What's in your pack?

[Casa Grande]

I thought I would start this little thread as it might be kinda interesting to find out with others are carrying around in their overpacked backpack (like myself).....

Backpacking:

Kelty "Big Bend" (yes, i'm a dork) 5200 Internal Frame Pack
Coleman 3 season Thinsulate backpacking sleeping bag (highly recommend)
Coleman Self Inflatable Pad (heavy, but so worth it!)
First Need Water Purification System
North Face Tadpole Tent
Portable Down Pillow
5inch Double Sided Dagger Knife
Coleman "Micro" Backpack Stove
2 Cans of Butane/Propane
2 LED Headlamps
1 Handheld Flashlight
Garmin Etrex Legend GPS
Hydrapak Water Reservoir System
Mountain House Dehydrated Food
Small Stainless Steel Cup/Bowl with Handle
Coffee Bags/Creamer/Equal
Duct Tape
Extra Bungee Cords
Small Scentless Kitchen Liner Bag
Extra Socks and, um, unmentionables
XLarge Poncho
Deck of Cards

....plus my VR photo gear:
Canon 30D DSLR
Nodal Ninja
Extra Light Tripod
3 Lenses
3 Gigs


Desert Jeeping:

All of the above (minus the backpack) plus....

Collapsable Utility Table
4 folding Chairs
Large Propane Stove
Case of Fat Tire Beer
Funyuns (preferrably with Wasabi)
5 gallon Water Jug
3 hydration packs
Extra Down Sleeping Bag for Desert Comfort
Coleman Portable Ceiling Fan with LED Light (very cool  8) )
Extra Single Person Tent (el Cheapo)
Xtra Large Down Pillow
...and whatever my latest useless gadget is at the time. ;)

[SHANEA]

Case of Fat Tire Beer
Funyuns (preferrably with Wasabi)

[Casa Grande]

Case of Fat Tire Beer
Funyuns (preferrably with Wasabi)

oh yes, a feast for the gods! In fact, believe it or not, I have actually written Frito Lay telling them they need to rename them FUNYUMS!  :lol:

[tjavery]

...Backpacking:
...
2 LED Headlamps
...

Probably one of the best inventions for camping/hiking in recent time! I strongly recommend these things to people when they ask about gear. They're light, efficient, just bright enough, and allow hands-free mobility. Awesome.

....plus my VR photo gear:
Canon 30D DSLR
Nodal Ninja
Extra Light Tripod
3 Lenses
3 Gigs...

I try to go light with only two lenses (wide angle zoom and tele zoom), and I'll take the battery grip off my camera for long or overnight hikes. And then also: polarizing filter, lens brush, cleaner w/ cloth, Lenspen, extra battery, and a few 2-gallon zip-loc bags (for extra rain protection). I also have an angled viewfinder with 1x and 2x settings- this is very handy when composing photos with a 1.6x crop DSLR due to the small, dark viewfinder.

...
Desert Jeeping:
...
Case of Fat Tire Beer
...

A fine choice in beer I might add  :D

[bdann]

Backpacking:

I too am a dork and own the Kelty "Big Bend" Internal frame pack.
Inside you will find:
small first aid kit
el cheapo sleeping bag for summer/nice warm can't think of the brand for winter
half a dome tent (my hiking buddy will be carrying the other half)
small travel pillow
if it's hot out a sheet for sleeping
small flashlight
propane bottle
small propane stove
tiny little propane latern
poncho
extra shirt/socks/etc
misc food items
Buck 110
plastic fork/spoon
sometimes a small coffee pot
maps if i need them
and as much H2O as I can carry

i'm sure i'm forgetting something (i always do)

[bdann]

oh yea, i always carry zip lock bags.  they always come in handy.

[10ftTall&BulletPrf]

First Need Water Purification System

I have often thought of buying a water purification system because I would think that purifying from a water source would mean I could carry less water.  But, I have always thought twice when it came time to purchase.

I always seem to carry enough water and I wouldn't know where to find water while I was hiking even if I needed to.

How often do you actually use the purification system in BIBE? Are there really enough reliable water sources to justify purchasing a purification system or is it just a really cool toy?

[Casa Grande]

First Need Water Purification System

I have often thought of buying a water purification system because I would think that purifying from a water source would mean I could carry less water.  But, I have always thought twice when it came time to purchase.

I always seem to carry enough water and I wouldn't know where to find water while I was hiking even if I needed to.

How often do you actually use the purification system in BIBE? Are there really enough reliable water sources to justify purchasing a purification system or is it just a really cool toy?

it really all depends on when/where i"m camping. Sometimes I don't even bring it if the springs aren't flowing....if they are, however, ie., boot spring, I'll definately take it....it's worth not having to lug around gallons of water at a time....my last trip we refilled our 2 gallon jugs each at the boot spring...this held us for the next 2 days while hiking the northeast and south rims....and we dumped some out on the way back as we ended up having more than we needed. Another reason I carry it is for backup.  If I spring a leak, then I can usually find some kind of water somewhere, filter it and I'm good to go...this system came highly recommend and eventhough it's a bit bulkier than most...it certainly does the trick!

If i'm in the desert jeeping around, there's no reason not to have it, just in case...

[chisos_muse]

In my Gregory Internal:  (only for overnight adventures)

Hiking BIBE book
Natl Geo BIBE map
Compass
REI sleepy bag
REI half dome 2 tent
Brunton backpacking stove & propane can
freeze dried foodies, hot cocoa, instant coffee, lil creamers and sugar
lil titanium pot and cup, utensils
misc munch snacks
fresh clothes & lightweight sandals/Keen's
first aid stuff
wet ones
small mirror
platypus full of water
water bottle
powdered gatorade
thermarest pad (all rolled up in lil stuff sack)
candle lantern & candles
matches
dove cleansing cloths (because I'm a chick)
TP
lots of ziploc bags for garbage/whatever!
bandana/misc rags

I wear a collapsible hat, use 1 trekking pole, have my bino's around my neck, and my camera is hangin on a clip within easy reach...as well as my knife! (in pocket)

I don't do makeup or liquor in the backcountry.....I'm klutzy enough sober! :lol:  :lol:

[01ACRViper]

Lowe Alpine 4500 CI bag
kelty gunnison 4 person (i don't mind the extra weight to bring along some friends :o)
walmart rectangular bag  :lol:  :oops: will be replaced this fall :D
slumberjack pad - long
headlamp
small maglight
stove - coleman powermax - on it's last leg
cooking pot
knock off nalgenes - ~8
camel pack bladder
day pack
3 pairs of hiking socks (3 big, 3 silk)
2 sets of clothes
rain gear
beanie


if it's in the colorado mtns, my columbia parka/pants

thts amazingly little stuff :(

[WL2]

Gregory Reality pack
Lowe pack rain cover
The North Face Blue Kazoo bag
Thermarest Staytek 72-20-2  (I like a soft bed)
REI Quarter Dome Ultra light tent
Leki Hiking Poles
MSR Pocket Rocket stove
Titan small pot
Small First Aid Kit
Platypus bottles, one with tube and bite valve
Pur Voyageur water filter, oldie but goodie
Marmot Rain Jacket and Pants
Small digital camera
Small binoculars
Garmin 60CS GPS
Compass, Small knife, Small light, whistle, map

That is the basic load.  Clothes vary with location and time of year.  Food varies also.  I ditch the water filter if there is no water to filter.  My maximum pack load with water and food cannot go over about 40 pounds or I die on the trail.  Its hell getting old.  Luckily I have a son who likes to backpack also so I can con him into carrying a little more than his share.

[Ray52]

d) all of the above

...at least thats how it feels.

Mountainsmith Circuit II
Coleman Cloudview 2 tent
MSR WhisperLight Stove
2- 22 oz fuel bottles, and yes, it was one too many
Stainless steel insulated cup
large lexan spoon
aluminum pot, lid, and nesting bowl
small first aid kit
digital compass
3 liter imitation camelback bladder with tube and bite valve
additional water as needed in Platypus 2 liter bags
freeze dried food, instant coffee, oatmeal, etc.
Clif Bars!
extra pair of socks and BVD's
fleece pullover
waterproof parka
whistle
headlight
matches
1 Leki Wanderfreund hiking staff
Nikon Coolpix 8800
my beloved Vuarnet shades
Holubar 0 degree down bag (you'll reveal your age if you recognize the brand name, but it was a great bag in its day, has held up well, and most importantly, was the only item I didn't have to buy for my return to the trail)
Thermarest self inflating mattress (definitely will be replacing this useless ballast)

anybody have a pack mule for sale???

[Ray52]

For my first ever backpacking experience I wasn't nearly as efficient.  A friend and I got bored of the local bar scene one night and decided we needed an adventure.  i knew there were mountains in Arkansas so we started north, stopping at the nearest mall to purchase all of our supplies.  We drove all night, and when too tired to go any further, pulled off the road to sleep in the car until sunrise.  At daybreak, we found ourselves near Mena, and learned that there was a trailhead at nearby Queen Wilhemina State Park.  

There, in the parking lot we began the task of trying to load all of our gear into our brand new department store backpacks.  I don't remember all of the specifics, but we each had at least 3 pair of never worn before blue jeans, family sized cans of Chef Boyardee spaghetti and meatballs, large packages of Oreos, multiple snake bite kits, large Bowie knives, a tarp and ropes, and well....you get the picture.  My friend was also into self defense so had a 9mm automatic pistol and at least 50 rounds of ammunition, so I was left to carry the axe.  As our packs prematurely reached their capacity, we literally stood on top of them to compress the contents so we could load all of our provisions.  Two young hippie looking women and a male companion passed by about this time and one of them remarked "this is you guys first time, eh?" We wondered out loud how she knew as we tightened the laces of our Converse All Star Hi-Tops (also brand new).

Needless to say, about 100 yards down the very rocky trail as we stopped to begin eating Oreos for the purpose of lightening our loads, it was obvious even to the two of us.

[SHANEA]

beanie

 :?:

What, no DVD player?

[01ACRViper]

beanie

 :?:

What, no DVD player?

something like that, only all black and from wally world :lol:



nope, no DVD player.  :twisted: i'm trying to get ever and ever lighter, i'm not in the kind of shape to be hauling lots of gear