Hiking Lady's What to Pack for a Backpacking Trip

[TheHikingLady]

Good question. I'm using a 60 Liter backpack. Very suitable for a long weekend. It is the Gregory Deva 60. Super comfortable, but a little on the heavy side.

[jlbell2341001]

My girlfriend is just getting in to backpacking what size pack are you using

[slingshotT2]

Thanks for the quick response! Your gear choices are very similar to mine, but as a solo backpacker, I can't seem to get my content weight below 42 lbs (not including the 6 lb backpack). In addition to just about all of your items except for the OR hat and mosquito headpiece, I also bring a small 9 oz. pair of binoculars, a 1 lb can of bear spray, and since I'm too tall to fit comfortably into any 1-person tents, I carry a 2-person tent. Keep up the great work!

[TheHikingLady]

Great question. I pack my bear canister inside my pack, right above my sleeping bag so towards the bottom of my pack. I use the Bear Vault Solo 450.

[slingshotT2]

Where do you pack your bear cannister? On the inside of your pack, or do you strap to the outside of your pack? What size do you use? The solo 450, or a bigger one?

[TheHikingLady]

haha, the 2nd half of the video shows all the gear :)

[afterthefox7]

all clothes!!!, what givess?

[KJ4TEE]

Ok did you really need the jacket vest and all the other cooled weather gear I only bring my carhart coat and hat even in the dead of winter and in the spring or fall a vest and the hat instead of the three layers of coats and I live in the mountains of NC

[TheHikingLady]

@KJ4TEE The Sierras can get VERY cold. In the dead of winter the temperatures are sub zero on many nights. In the summer, the temps can get pretty cold, especially with the wind chill. It is because the elevation is so high >10k feet in most spots where I like to hike/backpack.

[KJ4TEE]

@TheHikingLady ok well its the same thing I encounter here buy this and you will then only need long johns andCarhartt Women’s Sandstone Traditional Coat/Arctic Quilt-Lined

[TheHikingLady]

@EQUIPnTRIP Thanks Allan! The total weight of my backpack for that trip was 43 pounds. I am aiming to keep it under 40, but that included 4 liters of water and plenty of extra food :) What I didn't need on that trip to Garnet Lake was the down jacket, beanie, and gloves. The weather ended up being warm. I definitely used the mosquito net hat and bug repellent! I'm looking for a lightweight, reasonably priced tent. That will help cut down the weight the most.

[slodeth5]

@TheHikingLady , An ultralight packing rule is: If you didn't use it on your last trip, don't take it on your next. That's a begining. Would it interest you to know you could have gone on your trip for half the weight, in ultralight mode? It took me long years to convert but I'm so much lighter on my feet these days, going into the back country with a twenty to twenty-five pound pack for five days. Thank you for all the info.

[TheHikingLady]

@slodeth5 The total weight including food and 4 liters of water was 43 pounds! Quite heavy! My goal is to get to 35 pounds, and I know that I'll have to start with a lighter tent (or go to a bivy sack instead). Thanks for your comments and watching the video.

[dmacken11]

Googled up some pictures of Garnet Lake. WOW! that must have been a GREAT trip. I HAVE to get my stuff together and get out there! I keep hearing about the Mountain House food. I guess I'll have to give it a try. Pro packs I hear are the way to go also. I'm ready with my oatmeal recipe. I also have a bunch of Justin's Nutbutter squeeze packs they sent me because of a little video I did they put on their face book. I need to make a couple videos for here too. Soon I hope.

[TheHikingLady]

@dmacken11 Yeah sure was a great trip! I posted a few pics to the Hiking Lady Facebook page and will put together a slideshow video one of these days. Justin's nutbutter is great for backpacking. My fav Mountain House's are the Meat Lasagna and the Chicken and Rice. Vegetable Lasagna is good too.

[dmacken11]

By the way how do you like your Jetboil? I have the new Jetboil Flash and am waiting to give it it's first try. Didn't see your food in your video. Would like to see what your doing for food with just the Jetboil.

Thanks again for the video. Look forward to seeing a video of your trip!

[TheHikingLady]

@dmacken11 The food was packed in the bear canister. I should do another video just on food :) I took Mountain House Propak meals for dinners, oatmeal and hot chocolate and bars for breakfast, and peanut butter tortilla sandwiches for lunch. Plus several Clif GUs, Clif Builder bars (can get melty in the summer), granola bars, trail mix. I really like my JetBoil! I also have the pan attachment, and I make eggs/omelets on other trips. The last picture in the video is from Garnet Lake :)

[dmacken11]

Nicely done! Where you headed in the Sierras? My first trip will be to the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness. I need to sort through all me goodies and come up with a pack list as you have done. I have way to much stuff right now. Enough for 2 people to be fully outfitted I would think. I do need to get some better clothing possibly and rethink that. You seem to be carrying a lot of clothing for 3 days. Nice video! Thanks! Have a GREAT and safe trip!

[TheHikingLady]

@dmacken11 This was for my trip to Garnet Lake, about 8 miles west of Mammoth. The Sierras can get very cold at night, which is why I always bring along the down jacket. I don't like to be cold :)

[unopsec]

great video very informative and comprehensive, very professional delivery...except I couldn't identify with the ladies clothing!

[TheHikingLady]

@unopsec Thank you! I guess the pink top threw you off :)