9 Pound - Full Comfort - Lightweight Backpacking Gear List
If you want to cut the weight but retain all the convenience and comfort of traditional backpacking, look no further...
The low gear weight is a surprise! Before creating the list, I assumed it would be much heavier, probably around 15 pounds. But expanded gear choices and new technologies have lightened gear considerably in the last 10 years. In 1998, comparable gear would have weighed around 20 pounds.
This Lightweight Gear List:
- Doesn’t sacrifice Comfort
- Will keep you warm and dry
- Any backpacker will recognize the gear and know how to use it
- That is, you don’t need to modify your regular backpacking style, except to get used to a much lighter pack and have more fun!
- For a Three-Day-Weekend trip, your pack with food and water will be less than 16 pounds.
Highlights:
- Framed backpack with pockets and plenty of room for gear
- Two-person tent (recognizable as a “real tent”)
- Warm, 32 degree F conventional sleeping bag with full zipper and full hood
- 2.5 in thick, cushy Therm-a- Rest Air Mattress (3/4 length)
- Plenty of clothing to stay warm and dry
- Light Hiking Boots (trail runners if you want them)
- Full Navigation gear with maps, compass, and a GPS
- Even if you opt for a few pieces of backup clothing and/or some pieces of heavier gear, your kit should still weigh less than 12 pounds.
Other References for Trip Planning:
Note: This is a two person gear list. That is, each person gets half the weight of shared gear like stove and pots, shelter, GPS, and camera, etc.