Preparing my thru-hike in California’s High Sierra, I have read and viewed many gear lists that have inspired me to compile my own. Except for my hiking pants and shirt, my boots and my iPhone, everything I will carry in the High Sierra this summer is on the above photograph. Read on for the complete list.

In this gear list, I have organized everything in three main categories: what I wear, what I carry, and what I eat & drink. And these categories break down into more categories, with each item’s weight in grams. I have verified all the weights myself, they do differ sometimes from official specifications.

I have been training  with my pack full of the stuff on this gearlist. Everything on the list, I have tested and used in the field.

Post Hike Update: I swapped my lightweight Teva slippers (196 gr) for more sturdy Aqua Shoes (394 gr). Testing the slippers in the sea, I noticed that they get tugged off my feet by the flowing water. In the High Sierra the waters were low in september, but the currents stills powerful at creek crossings. So I was happy to carry the extra 200 grams. The Aqua Shoes also served as perfect camp shoes that I could wear with my socks.

A. Worn Items

Clothing

Ayacucho hat with neck protection – 69 gr

Sunglasses (prescription) – 44 gr

Exofficio Insect Shield Long sleeved hiking shirt – 220 gr

Columbia Silver Ridge convertible pants – 265 gr

Eagle Creek All Terrain money belt – 70 gr

Under Armour boxerjock – 66 gr

Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion hiking socks – 74 gr

Hanwag Tatra II GTX Hiking boots – 1.780 gr

Orthotics (custom made insoles) – 150 gr

Stuff

Trekking poles Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork – 542 gr

Pocket knife Victorinox mini – 21 gr

Trails Illustrated Sequoia Kings Map– 93 gr

iPhone SE camera/phone – 114 gr

Watch Mondaine – 30 gr

Handkerchief – 15 gr

Total weight worn items – 3.523 gr /  7.8 pounds

B. Base Weight

Pack

Z Packs Arc Haul 62L backpack; 2 hip pockets, V-strap, 2 shoulderpouch – 835 gr

Clothing

Outdoor Research Helium HD rain Jacket – 266 gr

Berghaus Goretex rain pants – 217 gr

Fashy Aqua Water Shoes – 394 gr

Glasses (prescription) – 13 gr

Glasses case – 50 gr

High UV Insect shield Buff – 40 gr

Osprey Ultralight drysack 6L (Lime green) – 30 gr

Berghaus Half Zip fleece (100% polyester) 270 gr

2nd pair Darn Tough socks – 74 gr

2nd Under Armour Boxerjock – 66 gr

Light sleeve for glasses (night)  19 gr

Handkerchief 15 gr

Osprey Ultralight drysack 6 L (Petrol blue) 30 gr

Zpacks Possum down gloves – 40 gr

Zpack Vertice rain mitts – 28 gr

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (PrimaLoft Gold) – 367 gr

Cooking

Optimus fuel can stabilzer – 24 gr

Firestarter Light my Fire 29 gr

Bearikade Weekender (10,65L) bear canister – 930 gr

Snowpeak litemax stove – 53 gr

Snowpeak Hotlips – 3 gr
Evernew Ti Ultralight 0,5L Mug Pot – 74 gr

Sea to summit spork – 12 gr

Lighter Mini Bic 11 gr

Cook Pouch Self made (Reflectix) – 24 gr

Sleeping

Zpacks Duplex Tent – 575 gr

8 x Hilleberg Y-Peg Stakes – 110 gr

Enlightend Equipment Enigma (20F) down Quilt – 553 gr

Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Nano 8L Dry Sack – 28 gr

Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro (R=4.0) Sleeping Pad – 740 gr

ExpedAir Pillow UL Large – 61 gr

Smartwool Liner socks – 32 gr

Icebreaker Merino 200 base layer Long Johns – 189 gr

Icebreaker Sphere LS Crewe long sleeves merino shirt – 160 gr

Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro (R=4.0) sleeping pad – 740 gr

Essentials

Water bottle (disposable Spa bottle, 0,5 L) – 27 gr

Water bottle (disposable Sourcy bottle, 1 L) – 39 gr

Water bottle (disposable Sourcy bottle, 1 L) – 39 gr

CNOC Vector 2L water container – 77 gr

Water filter Sawyer Squeeze – 91 gr

Silva ranger 515 compass with adjustable declination  – 92 gr

Repair kit (Therm-a-rest pad kit, Zpacks tape, duct tape, superglue, needle) – 43 gr

Sit pad Bever – 27 gr

Fox 40 Classic Safety Whistle – 8 gr

Böker Plus Exskelibur foldable knife– 82 gr

Papers

Passport – 40 gr

Permit – 4 gr

Creditcard, drivers license, insurance and bank cards –15 gr
Bic Evolution pencil 2 gr

Sharpy fine marker – 9 gr

Rite in the Rain Mini Stapled notebook – 25 gr

Home and car keys – 41 gr

Copies of route and profiles from guides, on lightweight paper – 50 gr

Personal care

Sea To Summit Tek Towel (cut in half) – 75 gr

First aid, medicine, sport tape, tooth brush, insect repellant, sun cream, lip balm, ear plugs, etc.– 450 gr

Ziplock (3L) for trash – 20 gr

Adventure Medical Kits Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer – 70 gr

Toilet paper 1 roll – 78 gr

Tent lab deuce of spades, cathole spade – 17 gr

Electronics

Garmin Inreach Explorer 2-Way Satellite Communicator– 234 gr

Flybox SQ1 Premium solar power bank/charger – 275 gr

Flybox cable (for Garmin) – 12 gr

iPhone cable Belkin Mixit 15 cm – 9 gr

Headdlamp Petzl Tikkina – 87 gr

Extra batteries 3 x AAA– 34 gr

Flying Tiger Tripod – 60 gr

Total Base weight 8.667 gr / 17.7 pounds

C. Consumables

Water in bottles on average 1,5 L – 1.500 gr (with a total capacity of 4,5 L)

Food at maximum (6 dinners/breakfast + 7 lunch/snacks) 5.000 gr

Gas canister MSR (4 oz) – 226 gr

Total Consumables 6.726 gr /  14.8 pounds

PACK WEIGHT (B+C)  15.393 gr / 34 pounds

Further Reading or Viewing

I have read these books more than once in the past year:

National Geographic’s The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide, by Andrew Skurka.

Skurka is an extreme hiker and has hiked thousands and thousands of miles, so his opinions can be a bit strong at times for a simple hiker like myself. Although I totally do not agree on his idea to cut off the straps of your hiking poles, his experience and knowledge is very valuable. This book is the base for all your gear lists.

Allen and Mikes Really Cool Backpackin’ Book, by Allen O’Bannon and Mike Clelland.

Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping, written and illustrated by Mike Clelland.

These two books are a lot of fun to read. They both contain essential information on hiking. Not just about packing gear, but also about crossing rivers, dealing with bears and preparing food.

There are three You-Tube channels that I have been following the past year, and I would like to thank these three hikers so much for sharing their thoughts on gear : Darwinonthetrail, Dixie form homemadewanderlust and Tim Watson.

And everything fits easily into my Z Packs Arc Haul 62L backpack!