So I'm in the middle (well, nearer the end) of a two month trek across Israel (see my other thread) and I know a few things, one of which is that I can't wait to hike in a place where it's easier to find trees to hang from, and another is that I can and really want to lighten my pack.
Anyway, I don't have a scale on hand, but I do have a list of my pack's contents and am hoping for helpful comments and advice from experience. This is a packing list for a 2 month trek, so it's fairly extensive compared to if I was out for 1 week or whatever.
Pack: REI Mars 85 (6 lbs empty, and far bigger than I need. In the desert I think I came kind of close to filling it up with extra water and food, but no longer am coming anywhere close)
So, in no order:
Flashlight (turns into a mini lantern) (yeah, I need a headlamp...holding off on any new gear purchases till I'm home and have a job)
Earplugs plus a few extras (they last a few weeks)
Jacket (just some cotton one I got off Old Navy)
Flannel shirt (I wear it and the jacket at night - it gets cold here)
Long johns (will probably be left when I resume the trail, not needed anymore)
Convertible Columbia hiking pants (on me)
5 pairs of wool socks (I wear 2 at a time)
2 pairs of cotton boxer shorts (1 on me)
3 cotton t-shirts (1 on me, 1 saved for being clean)
Warm hat (will leave behind, not needed anymore)
Extra khaki pair of pants for night and clean
Travel towel, quick drying fabric
North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bag, 20F rating, weighs a little under 3 lbs and very bulky even when compressed...but warm...
Folding plastic spork/knife
Cowboy hat or light cloth scarf thing (keffiyah)
Sunglasses and case
several trash bags for various purposes or pack cover or poncho
Stainless steel Arabic coffee pot for cooking
Phone charger and cell phone, USB cord to charge MP3 player
plastic bowl
passport
gum
soap bar and container
several contact lens cases
contact solution
extra contact lenses
skin lotion (several ounce bottle)
mini toothbrush
stainless steel cup (will probably leave, I haven't used it)
MSR Whisperlite Int'l multifuel stove, plus windscreen, lighter, instructions
MSR 20 oz fuel bottle
Source 2 liter water bladder with tube (like Camelbak)
Israeli military can opener
Pocket knife (I could just get a Swiss Army knife but I'm not sure what else I need on there besides blade and can opener)
Altus Rift trekking poles
Cowon mp3 player and earbuds
stick of deodorant for "clean times"
band aids
bug spray w/o DEET
several Israeli topographical hiking maps - 1-4 of a set of 20, right now
half bar Octagon laundry soap
dental floss
Razor and extra blades
small NIV Bible for reading material...awesome weight to reading material ratio
2 plastic water bottles, 1.5 or 2 liters (that much water is needed here sometimes)
Grand Trunk Ultralight Skeeter Beeter hammock w/ default suspension (crappy rope slings)
Cheapo but decent tarp off ebay and some ropes to tie it
4 overly heavy stakes
foam mattress
a roll of TP at all times
Extra plastic bags
Some hiking boots I got for 6 bucks at a secondhand store four years ago and found out are awesome (on me)
sunscreen
few pieces of paper to write a log on
small bag with: itch cream, pepto bismol, neosporin, nail clipper, aspirin
point and shoot camera
So - what does everyone think? Is this the right place for this post? I hope so - thanks.
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