Gear List for a couple’s *tentative* PCT 2013

"large BearVault, 24.8"

That is not the correct weight.

–B.G.–

Fixed according to manufacturer specs.

About the electronics:
Petzl AAA headlamp, 2.8
PrincetonTec Pulsar, 0.3
extra AAA batteries, 2.7
Droid Incredible 2 w/Otterbox Defender, 6.9
Seattle Sports dry bag for phone, 2.1
homemade solar charger w/6000mAh battery, 11.8
AA/AAA battery charger, 1.5
wall charger + cable, 2.0
*point-and-shoot camera, 8.5 (saving up for the RX100…)
extra camera battery, 1.0

PrincetonTec AAA headlamp, 3.4
PrincetonTec Pulsar, 0.3

We've hiked for 15 or 20 weeks with our iPhone. Just in a standard simple case plus pint size freezer ziplock (for dry weather) or a 4.5×7 Aloksak (when it's raining). In my pocket, I put it in a pint freezer ziplock even when it's not raining just to keep it clean and free of sweat. The Otterbox Defender is overkill, IMO, as is the Seattle Sports dry bag. Ziplocks and an Aloksak are adequate for protection from wet – cheaper and lighter than the things you have listed. Also consider the attach-to-belt-loop system protects it from a fall: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=69747

Seems like you've got overkill on the lighting, unless you're planning extensive night hiking. We carry two petzle e-lites (1 oz each) but frequently don't even use those.

Battery charger and extra batteries as well? What do you need to charge that can't wait until town stops? I don't know the Droid, but for our usage patterns with the iPhone we can go a week between charges. Have you already maximized all the battery saving tips? This article is specific to the iPhone, but maybe you can find a comparable article for a droid: http://adventurealan.com/iphone4gps.htm

An eLite will last for many hours, and you could have a spare set of the the little button batteries if you only had one elite instead of two. You've got an extra camera battery listed. So lighting and camera don't need an on-trail recharge system.

Yeah, I am aware that I would probably be cutting down on the gadget bits. As much of a kick I get out of my solar system, it's hard to argue with just a backup battery. This may be something I decide on the trail. The battery charger was just there to transfer power from the big battery to the AAA's, but yes that's an easy cut. Just charge em in town.

For battery life also, I'm uncertain what daily use will look like. With all the normal tips and apps, I'm confident that it won't last a week on its own, especially since I plan on using it in the evenings and for possibly frequent GPS in snow. I would guess three-four days max.

A good list overall. A few quibbles:

The FroggToggs/Driducks (I actually prefer O2 Rainshield myself) jackets should be fine. But I doubt that the pants will last the whole way. You can get a ULA rain kilt for $30. There are cheap rain pants out there, too. FWIW, on my thru, I didn't pick up rain pants until Sisters, OR, but I was glad to have them the rest of the way.

I would ditch the Icebreaker l/s shirt. You have plenty of other layers.

Wind shirts should be breatheable–I wouldn't treat it.

Your bandana can be your buff.

9 oz. for cleanliness? You can't stay clean on the trail, especially in the dry sections. Embrace the dirt; save the cleanliness for town.

Ditch the bear hanging kit and opsak. I carried a bear canister in the Sierras and slept with my food everywhere else. Just about every other hiker did the same.

That gravity filter system sounds heavy. Aqua mira weighs 3 oz.

I carried 50' of cord on my thru and never used it once. YMMV.

If it's a low-ish or normal snow year, leave the microspikes/crampons home. A bunch of us heard scary stories about snow on Fuller Ridge and bought microspikes in Idyllwild. They were totally unnecessary, and I didn't get them back for the Sierras (where we had far, far more snow).

My suggestions, based on the information you provided:

1) Wife is cold sleeper, 64 inches tall. Consider a warmer sleeping pad to go under her, especially since you haven't bought it yet. Consider the Thermarest Polite Plus woman's model. PROS – it is $45 cheaper ($110 vs. $155); the interior is unmoveable cored foam, not a laminated insulation sheet which can come loose) so it is a much better insulator (R=4.6 vs. 3.1); it is 2 inches longer (66 vs. 64). CONS – it is 5 ounces heavier (21 vs. 15.2); thinner (1.5 vs. 2.8); bulkier (5×11 vs. 3.3×9). FWIW, I am a side sleeper and find the 1.5" very comfortable – never touch the groud. I exchanged my BA insulated air core pad (3") for this and never looked back.

2) I've had the GravityWorks system. However, while the 4L dirt water bag is nice, you're better served with 4 separate 1L Platy resevoirs for the clean water. Yes, you have to mind the filter while it's working and switch bags as they fill, but then you can divide up the weight easily AND you don't risk loosing all your water to an accidental puncture or other incident. Given your medical condition, that's highly significant.

3) Call Cascade Designs to order the Caldera Caddy that fits your Ti-Tri setup. Depending on the size needed, the weight is 2.5-3 ounces. Use the smaller section for a bowl and the larger for a cup. I taped a paper scale to each section of mine and now have 2 measuring cups that show the number of fluid ounces contained. No more guesswork; no more sepate cup and/or bowl to carry, and my Caldera Cone, stove, and support items are safely contained. Besides, the usual BPing cup only holds at best 8 oz, and when I brew my coffee or tea, I want enough to last through my meal and beyond.

4) Consider ditching one of the sporks in favor of a long-handled titanium spoon. It makes stirring the bottom of boiling bags and freeze-dried meals easier and far less messy. I've never found sporks to be worth their weight. Yuo get only a marginally effective spoon and fork, and I've not found anything that a spoon alone can't handle on the trail.

5) I didn't see any ground cloths to go under your sleeping pads. Your shelter has a netting floor and you'll need them. Try the Gossamer Gear polycryo sheet (large) or the ThinLite foam pad in 1/8th inch thickness (about 2 oz). The pad adds minimal insulation (R=0.2) but the foam will better protect your inflatable pads from sharp objects on the ground, especially in the desert sections. It may be possible to buy the Evazote foam pads on-line in widths great enough to hold both pads side by side.

CAVEAT: This advice is worth precisely what you paid for it (but you DID ask). YMMV.

I have also read great things about the Exped Downmat UL 7 at 18.7oz, R5.9 for small; a little bit better specs than the Prolite, but also more expensive…

And I forgot to note that my weight for the Hexamid includes a cuben ground tarp – adding that now.

This is all very helpful!

If you do go with a down-filled mat, you'd be wise to consider the Instaflator so you're not adding moisture to the down from your breath. I just received mine for our Prolite Plus mats. No more getting dizzy blowing them up at 12,000 feet.

http://www.themillair.com

1.7 ounces

$3.95

You say that your wife sleeps cold and you run warm, yet you are both bringing the same 15 degree sleeping bags. Your wife will be fine in hers and you can probably get away with a 30 degree bag.

A few things to consider leaving at home (or not purchasing)
* sleeping bag liner
* rain pants
* hiking umbrella

You are both bringing too many clothes. Pare it down to the point that on a cold evening around camp you will be wearing every stitch of clothing that you brought.
E.g. you are have two sets of hiking clothes on your list, shorts and t-shirt as well as zip-offs and long sleeved nylon shirt, just bring either one or the other, not both.
However you do need to add a woolie, warm hat to your list, you will be cold without it no matter what other clothing you bring.

So many items, so little time!!!

Here's a few comments/suggestions —

Ditching that five-and-a-half pound pack for your plan/hope to get an MLD Exodus would really put a dent in your base weight. That looks like it may results in eliminating 3 pounds or more, even with the framed version of the Exodus.

But would the Exodus (3500 cu in) hold the Bear Vault along with all the other stuff you list, especially if you are going to be carrying extra food to exend distances between resupply points?

When we use our Bear Vault (BV-300), it carries best in my Granite Gear Vapor Trail or, if there's a lot of other bulky stuff, my GoLite Quest.

Two of the Platypus Big Zip 3L Platypus w/tubes? Think someone else already posted a suggestion that the Big Zip 3L platys be replaced with a couple of smaller (1L?)platys for each of you, and you can just swap out the 1L platys under the hose from the dirty water reservoir when filtering — and you could ditch the GravityWorks 4L "clean water" platy.

Others' comments re lights, batteries, phone cases, etc. are good, too, although we do make use of odor-proof bags (even with the Bear Vault).