SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs Here’s the gear list for my last major section hike of The Long Trail, a 4-day, 50 mile backpack from Johnson, VT to the Canadian Border. This gear list weighs a bit more than those from my late spring and summer hikes because the weather up north is getting a bit cooler at night. On this trip I’m bringing a stove along for the first time in several months for cooking hot dinners and a sleeping pad with better insulating characteristics if I need to sleep on cold ground. I’ve also brought along a little extra clothing, including underwear, socks and sock liners. I’ve heard that this section of the trail is notoriously wet and muddy, and given it’s remoteness, I’ve opted to bring along some extra clothing in case I get soaked as a safety and comfort precaution.
With a base weight of only 13.4 lbs, this will still be a comfortable pack to carry. My food bag for this trip weighs under 7 lbs, so my total pack weight with water and fuel will probably come out to be about 25 lbs for the trip.
If you have any questions or comments about my gear strategy or selections for this trip, please leave a comment below. I’m always looking for feedback or suggestions.
| Backpack | oz. |
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus Backpack | 25.0 |
| 1 Panel Gossamer Gear Nightlight Sleeping Pad | 1.1 |
| Equinox Backpack Cover | 3.2 |
| 2 Gossamer Gear Hip Belt Pockets | 1.4 |
| Gossamer Gear Internal Backpack liner (lg) | 1.7 |
| Mini REI thermometer | 0.3 |
| Fox 40 Whistle | 0.1 |
| Skunk Light Solar LED | 0.6 |
| Swiss army classic knife | 0.7 |
| Shelter & Sleep System | |
| Sea-to-summit 8L waterproof stuff sack | 1.1 |
| Western Mountaineering Ultralite Sleeping bag (20) | 29.9 |
| Big Agnes Air Core Sleeping Pad | 22.0 |
| Jacks R Better 8 x 8 Silnylon Tarp | 10.3 |
| Gossamer Grear Polycro footprint | 3.3 |
| 9 titanium stakes | 2.8 |
| Gossamer Gear Bug Net | 2.7 |
| Sleep Clothes | |
| Outdoor Research Helium Ditty Bag | 0.4 |
| Patagonia Capilene 1 Bottoms | 5.7 |
| Patagonia Capiline 2 Jersey | 6.6 |
| Hydration | |
| 3 L platypus hydration bladder | 1.4 |
| 3 L platypus hydration bladder | 1.4 |
| General Ecology First need water filter/purifier | 15.9 |
| Platytpus hose and camelback bite valve | 2.1 |
| Kitchen | |
| DIY Freezer Bag Cozy | 1.7 |
| Snow Peak Gigapower Stove, Titanium, Auto Start | 3.8 |
| Snow Peak 700 Titanium Pot | 4.2 |
| MLD bear bag system (bag, rope, rock sack, carbiner) | 3.0 |
| OPSACK odor barrier bag | 1.1 |
| Long handled titanium spoon | 0.4 |
| MSR pack towel | 0.7 |
| Misc Stuff | |
| Outdoor Research Helium Ditty Bag | 0.5 |
| Buff bandana (permethrin) | 1.3 |
| Mountain Hardware polypro hat | 0.8 |
| Golite Team Mesh hat (permethrin) | 1.5 |
| Brunton LED Lantern | 2.9 |
| Pro-tec Illiotibial Band Strap | 1.0 |
| Photon Freedom LED | 0.4 |
| Polypro Glove Liners | 1.5 |
| Extra clothing | |
| Golite Reed Rain Pant | 7.0 |
| Outdoor Research Celestial jacket (Packlite Gore) | 9.0 |
| Cocoon Polarguard Vest + OR Helium Stuff Sack | 6.4 |
| 1 REI Boxer Synthetic Underwear | 4.1 |
| 2 pair REI Polypro sock liners | 2.0 |
| 2 Medium wool socks | 5.2 |
| Navigation | |
| Suunto a10 compass | 0.9 |
| digital camera | 6.6 |
| Murphy Bag | |
| Gear repair | 3.9 |
| First Aid/Emergency Kit | 4.1 |
| base pack weight in lbs | 13.4 |
I'm almost to embarrassed to ask, but can you expound on the synthetic underwear topic? I've realized that I really need to ditch my cotton boxer breifs, but I'm not sure what synthetic are good. I was considering the Ex Officio ones, but they are expensive to simply be trying out. Which brands have been successful for you?
I just got back from a long 5 night backpacking trip, and one of the pieces of new gear that I tested were the REI boxers. They are synthetic and are relatively cheap at only $18/pair. I wore them today on a 12 mile hike, under rain pants, in the pouring rain. They prevented all thigh chafing and were quite comfortable, but absorbed a lot more water than my mesh ex officio briefs, which have been known to chafe when it's hot out and I sweat a lot. That could be a problem if you have to wear them day after day since they may never dry out.
There's no doubt in my mind that you should get rid of the cotton boxers you are wearing today. I can't comment on the ex officio's since I only wear their briefs. The REI boxers pass my thigh chafing test, which is my biggest concern when it's wet, but I still want to try a pair of Patagonia boxers since they're probably made out of capilene 1 and should provide both thigh chafing protection and faster drying time. Ex Offico, Patagonia, and REI are in my short list of top brands to choose from. Hope that helps.
That's a light pack, Earlylite. I need to cut, cut, cut..
I've been wearing Under Armour boxers this season. Plenty of "support", no chafing (they are very fitted), and the sweat just seems to pass straight through them.
But Chris, you're into mountaineering and photography (have I ever told you how blown away I am by your photos) which have very different gear demands than hiking in New England. Don't cut too much weight: we don't want to see you turn into a popsicle.
I have also used Under Armour shorts this year, but not the boxers. I'll have to try them as well. The shorts, as you say, have great support, much better then the REI boxers I wore yesterday. I didn't realize that they made underwear.
Thanks, Earlylite, means a lot to know that you like the photos.
I'm not, and will probably never be, a lightweight climber for the reasons you mention. But I like the discipline of knowing how light it's possible to cut down to – keeps me on my toes, even if I'll never get down to that weight.
I've used the Under Armour Boxerjock on several multi-day trips this year. Very comfortable, no chafing. The cost is about $19/pair. The only downside is that they are a bit slow to dry.