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)


Tent Tent parts divided between tent mates.  Consider tarp and other ultralight options

Stove Lightweight backpacking stoves (1 stove for every 3-4 people).  Just needs to boil water

Fuel Canister fuel.  20 oz for 12 people for 5 dinners.  Consider Alcohol or Hexamine options

Water Filter Consider Sawyer gravity type filter or tablets

Pots w/lid One 4 liter pot and one 2 liter pot per patrol

Trowel 1 per patrol

Bear bags + line 3-4 per patrol

50 ft of cord light wight cord to be used for shelters, repairs, etc.

Detail maps Coated; 1 per patrol (each member should have personal minimal map)

Group First Aid Kit 1 per patrol

GPS tracker 1 per patrol




Other





































 

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