Generally, the big three discussed in part 1 is the heaviest portion of your gear. However, the remaining gear generally has some weight and volume to it as well. I call this the miscellaneous gear and includes, cook set, hydration system, first aid kit, headlamp, water purification system, etc. Clothing will be discussed separately.
Cook System: Stove - MSR PocketRocket | $39.95 | <4 oz
For price, size, and weight, nothing beats the PocketRocket. I have never had a problem with this stove, but I can see how in very windy conditions it would be a problem. However, a simple wind screen could remedy this problem. I have taken it down to sub 20 degree weather without a problem. Although many hikers I have noticed have the Jetboil or some other more complex stove then a simple pocketrocket, I have never seen the need to carry anything more efficient. I have found the Jetboil costs more, takes up more space, and weighs more. That is three strikes in my book.
This is another example of the cheapest also being the lightest. Of course, you can make your own stove and be lighter and cheaper, but I don't see the need when the PocketRocket is well priced, small, and light.
A fuel canister for this stove is sold separate.
Cook System: Pot - GSI Outdoors Halulite Minimalist Cookset | $27.95 | 6 oz
I freezer bag cook. FBC involves putting your dehydrated meal in a freezer bag and pouring boiling water into the bag to let it rehydrate/cook. Therefore, my pot is used exclusively to boil water. This pot works well with my pocket rocket and boils just over 0.6 liter comfortably. Since all my meals require no more than 2 cups of water (<0.5 L), this pot serves all my needs. Additionally, my pocket rocket fits well within the pot including my lighter.
Of course, by going this route, you are giving up some comforts. It does not have a handle but instead uses a plastic pot gripper, which requires some care while pouring. However, since I don't use it for anything other than boiling water, this is the perfect option for me.
This is another example of the cheapest option also being the lightest option.
Cook System: Spoon - Sea to Summit Titanium Spoon | $8.95 | <0.4 oz
The minimalist pot above comes with a small plastic spoon which just wasn't cutting it for FBC. So I bought this long, light weight sea to summit titanium spoon instead, and I have loved this option ever since.
Hydration System: Platypus Hoser 2.0L Reservoir | $22.95 | 3.5 oz
Water is the heaviest thing most hikers will carry. Water weighs about 2.2 lbs per liter. If this reservoir is full, it carries about 2.1 liters of water weighing in at about 73 oz or 4.5 lbs. However, this reservoir is convenient in that it allows you to carry a large amount of water in your pack close to your back and gives you easy access to water via the hose while hiking.
It does have a few drawbacks however. First, you can't add mix drinks (powerade, green tea, etc) like you can in a water bottle. Second, it requires you to put down your pack to get it out and refill it. When full, you generally have to remove most of the items of your pack to properly pack the water.
In addition to this, I generally carry two 0.5 liter water bottles (one dirty one clean) or one 0.5 liter water bottle (dirty) and one 1L water bottle (clean). The dirty water bottle I use to collect and carry dirty water which can be filtered later and the clean water bottle I use to mix my drinks and drink from while hiking.
Also, I have a 1L Platypus which I use with my sawyer which will be described below. Therefore, my water capacity ranges anywhere from 4 to 4.5 liters, but I routinely never carry more than 2 to 2.5 liters unless there is a particularly dry section of the trail.
First-Aid Kit: REI Backpacker Weekend First-Aid Kit | $24.50 | 10 oz
First Aid Kit: MoleSkin | $4.00 | 1.5 oz.
I bought this kit when I first started hiking. Many hikers don't carry something like this. Many hikers just carry some of the essentials in a ziplock bag. However, I find some comfort in knowing that I have some basic first-aid supplies. However, even I think this is excessive. I gutted some of the non-essential items and items I never used ever while hiking. I kept some bandages, tape, the scissors, tweezers, medicine, but removed some bandages, some of the gauze, and certainly the book. After the pruning, it weighed in at about 7 oz. However, I had to add mole skin (and a lot of it). I usually carry 2 packages worth in warmer months as my feet sweat profusely and I have major blister problems as a result. After subtractions and additions, my first aid kit usually weighs about 10 oz.
Headlamp: Black Diamond ReVolt Headlamp |$59.95 | 3.5 oz.
Originally, I was using a headlamp from Wally world. I thought I lost it on a trail, so I was in the market for a new one. REI had this headlamp on sale for $29.95. I had to purchase it. It has been a great purchase. My other headlamp only had 2 settings and this has several setting and functions that make this headlamp substantially superior. When I found my wally world headlamp, I had already fallen in love with my ReVolt and decided to keep it.
Water Purification System : Sawyer Water Filter | $39.95 | 3.5 oz
Highly effective, reliable, cheap, small, and light. No wonder for many hikers this is the water filter of choice! I love my sawyer. 99% of the time, I use my Sawyer and only my Sawyer to filter and treat my water. I simply wouldn't bother with anything else. Although you could use a steripen, chemical treatment, or other filters and pumps, this will forever be my filter of choice. For a more complete list of your water treatment options, click here.
Water Purification System: Iodine Tablets | $11.00 | 6 oz
Although I have almost never used them, I sometimes carry these for questionable water sources. Initially I used the Sawyer to filter and the Iodine tablets to treat. I have since learned that the Sawyer is more than enough if you use common sense on selecting your water sources.
Water Purification System: 1L Platypus | $8.95 | 1.2 oz
I let someone borrow my Sawyer water filter and they broke my squeeze pouch, so I had to buy this. I like it. It serves it purpose and gives me the peace of mind to know I can carry 1 more liter of water in a pinch.
Pack Cover: REI Duck's 80 L Pack Rain Cover | $26.50 | 8 oz
Nothing is worse then wet gear or a cold night with wet gear. To keep you gear dry, many hikers use a Pack Rain cover. It is fairly lightweight and it adds a level of security. Additionally, hikers may line the inside of their packs with a trash compactor bag. I use both. Hikers may also use dry sacks for their individual clothing/sleeping bag.
Camp Towel: REI MultiTowel Lite Medium Towel | $12.50 | 1.5 oz.
I carry 2 of these. One as a camp towel and one to wipe the condensation off my single wall tent. It has multiple uses, is light, absorbent, and takes up no space in my pack.
Rope: BlueWater 3mm NiteLine Utility Cord - Package of 50 ft. | $16.95 | 3.5 oz.
I have never used it, but I am sure I will be happy I carried it if I ever needed it. Multiple uses from hanging your food bag to just about everything else you can do with a rope.
Tenacious Tape: Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Tape | $4.95 | 2 oz
I have never used it, but again this is one of those things you'd rather have and not need then need and not have. It is light and takes up no space in a pack. A no-brainer.
Dry Sacs: Outdoor Recreation Group - Set of 3 Ultimate Dry Sacks | $9.97 | 3 oz
Anything that must be kept dry can be placed in these convenient dry sacs. Also, they can be helpful for organizational purposes as well. I use these dry sacs as my food back. I also place extra clothes, socks, cock set, etc in these sacs.
Headnet: Sea to Summit Head Net with Insect Shield | $12.95 | 1 oz.
I like most hikers seem to develop friends on the AT. Unfortunately, I can't talk to these friends. Or more to the point, they don't talk back. They buzz around you constantly apparently following the same trail as you are. This headnet helps with this and it is cheap, lightweight, and compact.
Furthermore, it helps with "webface" problem. Instead of getting a mouth/face full of spider web, this headnet also doubles to prevent the common and infuriating "webface" problem.
Bug Repellent: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Pen Pump Insect Repellent | $3.75 | 1 oz
This is another essential. Ticks carry lime disease and other worse diseases. Nothing is more annoying that the mosquito buzzing around your head all day. Chiggers are also a problem. While not perfect, this certainly helps.
Baby Wipes:
A multi-tool. I use these to wash myself every night and they help when you need to do the pleasantries in the woods. I would never go overnight hiking without these. There are biodegradable wipes now, but I just pack my wipes out with me.
Carabiners:
Another essential, multiple use tool.
All total, my "miscellaneous" gear weighs in at just under 3.4 lbs or 54 oz. The above gear would also cost you approximately $345 at regular price. However, if you wait for the right sales, you could likely pay considerable less, possibly as low as $250.00.
When combined with my big three weight, summer my pack weighs 197 oz or 12.3 lbs, and my winter pack weighs 243 oz or 15.2 lbs. This, of course, does not include food (typically 1.5 lbs per day), water (typically 3-5 lbs) or clothing which will be discussed in subsequent bog posts.
The next blog post will likely discuss food and water, which usually are the heaviest things in my pack.
Cook System: Stove - MSR PocketRocket | $39.95 | <4 oz
For price, size, and weight, nothing beats the PocketRocket. I have never had a problem with this stove, but I can see how in very windy conditions it would be a problem. However, a simple wind screen could remedy this problem. I have taken it down to sub 20 degree weather without a problem. Although many hikers I have noticed have the Jetboil or some other more complex stove then a simple pocketrocket, I have never seen the need to carry anything more efficient. I have found the Jetboil costs more, takes up more space, and weighs more. That is three strikes in my book.
This is another example of the cheapest also being the lightest. Of course, you can make your own stove and be lighter and cheaper, but I don't see the need when the PocketRocket is well priced, small, and light.
A fuel canister for this stove is sold separate.
Cook System: Pot - GSI Outdoors Halulite Minimalist Cookset | $27.95 | 6 oz
I freezer bag cook. FBC involves putting your dehydrated meal in a freezer bag and pouring boiling water into the bag to let it rehydrate/cook. Therefore, my pot is used exclusively to boil water. This pot works well with my pocket rocket and boils just over 0.6 liter comfortably. Since all my meals require no more than 2 cups of water (<0.5 L), this pot serves all my needs. Additionally, my pocket rocket fits well within the pot including my lighter.
Of course, by going this route, you are giving up some comforts. It does not have a handle but instead uses a plastic pot gripper, which requires some care while pouring. However, since I don't use it for anything other than boiling water, this is the perfect option for me.
This is another example of the cheapest option also being the lightest option.
Cook System: Spoon - Sea to Summit Titanium Spoon | $8.95 | <0.4 oz
The minimalist pot above comes with a small plastic spoon which just wasn't cutting it for FBC. So I bought this long, light weight sea to summit titanium spoon instead, and I have loved this option ever since.
Hydration System: Platypus Hoser 2.0L Reservoir | $22.95 | 3.5 oz
Water is the heaviest thing most hikers will carry. Water weighs about 2.2 lbs per liter. If this reservoir is full, it carries about 2.1 liters of water weighing in at about 73 oz or 4.5 lbs. However, this reservoir is convenient in that it allows you to carry a large amount of water in your pack close to your back and gives you easy access to water via the hose while hiking.
It does have a few drawbacks however. First, you can't add mix drinks (powerade, green tea, etc) like you can in a water bottle. Second, it requires you to put down your pack to get it out and refill it. When full, you generally have to remove most of the items of your pack to properly pack the water.
In addition to this, I generally carry two 0.5 liter water bottles (one dirty one clean) or one 0.5 liter water bottle (dirty) and one 1L water bottle (clean). The dirty water bottle I use to collect and carry dirty water which can be filtered later and the clean water bottle I use to mix my drinks and drink from while hiking.
Also, I have a 1L Platypus which I use with my sawyer which will be described below. Therefore, my water capacity ranges anywhere from 4 to 4.5 liters, but I routinely never carry more than 2 to 2.5 liters unless there is a particularly dry section of the trail.
First-Aid Kit: REI Backpacker Weekend First-Aid Kit | $24.50 | 10 oz
First Aid Kit: MoleSkin | $4.00 | 1.5 oz.
I bought this kit when I first started hiking. Many hikers don't carry something like this. Many hikers just carry some of the essentials in a ziplock bag. However, I find some comfort in knowing that I have some basic first-aid supplies. However, even I think this is excessive. I gutted some of the non-essential items and items I never used ever while hiking. I kept some bandages, tape, the scissors, tweezers, medicine, but removed some bandages, some of the gauze, and certainly the book. After the pruning, it weighed in at about 7 oz. However, I had to add mole skin (and a lot of it). I usually carry 2 packages worth in warmer months as my feet sweat profusely and I have major blister problems as a result. After subtractions and additions, my first aid kit usually weighs about 10 oz.
Headlamp: Black Diamond ReVolt Headlamp |$59.95 | 3.5 oz.
Originally, I was using a headlamp from Wally world. I thought I lost it on a trail, so I was in the market for a new one. REI had this headlamp on sale for $29.95. I had to purchase it. It has been a great purchase. My other headlamp only had 2 settings and this has several setting and functions that make this headlamp substantially superior. When I found my wally world headlamp, I had already fallen in love with my ReVolt and decided to keep it.
Water Purification System : Sawyer Water Filter | $39.95 | 3.5 oz
Highly effective, reliable, cheap, small, and light. No wonder for many hikers this is the water filter of choice! I love my sawyer. 99% of the time, I use my Sawyer and only my Sawyer to filter and treat my water. I simply wouldn't bother with anything else. Although you could use a steripen, chemical treatment, or other filters and pumps, this will forever be my filter of choice. For a more complete list of your water treatment options, click here.
Water Purification System: Iodine Tablets | $11.00 | 6 oz
Although I have almost never used them, I sometimes carry these for questionable water sources. Initially I used the Sawyer to filter and the Iodine tablets to treat. I have since learned that the Sawyer is more than enough if you use common sense on selecting your water sources.
Water Purification System: 1L Platypus | $8.95 | 1.2 oz
I let someone borrow my Sawyer water filter and they broke my squeeze pouch, so I had to buy this. I like it. It serves it purpose and gives me the peace of mind to know I can carry 1 more liter of water in a pinch.
Pack Cover: REI Duck's 80 L Pack Rain Cover | $26.50 | 8 oz
Nothing is worse then wet gear or a cold night with wet gear. To keep you gear dry, many hikers use a Pack Rain cover. It is fairly lightweight and it adds a level of security. Additionally, hikers may line the inside of their packs with a trash compactor bag. I use both. Hikers may also use dry sacks for their individual clothing/sleeping bag.
Camp Towel: REI MultiTowel Lite Medium Towel | $12.50 | 1.5 oz.
I carry 2 of these. One as a camp towel and one to wipe the condensation off my single wall tent. It has multiple uses, is light, absorbent, and takes up no space in my pack.
Rope: BlueWater 3mm NiteLine Utility Cord - Package of 50 ft. | $16.95 | 3.5 oz.
I have never used it, but I am sure I will be happy I carried it if I ever needed it. Multiple uses from hanging your food bag to just about everything else you can do with a rope.
Tenacious Tape: Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Tape | $4.95 | 2 oz
I have never used it, but again this is one of those things you'd rather have and not need then need and not have. It is light and takes up no space in a pack. A no-brainer.
Dry Sacs: Outdoor Recreation Group - Set of 3 Ultimate Dry Sacks | $9.97 | 3 oz
Anything that must be kept dry can be placed in these convenient dry sacs. Also, they can be helpful for organizational purposes as well. I use these dry sacs as my food back. I also place extra clothes, socks, cock set, etc in these sacs.
Headnet: Sea to Summit Head Net with Insect Shield | $12.95 | 1 oz.
I like most hikers seem to develop friends on the AT. Unfortunately, I can't talk to these friends. Or more to the point, they don't talk back. They buzz around you constantly apparently following the same trail as you are. This headnet helps with this and it is cheap, lightweight, and compact.
Furthermore, it helps with "webface" problem. Instead of getting a mouth/face full of spider web, this headnet also doubles to prevent the common and infuriating "webface" problem.
Bug Repellent: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Pen Pump Insect Repellent | $3.75 | 1 oz
This is another essential. Ticks carry lime disease and other worse diseases. Nothing is more annoying that the mosquito buzzing around your head all day. Chiggers are also a problem. While not perfect, this certainly helps.
Baby Wipes:
A multi-tool. I use these to wash myself every night and they help when you need to do the pleasantries in the woods. I would never go overnight hiking without these. There are biodegradable wipes now, but I just pack my wipes out with me.
Carabiners:
Another essential, multiple use tool.
All total, my "miscellaneous" gear weighs in at just under 3.4 lbs or 54 oz. The above gear would also cost you approximately $345 at regular price. However, if you wait for the right sales, you could likely pay considerable less, possibly as low as $250.00.
When combined with my big three weight, summer my pack weighs 197 oz or 12.3 lbs, and my winter pack weighs 243 oz or 15.2 lbs. This, of course, does not include food (typically 1.5 lbs per day), water (typically 3-5 lbs) or clothing which will be discussed in subsequent bog posts.
The next blog post will likely discuss food and water, which usually are the heaviest things in my pack.