gear

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF OUR GEAR 
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR GEAR-RELATED BLOG POSTS

Gear junkies, eat your hearts out! Before leaving and now on the trail, our gear list has gone through countless iterations. Our goal is to be as lightweight as possible while still maintaining safety, so we can travel farther in less time and generally be more comfortable (a little ironic, right?). We're down to under 25 pounds (11 kilos) per person (including what we're wearing and excluding food, water and fuel). Click here to see some photos.

We'd like to give special thanks to Louis & Jasmine Maurer and Sean Houlihan for their instrumental lightweight backpacking advice, to Dr. Tony & Sharon Field for their first aid kit expertise, the Pacific Biodiversity Institute for our camera, George K. Baum & Co. for our tent, and to Gregg Treinish for his invaluable insight on trekking in South America.

Here are a few key multi-purpose and weight-saver gear items we'd like to highlight:

1- Backpack/Sleeping Pad: Our Ultralight Mariposa backpacks from Gossamer Gear weigh in at 1.5 pounds (as compared to standard packs at 5-6 pounds). No zippers, extra comfort or pockets! We trimmed our Therm-A-Rest Ridge Rest SOLite sleeping pads to fold into the pack as back support.

2- Sleeping System: We've coupled down pants and our lightweight warm-weather sleeping bags to survive the cold springtime Patagonia nights. When we reach warmer weather, we'll send the pants home (but will enjoy them while cooking on chilly evenings this spring!).

3- Tent: We'll use our trekking poles instead of the standard issue pole to stand up our Black Diamond Mega Light tent. During dryer climates, we'll send the floor back. Our tent, floor, stakes, pole converter and stuff sacks weight in at 1.3 pounds per person!

4- Popcan Stove: This little guy is ultralight, cheap, rages, and takes many different fuels! There are several variations of this stove available on blogs and youtube tutorials.
This is the video Trinity followed to make the stove: Mini Stove
This is Trinity's photo how-to (with a couple construction technique variations): Stove How-To

See below four gear lists that we redlined after four months on the trail: Group Gear, Our Personal Gear, First Aid Kit and Repair Kit. We'd love to hear your comments and questions - we've put generous time and thought behind each item. This list will inevitably evolve even more as we continue (we'll keep you updated).

Items marked in red indicate changes
Items marked in gray indicate temporary changes due to warmer/ drier weather

Group Gear - 4.2 lbs. (1.9 kg) Per Person

Ounces
Gear
Specifics
7.0
GPS w/ batteries and SD card
Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx handheld
3.0
Spot
Spot GPS Satellite Messenger
32.0
First Aid Kit
Refer to separate list
10.3
Repair Kit
Refer to separate list
26.0
Tent, pole converter + bag
Black Diamond Mega Light
30.0
Tent floor
Black Diamond Mega Floor
4.0
Tent stakes + bag
4 MSR Ground Hogs, 4 8 MSR Needles
2.0
Stove
11.0
Pot & Lid
Extracted from GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Backpacker Cookset
3.0
Mate cup and bombilla (straw)
From Buenos Aires street market
7.0
SteriPen with AA batteries
SteriPEN Classic Water Purifier with Prefilter
2.0
Aqua Mira Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment
Liquid version (faster acting than tablets)
8.0
Knife/Multitool
Leatherman Juice C4
2.0
Pepper or Wasp Spray

8.0
Sunscreen

3.0
Bug repellent

3.0
Soap
Dr. Bonner's All-Purpose Soap
(if we can get it via USA resupply, otherwise we use liquid hand soap)
4.0
Toothpaste

0.5
Floss

0.5
Razor

0.5
Tweezers
Moved from First Aid Kit
0.5
Q-Tips

4.0
Deodorant

3.0
Foot powder

8.0
Lotion

0.5
Nail clippers

3.0
Multivitamins

2.0
Nylon bags
Made by Shelley from www.rayjardine.com
3.8
Journal for Data Collection
THE BUHO (our name for it because there's an owl pic on the front)
1.0
Kindle USB cord

1.0
Tablet USB cord

4.0
Camera charger and USB cord

2.0
Two adapters
For both old and new electricity systems
0.3
USB drive

0.8
Dry bag for cords/plugs etc
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack - Small
1.0
Extra camera battery

0.1
2 32GB SD cards, 1 16GB SD card,
1 4GB SD card

0.1
1 mini 1GB SD card with large converter

10.0
Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10
193.4
200.9 ounces

12.1
12.6 pounds (~4.2 lbs./ person) or 5.7 kilos (~1.9 kg/ person)

or for the summer


10.7 pounds (~3.6 lbs./ person) or 4.9 kilos (~1.6 kg/ person)


Trinity's Personal Gear - 15.1 lbs. (6.8 kg)


Ounces
Gear
Specifics
11.1
Tennis shoes
Patagonia W's Arrant Leather GoreTEX
2nd pair acquired in December
4.0
Flip flops
Patagonia W's Round Pin Flip Flops
5.0
Wool socks (1 calf, 1 short, 1 ankle)
2 Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Crew Socks &
1 PhD Running Ultralight Micro Socks
1 Patagonia W´s Lightweight Merino Calf
1 Icebreaker W´s Multisport Lite Mini
1 North Face M's Interval Running Low Cut
2.0
Underwear (1 synthetic, 1 2 wool)
Patagonia + Icebreaker Siren Bikini
3.2
Sports bra
Patagonia W's Crossover Bra
5.0
Shorts
Patagonia W's Baggies
11.0
Hiking pants
Patagonia W's Inter-Continental Pant
2nd pair acquired in December
3.0
Belt
Patagonia Friction Belt
8.0
Fleece pants
Patagonia W's R1 Pants
4.0
Wool t-shirt
Icebreaker SS Meridian Scatter Superfine150
6.0
Wool long underwear top
Patagonia 'W's Merino 3 Top
7.0
Fleece Down vest
Patagonia W's Synchilla Vest
ISIS Slipstream Vest
12.7
Down jacket
Marmot W's Dena Jacket
10.2
Insulated pants
Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Pants
6.5
Knee-high gators
REI Mountain Light
9.2
Rain pants
Patagonia W's Torrentshell Rain Pants
12.8
Rain jacket
Patagonia W's Torrentshell Rain Jacket
8.0
Convertible skirt/dress
American Apparell Le Sac Dress in Purple
2.0
Visor
OR foldable visor
2.0
Snow hat
Patagonia Beanie Argentine handmade
3.0
Gloves
REI Oslo Liner Gloves
24.0
Backpack
Gossamer Gear Ultralight Mariposa Pack
1.0
Pack liners
Gossmaer Gear and trash bag
1.0
Personal sleep tarp
Heavy duty trash bag cut down the sides
10.0
Trekking pole
K2 Trekking Pole (doubles as tent pole)
26.0
40 degree sleeping bag
REI 40 degree Halo
(coupled with down pants for sleep)
1.0
Stuff sack
Granite Gear eVent Sil Compression DrySack
5.0
foam pad (cut to torso)
Therm-A-Rest Ridge Rest SOLite Sleeping Pad
(also used as backsupport in backpack)
1.0
Spork
Guyot Designs MicroBites Utensils
3.0
Cup
600ml Snowpeak Titanium Peak Mug
with Hotlips
7.5
Bladder with hose
MSR DromLite - 4L with hose
1.0 2.0
2 Bandana

1.0
Microfiber towel
MSR PackTowel Nano – Medium
Cut into three towel – two potty, one drying
2.8
Headlamp with batteries
Petzl Zipka Plus 2 LED Headlamp
15.0
Kindle
Second to arrive March 1 (just dropped and broke it in town of all places)
1.0
Plastic kindle pouch

3.8
Journal
Moleskine Cahier Large Square Notebook
0.1
Pen

2.0
Sunglasses with chums and sleeve
Kaenon Georgia
1.0
Toothbrush with brush protector

1.0
Night guard and case

0.2 1.0
Chapstick Dermatone SPF30 (round tin)

2.0 1.0
Hand sanitizer
Thanks for sending the mini ones Sharon!
0.1
Loufa

2.0
Bug Headnet

1.0
Watch

0.3
Headphones with mic
For skyping
0.2
Pearl earrings

1.0
Beaded Pendant

1.0
Passport, driver's license, two debit cards, credit card, immunization certificate with pouch
0.1
Photocopy of passport, license, travel insurance, USA health insurance, cc #s,
cc customer service #s, embassy #s, parent #s
246.7
241.3 ounces
15.4
15.1 pounds (6.8 kilos)

or for the summer

14.0 pounds (6.4 kilos)


Sarah's Personal Gear - 19.8 lbs. (9.0 kg) 


Ounces
Gear
Specifics
29.0
Tennis shoes
Merrell Moab Waterproof
5.3
Flip flops
Teva Mush Olowahu
6.8
Wool socks
1 Patagonia Crew, 1 Patagonia Ultralight
Running, 1 REI Merino Wool Crew
2.62.3
Underwear
2 1 Patagonia Active Hipster, 1 Icebreaker
2.5
Sports bra
Patagonia Mesh Bra
5.0
Baggies shorts
Patagonia Baggies
15.2
Weather-resistant hiking pants
The North Face Paramount Pant
Getting replacements via Isis/Sierra Designs
8.0
Fleece pants
Patagonia R1 pant
3.05.1
Wool t-shirt
The North Face Tolowa Lite SS Top
Smartwool Lightweight Tee
6.09.0
Wool long underwear top
Patagonia Merino 2
Icebreaker LS Chase Zip
9.2
Fleece sweater
The North Face 100 Texture Stripe Masonic
8.2
Fleece vest
Patagonia R2 fleece vest
10.5
9.0                
Puffy pullover or jacket
Patagonia Nano Puff
Sierra Designs Gnar Jacket (no hood)
10.2
Insulated Pants
Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Pant
6.5
Knee-high gaiters
REI Mountain Light
9.2
Rain pants
Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Pant
19.0
Rain jacket
Patagonia Triolet Jacket
2.3
7.0
Wind Layer
The North Face W's Verto Jacket
Sierra Designs Knuckle Hoody
7.7
Convertible skirt/dress
Patagonia Kamala Skirt
2.8
Sun hat
The North Face Horizon Hat
3.6
Snow hat
Patagonia Beanie
Handmade  Knit Hat from Pucon!
2.9
Gloves
The North Face Apex Glove
24
Backpack
Gossamer Gear Ultralight Maripossa
1.1
Pack liners
Gossmaer Gear and trash bag
1.0
Personal sleep tarp
Heavy duty trash bag cut down the sides
15.8
Trekking pole
Leki W's Ultralight Poles (double as tent poles)
34.0
Sleeping bag
REI 25 Degree Halo
(coupled with down pants for sleep)
5.2
Stuff sack
Sea to Summit Compression Dry Sack - Medium
5.0
foam pad (cut to torso)
Ghetto Argentine Foam Pad
(also used as backsupport in backpack)
0.3
Spork
Snowpeak Titanium
5.54.0
Titanium cup/pot/lid
Cup from Snowpeak Titanium Mini Solo Cookset
5.1
Bladder with hose
MSR Dromlite 4L
1.03.0
3 Bandana

1.0
Microfiber towel
MSR Packtowel Nano - Medium
2.8
Headlamp with batteries
Petzl Zippka Plus 2 LED
15.311.0
Samsung Galaxy Tablet
Kindle and Marware Jurni Case

0.9
Sunglasses w/ Chums
Suncloud
0.5
Glasses

0.7
Prescription sunglasses

1.0
Toothbrush

0.5
Chapstick w/ SPF
Chapstick w/ SPF 15
1.0
Dermatone SPF30 (round tin)

1.0
Retainers w/ case

4.0
Contacts + solution
Acuvue Oasys + Optifree Replenish
2.0 1.0
Hand sanitizer
Thanks for sending the mini ones Sharon!
0.1
Loufa

1.0
Bug headnet
Sea to Summit Insect Shield Mosquito Headnet
0.5
Watch
Timex Ironman
3.8
Journal

0.1
Pen

2.0
Carabiner
Black Diamond Positron Screwgate Carabiner
0.5
Medical ID bracelet
Fell off
0.3
Headphones with mic
For skyping
4.0
Epi pen, inhaler, pills etc.
1.0
Whistle/compass/thermometer
1.0
Passport, driver's license, immunization card, travel insurance card and photocopies with pouch
304.0
317.7 ounces

19.0
19.8 pounds (9.0 kilos)


or for the summer


18.6 pounds (8.4 kilos)



Shelley's Personal Gear - 18.1 lbs. (8.2 kg)

Ounces
Gear
Specifics
12.4 8.6
Tennis shoes
Patagonia Women's Drifter A/C GORE-TEX
Patagonia Ws Specter
4.0 5.3
Flip flops
Reef Ginger Flipflop
Teva Mush Olowahu
4.0
Wool socks
2 Smartwool- phD outdoor UL mini, hiking Med
Crew
, 1 phD outdoor light crew
3.0
Underwear
2 Patagonia Active Hipster
3.5
Sports bra
Champion vented
4.9
Baggies shorts
Patagonia W's Baggies Shorts
15.2
Weather-resistant hiking pants
Northface Paramount Valley Convertible Pants
Isis
8.0
Fleece pants
Patagonia R1 pants
3.2
Wool tank top
Smartwool NTS Microweight Tank
5.1 4.3
Wool t-shirt
Smartwool Lightweight Tee / Colombia quick-dry t-shirt / Patagonia Merino 2
7.0
Wool long underwear top
Smartwool NTS Midweight Crew
11.0
Fleece sweater
The Northface W's Flux Power Stretch 1/4 Zip
Pullover
8.4
Fleece vest
Patagonia Women's Sychilla Vest
11.3
9-0
Insulated jacket
Patagonia Down Sweater
Sierra Designs Gnar Hoody
10.0
Insulated Pants
Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Pant
6.5
Knee-high gators
REI Mountain Light Gaiters
10.3
Rain pants
Marmot Minimalist Pant
14.4
10.0
Rain jacket
Marmot Minimalist Jacket
Sierra Designs Wicked Jacket
7.08.0
Convertible skirt/dress
Columbia Timeless Travel Skirt Marakesh Maven Dress
2.0
Sun hat
Patagonia Roger That Hat 
Gossamer Gear Headsweats Hat
3.0 2.0
Snow hat
Chaos fleece lined beanie Local Bolivian Knit Hat
2.3
Gloves
Marmot Windstopper Gloves
22.3
Backpack
Gossamer Mariposa
2.0
Pack liner
Heavy duty trash bag
1.0
Personal sleep tarp
Heavy duty trash bag cut down the sides
10.0
Trekking pole
K2 Trekking Pole 
34.0
Sleeping bag
REI 25 Degree Halo
(coupled with down pants for heat)
3.0
Stuff sack
REI Lightweight Compression Stuff Sack Specs
5.0
foam pad (cut to torso)
Therm-A-Rest Ridge Rest SOLite Sleeping Pad
(also used as backsupport in backpack)
1.5
Eating vessel
Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 Mug
1.0
Spork
Guyot Designs MicroBites Utensils
4.0 2.0
Bladder with hose Water Vessels
MSR Platypus 3L Two 1L Bottles
2.0 2.0
2 Bandanas

7.0
Microfiber towel
The Sammy- springboardsandmore.com
2.8
Headlamp with batteries
Petzl Zipka Plus 2 LED Headlamp
15.0
Kindle

5.0
Kindle case
Tuff Luv Leather Kindle Case
4.0
Journals
Moleskine Classic Pocket
Soft Cover Plain Notebook
Plain Notebook
1.0
Pen

2.0
Sunglasses with chums
Smith Swindler Cheap street vendor glasses
1.0
Toothbrush

2.0
Hand sanitizer

3.1
Chapstick
Chapstick brand
0.1
Loufa

1.3
Bug headnet
REI Sea to Summit Insect Shield
Mosquito Head Net
3.1
Knife
SOG Flash II Partially Serrated
3.0
Compass
Brunton 15TDCL
2.0
Diva cup

15.0
Knee brace

1.0
US passport, Canadian passport, driver's license, two debit cards, credit card,
STA card, immunization card with pouch
308.7
290.5 ounces

19.3
18.1 pounds (8.2 kilos)


or for the summer


16.8 pounds (7.6 kilos)



First Aid Kit (Sarah's Baby) - 0.7 lbs. Per Person

Anti-Bacterial Soap In Dropper
Tweezers
Moleskin
Arnica Tablets
Gloves
Blist-O-Ban
Band-AID Blister Bandages
Irrigation Syringe
Band Aid - Knuckle, Large, Small
Tincture Of Benzoine
IM Syringe
Glacier Gel
Steri-Strips
CPR Mask
Lighter/Matches
Plastic Shield Sticker Thingy
Ace Bandage
Gauze - Pads/Roll
Safety Pins
Gauze Tape
Trauma Pad
SAM Splint
Althetic Tape
Magnifier
Scissors
Pencil/Paper
Emergency blanket



Medications


Cipro
Abx Ointment
Pepto Bismal
Z-Pack
Alcohol Pads
Liquid Epinephrine
Doxycycline
Povidone-Iodine/Betadyne
Liquid Benedryl
Diflucan
Afrin
Motion Relief
Motrin
Steroid Cream
Gent-Lax (Constipation)
Nsaid
Narcotic (Hydrocodone)
Prednisone
Pepcid AC
Sting Wipes
Albuterol
Antihistimine (Zyrtec)
Immodium
Cough Drops
Benedryl
Day Quil
Aspirin
Rehydration Salts
Nyquil




2.0 pounds (0.7 lbs. or 0.3 kg /person)



Repair Kit - 0.2 lbs. Per Person

Gear
Specifics
Tenacious Tape
For Non-Nylon-Coated Fabrics
Mcnett Sil Fix Sil-Nylon Repair Kit
For Nylon-Coated Fabrics
Mcnett SilNet
2.0oz tube
1 Mini Roll Duct Tape

50ft Of Reflective 2mm Cordage
EZC 2 Line
2ft Of ½-insh webbing
For inevitable and frequent gaiter stirrup repair
24 AA/ 23 AAA Batteries

Rubber Bands

Needle And Thread

Multi Size Safety Pins
To clean stove holes, use as a button or clasp, or double for first aid
Superglue



0.6 pounds (0.2 lbs. or 0.1 kg / person)

10 comments:

  1. Hello, I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wish you best of luck for all your best efforts. flexible gear coupling manufacturers, gear coupling suppliers in India.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I met Shelly in the DR...she told me about a year long hiking trip in South America. Must admit I didn't think it was anywhere near as serious as this. I am completely blown away by what you girls are doing. You've officially got a new follower!
    Safe travels,
    - crazy jealous Canadian

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi gals! Love reading your blog! Wish I could join you out there. I'm setting up for a trip to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc in August, and I'm finding your gear page to be super helpful. Trying to have the lowest weight possible. Question... it seems that whatever base layers you had in synthetics are slowly getting replaced with merino wool. Is that mostly due to odor or another reason? Comfort?

    Thanks for any input! Keep on trucking!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Josie- Tour du Mont Blanc sounds fantastic! Glad our gear page has helped you out with your packing list- that was our intention. We are in need of updating it further (we're getting a big resupply this week through family that's visiting) so keep an eye out but in general the theme is the same and the list is very accurate. Yes, most of our baselayers are wool however Shelley had a synthetic Columbia t-shirt she liked in the summer (but did switch back to wool) and Sarah and Shelley love their Patagonia Active Hipsters. From previous experience and purely my personal opinion, I feel wool doesn't retain body odor as much and it's cozier than its synthetic alternatives. Let us know if you have any other questions!! We love to talk gear!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your blog and your gear lists :) I've started putting up my gear lists on my website as well in the hopes it will help someone out as much as peeking at other gear lists has helped me out. I have a few questions for you.

    1) I usually bring underwear for each day but seems you all bring 2 pairs. Do you wash a pair each night? Do you wash your bras each night too?

    2) Not quite a gear list question but how do you deal with wet rain gear when camping and it's raining? Do you keep in in the test with you? Hang it in there? Leave it outside?

    Thanks!

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