Women’s Gear List

I think the only thing that really is any different is to not let any guys tell you you only need a single pair of underwear – go with two: one for wearing and one drying from having been washed out the night before. I think we only really differ a bit in the personal hygiene department, and maybe in temperature (we TEND to sleep colder)

Here is a GREAT link about some personal questions that we all want to ask:
http://andrewskurka.com/2013/female-hygiene-guide-tips/

And here is my JMT list for this year (I went last year, so this one is slightly tweaked – and I'm going solo this year, too):
Folks here will gasp, but I carry a WHOLE CAN of aerosol sunscreen. I burn like nobody's business and this is the only sunscreen I've ever found to keep me from frying in the sun (and it's not sticky once applied). It's not THAT heavy, but this stuff is awesome so I carry the whole thing.

Item Weight (oz)

Pack
Zimmerbuilt pack 28
sit pad 0.5

Shelter
Solplex 16.2

Sleep
Enigma 20* 17
schnozzle bag 2.1
Synmat UL 7 14.3
UL pillow 2.1

Cooking
Starlyte stove (alcohol) 0.5
Caldera Cone (Ti windscreen) 0.9
Cooking cozy 0.4
Evernew cookset (600mL) 3
Fuel measuring cup 0
Spork 0.4
Disposable cup 0.2
nano cloth 0.6
mini bic 0.5

Hydration
sawyer filter 1.7
1L dirty reservoir 0.2
Evernew bag/hose 1.2
filling cup 0.1

Clothing (carried)
Black Rock Gear hat 1
MB Ex Light puffy 5.6
Rab Kinetic (rain shell) 7.0
Tights (arcteryx AR) 4.3
LS shirt 5
1 pr socks 1.2
1 pr underwear (pat active brief) 1.2
Montbell UL windpants 2.1
Rab Cirrus (windshirt) 3.7
Rab gloves 0.8

Tools
camera/bag/batteries
iphone 4.5
spare batteries (AA) 0.9
Lighter (mini bic) 0.5
Zebralight H51W headlamp 3.1
Delorme 6.7
Chargers (iphone, delorme, nook)
Battery pack 6

Toiletries/other
First aid kit 1.2
Nook/case 7
Sunscreen (can) 3
Hand lotion 0.5
Toothpaste/brush 1.5
bandana 0.2
Medication 1.3

Bearikade Weekender 31.2

Total base weight oz 190.2
Total base weight pounds 11.8875

Clothing worn
Nylon shorts 3
Rail rider adventure shirt 6.9
Underpants 1.2
sports bra 3.9
Socks 1.2
NB Leadville shoes 19.4
dirty girl gaiters 0.9
Sun hat (OR) 2.8
neck buff 1.3
Locus Gear poles 10.1
Gerber knife 2.1
Sunglasses – prescription 2.4

Worn weight oz 49.8
Worn weight pounds 3.1125

Full skin out weight oz 240
Full skin out weight pounds 15

Hey Jennifer!

THANK YOU! This is exactly what I was looking for!

I am always so impressed by how light you guys get everything. We have the same sleep system but the stove I think is what does it for me. I carry a MSR WhisperLight and gas. I don't know, I have just had some bad experiences with stoves not working and I love that one because I love to actually cook on the trail. (More on short weekenders then on the JMT) The whisper Lite and a lighter weight (still 10oz) pot work great to cook anything from eggs to fish tacos.

I have always been hesitant to try a different system. However it looks like the weight savings is so significant in that area I might just have to, especially for the JMT where I assume I'll be eating mostly dehydrated food.

Thanks again!

Megan, at least go with one of the nice canister stoves for the JMT. You can cook all day long on those things – they are great. I have the Soto micro regulator from a few years ago and it works wonderfully (sometimes I forget how fast those things are!).

Go with one of the really nice ones, combined with a nice pot and you'll be super light and be able to cook whatever you want. But definitely get rid of the white gas stove for something like the JMT.

Megan, at least go with one of the nice canister stoves for the JMT. You can cook all day long on those things – they are great. I have the Soto micro regulator from a few years ago and it works wonderfully (sometimes I forget how fast those things are!).

Go with one of the really nice ones, combined with a nice pot and you'll be super light and be able to cook whatever you want. But definitely get rid of the white gas stove for something like the JMT.

Ok! I will definitely look into that. Do you have any recommendations? The Soto?

I could stand to replace my stove since I have had it for probably 5 years I just want to make sure I don't sacrifice versatility for weight. I'll be using it 95% of the time on shorter weekend trips where I like to cook and 5% on the JMT.

Oh goodness, there are so many. I like my soto, but there are better ones out there now. I think they even have a new model out that might be worth a look.

Check out the Fire Maple and the Gnat – I've been looking at those myself.

Ok great I'll look into those!

What's the difference with those and the set up I have now, other then 2 oz? It looks like it takes the same gas can? Sorry I know nothing about stoves :-)

Yes, they take the same gas canisters. If you want all the gory details, history and background, here's BPL's own Hikin' Jim's blog about canister types:

http://adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com/2012/01/gas-canisters-101.html

Depending on how high you camp, I've definitely had nights around 30F in the high Sierra. If you get any of the "good winter gas brands" in this list:

http://adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com/2011/11/whats-best-brand-of-gas-for-cold.html

you'll be fine for anything on the JMT.

Base your canister stove selection on weight, ease of use, and reliability. There are lots of stove reviews on BPL and on Jim's blog.

Separately from that, buy canister fuel to match the coldest temps you will encounter. Any gas for summer conditions. A better winter blend as temps approach or drop below freezing.

Thanks David, great info! I read all 3 articles and good to know about the cold weather canisters!!! I have always just used the red MSR can which fortunately are rated pretty high in cold weather.

I'm still unclear what the benefit to switching from my superbly is other then saving (1 – 2.5 oz)

I have a MSR SuperFly. NOT the whisper light. My mistake.

Ah, Superfly, not Whisperlite. Changing from a Whisperlite would have saved many ounces between the stove, pump, and the fuel bottle.

Yes, changing from the Superfly to some other canister stove would only save 1-2 ounces at most. I'd look elsewhere first for weight savings since you already have the Superfly.

If you are getting a resupply mid-trip, just take a canister for the first half and ship a canister for the second half and be luxurious in your stove usage (more hot tea means less pumping of water).

If you aren't getting a resupply, but are carrying all your fuel from start to finish on the JMT, that's at a distance/time/weight that a heat exchanger pot will save you enough fuel weight to be more than justified.

Thanks for the clarification!

More so trying to perfect a packing list in general then specifically for the JMT. Just looking for idea of what others carry / don't carry. I think my biggest things are the tent, I'm a fan of freestanding, double walled tents, i know i know, I might be shot however I just bought the SuperMega which will save me a lot of weight. Next up is getting a lighter weigh quilt, then my 32oz 15 degree sleeping bag.

If I do the JMT it will be next summer so I have PLENTY of time to nit pick that gear list.

Fire Maple stove, aka, 火枫， is known to be unreliable. I would stick to the trust-worthy brands such as MSR or Primus.