Our shared gear set-up for 2017.

My solo gear set-up for 2017- base-weight around 6.2kg.

Having walked the GR11 in the Pyrenees in 2015 and the GR1 across Spain in 2016, we are generally happy with our gear set-up, but still like to look for ways to refine it further. Our current base-weights are between 6.2- 7.5kg (Barry’s is higher), and vary slightly with individual hikes. Our aim is to walk ultralight (5kg base-weight) in the near future, and we have some changes planned for 2017 which we hope will bring us near to achieving this and also improve overall functionality. I’ll be doing a more detailed blog post about this soon. I have also just posted something on how we have learned to hike lighter over the last 2 years here.

Walking hundreds of miles on often rugged trails, with everything we need to keep us safe, fed, and dry on our backs, presents a big challenge that I find constantly intriguing. What follows is an updated list of our current gear. Where possible weights are indicated.

* Base-weight is everything we carry on our backs excluding consumables (food, water, gas), trekking poles and worn clothing.

Sleeping system: 

Western Mountaineering Ultralight (820g)- Rebecca.

Thermarest NeoAir (365g)

Western Mountaineering Megalite (710g)- Barry

Thermarest Prolite (325g)

Sea to Summit 8L ultrasil waterproof stuffsack per sleeping bag.

Shared Shelter System: (Weight shared, approx 800g each)

MSR Hubba Hubba HP

Polychro footprint cut to size (replaces heavier MSR one)

MSR Groundhog mini pegs x 8

Solo Shelter System:

Six Moons Designs Lunar Solo

Load carrying:

Rucksack:

Osprey Exos 48 – Rebecca

Osprey Exos 58 – Barry

Trekking poles: 

Black Diamond Trail- Rebecca

Black Diamond Trail ergonomic (cork handles)- Barry

Hydration:

Filter: Sawyer Squeeze + 2L compressible squeeze bags

Purification: LifeSystems Chlorine Dioxide tablets

2 x 900ml plastic Smartwater bottles each

Footwear & Clothing

Trail shoes:

Brooks Cascadia – Rebecca

Salomon XA Pro 3D-  Barry.

Bridgedale Trailhead Coolfusion socks (2prs) each.

Dirty Girl gaiters (1 pair each)

Waterproof:

Alpkit Balance jackets

Alpkit Parallax rain pants

Windproof:

Alpkit Arro jacket- Rebecca

Rab Vital jacket- Barry

Insulation:

Montane Anti-freeze down jacket (Barry)

Quecha Forclaz 700 down jacket (Rebecca)

Base layer/Mid layer: Merino wool 210gm weight baselayer: 1 each. + Icebreaker Merino leggings (colder trips)

Shirt: 1 x lightweight, sun protective collared shirt each

T-shirt: 1 x short sleeved, synthetic wicking t-shirt each

Trousers:

1 x Alpkit Koulin trail tights (Rebecca)

1 x Craghoppers hiking pants (Barry)

1 x pair light, quick drying shorts each.

Neck buff: 1 each

Sunglasses: 1 x pair each

Hat: 1 x sunhat + 1 x lightweight fleece beanie each.

Gloves: 1 x pair lightweight thermal Karrimor gloves each.

1 x pair Outdoor Research SPF50 sun gloves (Barry).

Cooking system:

Cooker: MSR Pocket Rocket 2

Adaptor: Edelrid cartridge adaptor (allows Coleman thread and camping gaz ‘easy-clic) to be used on Pocket Rocket stove- For European Trips

Pot: MSR 1.3 L Quick Solo pot (225g)- only used when we walk as a couple.

Kettle/Cup: Alpkit MytiMug 650 ml (used on stove to boil water and then shared as a cup).

Titanium spork (1 each)

Aluminum windshield.

5L food bag each

First Aid & Hygiene:

Basic first aid kit (selection of plasters, 2 antiseptic wipes, safety pins, ibuprofen, compeed, zinc oxide tape, Go Sis rehydration tablets).

Loo roll + Antiseptic hand gel (small bottle)- stored together in a ziploc bag

Small pot Vaseline

Lip balm (medicated)

Sunscreen SPF 50

Small nalgene bottle of camp soap

1 razor

Tooth brush + small tube paste

1 x knee support

Miscellaneous items

1 x headtorch each (Petzel E-Lite/ Energizer)

1 x bug headnet each (Lifesystems)

Victorinox Pen knife Mini Classic SD

2.5m strong lightweight paracord

Tenacious tape

Needle and thread

Electronics:

Compact camera (Sony RX100) + 2 extra batteries & charger

Motorola Moto G 4G smartphone (with GPS app and maps downloaded) + Survivor case

Zendure 10000 MaH Powerpack for charging phone

Anker 2 port USB charger plug + 2 USB cables

SanDisk Sansa Clip Mp3 player + headphones (1 each)

Other:

Compass

Mini flexible tripod for camera (Gorillapod)

small notebook and pen

Euroshirm Liteflex Swing trekking umbrella (doubles as rain protection): 1 each on selected hikes where we expect very strong sun/high temperatures.