Lightweight Backpacking

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Overview

This is my backpacking list for a 7 day, 1 person trip into the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming in the summer.  Daytimes are generally 70's, sunny and have clouds of mosquitoes.  Night times are generally just above freezing.  It often rains for a half hour every afternoon, but can have a major snow storm move through.  Going into canyon country of Southern Utah, I would leave many of the clothes home, and pack more water.  For more details on ideas for lightweight backpacking, see my 2 person backpacking list.


Item
Brand
Item weight - ounces
quantity
Total weight pounds
Comments

Sleeping stuff






Tent
Sierra Designs Flashlight 1 person tent.
58
1
3.63
This one is about 20 years old, but it still works well!
Sleeping bag
Western Mountaineering Ultralight
28
1
1.75
Fabulous, warm bag.  If you couldn't unzip the feet, you would die of heat inside this bag.
Sleeping bag liner
Silk Liner
5
1
0.31
I never ever want to wash the sleeping bag.
Sleeping mat
Thermarest Z-lite 3/4
9
1
0.56
Won't go flat.  I am tired of thermarests going flat.  If it needs more thickness, use an additional closed cell foam mat.
Total sleeping stuff



6.25







Packing gear






Backpack
Mountainsmith Auspex 4000 (~2002 model)
56
1
3.50
Most comfortable internal frame pack I have ever tried on.  May need adjustment at the store.
Day pack
Strap used to make top of Auspex into day pack/shoulder pack
0
1
0.00
On older model, just buy additional snaps, and an extra runner strap.  Then, make a fanny pack or shoulder pack from the backpack top.
Total packing gear



3.50







Clothes worn






Silk weight t-shirt
Unknown



Wash a shirt every other night.
Underwear
Generic



Wash underwear every night.  Dry on top of pack next day.
Pants with zipper off legs
North face




Socks
Full size, generic, cheap, grey



Wash socks every night.  Dry on top of pack next day.
Shoes
Any, good quality hiking shoe/running shoe



I have good ankles.  Use what works.
Hat
Cool, full brim, crushable




No weight calculated for clothes worn











Clothes carried






Backup shoes
Tiva thongs
7
1
0.44
Backup for either a foot or shoe failure.  Heaven to have in camp.
Socks
Full size, generic, cheap, grey
2
1
0.13
Wash socks every night.  Dry on top of pack next day.  Full size, to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
Underwear
Generic
2
1
0.13
Wash underwear every night.  Dry on top of pack next day.
Silk weight t-shirt
Unknown
5
1
0.31
Wash a shirt every other night.  Dry on top of pack next day.
Silk weight long sleeve shirt
Unknown
6
1
0.38

Thermal underwear top
Generic, unknown
8
1
0.50

Thermal underwear bottom
Generic, unknown
7
1
0.44

Puffball jacket
Patagonia
18
1
1.13
Still being studied.  Not as warm as down, heavier than down, but more water/sweat resistant.
Gloves
fingerless wool AND thin blue
3
1
0.19

Full head hood
Generic
4
1
0.25

Rain coat
Patagonia, pull over, non-insolated
13
1
0.81
Works GREAT.
Total clothes carried



4.71







Cooking stuff






Stove
MSR Superfly
6
1
0.38
.
Cartridges
8 oz of fuel - generic
12
1
0.75
This 12 oz will approach 4 when empty.  Each canister lasted 8 days, 1 person.  May need 2 canisters.
Pan
Evernew - 2 qt
10
1
0.63
Titanium would help here, since it is only for one person.
Fork/Spoon
REI, tough plastic
1
1
0.06

Metal cup
REI, Titanium
2
1
0.13

Water filter
Pur
13
1
0.81

Water bottles
Walmart, ClearAmerican, 1Leter
1.5
2
0.19
Light, and indestructible.
Water bags
Platypus
1.5
2
0.19
For additional carrying capacity at night.
Lighters
Generic
1
3
0.19

Total cooking stuff



3.33







Miscellaneous Stuff






Pencil, Paper
Generic, 2 sheets, mechanical pencil
1
1
0.06
Used to write down all of the things that should have been taken or left at home.
Dark Glasses
Generic, wear
0
0
0.00

knife - swiss
1 blade, scissors
1
1
0.06

flashlight
Walmart, LED with colored lenses (Take Red only)
2
1
0.13
takes 2 AA batteries, not included here.
flashlight backup
photon microlight
1
1
0.06
Just because!.
batteries
AA, rechargeable
1
2
0.13
For the flash light.
Comb
Generic, cut in half
0.5
1
0.03

Wash cloth
Generic
2
1
0.13

Garbage bags
33 gallon, big ones
1
3
0.19
Use for backpack cover at night/ rain.  Also, for dirty clothes.
Zip lock bags
Generic
0.5
4
0.13
Garbage bags, see-through storage bags, etc.
Storage nylon bags
Generic
1
4
0.25
Used to organize pack.
Soap
REI, 1/2 bottle
2
1
0.13

Green cleaning pad
Generic
1
1
0.06

Thermometer
REI
1
1
0.06

Toilet paper
1/4 roll
3
1
0.19
Have enough in case the food gets to you!
Bear rope, plastic carbineer
Generic
2
1
0.13
I carry half.  Bear bag for food storage.
Total miscellaneous stuff



1.74







First aid kit






Drug kit

1
1
0.06

    Ibuprophen
2 each 4 hours (8 total) per day per person, minimum



Take 2 at bedtime, helps me sleep.
    Tylenol
2 per day per person, minimum




    Benadryl
2 per day per person, minimum



Take 2 at bedtime, helps me sleep.
Lip balm
Generic, screw top, won't melt
0.5
1
0.03
At 10,000 feet, this is mandatory.
Sun screen
1/2 bottle
2.0
1
0.13
See Lip Balm
Head net
Generic
1
1
0.06
Mosquito control device.
Bug juice
REI, 100% deet
1
1
0.06

Ankle tape
Walmart
2
1
0.13
Used for about everything.
Tooth brush
Generic, no handle
1
1
0.06

Dental floss
Generic, 9" per day
0
1
0.00

Needle
Generic
0
1
0.00

Mole skin
Walmart
2
1
0.13

Total first aid kit



0.66

Total non-perishables.



20.19
My personal goal is to keep this around 20 pounds, at the most.






Optional






Camera
Olympus D 560 (without batteries)
6
1
0.38
Light weight, water resistant, 2-AA batteries.  Turn the view screen OFF, flash OFF, use the finder.
Total optional



0.38

Total weight, with options



20.57