I recently started seriously considering my gear and my dilemma with what to buy and when and what kind and........you get the idea. So I made a gear list that would take into consideration everything that I will need for a trip, and some things that I just want! The end product looked something like this!
ANDY’S 25-pound, 3-Day Gear Checklist
CLOTHES WEIGHT in OUNCES
___ extra Injinji socks $16 3.77
___ thermal bottom REI m/w Polartec Powerdry $33 5.11
__x_ fleece gloves 1.62
___ REI windstop fleece cap (covers ears & neck) 1.62
___ primaloft vest Revelcloud REI $100 9.50
___ primaloft pullover sweater 11.70
___ rain/wind parka Marmot Preclip $70 12.88
___ rain/wind pants Marmot Preclip $90 7.80
Price Subtotal: $310
Subtotal for Clothes: 54.08
SHELTER & SLEEPING SYSTEM
___ Big Agnes Encampment +15 sleeping Bag $119 59.00
__x_ Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Sleeping Pad 24.00
_x__ Coleman Exponent 48.00
Price Subtotal: $119
Subtotal for Shelter & Sleeping System: 131.00
PACKING
___ REI Flash 65 Pack (Approx. 4000 C. IN.) $170 50.00
___ Sea to Summit Ultralight Packcover $40 4.00
__x_ stuff sacks, freezer bags, & garbage sacks
(not already accounted for), 3.23
_______
Price Subtotal: $210
Subtotal for Packing: 57.23
COOKING & WATER
__x_ katadyn hiker water filter w/stuff sack 11.00
___ 2 platypus 2-liter water bottles $20 8.00
___ REI Ti-wear cook pot w/lid (1.3 liter) $50 6.00
___ mesh “kitchen” bag (includes condiments,
lexan spoon, toothbrush & powder) 2.80
___ MSR Whisperlite International $90 12.20
___ matches (backup for cook stove) 0.35
__x_ bear bag 3.49 ___ MSR 20 oz fuel bottle $18 5.25
___ REI Ti-wear Double walled Mug 10 oz $33 3.90 _______
Price Subtotal: $211
Subtotal for Cooking (without food & fuel): 52.99
NAVIGATION
___ suunto a1000 compass 0.78
___ maps (2 @ .2 oz per map) 0.40
___ paper, pencil 0.49
___ Black Diamond Storm w/ 4 AAA $50 3.90
_x__ Mini maglight 4.10
_______
Price Subtotal: $50
Subtotal for Navigation: 9.67
ESSENTIALS & OTHER ITEMS
___ first aid kit 6.00
__x_ Multitool 1.90
___ waterproof matches ~
___ Magnesium w Flint 0.75
___ skin-so-soft bug guard/sun block 3.00
___ sting-eze bug-bite/bee-sting relief 0.78
___ spf-30 lip balm 0.35
___ expedition sewing kit 0.74
___ toilet paper 1.50
_______
Price Subtotal: N/A
Subtotal for Essentials & Other: 15.2
_______
Price Subtotal of Subtotals: $900 (ish)
Subtotal of Subtotals: 320.17 (20.2 LBs)
PACK WEIGHT AT START OF 7-DAY OUTING NOT
INCLUDING FOOD, WATER & FUEL: 20.2 lbs
==============================================================
___ Fuel for 3 days: 3.5 oz of fuel + canister) 6.65
___ Food for 3 days (20 oz per day x 2 "full" days): 40.00
(first morning, fill-up with high-octane food
at the trailhead & the third night, feast at the
local pizzeria)
___ Water 32.00
(average amount carried at any given time)
_______
Subtotal Weight in Ounces: 78.65 oz
__________________________________________________________________
TOTAL PACK WEIGHT AT START OF 3-DAY OUTING: 25.12 LBs
================
THE GEAR I WOULD BE WEARING
This is typically what I would be wearing while carrying the 25 pound pack.
Weight in Ounces
_x__ cotton or wool baseball cap 2.00
___ REI polartec powerdry Zip-T $37 4.85
___ Convertible pant Columbia Silver RidgeII $55 6.25
_x__ Injinji Smartwool Crew Socks 3.77
__x_Vibram Fivefinger Treksport shoes 12.50
___ REI Peak UL Treking Poles $89 15.40
Price Subtotal: $181
Weight Subtotal: 44.77 oz
_______________________________________________________
Total Cost: $1,081
Total Weight: 27.92 LBs
Now the weird thing about it is......how much can gear really cost?!?!?! My total is just over a thousand dollars and will most likely climb above that once I get into buying the little things.
The thing I found most interesting was that the clothes section came out to be more expensive than any other section. But, I guess that if I want the best quality, that will last me the longest amount of time, I better shoot for the moon, right? I know that I could cut cost easily by substituting for quality, but I have never been that guy. Hell, I used to save my allowance for months at a time when I was a kid in order to buy that must have G.I. Joe battle tank. I could have bought the cheap army figures at the dollar store, but I'm all about quality.
The funny thing is that I wasn't raised that way. My dad (bless his heart) always had some new (old) car or van that he had picked up, and it worked fine, but really, there is nothing like quality. I will give it to my dad though. He always sold those cars/boats/etc. for more than he go them for, making it worth his while. Sadly backpacking gear is not like a car or boat, and it loses value even quicker. Most of the stuff that got stolen from my car was worth absolutely nothing, but it had lasted me years.
All in all I think I will be better off with quality instead of quantity, even though it may break the bank! ;-)
The Items on the list checked with an x are the ones that I have so far. Not very many as you can see, but I am slowly working away at them and should have everything by the end of next year if I keep at it and sacrifice.
No more Sake or Sushi for this woodsman! I guess its Del Taco for the next year, and Coors Light, which doesn't brighten my spirits at all. But in the end, it will be worth it Damn It!
When I can truly look at my backpacking wall in my garage and be satisfied will be the day that I quit backpacking!
Until next time!
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