Deuter Futura Zero 50

This post is not meant to be an exhaustive dissertation on every piece of equipment necessary to backpack but as stated in the title, it is my top ten list. You may not agree with my choices but maybe you will see a piece of equipment that you have never considered before and because of its design, cost, or inherent benefit; maybe it will become part of your inventory. The only piece of equipment that I will list as the most important is Item #1. Items #10 thru #2 are not listed in any order of importance.

Deuter Aircomfort Flow

#10 – Backpack: I went with the Deuter Futura Zero 50  with a unique air flow system. It is an internal frame pack ($119 local outfitter, Blue Ridge Mtn Sports, about the same cost online).  This pack is good for 2-3 day trips. I use a bigger Mountainsmith Boundary for longer trips. Do your research for your pack and get it fitted properly.

Coleman Peak

#9 – Stove: There are many different types of stoves: Petroleum, Liquefied Gas, Alcohol, Chemical Solid Fuel, Wood, Candle, Solar, Electric, Flameless, etc. See Zen Stoves for more information. I have the Coleman Peak Micro Stove (Walmart $20) that uses a resealable Propane/Butane cannister ($4). This works great down to about 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit. The pot on the stove is a GSI Ultra Lite Boiler made of Halulite, as light as Titanium. 

Mountain Hardwear Epic

#8 – Rain Jacket: Mountain Hardwear Epic(Campmor.com $79). There are many great jackets out there. Get one that breathes and has pit zips.

Be careful of buying jackets that are water-repellant, you want a jacket that is water-proof!!

Epic in use on the trail

The slight nuance being that water-repellant is not impervious to a sustained downpour whereas water-proof is. I learned this the hard way on a 3 day backpack in the rain.  Part of the product description on the Campmor page states “Ark rip stop nylon shell fabric with a waterproof / breathable Conduit Silk polyurethane coating.” Not sure what all of that means, but the water beads off this jacket like a car windshield treated with Rain-X.  

Katadyn Hiker MicroFilter

#7 – Water Filter:

I have the Katadyn Hiker MicroFilter (Campmor $60).

There are many different ways to purify water while hiking: boiling, chemically treating, filtering, and UV Treatment. The main point being, use some form of treatment prior to drinking water from unknown sources.

Giardia being the main culprit you want to avoid. The replacement filter for mine is a little on the expensive side but I have not had to replace it yet.

Kelty Cosmic 35 Degree

#6 Sleeping Bag: Kelty Cosmic 35 Degree (Campmor $50). Once again, there is a myriad of manufacturers of sleeping bags. You can get some that go much lower than my Kelty, I suppose if you are hiking Mt Everest that would be useful. Hiking in Virginia up through November, this 35 degree one is sufficient for me and it weighs just over 2.3 lbs. 

Hennessey Scout

#5 Shelter – Tent or Hammock?: This is the item that is most open for discussion. I have a Eureka Apollo 2 (4.5 lbs) backpacking tent but switched this summer to a Hennessey Scout Hammock ($80 direct from Hennessey, 2.5 lbs). I have been extremely pleased with the hammock and it really helps my back which I injured in the Air Force. This is not for everyone. If you go the tent route pay particular attention to the weight as many of the 2 man backpacking tents can range from 4 to 8 lbs. 

REI Summit

#4 Trekking Poles: (REI Summit by Komperdell, $60) I became a convert early this year to Trekking Poles not only for backpacking but also for day hikes. They take quite a load of your knees and also get your upper body involved in the hike. They are a must for backpacking especially when crossing creeks.

Wigwam Ultimax

#3 Socks: Tons of good brands out there. I use Wigwam Ultimax Cool-lite Mid hikers and also the crew version of this sock for my high top hiking shoes. They have great padding and wick well. I have only gotten a blister once when using these socks over the past 4 years and that was because my shoes got soaked. Socks can make the difference between an enjoyable hike and blisters!!Look for good cushion, minimal seams, and wicking capability.

#2 Hiking Shoes: I really wanted to list this item as #1 as it is the shoes that take you to all the beautiful mountain tops and trails but I deferred to a more important item. Shoes are the most personal preference item on the list as our feet are all so different.

Montrails on top of McAfee Knob

My recent brands that I have owned were Merrell Ventilator’s and Vasque Ranger’s. I still use my Vasque for backpacking trips as they are high-top and give some extra support with the extra weight I am carrying. My current day hike shoes are Montrail Continental Divide trail runners, kind of a combination of running shoes and light hiking shoes. They are very comfortable, and now for #1

National Geographic Topo Map of SNP

#1 Map: This is probably the lightest item in your backpack but I believe it is the most important item you will carry. By having a good map in your possession you have shown the forethought of some planning. Be able to read the basic items on a topo map: valleys, cirques, peaks, ridgelines, pass/saddles and cliffs. In combination with a good map of your trail you should have a compass. Not required but in conjunction with maps and compasses is a GPS, which can help greatly with your navigation.

If hiking alone, let someone know your itinerary prior to departing.