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Albert's Gear
Guide:
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Backpacking is all about keeping your gear
weight as low as possible while being prepared for weather conditions and
other potential hazards. You don't want your pack weight (including
water and food) to exceed 25-30% of your own weight. And for you
full-figured Scouters out there, I would recommend a not to exceed pack
weight of 50 lbs. When your pack is too heavy, not only is it no longer fun
to hike, but you increase your chances of injury. I weigh 165 lbs. In
2007, my fully-loaded pack weighed in at 42 lbs, or 25.5% of my weight. If
you have any questions, or want to advocate for a particular piece of gear,
send me an
email.
Safety. Whether you are on a 14
day Philmont trek or a day hike, always make sure your bring the
10 essentials with you. Never hike alone. When hiking in
crews, some of the
10 essentials may be divided among the crew. Follow the Guidelines
contained in
The Guide to Safe Scouting. |
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Tents: |
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Technology and competition continue to drive
down both weight and price. Shop around. A 2 person tent is
split between to packs. As you can see, the REI Quarter Dome T2 weighs
in at only 1 lb 14 oz/person! Key things to look for: 3 season tent, 2
entrances, ease of set-up and, of course, weight. |
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2 Person
REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent
Item # 761893
3 lbs 12 oz., two person. Need I say
more?
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1 Person (Adults only)
REI Quarter Dome T1 Tent
Item # 761891
2 lbs 12 oz., solo tent.
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You'll also want a
footprint to protect the floor of your tent:
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REI Quarter Dome T1 Footprint
Item # 761894
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REI Quarter Dome T1 Footprint
Item # 761892
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In 2007, we used MSR's Hubba and
Hubba Hubba tents, now available at
LL Bean. |
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2 Person
MSR Hubba Hubba
LL Bean Item # TA52927
3 lbs 14 oz., two person.
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1 Person
MSR Hubba
LL Bean Item # TA52927
2 lbs 13 oz.
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You'll need the footprints for these as well. |
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Backpacks: |
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For
those of you in the market for backpacks, you’ll want something between
4,000 & 5,000 cubic inches (or 65 – 80 liters as many packs are labeled
by liter capacity).
I
have developed a strong bias towards Osprey packs as 1) they seem to offer
the lowest weight to capacity ratio out there. That is, the typical 70
liter Osprey pack weighs half as much as other similarly sized packs.
Here are the packs I’ve purchased.
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Small Pack
Osprey Atmos 65 Pack
REI Item # 744914
3 lbs 10 oz.
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Larger Pack
Osprey Aether 85 Pack
REI Item # 733142
4 lbs 12 oz.
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I got the Osprey Atmos
65 pack (a 65 liter pack) which is on the small end of the scale, because
weight was the primary consideration when selecting a pack for Daniel who
weighed in at only 95 lbs in 2007. It is, however, a well designed and
comfortable pack that will serve him well for many years to come. |
You may also want to consider the
Osprey Aether 70 Pack
which is exactly
the same at the 85, just smaller and it weighs in 3 oz less at 4 lbs 9 oz.
REI
Item # 733136
It’s very important to get the
right size pack. |
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You'll also want a pack cover:
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REI Duck's Back Rain Cover (80 Liters)
Item # 738951
Even though you just
paid $200+ bucks for a new, state-of-the-art, backpack, If you want your
stuff to stay dry, you'll need to shell out some more money for a rain
cover.
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Sleeping Bags: |
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Sleeping bags should be
filled with synthetic fiber, weigh less than three pounds, and be rated to
20 degrees. If you're a cold sleeper, like me, get a 0 degree bag.
Always pack your bag in a plastic trash bag to keep it dry. If you opt for a
down bag, it is critical that you keep it dry. When wet, down loses
all of its insulating properties. |
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Synthetic Bag
The North Face Cat's Meow +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular
REI Item # 763623
2 lbs 10 oz.
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Down Bag
Marmot Never Summer +0 Sleeping Bag - Regular
REI Item # 762533
3 lbs 9 oz.
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Sleeping Pads: |
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You need these both for comfort and to
insulate yourself against the cold ground. I prefer the Z-Lite, even though
it's less comfortable, because I attach it to the outside of my pack.
The self-inflating ProLite 3 is more comfortable, but you need to consider
that it could get punctured, leak and be rendered totally useless. |
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Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite - Short
REI Item # 708518
11 oz.
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Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3 Sleeping Pad-Short
REI Item # 708475
13 oz.
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Boots & Footwear: |
Your choice of footwear is one of the most
important considerations when hiking or backpacking. First and
foremost your footwear must fit you comfortably and be broken in. Shop
for boots later in the day when your feet are bigger and wear the socks and
liners you'll be using. Take your time and try on all types, sizes and
brands. Boots are a very individual preference and they will either
let your experience the joy of backpacking or introduce you to its miseries.
When my pack weighs more than 35 lbs., I generally wear boots, otherwise I'm
in the running shoes. Unless it's winter and I need a warmer shoe than
the Salomon below.
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Scarpa ZG 10 GTX Hiking Boot
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Salomon XA Comp 3 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's
REI Item # 747600
1 lbs 8 oz.
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My excellent boot appears to have been
replaced with the
Scarpa Kailash Gore-Tex Hiking Boot
and the
Scarpa Barun GTX Boot
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I love these shoes! They're light, comfortable
and great for light backpacking, hanging around camp and crossing streams.
Because they're mesh, they dry quickly. |
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Hiking Clothes (Layer A): |
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Columbia Men's Omni-Dry Mountain Tech Short
Sleeve Tee
REI Item # 762910
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Columbia Sportswear Silver Ridge Cargo
Shorts
REI Item # 747040
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2 shirts. One for hiking one
for sleeping. |
(Belt not included...see
below) |
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Columbia Sportswear Bora Bora Booney Hat
REI Item # 646963
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Pattern Strap With Buckle - 40-inch
REI Item # 380091
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Socks--2 pairs of each: |
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Thorlo Trekking Socks
REI Item # 242078
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Fox River X-Static Liner Socks
REI
Item # 642937
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Underwear--2 pairs of either: |
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Ex Officio Boxers
REI Item # 684397
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Ex Officio Briefs
REI Item # 684396
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Boxers? |
...or briefs? |
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Cool Evening Clothing (Layer B): |
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TNF El Cap Shirt
EMS Item: 210-268-842
www.ems.com
The North Face® El Cap Shirt wicks moisture,
shields ultraviolet rays, and dries quickly. Athlete-tested and designed for
ultralight, multi-sport use, adventure, and travel. |
Ex Officio Amphi Convertible Pants
www.exofficio.com
Hiking Shorts and evening wear in one.
Mesh liner eliminates the need for underwear and allows pants to dry very
quickly! Very lightweight. Belt included.
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Patagonia Capilene 2 Bottoms
REI Item #
742821
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The North Face Denali Gloves
REI Item # 712335
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Outer Wear (Layer C): |
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The North Face Men's Aurora Zip Neck Shirt
Moosejaw Item # 536015
Another option: The North Face Men's TKA
100 Glacier 1/4 Zip Moosejaw Item #
152920 |
The North Face Bones Beanie
REI Item # 712327
Any cap of this sort will get the job
done.
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Rain Gear (Layer D): |
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The North Face Diad Rain Jacket
Mountain Sports
Item # 099167
8.5 oz.
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REI Ultra Light Pants
REI Item # 718239
11 oz.
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The Marmot Precip, while heavier (and
cheaper), is more widely available and a quality product (Campmor Item Number: 53407). |
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Food & Water Gear: |
Nalgene Everyday Wide-Mouth Loop-Top Bottle
- 32 oz.
REI Item # 776181
6.2 oz.
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CamelBak OMEGA Hydration Reservoir - 70 oz.
REI Item # 733681
6.3 oz.
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You need 3-4 of these. Get wide-mouth
bottles--they're more versatile. |
You may opt to carry a hydration bladder.
It's convenient because you can sip water while on the move. Make sure your
pack is compatible with any hydration system you purchase. If you go this
route, then you'll still need 3 Nalgenes, but you can keep the third Nalgene
unfilled under most circumstances. I use these sometimes, but I'm not a big
fan because 1) I usually end up carrying too much water (weight) and 2)
they're a pain to clean. |
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Sporks
Is an $8 difference worth saving
0.1 oz.? Guess which I have!
REI
Folding Titanium Spork (0.4 oz.) Item # 751779
REI Chefware Spork (0.5 oz.) Item # 751779
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REI Ti Ware Sierra Cup
REI Item # 764187
1.6 oz.
Either of these 2 cups eliminates the need to carry a bowl. I have the
Sierra Cup above. It's very light, but beverages get cold fast. The
Snow Peak to the right, although heavier, is insulated. |
Snow Peak Titanium Double-Wall Cup
REI Item # 659999
4.2 oz.
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Personal Hygiene: |
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Bison Designs Fold-A-Bowl
REI Item # 664366
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Campsuds - 2 oz.
REI Item # 407166
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At Philmont, I carried a folding dog bowl for
use as a laundry basin & for collecting water in shallow streams for
filtering. |
For washing clothes, pots, hair...anything.
May also put a slightly larger size with crew gear. |
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MSR PackTowl UltraLite Towel - Medium
REI Item # 715986
1 oz.
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Toe Nail Clippers
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No Rinse Bathing Wipes
REI Item # 708776
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Mini-Roll Toilet Tissue
REI Item # 407031
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Purell
(available most anywhere)
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Toothbrush & Toothpaste
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Just hang this on your pack. Always keep
your hands clean. Most disease is spread by the hands. |
I use a travel toothbrush and a 3 oz tube of
toothpaste. |
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Lip Balm
(available most anywhere)
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REI Multilevel Protection Sunblock SPF 30
- 2 oz.
REI Item # 750581
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This may optionally be carried in a larger
quantity as crew gear. |
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Miscellaneous Personal Items: |
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Pocketknife/Multitool |
Head lamp |
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Bandannas |
Compass |
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Sunglasses |
Fire starter |
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Indulgences: |
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Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow - Medium
REI Item # 719843
9 oz.
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Sling-Light Chair
www.slinglight.com
22 oz.
It's nice to sit back and relax at camp
in this very light, comfortable chair. It was always being used by
somebody, though I had dibs! |
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Leki Thermolite Antishock Trekking Poles
REI Item # 767069
15.8 oz.
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For a Scout these are arguably an
indulgence. For an adult, it's critical to help you keep your
balance and avoid injury. Tip: wrap some duct tape on each
pole, for use as needed. |
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Crew Gear: |
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(Under Development) |
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MSR DragonFly Backpacking Stove
REI Item # 709002
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Sanitation Trowel
REI Item # 407146
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I considered the
WhisperLite
and the
SimmerLite
as well, both of which are lighter and smaller than the DragonFly.
However, the stability of the DragonFly eliminates the need for a grate (11
oz) and so it won my vote.
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First Aid Kit |
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Resources: |
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Places to go for getting
gear:
REI.com
www.campmor.com
http://www.backcountrygear.com
www.moosejaw.com
Kudos to the
Central Florida Council's Philmont Contingent website. I used this
resource heavily when planning my first Philmont trek.
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