Best for Backpacking?

There are lots of "lists" out there and many really good ones. Experts have taken great lengths to give advice any list's I might put together or someone else will probably leave something out that another would include, personal opinion. Also this question is probably the #1 asked question in camping it almost annoying to folks here. But never the less you need input so here is a great link with all kinds of expert advice and "lists"

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/camping#tab_4

What's your experience? How far have you hiked and how much weight can you comfortably carry right now? What have you used before and what don't you like about it? How far will you be hiking? What kind of terrain? What kind of weather? How long will you be staying? Will water be available, and will it need to be purified? How old are you? What's your height and weight? What's your torso length and your inseam and your shoe size? Are you going alone or as part of a group? Will you be base camping or breaking down and moving on every day? What can/will others in your group carry? Are you looking to go Porsche or Rolls Royce, or something in-between?

I've gone camping "out in the woods" with nothing more than the clothes on my back, a wrist strap compass on my watch strap, and a small fanny pack containing a nylon rain poncho, a Nalgene bottle with nesting titanium cup, a 1L Platypus bottle, some Micropur tabs, an Aquamira Frontier straw, some band aids and moleskin, a bag of jerky, some Clif bars, tea bags and bullion packets, one extra pair of socks, AA flashlight and a Leatherman Micra (because no man should ever be found in the woods without an impressive but tiny flashlight and a Leatherman tool).

And while I was out like that for three days, about a dozen other guys passed that made me look way over-packed!

You can ask here and search the Internet to come up with dozens, maybe hundreds or thousands of "Ultimate Backpacking Gear" lists. Then you can spend thousands to buy the best of the lightest and most reliable gear. You can spend weeks fastidiously trimming each and every label, tag and spare thread of material and further weeks organizing and packing over and over again to get a perfectly balanced and accessible load. And after all that money and effort you'll go on your first camping trip and it will most likely be a disaster. Perhaps you'll get so discouraged that you give up the sport and now have thousands of dollars worth of useless gear to get rid of.

Or you can find some friends that are into backpacking or camping. Maybe you meet them at parties or bars or at work. If you look closely enough you can spot the outdoors and backpacking types. Or maybe find a good forum and meet up with people in your area. Tell them you're a newbie. Most campers will be happy to help. Most hard-core backpackers won't want to be slowed down. Whatever. Find someone else.

Start with a cheap but lightweight sleeping bag (because borrowing someone else's bag is icky) and an economical, comfortable and good fitting pair of hiking boots. Borrow everything else. The more stuff you can try out without paying for it, the better you'll be able to decide what works for you when you do buy. Each item can have only two, or rarely three of these five different properties: small, light, reliable, cheap, pretty. Start with cheap and light until you gain enough experience decide what your style is going to be, then choose appropriately.

I dont use a tent anymore I sleep in a Hennessy Hammock, no worries about uneven ground, roots or rocks. You`ll always find 2 trees thats are far enough apart. You can sleep on your side and stomach and not worry about waking up with sore hips or shoulders.

Light is right...always check the weight of the items you are bringing...it`ll make your hike much more enjoyable.

You wont need to pack ask much as you think...the clothes you are wearing, clothes to sleep in and rain gear...that should be the extent of your clothing. In the winter time maybe an extra fleece or down jacket to sit around in camp and a hat. I keep a pair of socks to just sleep in while the ones during the day dry out

A gear list only works for the person who makes it up. What you think is essential may seem frivolous to me and vice versa. I've read many lists of supposedly necessary items for a trip and haven't found one that would work for me.

Are you looking for recommendations on gear? What is the best tent, the best sleeping bag, etc?

More than 35 years backpacking experience, over a 1,000 nights in the back country.

I never go camping without a good hatchet or small chopping axe. Gerber makes a couple of models you can get at Academy. Though I do love my Fiskar's brand chopping axe. Take 3 different fire starters and carry them all separately. That way, if you lose something, you have a backup. Lighter in your pocket, matches in your pack, and flint/firesteel on your belt or fanny pack. Fire is important to me and I want it when I need it. Put a blob of vaseline on a cotton ball and mush it up a little bit. Make several of them and carry them in a medicine bottle. This makes for a great firestarter. I've also used chunks of starter log that I wrapped in foil or heavy plastic.

My wife and I used to do some beach camping and a good folding shovel is great for digging a fire-pit or latrine.

In short: a good hatchet or knife and firestarters. folding shovel.

Props to Beach Bum for some really good suggestions.

As an afterthought, I really like my head-mounted flashlight. It keeps your hands free for what you need to do.

kelty and sea to summit water proof compression sacks

good sleeping bag that is light and will compress good

Therm-A-Rest sleeping pad

GSI dualist cook set

primus multifuel ex stove

kelty teton 2 tent sometimes I go with out a tent though

Black diamond icon headlamp

map of the area and compass

MSR miniworks ex water filter

platypus 3L hydration pack

and one of my back packs depending on how long im going for

and food and a first aid kit

good get the only from tilly's but when u do not must bring your backpack far and wide the tuition opt for a colossal tote bag! and for a pencil case in a tote bag use a lovable make up bag

Backpacking Equipment Checklist

Shelter & Sleeping

Packing

Tent, poles, stakes Sleeping bag Backpack Lash cord/straps

Ground cloth Sleep bag liner Rain cover Garbage bags

Tarp, poncho Sleeping pad Daypack, hipsac Ziploc Freezer bags

Bivy sack Sit pad Stuff sacks

Clothing

Boots, shoes Socks & xtras Liner socks,xtras GTX socks

Low gaitors High gaitors Overboots Booties, mukluks

Camp shoes Lightwt.underwear Midwt.underwear Exped.underwear

Fleece liner gloves GTX gloves/mitts Baseball cap Windbloc cap

Windbloc ear cover Windbloc balaclava Nylon wind vest Fleece/down vest

Fleece/down jacket Long-sleeve shirt Fleece pants Down pants

Rain poncho Wind/rain jacket Wind/rain pants Nylon windbreaker

Hiking shorts Swimming shorts

Cooking & Food

Essentials

Cooking: Food: Navigation: Other:

Cook pot Tea,coffee,cocoa Compass First-Aid kit

Utensils Electrolytes Maps Prescriptn medicine

Insulated cup Breakfast Glasses/contacts Waterprf matches

Stove & fuel Lunch/snacks Paper, pencil Firestarter

Piezo igniter Dinners Headlamp Sun glasses/goggles

Matches/lighter Condiments/herbs Small flashlight Sun block/lip balm

Water filter Vitamins Extra batteries Bug protection

Iodine Emergency food GPS unit Space blanket/bag

Water containers Altimeter Plastic whistle

Water bottle jacket Guide book/notes Signal mirror

Bear bag Knife

Snow & Ice

Miscellaneous

Ice Axe Duct Tape Pack towel Toothbrush/powdr

Snow shoes Parachute cord Bandana Fishing Gear

Snow poles Sewing kit SlingLight Chair Candle/oil lantern

Crampons Repair kits Toilet paper Soap

Snow shovel Rubber bands Reading material Cards, games

Avalanche beacon Camera,film,tripod Binocs,monocular Walking stick

Snow wands Clock, watch Hiking Poles

Handwarmers

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( Backpacking Checklist printable copy - in MS Word format )

Nalgene water bottles

Hennessey hammocks

Stearn's DryWear Raingear

Sierra Designs Flex series sleeping bags

Campmor waterproof nylon tarps

!! High Peak internal frame packs are advertised as a budget piece but they are anything but cheap. And if you are ordering online or getting your first pack, the fitting system on these is revolutionary.

pouch tuna

Folger's Singles

Stovetop stuffing

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/

check this site for great gear