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Stuff I need to bring on a weekend long backpack trip

Wed, 05/21/2008 - 10:35 — adam.skinner
  • Backpack: Should it be the big Vortex 5800 or my ArcTeryx Borea or Osprey?
  • Sleeping bag: My Big Agnes or Speer Frog Sac?

I’m leaning towards the Big Agnes bag. It’s warmer, and the weather is supposed to be in the 50s. That’s not too cold for the Frog Sac, but the Big Agnes will likely be too warm for the coming summer months. And if I take the Big Agnes, I may need to bring my Vortex instead of one of my smaller packs.

I suppose another upside with the Vortex is that I can bring along one of my more bulky games =)

I’m doing the Vortex and the Big Agnes. This means that I’m going to need to cut my closed cell foam pad to fit tonight (as I have plans on both Thursday and Friday evening). I also need to pack it full of the gear that I need. Which means:

  1. Sleeping bag (Big Agnes)
  2. Sleeping pad
  3. Hammock
  4. Stove
  5. Water filtration
  6. Water bladder
  7. First aid
  8. GPS
  9. Compass
  10. Protein bars
  11. Sunscreen
  12. Bug repellent
  13. Socks (for night)
  14. Clothing
  15. Headlamp
  16. Toilet Paper
  17. Camera
  18. Fire-making materials (matches, tinder, lighter)
  19. Pocket ESV NT
  20. Pots/pans
  21. utensils/plates/cups
  22. Leatherman
  23. Garbage bag (for litter), zip-lock (for litter)
  1. Lashing

There’s also the issue of food. What should I bring?

You know, as I’m thinking about it some more, I should probably be fine; I likely won’t need my big bag. We’ll see.

Comments (click to show)

Tue, 05/27/2008 - 14:41 — adam.skinner

Commentary

  • Big Agnes sleeping bag: Excellent bag. It packs a little large. Lots of room, especially for a mummy. It held the sleeping pad admirably. I used the tarp from my hammock and excess clothing as a pillow in the inline pillow sack.
  • Hammock: I was concerned this would be a little cold, but it was fine. I actually had a reusable space blanket under my sleeping bag the first night, but didn’t use it the second night. I was a little colder the second night, but I think everyone was.
  • Stove: Freaking stove. It didn’t work with the Coleman fuel canister I got at Dicks. I ended up using Kevin’s stove.
  • Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter: Awesome. Excellent. Most wonderful. It’s great to be able to filter water on the fly. It worked easily. I’d just plug in the two hoses, unfasten the mouthpiece on my bladder, plug the hose into the bladder, and pump. Quick and easy.
  • 100oz Camelbak bladder: Excellent. Slightly oversized for my backpack, but it still fit just fine for all that. Worked out great.
  • First aid kit: I didn’t bring any first aid aside from the Blister Medic. I needed some pain meds on Sunday morning though! Janice hooked me up.
  • GPS: Didn’t use.
  • Compass: Didn’t use.
  • Protein bars: Ate them liberally. Had more than enough.
  • Sunscreen: A mainstay. I’d coat myself in the stuff each morning. Also included in this was the bug repellent I used.
  • Socks: I used my hybrid wool socks mostly, they worked out well.
  • Clothing: Light pants, wife beater, white t-shirt, UnderArmor underwear. The underarmor was a star performer.
  • Headlamp: Excellent. I used it only a little on the first night, but I’d keep it looped on my hammock above my head in case I needed it at night. I used both red and white light. I like how it turns off with a single click.
  • Toilet paper: Didn’t use! I brought some moist, biodegradable wipes instead, and these worked very well. I’ll probably pack a few of these in the future and forego the rest.
  • Camera: Used a fair amount, kept in the right hip pouch for easy access.
  • Phone: Ran out of power the first day (whoops). Didn’t use. I wanted to use it for time! Need to bring a watch next time.
  • Fire making materials: Didn’t use! Other people had already made the fire. I brought too much of this stuff anyway. A sparker and some tinder (plus some matches or a lighter) should do me.
  • Pocket ESV: Did some reading, but not much. Good to have.
  • Pots & pans: Only used my 4 cup pot. Rest of the stuff I didn’t use, except for the cup which I used to hold potatoes on Sunday.
  • Utensils & plates: Only needed my “Light My Fire” spork. The rest of the stuff was dead weight.
  • Leatherman: Didn’t bring! I brought a different knife instead, and used that to cut things a couple of times.
Thu, 05/22/2008 - 07:55 — adam.skinner

What I actually did pack

Well, I packed up my stuff last night (without looking at this list). Here’s what I used and what I missed:

Already in the pack

  • Vortex 5800 for my backpack. The other ones were too small to handle my Big Agnes
  • The aforementioned Big Agnes sleeping bag, situated in the sectioned off bottom of my pack.
  • I spent some time and took a perm marker to get the dimensions I needed to cut my sleeping pad to so it would fit in the slot on the Big Agnes. Perfect fit the first time! The side-bonus of this is that it’s lighter, and it should probably still work pretty well outside of the BA. Situated on the outside of my pack, strapped to the bottom.
  • Hennessy Hammock: Explorer A-Sym, with lightweight tent stakes for the guy lines. In the bag with the tent stakes is a little plastic shovel. Placed near the sleeping bag in the base of the pack.
  • Water bladder from my MULE. 100oz; fits in the exterior secondary compartment on the rear of my backpack! Threading the hose under the top worked really well – it should be just fine (and easy to access. Bonus!)
  • First aid: my “light and fast” kit, a blister kit, and a snake bite kit
  • GPS: Packed in the left waistband compartment; new batteries (yay!)
  • Compass: In the other secondary rear compartment (the pair to the place where my water is going)
  • Protein bars: 4 or 5 of these, along with some granola mix. Top shelf.
  • Sunscreen / Bug repellent: Was where the water bladder is now; in a 1G ziplock in the interior of the pack. I should move it to the exterior place. I have a dual-function SS/BR, but it’s only like 10% deet, so I also packed some Ben’s liquid (uber-high deet content).
  • Socks / Underwear: in the main body of the backpack
  • Clothing: Nothing extra as of yet. My sleeping bag has an internal “stick stuff in here and you’ve got your pillow” section, so I’m thinking of bringing along some fleece pants. Bulky (I have the room in the pack) but light. Perfect pillow material.
  • Headlamp: Check! I got a nice small light Petzl last season, with a red-filter. 4 or 5 LEDs.
  • TP: Check!
  • Fire: Went overboard; included more kindling than I will need on this trip.
  • Pots/pans: I have a small aluminum cookset. It’s got a cup, a frying pan, and a small pot. The lid for the frying pan doubles as a plate/large bowl. I don’t believe I’ve used it yet, so we’ll see how it works out!
  • Utensils: Spoon and knife, hard plastic (Lexan?)
  • Leatherman: in exterior secondary section. My Wave.

Stuff I didn’t put in there

  • Garbage bag
  • Lashing
  • Maybe my camera – I forget
  • Water filtration: Katadyn Hiker Pro OTW!
  • Stove: OTW!
  • Spork &c: OTW!