Best-bang-for-the-buck recommendations
- Category Weight
-
Big Four
16.9 lb
-
Clothing
2.89 lb
-
Water
0.07 lb
-
Cookset
0.81 lb
-
Poop Kit
0.28 lb
-
Misc and Ditty Bag
0.58 lb
-
Worn/Carried
1.5 lb
-
Electronics
0.35 lb
-
Other recommendations (not to bring on trip, but to own)
0 lb
This list represents what Brian feels are best-value equipment items. They may not be the cheapest or the lightest, but he feels they are excellent performance for the money. He will continue to add to/refine this list over time as he finds better items. This list is also not intended to be all-inclusive of what you would need for any particular trip. Many of the items below can be purchased used through places like Facebook groups.
Decoder Ring
- Items with yellow star might be shared / divided between hikers
- Items with a red star indicate a CHOICE - only 1 needed, not both
Recommendations
Places I feel you should spend money to get a good fit: Socks Shoes Backpack REI membership
An REI membership is excellent for things like shoes because you can exchange them if they don't work/fit properly. Shoes are about the same price anywhere you look. You get 10% back on them with an REI membership. If you have any questions as to WHY Brian recommends something listed below, just ask. Also, if you have suggestions for things you know of that aren't on the list, please comment!
-
-
Big Four
Weight qty -
Xmid 2P Durston X-Mid 2P 1120
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent - Trekking pole Durston X-mid 1P 1211
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent - Trekking pole 3F UL/Mier Lanshan 2P 1268
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent - Trekking pole 3F UL/Mier Lanshan 1P 997
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
REI Quarterdome SL2 REI Quarterdome SL2 1428
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent - Trekking Pole or included pole REI Flash Air 1 560
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent - Trekking Poles or included poles REI Flash Air 2 1120
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent - Free standing Paria Bryce 1P 1316
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tent Stakes Amazon knockoff of MSR groundhogs 8
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sleeping bag 40F Aegismax 512
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Quilt 30F Paria Thermodown 896
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Kakwa 40 Pack Durston 780
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Backpack Alps Mountaineering Baja 40 1064
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Backpack Granite Gear CrownX 60 1120
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pad SleepInGo 14.5
oz1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Closed cell foam pad - R1.2 Decathalon. NOTE: this is a VERY thin pad. Good in addition to other pads, but probably not by iteslf. 200
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Z-style pad Ozark Trail 535
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pillow Trekology 103
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Clothing
Weight qty -
Rain gear Frogg Toggs poncho 8.5
oz0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Rain jacket Frogg Toggs, Ultra-lite 2 169
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Running Shorts - synthetic Walmart or whatever you already own 100
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Beanie Black synthetic 65
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Merino wool Beanie Decathlon Trek 500 0
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Fleece Gloves Decathlon Trek 100 25
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Backpacking glove Decathlon Trek 500 0
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Socks Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion 64
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Puffy jacket Eddie Bauer 290
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Puffy Jacket Decathlon Trek 100, hooded 320
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Fleece Jacket Decathlon MH 120 333
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hiking Fleece Decathlon MH500 207
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Camp/Sleep shirt Russell Athletic, dri fit 137
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Underwear, synthetic Boxer brief style - to reduce chaffing - Walmart or whatever you already own 80
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Base Layer Top Magellen (Academy) 222
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Base Layer Bottoms Magellen (Academy) 193
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Wind Pants Dance Pants from Amazon 108
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Water
Weight qty -
Water bottle Smart, 1 L 33
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Water filter Sawyer Squeeze 69
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Squeeze bag 1L, Sawyer 28
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Aqua tabs Pills/Package for 1 liter 0.25
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Aqua tabs are recommended to serve either on their own, or as a backup to a Sawyer system. On their own, they are cheaper and lighter than a filter.
0
g0
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Cookset
Weight qty -
Long-handled plastic spoon McDonald's Ice Cream 5
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Bowl - ziploc - without lid coffee & measuring cup. 24
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Stove BRS3000 25
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Empty fuel can, Small MSR, 211g when full 100
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Windscreen MYOG - made out of a cake pan 13
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Alcohol Stove Homemade out of can 5
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Alcohol Stove Fuel Bottle 0.64
oz0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Pot - Stanley Leave out the plastic cups inside 7
oz1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Misc and Ditty Bag
Weight qty -
Gallon Ziploc bag
(For everything but sit pad)
8.5
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Head lamp Ozark Trail (Walmart) 60
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Extra batteries for head lamp Size AAA 23
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Bic lighter with Leuko tape Get mini bic from anywhere. 15
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Ultralight toothbrush Litesmith 6.5
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Tooth paste tablets Make your own - dry out dots of toothpaste on aluminum foil in an oven 0
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Wet wipes Individually packaged or bulk package inside a ziplock bag 5
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Lightload Towel -large Litesmith 18
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Razor Knife Litesmith 8
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Knife Swiss army classic 23
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sunscreen In Litesmith container 15
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Micro Lip Balm - SPF protection Litesmith 6
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Dr. Bruhners Soap in Litesmith container 10
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Bug Repellant In 1/3 Ounce Litesmith bottle 10
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Compass 30
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Mini Compass 11
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Whistle 9
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Sit Pad Litesmith 28
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Bug Net Ozark Trails 15
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Worn/Carried
Weight qty -
Conversion pants (shorts) & Belt Magellen (Academy) with DWR finish 307
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Trekking Poles Cascade Mountain Carbon Fiber. (Wrap duct tape around one of the poles for convenient storage) 8
oz1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Buff, Synthetic 29
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Hat with neck shade Swiss Tech (Walmart) 117
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Electronics
Weight qty -
Ziploc bag 3
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
USB C to C cord 1 foot 14
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
USB adapters 17
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Battery, 10,000 maH Anker 180
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
6700 maH battery Anker 123
g1- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Wall charger
Whatever you've already got
0
g1
- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
-
-
Other recommendations (not to bring on trip, but to own)
Weight qty -
Luggage scale For weighing your final loaded pack 0
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Food Scale Measures in grams and ounces 0
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-
Permethrin Spray Bug Repellent for clothes (spray clothes before trip) 0
g0- oz
- lb
- g
- kg
-