Equipment Checklist - Ultralight Backpacking

 

Personal Gear: Clothing  (NO COTTON!!!)

☐ 1 Long sleeve trekking shirt (worn) Lightweight synthetic
☐ 1 Pants OR shorts (worn) Lightweight synthetic
☐ 1 Underwear (wearing one) Synthetic NOT cotton;  should be a dark color
☐ 2-3 Pairs of socks (wearing one) Light-to-mid weight synthetic or wool running or hiking socks—no cotton
☐ 1 Pair shoes (worn) Trail runners are ideal - or favorite hiking boots
☐ 1 Insulating layer Fleece or down pullover.  Windproof fabric is heavy and your rain shell can be used to block wind.
☐ 1 Rain shell Lightweight Waterproof (not just water resistant)
☐ 1 Long sleeve sleeping top Synthetic thermal
☐ 1 Sleep bottom Synthetic thermal
☐ 1 Sleeping beanie/cap Wool or synthetic
☐ 1 Pair lightweight gloves Synthetic or wool.  Lightweight.  Glove/mitten liners are fine.
☐ 1 Hat with a brim
☐ 1 Bandana Your bandana can be Cotton




10 Essentials - Summer

☐ 1 Pocket Knife Small Swiss Army type knife is fine
☐ 1 First-Aid Kit Small personal kit (half sandwich bag sized)
☐ 1 First-Aid Kit - Whistle Small pealess whistle for signalling
☐ 1 Extra Clothes Dependent on likely temperature - pullover may be fine
☐ 1 Rain Gear Waterproof jacket and ideally pants too
☐ 1
Rain Gear - Shelter Mylar emergency blanket
☐ 1 Water Bottle 1 liter capacity acceptable; ideally 2-3 litters in 2 or more containers
☐ 1
Water Bottle - water purification Way to treat water
☐ 1 Flashlight Replace batteries before trek.  Bring extra batteries and bulbs; headlamp preferred
☐ 1 Trail Food Something yummy and ideally containing some protein
☐ 1 Matches & Fire Starter 2 different types of fire starters. Small lighter, waterproof matches, ferrorod or magnesium bars are acceptable. 
☐ 1
Matches & Fire Starter - Tinder Fuel tablet or other longer burning tinder
☐ 1 Sun Protection - Sunglasses Doesn't need to be expensive.  Ideally protects peripheral vision. sunglasses or goggles
☐ 1 Sun Protection - Sun Screen Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide works best; wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and pants will significantly reduce how much sunscreen is needed
☐ 1
Sun Protection - Lip Balm Chapstick or similar; SPF of 25+
☐ 1 Map & Compass- Compass Working Compass; Suunto recommended
☐ 1
Map & Compass -
Map
Coated Map; Ask SPL for map; USGS Quad Maps
☐ 1
Map & Compass -
GPS
Optional and does NOT Replace Paper Map and working compass; waypoints programmed
☐ 1
11th Essential - Repair Kit Duct Tape; small roll warped around pencil or water bottle; possibly also multi-tool, scissors, screw driver, cable ties




Personal Gear: Sleep System

☐ 1 Sleeping bag
Lightweight 20-35° EN rating.  Down or synthetic fill.  Down is more expensive but lighter.  Synthetic is more forgiving it if gets wet.  Consider Quilt System
☐ 1 Dry bag for sleeping bag
Your sleeping bag must be waterproofed in dry bag or contractor trash bag. 
Roll-top dry sack made of silnylon-type fabric, just big enough to fit your sleeping bag is ideal.
OR pack can be lined with trash compactor or contractor grade trash bag.
☐ 1 Sleeping pad
Thremarest Ridge Z Lite SOL or insulated inflatable pad is preferred




Personal Gear: Other Gear

☐ 1 Backpack
45-55 Liters, ideally around 2 or less empty
☐ 2 Dry bags (for sleeping bag, clothes)
OR 1 pack liner
Roll-top silnylon is great.
☐ 1 Personal hygiene kit toothbrush and paste in ziplock bag
☐ 1 Head net Optional - bring if buggy and using open tarp for shelter
☐ 1 Spoon Long handle
☐ 2-5 one-gallon Ziploc freezer bags Freezer bags are more durable than regular Ziplocs
☐ 1 Trekking Poles bring lights pair you can afford - use to set up shelter




Food

☐ 5 Mountain House dinner or DIY dry meals Professionally made dehydrated meals are light and taste good.  You can dehydrate your own meals and pack in freezer bags.
☐ 5 Breakfast-in-a-bag Hearty cereal or something equivalent
☐ 6 Lunches First lunch will be consumed at trailhead and does not need to be packed away. Dehydrated meals and noodles.
☐ 6 Days of snacks Packaged and labeled for each day.  1,200-1,500 calories per day.  Mix it up so you don't get sick of it




Group Gear (to be divided among patrol members)

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Tent Tent parts divided between tent mates.  Consider tarp and other ultralight options
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Stove Lightweight backpacking stoves (1 stove for every 3-4 people).  Just needs to boil water
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Fuel Canister fuel.  20 oz for 12 people for 5 dinners.  Consider Alcohol or Hexamine options
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Water Filter Consider Sawyer gravity type filter or tablets
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Pots w/lid One 4 liter pot and one 2 liter pot per patrol
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Trowel 1 per patrol
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Bear bags + line 3-4 per patrol
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50 ft of cord light wight cord to be used for shelters, repairs, etc.
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Detail maps Coated; 1 per patrol (each member should have personal minimal map)
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Group First Aid Kit 1 per patrol
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GPS tracker 1 per patrol




Other

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