CHIP: These are lists for some of my recent solo trips, each chosen as an example of a particular approach:
A) an ultralight solar-powered trip to the high desert in late spring;
B) a fanny-pack overnighter during the hinge season in the mountains;
C) an average-weight working trip to the mountains in stormy fall weather;
D) a lightweight winter excursion on snowshoes.
One striking change from previous Walkers is how few individual items weigh more than 1 pound—I’ve gone from paring ounces to paring tenths of an ounce, so I list weights accordingly: in pounds, ounces, and tenths. The lists are arranged by the way I loaded my packs—where a stuff sack or pouch is listed, the items it held follow with an indent. Since there’s a two-page ounce and calorie-counting food table on this page—and because I was itching to go—for these trips I weighed the food bag as a unit. The lists don’t include water weight: 1 liter = 2.2 lbs. and 1 quart = 2.1 lbs. Note that weights given below for some items might differ slightly from those in the text, owing to second-guess-weighing, wear and tear, duct-tape patches, or an occasional wash.
For more on the FSO (From the Skin Out) concept, see this page.
5000–7000 feet; 70–85°F days, 45–55° nights; passing rain
| PACK, CONTENTS, AND ATTACHMENTS | ||
| lb. | oz. | |
pack: GoLite Breeze |
12.4 | |
tarp/fly: Integral Designs SIL Shelter (not including sand) |
15.0 | |
stakes (for sand and hardpan): |
||
Hilleberg, soft ground, 6 @ o.6 oz. |
3.6 | |
and Black Diamond T, 9 in., 2 @ 2.2 oz. |
4.4 | |
3 mm static cord, 35 ft. |
1.6 | |
½-in. high-strength nylon webbing, 40 ft. |
8.5 | |
sleeping-bag stow sack: GoLite Pouch, medium |
1.0 | |
sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Iroquois, down, long |
1 | 11.0 |
Mylar reflective blanket (groundsheet) |
1.7 | |
book: M’Asal Beag Dubh and Other Stories by Padraic O Conaire |
4.5 | |
| Solar campsite (this page) | ||
battery charger: Solar World SPC-4, built into plastic box |
3.8 | |
headlamp: Princeton Tec Matrix LED (without batteries) |
4.2 | |
lamp batteries: AA high-capacity nicad, 2 @ 0.8 oz. |
1.6 | |
stove batteries: AA NiMH, 2 @ 0.9 oz. |
1.8 | |
emergency batteries: AA lithium Energizer, 2 @ 0.5 oz. |
1.0 | |
large zip-top plastic bag (for gathering fuel) |
0.4 | |
stove/pot bag (including soot) |
1.2 | |
stove: Sierra Zzip Titanium |
9.9 | |
pot with lid (serves as plate): Olicamp titanium |
3.8 | |
insulated mug, less handle: Aladdin, 12 fl. oz. |
4.8 | |
spoon: Snow Peak titanium |
0.6 | |
refillable butane lighter |
0.6 | |
stainless tea ball |
0.5 | |
viscose pack towel (partial) |
0.3 | |
scrubber |
0.1 | |
food bag (Ursack Major) and contents |
13 | 4.8 |
| Storage/water filtering (this page) | ||
inlet screen, float and tube: Sweetwater |
1.4 | |
“bulk shampoo” pump |
2.0 | |
in-line cartridge filter: Safewater |
3.0 | |
bladder with hose and bite valve: Platypus Big Zip, 4-liter |
4.5 | |
zip bag: Outdoor Research Cell Block #5 |
2.5 | |
lightweight balaclava: Patagonia Capilene |
1.2 | |
headnet: Outdoor Research Spring Ring |
1.1 | |
zip turtleneck: Mountain Hardwear ZeO2 XL |
9.4 | |
pullover: Wyoming Wear Polartec 100 |
10.3 | |
shell jacket: GoLite Bark microfiber L |
8.2 | |
lightweight bottoms: Patagonia Capilene XL |
6.2 | |
socks: Wyoming Wear Fleece Feet |
3.0 | |
liner socks: Bridgedale CoolMax |
1.2 | |
mesh ditty bag |
0.5 | |
flashlight: C. Crane Lithium Trek |
1.6 | |
dial thermometer |
0.6 | |
digital alarm watch |
0.6 | |
regular eyeglasses |
1.6 | |
hardshell eyeglass case |
1.4 | |
cotton pocket handkerchief |
1.0 | |
toilet tissue and moist wipes in plastic bag |
3.0 | |
toothbrush, toothpowder, floss, soap (in harmonica box) |
1.4 | |
First-aid kit, plastic box (bandages, moleskin, aspirin, etc.) |
5.0 | |
foot cream: Neutrogena |
3.0 | |
lotion with sunscreen |
3.5 | |
elastic bandage |
1.7 | |
duct tape |
0.3 | |
yoke office: Outdoor Research Possum Pocket |
3.0 | |
maps |
4.0 | |
mechanical pencil |
0.5 | |
spiral notebook, 5“ × 3” |
1.5 | |
lip balm with sunscreen |
0.2 | |
pocket tool: Coast Micro-plier |
1.7 | |
whistle: Fox 40 Classic |
0.4 | |
signal mirror (Starflash plastic) in ink-cartridge bag |
0.8 | |
firestarting tool: Doan’s magnesium |
1.5 | |
sweat wiper, viscose (cut from pack towel) |
0.2 | |
| Pack and contents | 26 lbs. | 4.1 oz. |
| Worn or carried at the start of the trip | ||
ball cap: Outdoor Research Corona |
2.0 | |
sunglasses |
1.8 | |
cotton pocket handkerchief |
1.0 | |
T-shirt: Lowe Alpine Dryflo |
6.0 | |
long-sleeved shirt: Columbia, cotton twill XL |
10.5 | |
shorts: Mountain Hardwear Pack XL |
10.0 | |
sandals: Chaco Elan, men’s 12 |
1 | 13.0 |
staff: Cascade Designs Tracks Superlite 3 |
9.5 | |
| Total weight FSO | 30 lbs. | 9.9 oz. |
8500–10,000 feet; 50°F days, 25° nights; light snowfall
FANNY PACK, CONTENTS, AND ATTACHMENTS |
||
| lb. | oz. | |
fanny pack: Mountainsmith Day with strapettes |
I | 13.0 |
| lb. | oz. | |
sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Iroquois long, in stuff sack |
1 | 12.0 |
bivouac bag: Outdoor Research Deluxe |
1 | 8.6 |
sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest, ¾ Ultralite |
15.0 | |
book: Grendel by John Gardner |
3.0 | |
stove: Esbit tablet |
3.0 | |
fuel tablets @ 0.75 oz. × 8 |
6.0 | |
refillable butane lighter |
0.6 | |
kettle with lid-plate, Olicamp Space Saver titanium |
3.6 | |
utensils: Snow Peak titanium, in sheath |
2.0 | |
insulated mug: Aladdin, 12 fl. oz. (less handle) |
4.8 | |
large zip-top plastic bag |
0.4 | |
water bladder: Platypus, 1-liter |
1.0 | |
water filter: Katadyn Mini Ceramic, in mesh bag |
9.0 | |
Recycled plastic water bottle: Schweppes Tonic |
1.5 | |
toilet tissue in plastic bag |
1.0 | |
toothbrush, toothpowder, floss, soap (in harmonica box) |
1.4 | |
First-aid kit, plastic box (bandages, moleskin, aspirin, etc.) |
4.4 | |
elastic bandage |
1.7 | |
headlamp: Princeton Tec Solo 2 AA |
5.8 | |
spare bulb, fleece sack |
1.0 | |
digital alarm watch |
0.6 | |
eyeglasses |
1.8 | |
hard-shell eyeglass case |
1.4 | |
rechargeable AA Accucell, 2 @ 0.75 oz. |
1.5 | |
plastic matchcase: Coghlan’s, wood matches |
1.0 | |
duct tape |
0.3 | |
shock cord, ⅛ in. |
0.2 | |
yoke office: Outdoor Research Possum Pocket |
3.0 | |
mechanical pencil |
0.5 | |
map |
2.0 | |
spiral notebook, 5 × 3 in. (for gear notes) |
1.5 | |
lip balm with sunscreen |
0.2 | |
lotion with sunscreen |
1.0 | |
knife: Victorinox Tinker |
3.1 | |
whistle: Fox 40 Classic |
0.4 | |
signal mirror (Starflash plastic) in blister pack |
0.7 | |
firestarting tool: Doan’s, magnesium |
1.5 | |
balaclava: Turtle Fur |
2.9 | |
red bandanna |
1.4 | |
midweight zip turtleneck: Mountain Hardwear L |
7.5 | |
anorak: Lowe Lightflite L |
10.4 | |
full-zip pants: Lowe Lightflite L |
10.3 | |
midweight bottoms: Mountain Hardwear XL |
7.5 | |
fleece gloves: Lowe Windbloc |
2.3 | |
socks: Wyoming Wear Fleece Feet |
3.0 | |
neoprene socks: Gator XL |
5.8 | |
liner socks: Wigwam Ultimax |
1.6 | |
food canister (formerly held single-malt scotch) |
4.0 | |
food (packaged weight—not enough, see this page) |
1 | 7.6 |
| Pack and contents | 15 lbs. | 7.8 oz. |
| Worn or carried at the start of the trip: | ||
cotton ball cap: Moonstone |
2.3 | |
sunglasses |
1.8 | |
leather side shields |
0.2 | |
eyeglass retainer: Croakies |
0.4 | |
T-shirt: Lowe Dryflo |
6.5 | |
fleece pullover: Wyoming Wear Sage Creek, XL |
10.3 | |
shorts: Wyoming Wear Zephyr, XL |
6.5 | |
sandals: Chaco Elan, men’s 12 |
1 | 13.0 |
blue bandanna |
1.4 | |
staff (lodgepole marked with feet and tenths) |
15.0 | |
| Total weight FSO | 20 lbs. | 1.2 oz. |
| Science gear (not used by the average backpacker) | ||
35 mm SLR Olympus camera, lenses, film, chest case |
3 | 8.0 |
100 ft. tape (for stream-channel measurement) |
1 | 7.6 |
aluminum stakes (to anchor tape) |
2.6 | |
K + E mining transit book (for stream data) |
9.3 | |
| FSO with science gear | 25 lbs. | 12.7 oz. |
7000–9500 feet; 35–50°F days, 20–30° nights; wind, rain, and 4 inches of snow
PACK, CONTENTS, AND ATTACHMENTS |
||
| lb. | oz. | |
pack: Dana Design Swiftcurrent L |
6 | 4.0 |
tent: VauDe Galaxy Ultralight (with stuff sack) |
5 | 13.0 |
stuff sack: Outdoor Research #4 Hydroseal |
4.8 | |
sleeping bag: Sierra Designs Lewis, down, long |
2 | 8.2 |
sleeping pad: Artiach Skin Mat, 72 in. |
1 | 14.4 |
stove: Snow Peak GigaPower (3 oz.) + case (1 oz.) |
4.0 | |
gas cartridges: 1 Primus 2202 (15.9 oz. net) |
1 | 5.3 |
1 Primus 2207 (7.6 oz. net) |
11.7 | |
cookset: Snow Peak Mini Solo aluminum, in mesh bag |
8.3 | |
utensils: Snow Peak titanium, in sheath |
2.0 | |
insulated mug: Aladdin, 12 fl. oz. less handle |
4.8 | |
water bladder: Platypus, 1-liter |
1.0 | |
water filter: Coghlan’s, with bag |
6.5 | |
viscose pack towel (partial) |
1.0 | |
toilet tissue in plastic bag |
2.0 | |
toothbrush, toothpowder, floss, soap (in harmonica box) |
1.4 | |
First-aid kit, plastic box (bandages, moleskin, aspirin, etc.) |
4.4 | |
elastic bandage |
1.7 | |
ditty bag: basic black nylon |
4.0 | |
headlamp, Princeton Tec Solo 2 AA |
5.8 | |
spare reflector, bulbs, fleece sack |
1.2 | |
digital alarm watch |
0.6 | |
eyeglasses |
1.8 | |
hard-shell eyeglass case |
1.4 | |
rechargeable AA Accucells, 2 @ 0.75 oz. |
1.5 | |
emergency lithium AA cells, Energizer, 2 @ 0.5 oz. |
1.0 | |
plastic matchcase: Coghlan’s, wood matches |
1.0 | |
duct tape |
0.3 | |
shock cord, ⅛ in. |
0.2 | |
digital thermohygrometer (to measure temperature and relative humidity in and around tent) |
1.8 | |
yoke office: Outdoor Research Possum Pocket |
3.0 | |
mechanical pencil |
0.7 | |
spiral notebook, 5 × 3 in. (for gear notes) |
1.5 | |
lip balm with sunscreen |
0.2 | |
lotion with sunscreen |
1.7 | |
knife: Victorinox Tinker |
3.1 | |
whistle: Fox 40 Classic |
0.4 | |
signal mirror (Starflash plastic) in blister pack |
0.7 | |
firestarting tool: Doan’s, magnesium |
1.5 | |
sandals: Chaco Elan, men’s 12 |
1 | 13.0 |
neoprene socks: Gator XL |
5.8 | |
socks: Dahlgren, lightweight hiker |
2.4 | |
liner socks: Wigwam Ultimax |
1.6 | |
low-stretch gaiters: La Sportiva Gasket |
2.6 | |
stuff sack: Outdoor Research #4 Hydroseal |
4.8 | |
balaclava: Turtle Fur |
2.9 | |
red bandanna |
1.4 | |
midweight zip turtleneck: Mountain Hardwear ZeO2 L |
7.5 | |
anorak: Lowe Lightflite L |
10.4 | |
fleece vest: REI Windbloc M |
14.2 | |
full-zip pants: Lowe Lightflite L |
10.3 | |
lightweight bottoms: Patagonia Capilene L |
6.2 | |
midweight bottoms: Mountain Hardwear ZeO2 XL |
7.5 | |
liner gloves: Wigwam polypropylene (partly melted) |
2.0 | |
fleece gloves: Lowe Windbloc |
2.3 | |
mittens: Norwegian wool (heavily darned) |
3.0 | |
large zip-top plastic bag |
0.4 | |
K + E mining transit book (for stream data) |
9.3 | |
book: The Serpent and the Swan by Boria Sax |
1 | 0.0 |
map |
2.0 | |
bearproof canister: Garcia Backpacker’s Cache |
2 | 8.0 |
Food (packaged weight) |
7 | 11 |
| Pack and contents | 42 lbs. | 4.5 oz. |
| Worn or carried at the start of the trip | ||
ball cap: Moonstone, cotton |
2.3 | |
sunglasses with side shields |
2.0 | |
eyeglass retainer: Croakies |
0.4 | |
blue bandanna |
1.4 | |
T-shirt: Lowe Dryflo piqué |
6.5 | |
fleece pullover: Wyoming Wear Sage Creek XL |
10.3 | |
shorts: Wyoming Wear Zephyr XL |
6.5 | |
Boots: La Sportiva Storm GTX, men’s 12 |
3 | 6.0 |
Socks: Bridgedale lightweight hiker |
2.5 | |
35 mm SLR Olympus camera, lenses, film, chest case |
3 | 8.0 |
| Total weight FSO | 51 lbs. | 2.4 oz. |
7500–9500 feet; 25°F days, 15° nights; 1 foot of snow on ground, windy with 4–6 inches of snow
| PACK, CONTENTS, AND ATTACHMENTS | ||
| lb. | oz. | |
pack: Mountainsmith MountainLight 3500 L |
3 | 10.0 |
solo tent: Hilleberg Akto with footprint, in stuff sack |
3 | 3.2 |
stakes (for hard ground and snow), with extra guy lines, sack |
12.0 | |
sleeping bag: Sierra Designs Lewis, down, L, in stuff sack |
2 | 13.0 |
sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest ¾ Ultralite |
15.0 | |
groundsheet: Reflectix insulation, 76 in. |
11.0 | |
book: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis |
5.5 | |
stove: Peak 1 Xtreme, in homemade hanging rig |
15.0 | |
fuel cartridges: Powermax, 1 @ 13.9 oz., 1 @ 7.8 oz. |
1 | 5.7 |
lantern/stove chain |
0.6 | |
butane lighter |
0.6 | |
matchsafe: Coghlan’s, wood matches |
1.0 | |
pots with lid and lifter: MSR Blacklite |
1 | 0.3 |
insulated mug: Aladdin, 12 fl. oz. less handle |
4.8 | |
coffee sling: Sierra Designs |
1.0 | |
spoon: GSI Tekk Lexan |
0.3 | |
viscose pack towel (partial) |
0.3 | |
recycled plastic water bottle, foil-taped |
2.2 | |
food bag (Ursack Major) and contents |
4 | 8.5 |
mesh ditty bag |
0.5 | |
headlamp: Princeton Tec Solo with 2 AA Accucells |
5.8 | |
spare bulb, fleece sack |
1.0 | |
emergency batteries: AA lithium Energizer, 2 @ 0.5 oz. |
1.0 | |
dial thermometer |
0.6 | |
digital alarm watch |
0.6 | |
regular eyeglasses |
1.6 | |
hard-shell eyeglass case |
1.4 | |
cotton pocket handkerchief |
1.0 | |
toilet tissue in plastic bag |
1.5 | |
toothbrush, toothpowder, floss, soap (in harmonica box) |
1.4 | |
First-aid kit, plastic box (bandages, moleskin, aspirin, etc.) |
4.4 | |
elastic bandage |
1.7 | |
duct tape |
0.3 | |
yoke office: Outdoor Research Possum Pocket |
3.0 | |
mechanical pencil |
0.5 | |
spiral notebook, 5 × 3 in. (for gear notes) |
1.5 | |
lip balm with sunscreen |
0.2 | |
lotion with sunscreen |
1.5 | |
pocket tool: Coast Micro-plier |
1.7 | |
whistle: Fox 40 Classic |
0.4 | |
signal mirror (Starflash plastic) in ink-cartridge sack |
0.8 | |
firestarting tool: Doan’s, magnesium |
1.5 | |
viscose eyeglass wiper (cut from pack towel) |
0.2 | |
zip bag: Outdoor Research Cell Block #8 |
3.0 | |
bomber hat: Granite Gear South Shore |
3.5 | |
shell jacket: GoLite Bark microfiber L |
8.2 | |
shell pants: GoLite Trunk L |
6.4 | |
down vest: Woolrich L and stuff sack |
14.0 | |
shell mitts: Outdoor Research Gore-Tex |
4.7 | |
lightweight bottoms: Patagonia Capilene L |
6.0 | |
socks: Wigwam Ultimax |
3.7 | |
liner socks: Wigwam Ultimax |
1.6 | |
down booties: Sierra Designs |
8.8 | |
| Pack and contents | 26 lb. | 12.0 oz. |
| Worn or carried at the start of the trip | ||
| lb. | oz. | |
tennis visor, discount store |
1.8 | |
lightweight balaclava: Patagonia Capilene |
1.2 | |
sunglasses and side shields |
2.0 | |
Zip turtleneck: Mountain Hardwear ZeO2, L |
9.4 | |
fleece pullover: Wyoming Wear Polartec 100 |
10.3 | |
fleece gloves: Outdoor Research W. S. Gripper |
3.4 | |
leggings: Ridgeview Thermal Thinskins |
3.5 | |
tights: Outdoor Research Rhyolite XL |
13.0 | |
socks: Bridgedale GTX Trekker |
3.2 | |
low gaiters: Outdoor Research Flex-Tex |
3.0 | |
boots: Alico Ultrex, men’s 12 |
3 | 9.6 |
staff: Cascade Designs Tracks Superlite 3 (with snow basket) |
10.6 | |
snowshoes: Little Bear Saguache Lexan |
4 | 1.6 |
| Total weight FSO | 38 lbs. | 4.6 oz. |