My Backpack
Hyperlight Mountain Gear Junction 3400 ($375, 31.5oz)
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This backpack is — amazing. Its 55l so big enough for a trip of 5-7 days. I have had it for a few years now and have hiked through the pouring rain and it kept everything I had totally dry thanks to the dyneema fabric. I have the medium in white and its held up so well. Its frameless, but carries the weight super well and the shoulder straps, while they seem thin, are super comfortable.
Honorable mention: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
I used this bag for almost a year and really liked it but needed something a bit bigger for longer trips, which is why I switched to the HMG bag (also the fact that the HMG is fully waterproof).
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (~$449.95, 2 lbs. 3 oz)
My favorite - super compact and lightweight, very rainproof - I have not had a single leak or drip in this tent and have slept in it through some hard rain in the PNW and the Winds. Its super easy to setup, but the one annoying thing is the rain fly openings for the vestibules — they don’t quite stay back when tied up, but its easily remedied through some additional little tie backs. I use the 2 person for just me (fits my wide sleeping bag with just enough room left for a dog), and I have the 3 person which will fit two wide sleeping pads.
I also replaced all the guy lines with my own to make them longer to make it easier to setup. I also use the MSR groundhog stakes instead of the provided stakes because I just think they’re better.
Tent
Sleep System
Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 Degree Quilt (~$340, 19.6 oz)
I use a quilt versus a sleeping bag because the down fill in a sleeping page just gets compressed when you lay on it and therefore becomes useless. So the less down fill the less weight. I really love this quilt, though I kind of wish I got the 10 degree just for a little bit of extra warmth because I sleep very cold.
Colder weather option: Petrel 10 UL Women's Sleeping Bag
I got this bag for that extra warmth and for colder weather/shoulder season backpacking. I really love that its made specifically for women so there is extra fill around the feet and is likely a truer 10 degree bag because women typically run colder than men.
Nemo Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad (~$219.95, 1 lb. 3 oz)
To be honest, I think all sleeping pads kinda suck but this is the least suckiest. It’s less noisy than the Thermarest Neoair ultralight pads. I really like that this comes in regular wide, because I hate falling off the sleeping pad. Its warm enough for most seasonal backpacking, although I do have the Thermarest Neoair Xtherm Max for a warmer option.
Ever wondered how I survive out in the wilderness all on my own with just a few things I carry on my back? Well this here documents every single thing I pack with me on every trip, from the Big Three (bag, shelter, and sleep system), down to emergency items.
Backpacking Gear
Cooking System
I’ve used all of these items almost since the start of my backpacking journey and love how small the stove and pot is, and how convenient the vecto + sawyer are at filtering water. Beyond this, all I use are a couple smart water bottles I reuse for most of the summer.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2
Super small and lightweight stove option, screws right onto the little propane canisters.
MSR Titanium Kettle 1L
This kettle perfectly fits one of the small propane canisters inside it and is super small and lightweight. I use it only for boiling water for dehydrated, so the size is perfect.
GSI Outdoors Essential Spoon- Long
This spoon is great for getting into those hard to reach corners of your dehydrated meals. The rubber edges are great for scooping out food as well.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
I think this is the easiest water filter to use because its so versatile, you can attach it to anything that has a normal water bottle spout. I prefer to attach it to my Cnoc Vecto bag, which is super easy to fill up with water.
Other Misc Items
Trekking Poles
Garmin In-reach