Summer Gear list for the PNW

You'll want mosquito protection. A tigoat ptarmigan with full hood (don't get the window) runs about $90, or you might find one here used for cheaper – so nix the ground cloth.

You can get away with shepherd hook stakes so long as the ground isnt super rocky.

A kitchen garbage bag is lighter than that pack liner.

If those are your only pants, thats cool, but they do make lighter rain pants.

Bear bag?

Windscreen?

I'd bring another platy.

Bandana/towel?

Chris, thanks for the recommendations

– bug protection, I am going to try and go til the end of may or so without and then get something for after I get back from fishing in August. Ptarmigan bivy sounds like a good one.

– yeah some of my stakes are kind of heavy, i dont want to pay like 5 bucks shipping for 14 bucks of stakes at the moment though, definitly on my to do list though

– my pack liner is that heavy because at the time I wanted a pack liner for an 85 litre pack. Do you think a medium bpl pack liner would fit a SMD swift pack?

– rain pants, yeah my only pants at the moment, I would like to get some lighter pants at some stage, other then trying to find golite reeds somewhere any ideas?

– bear bag, have looked at a few set ups, any recommendations?

– havent been using a windscreen, do want to try out a caldera cone alcohol stove set up later this year

– yeah another platy is probably a good idea, I was thinkin if I am along a river not need though

– have been thinkin about picking up a buff bandana

– my pack liner is that heavy because at the time I wanted a pack liner for an 85 litre pack. Do you think a medium bpl pack liner would fit a SMD swift pack?

I mean a literal kitchen trash bag – they work well.

A windscreen will cut down on your fuel consumption, and may also be a necessity in super windy conditions. Aluminum foil is a cheap option or you can also buy windscreens for cheap. Or a caldera cone.

The only reason I was thinking a smaller version of the pack liner I already have is I am worried that my pot lid might snag and cut a kitchen garbage bag, or my stove if it falls out of my pot.

:)

Also, some people use compactor bags, which are a bit more durable.

Any other ideas?

Another shirt? Seems like a stinky bag if you asked me and an uncomfortable human. I always love putting on a dry long sleeved undershirt instead of my sweat soaked one I went up the trail with. my 2c.

Switch out the MB thermawrap for an extra long sleeved T and a down vest? Never really tried it myself, but should work as you are taking a rain jacket so the warmth from the vest will stay with you.

Your list seems downright plush compared to when I went with nothing more than a school backpack a plastic ground sheet and a polyester sleeping bag in 2 garbage sacks.

Mosquitoes are only bad if you are camping near a lake in PNW or valley bottom I suppose. I know lots of folks love camping near lakes. I can remember huddling buried in my sleeping bag at gold lake about oh 8 years ago in June. Thankfully it wasn't boiling hot. Mosquitoes are bad in june, never had a problem later though.

An inexpensive option for rain pants are DriDucks. They aren't real durable, but they weigh around 4oz. For a little more money you could also look at the ULA rain wrap which is around 3oz.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Should be getting my bear bag set up in the mail today.

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2.2 oz each, super durable.

For a new pack liner I ended up picking some 1.2oz pack liners from MLD up.
If they dont work I will go to the trash compactors.

What do you guys reckon for rain pants. I want to switch out for lighter ones. Looking at either golite reeds or montane featherlites. Any opinions on these or other pants?

This list I am trying to use in both the summer and parts of spring and fall in the PNW.

Trips will be anywhere from overnight in length to 5 days or so.

Shelter:

Ground Cloth 5oz

Agreed. At 5oz, you're better off going with a bivy for a 2oz penalty that includes ground, bug, draft, and splash protection.

I agree with Dale, a window wrap (heat shrink plastic) is very strong and well worth the $5 or $6 for enough material for two of them. It's my personal choice for a light but durable ground cloth.

Polycro is another name of this plastic sold by some UL backpacking suppliers. It's far better than Tyvek B/C it packs much smaller, won't pick up debris and is lighter as well.

On my window wrap plastic groundcloth I've duct taped a Triptease cord at each end to go to my end stakes on my TT Moment. That way winds can't move the groundcloth.

thanks for the input guys.

I was ordering some stuff from MLD so ordered a few of their poly cro ground cloths.

I will probably buy a bivy for more 3+ season stuff.