Hello everyone, this is my first post here. Last fall and winter I did a southbound thruhike of the AT. I used fairly light gear with a 15lb base weight for a zero degree setup. Using items such as the gg vapor trail, prolite 3 short, bd betalight, ems mnt light 0, and a jetboil. Now it's time to take things to the next level. I have been researching gear for some time (this site is great!), and have got the following items on my list so far:
MLD Zip Pack 9.8oz – I don't think a cuben pack would hold the amount of food I like to carry (six days coming out of town usually)… unless I can figure out how to make my food lighter also.
MLD grace solo spectra tarp 4.8oz – the betalight was way to big, and in the winter there is nobody else on the trail so the shelters are palaces.
-litesoul bivy wide 4.6oz – i'm a bivy fan and that's half the weight of my lightest! (bd winter 8oz)
-nunatak arc alpinist 20oz – very excited about this item, leaning toward the pertex fabric and maybe overfill. I have not used a quilt before but am sure that I can adapt.
-cocoon hoodie 9.5oz – not sure if I will be able to get one of these but I would sure love to.
-nunatak luna pad 7.5oz – i don't know if the pad will be warm enough. my prolite 3 short was fine down to single digits. that bmw pad looks small, i'm 5' 8" and can curl up on my prolite. not to concerned with comfort but with warmth.
-integral designs event jacket 8.8oz – this looks great, I used a 15oz ems paclite jacket on my thru. The event jacket is near the weight of frogg toggs and a wind shirt. I do not believe a poncho would be appropriate for late fall above treeline hiking.
-shell pants – I have been wondering if a wind pant is enough to keep me warm? I used 12oz paclite pants on my hike. Mont bell looks like they have some nice choices golite also.
stove and kitchen – I used a jetboil and ti spork for freezer bag cooking. Alcohol looks like a good choice or esbit? I've got a couple pepsi can stoves that work pretty good. Not so well below freezing though, ineffecient. I will be wearing a long base layer and shorts most of the time. I left all smaller items off as right now I am ready to purchase the big stuff and start waiting for it! Even with many items left out I am concerned with being able to stay under 5lbs.
Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you
-Brian 'Early Bird' Senez
