on. But more research and time may change my mind a few more times.

Thank you again for all the advice and help!