luxury summer kit

  •   Category Weight
  • PACK
    0.99 lb
  • SHELTER
    1.19 lb
  • SLEEP
    1.78 lb
  • WATER
    0.31 lb
  • COOK/FOOD
    0.71 lb
  • CLOTHING TOP
    0.47 lb
  • CLOTHING BOTTOM
    0.32 lb
  • HEADS/HANDS/FEET
    0 lb
  • WORN
    0 lb
  • ELECTRONICS
    1.66 lb
  • TOILETRIES AND DITTY
    0.54 lb
  • CONSUMABLES
    3.83 lb
  • MISCELLANEOUS
    0.13 lb
  • Total 11.92
    lb
    • oz
    • lb
    • g
    • kg
  • Consumable 3.83 lb
  • Worn 0.53 lb
  • Base Weight 7.56 lb

FULL SETUP

Since it's sometimes hard looking through packs to figure out what pieces make up the entire system I've included the core set of gear below. With supporting gear (gloves etc) this kit is designed to handle everything up until mid-winter in the Sierras using some combination of the below. Typically it's no puffy until later in the season or if it's a long trip and bad weather is called for or I'm doing off-trail stuff and want to bring some extra margin.

  • Sleep: SULO 40F for high season, Nano 30 whenever SULO doesn't cut it, Overfilled Arc UL 25 (+ 50F apex overquilt when it's real cold)
  • Shelter: Wolf Solo+ when there's no rain forecast, Hexamid Pocket Tarp for longer trips/mediocre weather, 1p DCF Cirriform Min for everything else. Borah gear bivies and S2S Nano Net paired with all three, whether I bring the bug bivy or the wind bivy depends on temps and route but generally S2S Net whenever possible.
  • Clothing top: Icebreaker 200 base layer, BTTGearCo Dual Ripstop Hoodie (60/90gsm, depending on conditions), ExLight Anorak down jacket for high season, Mirage for cold shoulder into winter. Montbell ExLight wind shirt, Versalite or emergency poncho for rain (typically poncho).
  • Clothing bottom: Icebreaker 200 Base Layer, 60gsm Senchi pants, MB ExLight Down Pants, Tachyon wind pants or Rain Trekkers for weather. Base layers only in winter and only because I'm too cheap to buy higher gsm alpha. Alpha direct >>>> merino if you disagree you're wrong.
  • Pads: reg/wide Ultra 3R until shoulder season, reg/wide NeoAir Xlite NXT into shoulder season, 6+ panels of Switchback CCF most of the time.

THOUGHTS ON CURRENT GEAR

  • Nunatak SULO: everything Jan makes kicks ass, if you can afford to wait then it's 100% worth the money. All three of my bags are now from him.
  • Borah Gear Wind Bivy: perfect do-it-all bivy. Definitely a bit more condensation than with a bug bivy but I really like it for cowboy camping because you can throw it down on its even in really exposed places and it really helps with draft control if you use a quilt.
  • Exped 3R: more comfortable than my Xlite, lower R-value doesn't matter in summer.
  • Wolf Solo+ Tarp: fantastic flat tarp for fair weather forecasts. Glad I went with the Solo+ instead of the Solo.
  • Goosefeet Gear Overbooties and Socks: lightest and most versatile actually warm combo for around camp. I DIY'd some thicker foam insoles for some more protection. Pro tip: slide the front part of your foot under the front elastic strap that holds the insoles in place for a tighter fit.
  • Pillow System: DIY melamine sponges in a square nylon zip pouch + large Zenbivy air bladder. Closest I've come to the holy grail for comfort and weight, can actually sleep on it. Put some small velcro patches on bottom of air bladder and top of pads to keep the bladder from slipping around.
  • BRS vs PR Deluxe: really lazy and like the piezo and built in wind-screen but BRS probably better for anyone less lazy. Also the piezo kinda sucks about 10k elevation. Would go with the Soto Windmaster if I was buying fresh, better in every way I think. Been taking the BRS more lately because I don't value what the PR brings.
  • Tachyon Wind Shirt and Pants: you'll look like a stripper at an REI-themed costume party but they do what they're supposed to. Highly skeptical of claims that it will bead anything more than the faintest amount of rain but haven't really tested them in real weather yet.
  • BTTGearCo Alpha 90 Hoodie: love this thing, absolutely worth the small weight penalty over my old Lark for the pocket and the extra layers around core and head actually do a lot of work.
  • 60gsm Senchi Pants: kick ass, great lightweight layer for added comfort around camp in the summer, great as a sleep layer as well.
  • Zendure 10k battery: Prefer this over the more common Nitecore because it has a better shape and rounded edges.

GEAR I'VE TRIED RECENTLY

  • Bonfus Fastus 22L: my favorite non-MYOG pack at the moment. Super comfortable, pockets admit 750ml CNOC flasks. Back tube pocket fully reachable with the pack on. Front mesh pocket is fantastic, stretchier than Ultramesh but more durable than pure lycra. Looks very clean in blackout Ultragrid.
  • BD Distance 15/22: wanted to like this but just couldn't. Great as a daypack but the straps are just not too big enough to hold anything north of ~10lbs comfortably for me. Can get much more comfortable carry with decent stability for less weight from a more conventional UL pack.
  • Nashville Cutaway: Couldn't make it work for me above ~15lbs or so, am sure it's comfy for lots of people but find that I need vest-style packs to wrap around my body more similar to Atelier-style system.
  • Senchi Wren: After swapping to the BTTGearCo hoodie just found the Wren-style hood too restrictive. Also use a buff all the time anyway.
  • Altaplex Tarp: Finally got rid of this bad boy because I just prefer the shape of the Cirriform (more headroom when actually lying down) but IMO the Altaplex is still the better overall piece for thru-hiking if you're going to be cowboying most of the time but want 360 degree coverage for weather.
  • Rainbow Li: just never took it out since moving to tarp+bivy. Killer tent though, good for taller people and super fast to set up. Gave it to my brother, marmots ate a giant hole in it the first time he took it out. lmao.
  • 28L Drifter: super light and super functional, just didn't like the color scheme. Very hard to find anything lighter and as functional considering it has built-in shoulder pockets. Doesn't look meaningfully different than a lot of packs of similar weight but somehow found it the most comfortable by a pretty decent margin.