Packing Lists

[jeffblaylock]

It's been awhile since we've had a good discussion on what we take when we go backpacking in Big Bend. For purposes of this discussion, the trip is a two-night backpacking trek in the area. That can be a South Rim trip, or something in the desert, the state park, wherever. Maybe a basecamp, maybe a new camping spot on the second night. Point is, it's two nights.

What do you take with you? Do you have a checklist? How do you organize it?

I'll start.

MOSTLY WORN OR CARRIED

WORN
Magellan convertible hiking pants (10.3 oz / 291g)
REI short-sleeve hiking shirt (5.9 oz / 167g)

• Cooler, buggier, lots of sun exposure: Columbia Long-sleeve (6.2 oz / 176g)
• Hotter: Russell short-sleeve (4.9 oz / 139g)

REI lightweight wool hiking socks (2.5 oz / 71g)
Marmot waterproof hat (2.7 oz / 77g)
Belt (2.4 oz / 70g)
Vasque hiking boots (45.0 oz / 1277g)
Sunglasses
Whistle on lanyard (0.9 oz / 26g)

CARRIED
Pair of Black Diamond trekking poles (21.2 oz / 602g)

PANTS POCKETS
Swiss Army knife (2.9 oz / 83g)
Pocket towel (0.6 oz / 16g)
2 lithium AA batteries for GPS (1.0 oz / 29g)
Map, typically 8.5x11 sheet of waterproof paper

BACKPACK
Heavy Load: Gregory Reality (~75.0 oz / ~2125g) -- very limited water availability
Medium Load: GoLite Odyssey (~55.6 oz / ~1575g) -- limited water availability
Light Load Option 1: GoLite Speed (31.0 oz / 880g) -- reliable water
Light Load Option 2: REI Lookout (~26.5 oz / ~750g) -- reliable water

HANGING ON OUTSIDE OF PACK
Self-inflating Sleeping Pad

• “Standard”: Therm-a-rest Prolite 3/4 length (14.5 oz / 410g)
• “Luxury”: Therm-a-rest Standard full length (41.2 oz / 1168g)

Garmin Oregon 450 GPS with carabiner attachment and two lithium AA batteries (7.4 oz / 211g)
Thermometer/compass fob on small carabiner (0.6 oz / 18g)

Camera Outfit
Canon PowerShot G9 with battery and memory card (12.8 oz / 363g)
Spare NB-2LH battery (1.6 oz / 46g)
Spare data card in case (0.2 oz / 7g)
Lens cloth (0.1 oz / 3g)
Case

• Standard: Tamrac case riding on hip belt (4.3 oz / 122g)
• “Ultralight”: Waterproof stuff sack on shoulder strap (0.3 oz / 9g)

HIPBELT POCKETS
Hand sanitizer (2.5 oz / 71g)
Lip balm (0.4 oz / 10g)
Sun screen (1.0 oz / 28g)

SIDE POCKETS
Backpacking chair sleeve (10.6 oz / 300g)
Umbrella (11.7 oz / 333g)
Nalgene 32oz large-mouth plastic bottle (3.8 oz / 108g empty)
Spherical whisk (0.6 oz / 16g) -- in Nalgene bottle if protein shake mix is taken
Pack cover (4.5 oz / 127g)

TOP COMPARTMENT
Petzl Tikka Plus headlamp with 3 lithium AAA batteries (2.3 oz / 65g)
First Aid Kit (4.5oz / 127g)
1% hydrocortisone cream, Antibiotic ointment, Assorted bandages and blister pads, 2 antiseptic towelettes, 3 Q-tips, Emery board, Simple nail clippers, Tweezers, Folding scissors, Moleskin
Backpacking “wallet”
Drivers license, credit card, health insurance card, contact info, itinerary, $20 bill
Notebook and “space” pen (1.8 oz / 51g)
Mosquito headnet if in buggy conditions (0.4 oz / 10g)
Mosquito repellent if in buggy conditions
Trail snacks (included in CONSUMABLES)

REAR POCKET
Plastic trowel with duct tape around handle (3.4 oz / 97g)
Long-handled titanium ladle-spoon (0.5 oz / 14g)
Tyvek ground cloth for shelter (4.7 oz / 132g)
Toilet paper in Ziploc bag (0.7 oz / 18g)
Stakes for Silshelter (4.9 oz / 140g)

MAIN BODY
Platypus 100oz reservoir with drinking tube (5.8 oz / 165g empty)

Sleeping Bag

• Cold Winter: REI Down Time +15 (40.2 oz / 1140g)
• Fall, Mild Winter, Spring: REI Sub-Kilo +20 (33.0 oz / 935g)
• Summer: Mountain Hardwear Phantom +45 (19.5 oz / 554g)

Shelter
Integral Designs Silshelter Tarp with guylines and tensioners (14.0 oz / 398g)
I'll discuss my shelter options in a follow-up post.

Clothing
Base Layer
Cooler (19.5 oz / 553g) OLIVE
Wool long-sleeve top,  Wool bottoms, Wool socks
Warmer (18.6 oz / 528g) WHITE
Polyester long-sleeve top, Polyester bottoms, Short hiking socks
Hot (9.0 oz / 256g) SOLO ONLY
Silk long-sleeve top, Silk bottoms, Short hiking socks

Insulation Layer(s) -- Select based on worse than expected conditions
Pullover Tops

• 100-weight fleece top (8.8 oz / 249g)
• Expedition weight top (11.9 oz / 336g)

Jackets

• Montbell down vest (4.9 oz / 140g)
• Montbell down jacket (5.5 oz / 157g)
• 200-weight fleece jacket (12.5 oz / 355g)
• 200-weight fleece hoodie (15.6 oz / 442g)
• 300-weight fleece jacket (20.6 oz / 583g)
• 200-weight wind-stopper fleece jacket (21.1 oz / 598g)

Bottoms

• 100-weight fleece bottoms (7.1 oz / 200g)
• 200-weight fleece bottoms (8.0 oz / 228g)
• 200-weight wind-stopper fleece bottoms (17.8 oz / 506g)
• 300-weight fleece bottoms (18.2 oz / 517g)

Shell Layer -- Select based on worse than expected conditions
Tops

• Golite Wisp wind Shirt (2.9 oz / 83g) -- not waterproof
• Frogg Toggs Driducks rain jacket (5.6 oz / 160g)
• REI nylon rain shell/polyester lining (12.7 oz / 360g)

Bottoms

• UAE Rain Skirt (3.0 oz / 86g)
• Frogg Toggs Driducks rain pants (3.9 oz / 111g)

Cold Weather Accessories -- Select based on worse than expected conditions
Wool beanie (1.8 oz / 50g)
Fleece headband (1.0 oz / 28g)
Fleece neckband (1.7 oz / 48g)
Baclava (1.6 oz / 45g)
Fleece gloves (3.0 oz / 86g)
Snow gloves (5.6 oz /160g)

Camp shoes
Cooler: Fleece house shoes (16.8 oz / 477g)
Warmer Option 1: Vibram KSO Five Fingers (10.8 oz / 305g)
Warmer Option 2: Crocs (11.1 oz / 315g)
Warmer and no bugs/stabby things: Flip flops (7.0 oz / 198g)

Water Filtration (11.9 oz / 338g -- slightly heavier after usage) BLUE
Sawyer inline filter
Clean and dirty connection hoses
3 clean Platypus 2 liter collapsible bottles
1 dirty Platypus 2 liter collapsible bottle
2 paper coffee filters and 2 nylon zip-ties
OPTIONAL: Sea to Summit 10L folding bucket (3.4 oz / 95g)

Food Preparation (9.4 oz / 267g) TEAL
0.9 liter titanium pot with lid (all else contained inside)
Esbit stove
3 cubes of Esbit
Titanium windscreen
Storm-proof matches
Bandanna

Personal Care Bag (9.0 oz / 254g) GRAY
Body Glide
Deodorant
Hand moisturizing cream
4-pack of Colgate Wisp teeth cleaners
Travel pack of baby wipes
Deep Woods Off (rides in top pocket if in buggy area)
Prescriptions and supplements (counted in CONSUMABLES)

Emergency Supply Bag (16.2 oz / 459g) RED
Gear Repair Kit (2.8 oz / 79g)
Sleeping pad repair kit; Replacement hipbelt buckle, strap buckle, and stopper; Sewing kit; Tarp repair patch; Hot glue stick; Replacement bite valve; Extra Swiss Army knife tweezers and toothpicks; Nylon cable ties
Chlorine dioxide tablets (0.9 oz / 26g)
Spare boot laces (0.7 oz / 20g)
Spare pack strap (0.7 oz / 21g)
Nylon rope (3.4 oz / 96g)
Additional tarp guylines and tensioners (0.5 oz / 14g)
Compass with sighting mirror (0.9 oz / 25g)
Mini Swiss army knife (0.7 oz / 21g)
Photon mini light (0.4 oz / 10g)
Cigarette lighter (0.5 oz / 15g)
Gauze bandage roll (0.3 oz / 9g)
Mosquito headnet (0.4 oz / 10g)
3 lithium AAA batteries for headlamp (0.8 oz / 23g)
2 lithium AA batteries for GPS (1.1 oz / 30g)
NB-2LH lithium battery for camera (1.5 oz / 43g)
OPTIONAL: 2 body warmer pads (2.8 oz / 78g)

Food Storage
Designated Sites: Stuff sack (0.7 oz / 20g) ORANGE
Zone: Ursack (9.0 oz / 255g)

Daypack
Light duty (no reservoir): Kiva keychain pack (2.1 oz / 60g)
Heavy duty (reservoir): REI Flash pack (9.3 oz / 263g)

Pack Towel (4.4 oz / 126g)

CONSUMABLES
I'll cover this in a follow-up post

That's pretty much a two-night backpacking trip checklist for me, with options for anticipated weather and other conditions. Since I've moved into my new house, I've been trying to store it ready for a trip, greatly reducing (I hope) the amount of time it takes to get ready for the next trip.

[Verduretiger]

I keep this list for my use.  I have never tried to get weights on things. 

Backpacking Checklist
Shelter & Sleeping
•   Marmot Titan 3 season one man tent
•   Tyvec
•   Granite Gear 8 x 10 silnylon tarp when I do not take tent or use hammock
•   Marmot Ever Summer 0 degree bag
•   Big Agnes inflatable air mattress
•   ENO double hammock
Packing
•   Granite Gear Meridian Nimbus Pack
•   Stuff sacks
•   Garbage bag for pack cover
Clothing
•   Asolo boots
•   Crocs for camp shoes
•   Fleece liner gloves
•   Windbloc ear cover
•   Fleece/down jacket
•   Socks & xtras
•   Long-sleeve shirt
•   Wind/rain jacket
•   Liner socks,xtras
•   Tilley hat
•   Wind/rain pants
•   Exped.underwear (Capeline or equivalent)
Cooking & Food
•   Jet boil with extra cannister
•   Utensils
•   Insulated cup
•   Cigarette lighter
•   Matches/lighter
•   MSR miniworks water filter
•   Water containers (Nalgene bottles or equivalent enough for 6 liters)
•   Tea,coffee,cocoa
•   Breakfast
•   Lunch/snacks
•   Dinners
•   Condiments/herbs
•   Gorp or equivalents
Essentials
•   U S Army Lensatic compass
•   Maps
•   sunglasses
•   Paper, pencil (journal or sticky notes)
•   Princeton Headlight
•   Small flashlight
•   Extra batteries
•   DeLorme GPS
•   First-Aid kit
•   Prescription medicine
•   Sun block/lip balm
•   Plastic whistle
•   Signal mirror
•   SOG field pup knife and Leatherman Micro
Miscellaneous
•   Duct Tape
•   Parachute cord
•   Sewing kit
•   Repair kits
•   Olympus 8010 Waterproof camera
•   watch
•   Bandana
•   Toilet paper
•   Nikon Travelite binoculars
•   Toothbrush/powdr
•   Candle
•   Soap
•   Black Diamond Hiking poles
Notes:
Tyvek makes a good ground cloth
Poncho can become an emergency shelter and or pack cover
Lash cord, straps and parachute cord for repairs because things break, tent lashings and hanging things
Long sleeve Thin liner socks under wool socks help with blisters and keeping feet dry
2 Liter coke bottles work well, especially if pack has outside water pockets
Bandana has many uses especially if water supplies are low
Camp soap rather than bar soap

[Reece]

This is the list for my trip next week.

Backpacking Inventory Four Days and Three Nights at Mule Ears/Smoky Creek
 
1. Food
   a. 3 noodle cups (3 suppers)
   b. 3 packs of Tuna (3 suppers)
   c. 2 bags of trail cookies (2 lunches)
   d. 4 packs Instant oatmeal (2 breakfasts)
   e. Coffee
   f. Six – 1 liter bottles for water (4 full, 2 empty)
   g. Water Purification
   h. Drugs
   i. Flask, tobacco
2. Clothing
   a. 1 set of traveling clothes (remain in truck)
   b. street shoes and socks (remain in truck)
   c. 1-pair hiking pants
   d. 1- long sleeve hiking shirt (nylon)
   e. 1-long sleeve insulated shirt (polyester)
   f. 1-short sleeve T-shirt (polyester)
   g. 2 pair of underwear, long underwear (polyester)
   h. 2 pair of hiking socks (wool)
   i. hiking boots
   j. hats – Sherpa & billed
   k. hooded wind shell
   l. gloves, leather and insulated
   m. bandannas
3. Shelter
   a. tent & ground sheet
   b. sleeping bag
   c. sleeping pads & pillows
4. Equipment
   a. maps
   b. compass + GPS
   c. WhisperLite stove & gas
   d. trekking poles
   e. pot   
   f. cup, and utensils
   g. coffee filter
   h. first aid, new skin, blister pack
   i. camera
   j. book (for entertainment)
   k. tent light, small flashlights, clip on hat lights
   l. knife and multi-tool
   m. twine & 550 para-cord
   n. toilet paper
   o. mirror
   p. matches
   q. lighter + refills
   r. repair kit, duct tape
   s. spade
   t. cell phone

5. For the 12-hour drive
   a. books on tape
6. In the Truck
   a. jack
   b paint tarp
   c. air pump
   d. fix a flat
   e. plastic box
   f. 5 - 1 gal. water bottles
   g. rope, elastic ties
   h. flashlights
   i. soap, washcloth, towel
7. In the Pack
   a. sleeping bag, pads, pillows
   b. tent and ground sheet
   c. clothes, shirt, shell, hat, gloves, socks
   d. food, water, bottles, water tablets, meds, TP
   e. first aid, repair kit, tools, lights, twine, cord
   f. stove, fuel, lighter, matches, pot, cup, spoon, coffee strainer, filters
   g. maps, compass, step counter, book, pad, pencils
   h. camera
   i. binoculars?
   j. bandannas
   k. spade
   l. cell phone

[TexasAggieHiker]

Reece, what type of tobacco?  Pipe?

[sleepy]

Reece, what type of tobacco?  Pipe?

er...and what kind of drugs?

[Cookie]

Reece, Just a suggestion for you. Last year when we did our backpacking trip to Fisk Canyon we stopped at Subway in Ft. Stockton and got sandwiches (no Mayo, just in case). We had a cooler to put it in till we got to the trail head. Hiked in to our first night spot and had instant dinner. Granted it wasn't a hot meal, but it wasn't a long hike in either. We also loaded it with lots of veggies since we knew we wouldn't be having any for the next few days. We plan to do the same on our trip out next week too.

~Cookie

[mule ears]

Reece, Just a suggestion for you. Last year when we did our backpacking trip to Fisk Canyon we stopped at Subway in Ft. Stockton and got sandwiches (no Mayo, just in case). We had a cooler to put it in till we got to the trail head. Hiked in to our first night spot and had instant dinner. Granted it wasn't a hot meal, but it wasn't a long hike in either. We also loaded it with lots of veggies since we knew we wouldn't be having any for the next few days. We plan to do the same on our trip out next week too.

~Cookie

Great tip Cookie, I have done the same thing on past trips, a cold dinner but for warm conditions that is just fine.

[Reece]

Reece, what type of tobacco?  Pipe?

That'l be either my pipe and some Accountant's blend or my cigarette makins. I don't really smoke that regularly. I have a rule - I don't repeat any addictive behavior two days in a row. It keeps me free.

er...and what kind of drugs?

That'l be daily one-a-day vitamin for men, fish oil, glucosamine/condroitin, Lipitor,
Meloxicam, and stool softener.

[dprather]

As a sophomoric backpacker, I am really enjoying this thread.

I especially enjoyed the mention of basic toenail clipprs - I think that they are important.

[Cookie]

I especially enjoyed the mention of basic toenail clipprs - I think that they are important.

Just don't clip your toenails during your hike-I learned that the hard way

~Cookie

[RichardM]

I especially enjoyed the mention of basic toenail clipprs - I think that they are important.

Just don't clip your toenails during your hike-I learned that the hard way

~Cookie

Definitely best to clip and file toenails a few days before heading out.

[mule ears]

Here is my detailed list for the walk across the western side of the park (mid way down the page).

And there is another detailed list here for a bit colder desert trip in Utah.  Click Gear List at the top of the page to down load it.

The biggest variability for me is clothing as my desert kit changes very little on each trip (unless I get some new gear  ) with the exception of clothing for the conditions expected.  My list there builds layers onto a basic set of clothing with some substituting if rain might be in the forecast.  This is based on the coolest night time temperatures.

Usually worn all the time:
poly T-shirt, 6 oz. unless the highs are going to stay below 50 degrees then I will change to a:
REI light weight LS long underwear top, 5 oz.
Railriders supplex nylon LS sun shirt (sometimes worn alone), 7.6 oz.
REI synthetic briefs, 2.4 oz.
REI Sahara convertible nylon pants, 12 oz.
Alf wide brim sun hat, 2.4 oz.
REI Hiker merino wool socks, 3.7 oz.
Keen Voyageur trail shoes, 30 oz.

The next layers are added as needed:
Patagonia Houdini Windshirt, 4 oz. or
Marmot Precip Rain jacket, 12 oz. if precipitation is in the forecast
Feathered Friends Hyperion down vest, 8 oz.
Serius 200 wt. Fleece hat w/ face mask, 2.25 oz.
thin poly glove liners, 1.75 oz.
REI Hiker merino wool spare/dry sleep socks, 3.7 oz.

Below 30 degrees I will add
Patagonia Capilene 3 LS. zip turtleneck, 8 oz.
Medium weight long underwear bottoms, 9 oz.

Below 20 degrees for an extended period (which I have never seen in the desert) I would add:
Change pants to Railriders Winter Weather Pants, 15 oz.
Golite polarguard sweater, 18 oz.
Maybe 200 weight fleece pants, 16 oz.
Windbloc mittens, 2 oz.
Down Booties 4.5 oz.

So below 30 degrees can add at least a pound and potentially up to 4 pounds to the pack

[jeffblaylock]

Another good, general packing list for a 3-day trek, via Backpacking Light:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00234.html

This person's list obviously benefits from a water availability largely absent in Big Bend, but it otherwise generally covers the conditions there.

[Homer67]

Very nice!  I will definitely check out this thread as we make our packs before our trip next month!