Looking back over gear failures and gear ‘save my arse’ memories … time to update gear kits. The same exercise completed 2 years ago, and again last year.
The 3 kit gear set is based on conditions and trail type remains in place:
- Backpack – multiday / night hikes 3-5 nights; total first day weight <28lbs
- Tough conditions Day Pack – 1 day / 0 night hikes in rain, wet fog, cold, conditions requiring additional safety gear; total weight w/ water <20lbs
- Fast hiking Day Pack – 1 day / 0 night hikes in good, predictable weather; total weight w/ water <15lbs
Best gear for 2024: a) Durstan X-MId Pro 1 tent – everything is exactly where it needs to be – functionality at its best; b) Cocoon Organic Cotton Sleeping bag Liner – car camping necessity for both cold and hot nights – preserves quilt too; and c) Altra Lone Peak mesh upper trail runners (less mesh sand / ash seepage and a rock plate that saved my foot).
Target 2025 gear replacements / upgrades will be focused on satellite communications (InReach is not meeting the mark) and outer rain shells depending on adventure plans (weather conditions).
Gear kit by component
| Component | Description | Weight | Links | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack and accessories | Backpack: Gossamer Mariposa 60 | 31.5 oz | GGG, Gossamer Gear | Goatbells.blog review (post) | Keep for 2025 |
| Pack and accessories | Tough Day pack: Yar.gear 28L Ultra Mountain Drifter | 12.5 oz (changed sternum strap from stock) | Yar.gear (GGG does not yet carry ultra version) | Goatbells.blog review (post) | Keep for 2025 |
| Pack and accessories | Fast Day Pack: Gossamer Fast Kumo 36 | 21.5 oz | Gossamer Gear | Goatbells.blog review (post) | Keep for 2025 |
| Pack and accessories | Pack pods – Hyperlite Mountain Gear DCF pods | depends on size | GGG, Hyperlite Mountain Gear | everything but kitchen and food in DCF pods- some double bagged | Keep for 2025 |
| Pack and accessories | Waist pack – Summit Bum from Thrupack | 4.7 oz w/ comfy strap | GGG, ThruPack | Waterproof, large capacity and supports camera. Comfy strap is extra $ & oz but worth it imho | Keep for 2024 |
| Shelter | Backpacking Tent – Durston X-MId Pro 1 | 1 lb 10 oz (26 oz) | Durstan | Goatbells.blog review (post) | Keep for 2025 |
| Shelter | Backpacking Tarp – Gossamer Twinn Tarp | 9.9 oz (cords and sack) | GGG, Gossamer | Extra water, sun protection worth the weight; adds flexibility to forgo tent | Keep for 2025 |
| Shelter | Car camp Tent – Marmot Catalyst 2p | 6 lb 5 oz | REI | Review forthcoming 2025 | New for 2025 |
| Shelter | Car camp Tarp – Hammock Gear Traverse Ground Tarp | 13.7 oz | Hammock Gear | Used 2x in heavy rain – perfect size 2p tent + front porch – new 2024 | Keep for 2025 |
| Sleeping | Hammock Gear 20 degree quilt | 20 oz | Hammock Gear | Added 1 extra ounce fill (selection process post) | Keep for 2025 |
| Sleeping | Pad – Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite | 12 oz | REI, Term-a-Rest | new in 2022 after Nemo pad leaked – more comfortable than Nemo. Packs stiffly – but small | Keep for 2025 |
| Sleeping | Cocoon Organic Cotton Liner | 13.4 oz | REI | Mostly for car-camping to preserve quilt / pad, but if cold will carry in backpack | Keep for 2025 |
| Sleeping | Clothes – sleeping clothes and emergency dry layers | various | REI, Smartwool | Smartwool base layer top, Smartwool liner gloves, cheap tech bottoms, Smartwool lightweight beanie | Keep all for 2025 |
| Kitchen | Stove – JetBoil Flash | 13.1 oz (no fuel) | REI, JetBoil | 3+ years and going strong; very fuel efficient. Tried a MightyMoe, but burnt too much fuel to carry 100g canister | Keep for 2025 (last year) |
| Kitchen | Spoon – Titanium Long Handle by Toaks | 0.5 oz | GGG | Just right length for dehydrated food pouches | Keep for 2025 |
| Kitchen | Water bottle – 16 oz Nalgene (2) | 3 oz each (9 oz) | REI | If dry conditions, also 1 aluminum Natural Grocers. >weight than a Smart Water plastic bottle, but no through-away plastic bottles | Keep for 2025 |
| Safety | GPS / Satellite – Garmin inReach mini | 3.5 oz | REI, Garmin | New in 2022 and worked great, though can take time under heavy canopies – used for comms and updates when no cell service | Thinking to replace in 2025 |
| Safety | GPS / Maps – GaiaGPS | software on iPhone | GaiaGPS | maps, track recording, and GPS help – not the best for planning a hike (AllTrails is better), but on the trail, GaiaGPS is ‘go-to’ tool | Keep for 2025 |
| Safety | Trekking poles – Black Diamond Alpine Carbon | 1 lb, 1.1 oz (17.1 oz) | REI, Black Diamond | Goatbells.blog review (post) | Keep for 2025 |
| Kitchen | Water purification – Kataydn BeFree | 2.3 oz | REI, Kataydn | Goatbells.blog review (post) Small / light to carry in back pants’ pocket, replaced squeeze bottle with HydraPak | Keep for 2025 (purchased 1L for dryer hiking) |
| Feet | Socks – Darn Tough hikers | REI, Darn Tough | The third season with Darn Tough – buy 3 pairs / year different color every year; old for short hikes, and new for long hikes. Best socks found yet! | 3 new pair 2025 | |
| Feet | Altra Lone Peak 7 (WP boots shoes & mesh shoes) | REI | Shoes, socks & gaiters | Keep for 2025 | |
| Feet | Gaiters: Ultra Glam Ankle | Garage Grown Gear | Shoes, socks & gaiters | Keep for 2025 | |
| Safety | Battery pack – Anker 633 10,000mAh | 7.7 oz | Anker | this keeps phone, Garmin and watch charged for 6 day hike | New for 2025 |
| Keep Warm | Enlightened Equipment Torrid | 7.6 oz | Enlightened Equip | See EE jacket review | Keep for 2025 |
| Baselayer | Patagonia UV calipene hooded shirt | 6.3 oz | REI, Patagonia | works well for both keeping warm, and keeping cool | Keep for 2025 |
| Keep Warm | Gloves cold – Smartwool liners | gloves | Thin enough to tie boot laces without taking off, and subtle finger pads to activate Apple touchscreens | Keep for 2025 | |
| Keep Warm | Gloves water – Zpacks rain mittens | Zpacks | a gift from hiking buddy – works great and when really cold wear over liners | Keep for 2025 | |
| Keep Warm | Wind shell / Jacket: EE Copperfield | 2.5 oz | Enlightened Equip | See EE jacket review | Keep for 2025 |
| Keep Warm | Mid-weight fleece: Skygoat | 10.1 oz | GGG | weather / trip dependent after Copperfield carried | Keep for 2025 |
| Keep Dry | Rain jacket – Mountain Hardware Gortex | REI, Columbia | Jacket has worked well so far and kept me dry | Keep for 2025 |
No longer being used – archive
| Pack and accessories | Pack pouches – Ultra fabric UltraliteSacks – Six Moon Pods | depends on size | GGG, UltraLiteSacks | Used for multi-night and day hikes | Replaced by DCF models in 2024 |
| Shelter | Tent – REI Flash Air 1 | 1 lb, 6 oz (22 oz) | REI (discountinued per website) | Lightweight nylon tent; not sufficient for poor weather: carry tarp to stay dry – LAST YEAR ’24 | Replaced 1 year early with Durstan X-Mid Pro 1 |