2023 Backpacking Kit

Complete list of all the gear and art equipment I carried on my backpacking trips this year!

I drop my pack on the floor of my room after my 28th night of backpacking this year, and the process of unpacking, cleaning, and organizing my backpacking gear is a familiar routine. Everything is emptied out of the pack, the tent hung up, the sleeping bag and pad laid out, laundry sorted, and food notes written as I organize the remaining snacks. By the next morning, all the gear is clean or refilled and stashed in two large baskets that sit by my bed, ready for the next adventure.

A few years ago I stopped putting everything back in the closet after every trip because it just took so long to fetch each item from storage (and I forgot a few key things occasionally!). Now, from June to October my backpacking gear stays in the baskets to make transitioning from one trip to the next much easier. My equipment also stays the same from one adventure to the next, and here’s what I’ve been carrying all summer!

Before I dive into the list, I want to acknowledge that outdoor gear, especially when we must outfit ourselves completely if we aren’t sharing equipment with other group members, is exceptionally expensive. Prior to working in the outdoor industry I used the same gear for many years, including hand-me-downs, thrift store finds, and gear shared with my Dad. Once I got access to industry discounts and occasional gear sponsorship, I began to experiment and explore a wider range of items. You do not need the latest and greatest or most expensive things to have a great time outdoors! As long as you have things that will keep you warm, sheltered, and happy, that is all that matters.

Here’s the list! I am lucky to work with a few brands as either a gear tester, former employee, or ambassador, and these are acknowledged below).

Backpack: ULA Catalyst (Torso size M) – I love this pack and wrote an in-depth review of it here.

Tent: Hilleberg Akto – my go-to tent since 2020 when I received the tent in exchange for creative content. Of all my gear, this is the one item that I would not hesitate to pay full price for, because it is just such an amazing shelter; and if taken care of, it is the tent I plan to use for the rest of my life. I added a Tyvek groundsheet. More info here.

Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Neoair Xtherm. I have the pad from 2020. Warmer than I need for some trips, buy my lighter pad has a slow leak and I need to fix it.

Sleeping accessories: Sea to Summit inflatable pillow, with a super thin OR buff as a pillowcase. I also recently added in second thin buff to wear for extra warmth, as I really like having something I can put next to my face.

Cooking Kit: MSR Windburner stove. I bought this in 2015, and it’s been my go-to since. I cook my homemade dehydrated meals in the pot, so I like the 1L capacity. It is also, as the name implies, quite great in the wind! The stove comes with a little bowl on the bottom, and I add a long handled plastic spoon from Sea to Summit.

Food Storage: BearVault bear can when required, otherwise the Critter-proof Ursack with scent-proof bags inside. The Ursack is awesome, and I also try to stash it a ways from my tent. Sometimes we hang it from a line, other times I tie it around a tree with the special knot the instructions recommend. Always check the food storage requirements of the places you visit.

First Aid Kit: A more substantial version of what Adventure Medical sells, with extra meds, more wound dressing things, and other useful items like a needle for dealing with blisters. My First Aid Kid is not light, but I want everything I have in it after completing a Wilderness First Responder certification. This includes a tiny little book from NOLS summarizing common injuries / illnesses, which I love having as a reference.

Emergency Kit: These items are stored in the same bag as the first aid kit- compass from Suunto, fire starter, Aquatabs water purification tablets, waterproof matches, a space blanket, two N95 masks for smoke protection, a little bit of tenacious tape for repairs, a tiny little patch kit from Thermarest, a few clothes pins, and 3 spare AAA batteries for my headlamp.

Water Filtration: Sawyer Squeeze filter with one of the included bags for dirty water, a piece of tubing and the backflush cap that came with it, and a flexible-ish plastic cup I nabbed from a hotel room that I use to fill the dirty bag when I have a hard time scooping up the water into the provided small-mouthed bag. When I am hiking with my Dad, we bring a Platypus Gravity Works 4L filter because it is nice to have around camp.

*** Do not let these filters freeze!! All hollow-fiber filters like the Sawyer and the Platypus will be damaged if frozen, and must be replaced, even if you only suspect freezing. I just did this a few weeks ago when I left the Sawyer outside the tent, and it dipped below freezing unexpectedly. I’m now trying to build the habit of bringing it in the tent every night.

Water Bottles: two 1L platypus water bottles. Love these! I’ve used them a ton and they’ve held up great.

Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot (I love and hate this headlamp. Works great when it works, but sometimes it turns on in my pack even when in locked mode, and occasionally I must open it and rotate the batteries for it to turn on). Would love recommendations for a better option.

Bathroom Kit: TP, unscented baby wipes, a tiny little tube filled with A&D ointment to prevent or treat any chaffing, a few pads and tampons, blue bags, and a large clean empty peanut bitter jar called “Mr. Stinky” to carry out my waste. I carry out all my poop whenever I can now, even when not required, as I no longer feel comfortable leaving my poop in high use wilderness areas even if properly buried. So many wonderful areas are filled with lots of surface sh*t, and I am tired of that sh*t. Please, please don’t be that person that poops next to the most amazingly scenic camp. And the bags are just so much easier! For a summary of recent research on how long human waste actually takes to decompose (spoiler, a lot longer than you think), see this article from Outside.

Trekking Poles: Leki Makalu Titanium poles bought in 2010.

Clothing & Footwear

These items stay surprisingly consistent from trip to trip. Most of the time I am traveling as a self-contained gear unit when I join friends, scientists, or climbers. So, I tend to carry a bit more layers for when I am sitting around painting, and for emergency use when I am alone and wander sometimes very far from the group camp to paint!

I will also note that I use a lot of Arc’teryx equipment because of prior access to prodeals, product testing, and current support from the Arc’teryx Seattle store.

Boots: Scarpa Kailash, size 39. New this year, and not a single blister!

Camp Shoes: I barely used these this year unless I had a water crossing because bugs could bite me through the shoe mesh, and my feet are whiny little buddies that get cold. Arc’teryx Norval SL. After my last trip of the season where I brought my Feathered Friends Down booties, these will be my new camp shoes if I’m camping in colder conditions. Otherwise, my boots are comfortable enough that I won’t bring anything extra.

Hiking Socks: two pairs of Darn Tough boot socks. One I save clean each night and then only use on the last day).

Raincoat: Arc’teryx Gore-tex Alpha SL, from 2017. Light, wish it had pit zips. If I’m doing a longer trip in harsh mountain weather, I switch this out for the heavier and bulkier Alpha SV, from 2015. Purchased with prodeals when I was an REI employee.

Rain pants: Old pair from Mountain Hardware that my dad got me in 2007. Super old, and losing some of the coating, but they still work and are lightweight. For foul-weather or high mountain trips I bring my Arc’teryx full-size zip Gore-Tex pants.

Puffy: Feathered Friends Ellia or Arc’teryx Cerium hoody (2022 fit). Feathered Friends jacket is warmer, and for cold fall hiking I switched to the Ellia instead of the Cerium which I carried most of the summer. I used to work at Feathered Friends, so these were given to me at that time.

Midlayer: Arc’teryx Proton hoody (from 2020). Love this jacket, wrote a review here. After three years of heavy use I can tell it is not as lofted as it once was. I think I’ll be switching this out next year for the Nuclei hoody, which is lighter.

Wind shirt: Patagonia or an old one from Arc’teryx (2018) that is an once heavier but less crinkly fabric which is nice when I am filming my classes.

Baselayers: Arc’teryx Motus bottoms. For my top I prefer to carry a little extra weight for a warmer option, and bring the Arc’teryx Delta MX hoody (grid fleece, warm, and has a 1/3 zipper).

Tshirt: In warmer weather I bring only one to sleep in. Colder weather I might bring a second to hike in. Both Merino wool. I use a few brands; Woolly, Smartwool, Kora, and a super old one from Patagonia. Kora is the lightest.

Sun shirt: For the last three years my go-to were from Arc’teryx (hoodies for the win, when I used to hike with a ballcap only). Now that I hike with a wide brimmed hat, I still like the hoody for low angle or bug protection. ***BUT I am on the hunt for the perfect merino blend sun hoody that stinks less than the synthetics, I will report back when I find it!***

Underwear: merino wool, from Woolly and Icebreaker. Patagonia Barely sports bra (with pads, as I can use it as a knee pillow that way!)

Pants: Arc’teryx Gamma LT, size small. I have three pairs of these, love the light-colored Khaki the best. Durable, little bit of wind resistance but still very breathable. Sizing on these has been very inconsistent year to year, with the 2021 version fitting much smaller than the 2022. Have not tried 2023.

Sun hat: Tilley cotton hat. Love this thing!! New addition this year, and so so much better in hot weather because I get airflow around my neck while still being shaded.

Sunglasses: Smith Cheetah. I have these lovely red frames, and when the lenses got too scratched, I bought replacement lenses from Revant optics.

Other miscellaneous do-dads:

• Bug Spray- Sawyer Picaridin spray, poured into a smaller container.

• Heel tape for blister pre-treatment/ prevention- KT tape or Hypafix wound dressing tape.

• SIT PAD!!!!

• Paper map

Organization- zippered pouches and dry bags from UltraliteSacks! I LOVE THESE so much, great small cottage gear company, and run by lovely folks. I currently use an assortment on the trail - zippered pouches for art and electronics, a dry bag for the camera, and a second dry bag for spare clothing if I’m worried about rain.

Recently I also started bringing a fanny pack from UltraliteSacks on trips when I’m hiking with speedy minimal break-taking folks, because I can put a water bottle and snacks in the fanny pack for immediate access. woo!

Peak Designs capture Clip to carry Sony A6000

Painting Kit

• Palette- Art Toolkit Folio

• 2 blue shop towels

• Old mint tin for water

• Brushes: most basic are a #10 synthetic round and a larger round, sometimes a flat ½ inch and inch brush too

• Small pocket sized notebook

• Waterproof ink pen- Platinum Desk pen

• Pencil- Pentel 07 mechanical

• Squishy eraser, stuck onto the pencil (no shavings this way)

• Paper (arches 140# torn into standard sizes) inside a tyvek sleeve with a piece of plastic gatorboard inside for stiffness

Electronics

• Iphone 11 – video camera and map via the Gaia app (I have a personal strong dislike for the AllTrails app for many reasons, but the most relevant is that it is less accurate based on my experienecs with friends who used it and now are team Gaia as a result).

• Backup paper map printed from Captopo, always

• Anker 10k or 20k battery pack

• Camera: sony a6000 with a G lens (18-105)

• Spare SD card

• Cables: short versions of a lightning, USBmicro, and splitter for charging cable and mini microphone

• Filming add-ons: Rode Lapel mic with a super fluffy mini teeny tiny dead cat wind muff, tiny tripod. If I can, I will bring the GoPro with its little tripod, cables, and mic adapter.

I use these simple tools to film my online watercolor classes - the Adventure Art Academy lessons (www.adventureartacademy.com) - because I like to use simple and lightweight gear that I can bring with me on every trip. For the longest adventures I only bring the phone, and film using that!

If you made it this far, I hope that was interesting or helpful! Do you have any favorite gear right now? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!!!