So much preparation to do as I count down to leaving in a month. I’ve been researching gear and literally spending hours walking around our local REI. Most of the camping gear I have is at least 10 years old, and dated means heavy and less functional that new stuff. But to replace it all is pretty expensive, so I’m trying to save weight where I can when I buy new stuff, and make use of existing equipment as I’m able as well.

The recent big purchases were a new pack and a new tent. My current pack I got at a garage sale in 1985 (I’m not joking) and while canvas is tough stuff and it has taken me on many great adventures, it’s also heavy. Anyone talking about long distance hiking today seems to be talking about ULW (Ultra Lightweight). There are people who take it to an extreme, and while I want to ensure my pack is light enough, I’m not that extreme. When I was a kid I hiked with a 45 lb pack and it was rough. I’m hoping to keep mine under 35 lbs with food and water, but we’ll see what it weighs in at when I’m done.

I originally tried on an Osprey Exos 58 (liter) pack which comes highly recommended. It didn’t seem to fit me very well around the shoulders though, and I found myself lamenting the lack of waist strap pockets for convenience items on the trail. I checked out another couple of packs and settled on a Gregory Paragon 58. It weighs about 0.8 lb more, or 3.5 lbs total, but it fits me much better, feels more comfortable, and has zipper pockets on the waist belt, an included rain cover, as well as a sleeping bag access zipper. A 58L (3300 cu in) pack is going to severely limit how much I can carry, so I’m hoping I can fit everything in.

The other big purchase was a lightweight tent. I love my Kelty 3-person tent I got almost 15 years ago, but it’s really meant for car camping. I was impressed with the REI Quarter Dome SL 1 which was newly designed and release recently (January 2019), mostly due to the 1-lb 15-oz weigh-in which is super light. However, what I love about my Kelty is the dual-door design, and the Quarter Dome only has a single door (which is why it is so light). However, I stumbled across the Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 2-person tent which has two doors and a couple of other convenience features, and only weighs 1/2 lb more. The pack size is actually smaller than the 1-person tent as well. For a big guy like me, the extra space is going to be welcome. I’m looking forward to setting it up and trying it out.

Other purchases included lightweight pants with zip-off legs (a departure from the blue jeans I always wear), a smartwool base layer top, a couple of different weight long sleeve shirts, and a lightweight warm jacket. A new swiss army knife, some nylon cord, a pack towel, camp toothbrush, and a water filter were some important utility items I needed. For water filtration I settled on the Platypus 2.0 L gravity system. I already have a Platypus bag and tube that I like, and the ability to carry lots of water when needed but not carry a lot of weight when I don’t was appealing.

The final big-purchase item was new footwear. I had previously purchased some mid-weight non-waterproof hiking shoes that felt great on me (Oboz Sawtooth II men’s low hiking shoe), but the guy outfitting me after I bought them really pushed me toward a higher water proof hiking boot. I ended up exchanging them, but am having second thoughts. Everyone keeps saying go lighter, and avoid water proof because you’re just going to be wet anyway and you’re better off with something that will dry more quickly. I decided to sleep on it for a few nights before going back to see if I can re-purchase my original shoes back.

So, that was the first $1150 or so outfitting, and I think is the bulk of the expensive items. I decided to stick with my old stove (MSR Whisperlite white gas stove), and even my old sleeping bag which is synthetic instead of down, but is only 2.5 lbs, the same weight as the down bag I was going to get. I must say, I hate mummy bags though, and the Nemo Diso 15 degree bag designed for side sleepers is probably slightly warmer and more comfortable, but is it worth another $300? Stay tuned for the exciting answer to that question and more!