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	Click here to view Trinity's how-to
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	1 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)