First Time Gear List Base

[Michael Pelissari]

Hello All,

So I am just getting back into hiking and backpacking. I was a boy scout for8 years so I outdoor experience. Just getting good stuff now and lighter gear.

Feel free to tell me if you think this is soild over all.

Pack: ULA Circuit Large(S-straps that are long + longer hip belt straps) – 3 lbs
Bag: Montbell Super Spiral Hugger 800 #5 – 1 lb 6oz
Pad: Big Agnes Insulated Air Core (20x78x2.5) – 1 lb 8oz
Tent: Marmot Pulsar 2P – 3 lbs 8oz

Total Weight: 9 lbs 6 oz, Rouding up to 10 lbs for good measure.

This puts my big 3 + pack at 10 lbs. Which gives me 15 lbs for the rest of my gear, I think is very do able.

Got some other miscellaneous essential things like:

Smith and Weston Pocket Knife
Sawyer Mini Water Filter + 16oz pouch
Darn Tough Hike/Trek Cushion Socks

What do you guys think of this as a starting set?

[Katherine .]

you could stand to go lighter on the pad and shelter choice. (depending on budget, of course)

Pad: a neoair would be a lot lighter. Other options from Exped, Klymt and even BA would be lighter as well.

Shelter: If you use trekking poles something that uses those as supports (tent + inner net or just ground cloth. or other more shaped tarps. If not, some tarptent models will still be lighter.

That said, it's still a heckuva lot lighter than my old conventional weight kit!

[Michael Pelissari]

Yeah my Pad is back from 2007/2008 when I took a 18 day drip to England with the boy scouts, but I am going to replace that this fall some time.

Right now I got the Pulsar 2P from a fellow member here at a rather cheap price. I will eventually get a much lighter setup with trekking poles most likely a TarpTent.

My most expensive item so far was the ULA Circuit pack, but I really like it. So I am trying to build into and around that pack.

As also I am a rather big guy 6'3" 255 lbs and a 48" chest. I wish I could get regular sized gear that is lighter. -.- Its one of those instances of curses to being big.

[Steve Meier]

Are you sure your ULA Circuit, size L, weighs 3 lbs? I am 6', 240 lbs, and have the same pack with S harness and mine comes in a 40 oz with all of the available features. Absolutely love the comfort of that pack!

[Katherine .]

Whatever gets you out there! Sounds like a 25" width pad would be a reasonable choice when you do get around to that one.

btw, love my ULA pack — it was my first major lightweight purchase.

[Michael Pelissari]

In terms of the pack weight, I wasn't sure I know the website says 2.5 lbs for the Medium so I just rounded up not know. so If I am under that weight then great. I have a scale at work, that once all my base gear is sitting in from of me all at once I am going to weight.

[Troy Childs]

Try for 2lbs on shelter. I like tarptents myself. They're affordable and work well for single wall shelters. Tarptent.com

You may decide to hand in a hammock too maybe. Hammock setups are around 2 to 3lbs. Typically about 2 just for hammock, tarp, and hardware/netting.

I'd also invest in a neo air pad or prolite in whatever length you prefer.

From there I'd get a light cheap cooker like a halulite minimalist cook set and an esbit/wood micro sized stove for it… like the firefly or firebox nano.

For insulation a 100wt or a 200wt polartec fleece with a wind shirt over it works well. Then just a puffy vest that packs down to grapefruit size as insulation. I use this combination more than a thermawrap.

[Michael Pelissari]

Great Post Thanks!

Your the first person to recommend some clothing and cookware to me.

I plan on getting my tent down a little, I can just to to just shy under 3lbs with the Titanium stakes I plan on getting as well and dropping all the individual bags lot of the gear comes in. The stakes the tent comes with are like 19 grams a piece…

For cloths I am working on finding something that fits me in the light shell/fleece market. As I am a tall guy at 6'3" and 255lbs and a 48" Barrel chest, finding normal stuff long enough to fit me is always a problem.

But Im a big fan of flannel so usually a flannel + rain shell and vest work well to keep me warm down to like 40 degrees.

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