Following on from the great start on this subject from Wilderbeast, I thought i'd add my kit. As earlier there is no right and wrong, just personal preference. Having carried my share of heavy loads in the past, I've looked at ways of lightening my kit. My outdoor background includes mountaineering, so packing big loads up steep hills stops being fun the older I get.
I've been lucky to have links with the outdoor trade for many years and have been able to acquire my kit without too much expense (what?…that old thing, I've had it ages dear….
). Anyway as i wait in for a delivery, here's my contribution to losing weight.
1. Something to carry your outfit in
Previously I've used 70 litre Berghaus Roc in canvas but it is heavy compared to modern rucksacks. It's included here inspired by the canvas Crusader thread.
I like simple designs and now use a 50 litre Pod Thin Ice in dyneema, which has a starting weight of around >1kg. I've never got on with side pockets (handy though they are) and don't like the 'wideload' feeling in the woods and hills. If it won't go in the pack, it won't go.
2. Something to sleep under
As I spend a lot of time above the tree line most of the time I use a GoLite SL3 tent, which I can still rig as a tarp in the woods with it's top hanging loop. The other option is an Aus hoochie (or two) if I need an admin area in wet weather.
3. Something to sleep in
Down bags for me too. The weight/warmth ratio is excellent and in the many years of sleeping out doors I've never had a bag too wet to sleep in. With proper care a down bag is fine. This one is a Rab Alpine 300 which is swapped for a Rab Alpine 600 in winter. I use a Rab Survival Zone bivi bag as a waterproof cover for the sleeping bag and have used it to sleep out under the stars on summer nights.
Drybags are the way forward for carrying them.
4. Something to sleep on
I like the 3/4 self inflating mat Alpkit used to make. It's compact enough to fit inside the rucksack to stop it snagging or getting wet. In winter can be upgraded to a downmat 7dlx.
5. Navigational equipment
My favourite compass is the Silva type 4. I've replaced the one on the right with a more modern one (centre) as I don't have much call for mils these days and the perspex has become cloudy with use.
The GPS is a Garmin Oregon 300, great for confirming what you should already know
6. Something to cook over
A great little cooking unit from Evernew. The Ti DX, uses meths or as a small wood burner. Nests inside a Ti pot.
7. Something to cook in
Titanium again to keep the weight down. The Vargo Ti-lite pot has a potcosy to reduce fuel consumption and fits inside the larger Snow Peak 900 pot if i need to take more than one pot. The frypan lid i have lined with non-stick tinfoil to make cooking/cleaning easier.
8. Something to carry water in.
I like hydrating on the move, so use camelback rather than water bottles. Water filtering comes from a travel tap bottle, and a roll up water bottle for keeping water around the campsite.
9. A mug
A good little optional brewkit for the top pocket includes (yes more Ti
) a MSR mug and Vargo Decagon meths burner with Vargo meths bottle.
10. Eating utensils
I've not really liked the lightmyfire spork and prefer the Guyot MicroBites plastic knife (spatula) and fork combo. Cooking and serving is easier with these. If eating something other than packet food there's a Ti KFS set. This one was from Alpkit, though they stopped stocking it.
11. Medical kit
For the mountains i carry a really simple kit, plasters, painkillers, ambulance dressing, and ducktape. Everything else needs a helicopter
For lower level and general campsite i take a more comprehensive kit. If i take an axe, i will take Israeli dressings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMRklQkfDLE easy to apply yourself and gives good compression.
12. Illumination at night
Petzl Myo with lithium batteries for extended use and cold weather. Petzl e-lite lives in my pack for emergency lighting. Black Diamond Orbit LED Lamp for campsite use.
13. Wash kit
Simple wash kit with small hotel soap in a dish , alcohol based hand cleaner and lipsalve. (Can lubricate kit, waterproof a leaking zip with it too if needed)
Toilet set with light weight plastic trowel, paper, lighter and handwipes. Trowel is durable enough to dig a fire pit too.
Possibles- odds and ends to make life comfortable
A selection of other tools depending on where I'm off to. Small tin contains tinder kit (Hamaro wax paper etc) and lighters.
The knives are Puma Whitehunter, F1 and Mora 510 carbon. The Mora usually makes it for the weight saving
