This post reviews my three season backpacking gear list. When I was learning to backpack, I found it helpful when others posted their gear lists. It gave me a reference point for the kinds of things I needed, what I was doing right, and what I could be doing better. I think the most useful kit to start putting together is one that will get you through Spring, Summer, and Fall. After that you can put together specialty kits for Winter and Summer.
A Three Season Backpacking Gear List must fit your style
A few years ago, my backpacking style was fairly minimalist but I would no longer be considered Ultralight. Lately, I have been carrying just about 12-14 lbs of equipment. That includes my pack and everything that goes in it. It does not include food, water, or clothing that I wear when I start my hike. I’m not a fan of complicated meals and I usually stick to simple dehydrated meals for breakfast and dinner and salami and protein bars for the trail.
2020 Updates:
- This year I started using the HMG Winderider 3400 as my “Go To” backpack. This is a big change for me after primarily using Gossamer Gear packs. Why the change? Well, my old packs were getting worn out. Gossamer Gear no longer makes their packs in the USA, but HMG does.
- I now use a rain kilt instead of rain pants. The kilt is a lot more comfortable and more breathable.
- After a sad incident losing my food to a crafty bear, I’ve purchased an Ursack Ursa Major bear bag. This bag is bear proof and doesn’t need to be hoisted up into a tree at night.
- My go-to headlamp is now a Petzel Bindi. It is the lightest headlamp I can find that is bright enough to night hike with.
- For a few years I’ve been carrying a Garmin InReach Explorer. It is a satellite messenger with SOS and GPS mapping capability. My mother purchased this for me when I was taking a group of scouts to the Adirondacks.
- Therm-A-Rest introduced a new inflatable pad called the “Uber Light.” The full size version of this weighs the same as the torso-length version of the X-lite. Sold.
- Obviously in 2020 I need a face mask. Early on when they were difficult to find, I emailed all my favorite backpacking gear makers and said “get on this!” HMG answered the call with the bask mask in America. Why do I love it? This is the only mask that doesn’t fog my glasses.
- I started wearing one of those button down collared shirts with the fancy sleeves that roll up.
My 2020 Three Season Backpacking Gear List
Packing
- Hyperight Mountain Gear Windrider 3400
- Hyperlight Mountain Gear Shoulder Strap Pouch
- Clear trash compactor bag
Shelter
Sleep System
- Enlightened Equipment Revelation X 40 or 20 Quilts
- Therm-A-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad
- Therm-A-Rest Zlite (cut to 3 or 6 panels, depending on the trip.)
- HMG Stuff Sack Pillow
Hydration
- 2 x 1 Liter Nalgene bottles
- 3 Liter Platypus bladder for extra storage
- Aqua Mira Drops for water purification
Cooking/Eating/Food Storage
- Snow Peak Gigapower Stove
- Titanium Wind Screen
- Snow Peak Mini-Solo Titanium Cookset (Pot only)
- Sea-to-Summit long handled spoon
- Ursack Ursa Major
- Packit Gourmet Food Cozy
- HMG Large 4400 Pod
Clothing – Carried
- Super.Natural Base LS 17 Jersey Light Wool Shirt
- Patagonia Micro-Puff
- Darn Tough Socks
- Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Shell
- Lightheart Gear Rain Wrap
- Patagonia Houdini Windshirt
- Any merino wool glove liners
- Outdoor Research Revel Rain Mitts
- Wool BSA Bennie
- Fake Crocs from an NYC dollar store as camp shoes
Clothing – Worn
- White Sierra Men’s Kalgoorlie Long Sleeve Shirt
- ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxer
- Darn Tough Socks
- Kuhl Renegade Jeans or Columbia Silver Ridge Shorts
- Outdoor Resarch Solar Roller Hat
- Boots/Shoes vary
Accessories
- Leki Makalu Aluminum Trekking Poles
- Petzel Bindi Headlamp
- Garmin InReach Explorer
- Fire kit
- First-aid kit
- Repairs kit
- RUKO 149B Folding Knife
- Simple base-plate compass
- Local trail maps
- Natural Ice Chapstick
- Sun screen in dropper bottle
- Ben’s Deet in dropper bottle
- Toiletry kit
- Purell Hand Sanitizer
- HMG Face Mask
- Cotton Bandanna
- Apple iPhone with maps and guides
- Deuce of Spades Trowel
- Toilet Paper – 1 arm span per day
