3 Season Ultralight Backpacking Gear List
Three season backpacking typically is summer (fair weather) and the cooler/wet spring and fall seasons. Depending on the season, location, and terrain of the hike I may substitute, eliminate or add gear to accommodate the conditions and elements that are expected.
As needed, I have added sizes that work for my 5′ 2″, 130 pound, size 9 1/2 shoe body and gear items that I add, eliminate, or substitute.
My base weight (all gear WITHOUT water, stove fuel, and food) varies between 10 to 12 pounds.
| NEW FOR 2025: I am very excited about some new gear I have ordered and tested. The first three are game changers for me for communication, sleep and my blood pressure. Here are just a few of the goodies: |
- Garmin Messenger Plus
I have always used and loved my Garmin Mini, but this is all that and so much more. Faster, better battery, and can send and receive photos and voice messages. Yep, you heard that right. I think the new features will be very useful in emergency situations AND I have a new grandson that I am hoping to get updates via photos. - Alpenblow Micro Inflator
I am still in amazement of this under 1 ounce little, tiny, quiet pump for my air mattress. It fills my Neo Air in less than 3 minutes, all powered from my Nitecore Battery Bank. - Arto Inflatable Pillow
Confession time. EVERY NIGHT last summer my arms fell asleep many times a night. I lost many hours of good rest. For this season I was on a mission to change that. I own and tested SO many pillows and sleeping pads over the years. A couple of months ago, I saw an advertisement on Instagram for a contour pillow and the height required for neck support. Bingo. That was it. I ordered the inflatable Arto Pillow that is contoured on Amazon. I tested it for a few nights with my regular sleep set up and no asleep arms. Bonus it is the lightest pillow I own. - 1L Vestica CNOC Collapsible Water Bottle
This has great promise to replace and be healthier than the many Smart Water Bottles I purchase each summer. - Summit Suds Powdered Soap
This soap is super concentrated and I love how it cleans. I repackaged the powder into very small dropper bottles. Good bye Dr. Bronners for now. - Tooth Tabs by Unpaste
I have used toothepaste tablets in the past, but this brand really suds up, tastes amazing, and really cleans my teeth.
The Big Stuff – Pack, Shelter, Sleep Systems
- Backpack: Gossamer Gear Gorilla (Fits half size bear canister – Small)
or Gossamer Gear Mariposa (Fits full size bear canister – Small) - Phone Pocket: Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket (Large)
- Backpack Liner: Trash Bag
- Shelter: Zpacks Plex Solo Lite
- Stakes: MSR Ground Hog Stakes (x10)
- Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20 Degree Classic (Standard Width, Medium Length)
or Zpacks 10 degree Classic (Cold or Wet trips) - Pillow: Arto Inflatable Pillow
- Stuff Sack (Sleeping Bag): Hyperlite Mountain Gear Roll-top (10L)
- Sleeping Pad: Neo Air Xlite NXT (Regular)
or NeoAir XTherm NXT (Cold or Wet trips) - Multi-Purpose Pad: Gossamer Gear 1/8 Folded Thinlight Pad (Replaces the Gorilla backpack back pad and adds as extra layer for warmth and protection under sleeping pad at night)
Kitchen
- Stove: BRS-3000T
- Pot: TOAKS 650ml Titanium Light Pot
- Utensil: TOAKS Titanium Folding Spork
- Lighter: Bic Mini
- Food Cozy: Gossamer Gear Pot Pocket
- Food Bag: LOKSAK – OPKSAK Storage Bag
or Ursak Major XL Bear Sack with LOKSAK – OPKSAK Storage Bag
or Bearikade Scout Bear Canister
or Bearikade The Weekender Bear Canister - Food Organization: Ziploc Quart Food Storage
Hydration
- Water Treatment: Sawyer Squeeze or
Sawyer Squeeze with 2 liter water bag - NEW! Water Bottle:1L Vestica CNOC Collapsible Water Bottle (x2)
- Extra Cap: Water Bottle Sport Cap
Worn Clothing
- Top: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie (Medium)
or Columbia PFG Bahama II Long Sleeve Shirt (bug and brush protection, X-Small) - Pants: Prana Halle Pant (2 Regular)
- Shorts: Brooks 7 Inch Chaser Short (X-Small)
- Underwear: Patagonia Active Hipster (Small)
- Sports Bra: Patagonia Maipo Low-Impact Bra (Medium)
- Socks: Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew (Medium)
- Shoes: La Sportiva Mutant Trail Running (established trails or trail running 42 1/2)
or La Sportiva TX3 (Rough, Rocky Terrain or Off trail routes – 41 1/2) - Insoles: Superfeet Run Cushion Low Arch Isoles (D)
- Gaiters: Dirty Girl (Medium)
- Sungloves: Outdoor Research Active Ice Sungloves (Medium)
- Neck Gaiter: Original Buff Headwear
- Sunglasses: Revo Dexter
or Smith Embark - Hat: Skida 5 Panel Cap
- Watch: Garmin Instinct II Solar GPS Watch
- Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles (established trails)
or Fizan Compact 3 Trekking Poles (Rough, Rocky Terrain or Off trail routes)
Packed Clothing
- Rain Shell: Montbell Versalite (Women’s Medium)
- Rain Pants: Montbell Versalite (Men’s Small)
- Insulated Jacket: Montbell Plasma 1000 Hooded (Small)
- Wind Jacket: Patagonia Houdini (Small)
or Montbell Tachyon Wind Shirt (Medium) - Sleep Bottom: Lululemon Align Tights (4)
- Sleep Top: Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie (Small)
- Gloves: Outdoor Research Vigor Midweight Womens Gloves (Medium)
and Showa Best 282 Atlas TEMRES Insulated Gloves (Cold or Wet trips – XLarge) - Sleep Socks: Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Socks (Medium)
- Extra Socks: Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew (Medium)
- Stuff Sack (Clothing): Inflation Bag included with NeoAir Sleeping Pad
Toiletries
- Pee Cloth: Gossamer Gear Kula Cloth
- Trowel: TheTentLab The Deuce
- NEW! Hand Sanitizer: Summit Suds Powdered Soap
- Lip Balm: Dermatone Lip Balm
- Sunscreen: Banana Boat Kids Sport 50 Stick
- Toothbrush: GUM Travel
- NEW! Toothpaste: Tooth Tabs by Unpaste
- Stuff Sack (Toiletries): Gossamer Gear Ditty Large
- Wet Wipes: Caboo Bamboo Baby Wipes
First Aid
- Essential Oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Helichrysum and Melaleuca
- Bandages: Waterproof Tough Strips Band-aids
- Tape: Leukotape
- Misc.: Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Vicodin, small match book, extra pair of contacts, extra velcro for attaching Dirty Girl gaiters, extra gasket for Sawyer Squeeze
- Stuff Sack (First Aid): Gossamer Gear Ditty Small
Electronics
- Power Bank: Nitecore NB10000
- Phone: iPhone 14Pro
- Phone Case: Otterbox Commuter
- Headlamp: Nitecore NU25
- NEW! Satellite Messenger: Garmin Messenger Plus
- Cable: Anker Powerline II Lightning Cable (1ft)
- Stuff Sack (Electronics): Gossamer Gear Ditty Large
- NEW! Air Mattress Pump: Alpenblow Micro Inflator
Odds & Ends
- Sit Pad: Gossamer Gear Pad
- Compass: Suunto M-3
- Knife: Swiss Army Classic Knife
- Gear Repair: DCF tape
- Tripod: Jellyfish Jelly Grip Mount with Tripod with Jelly Long Legs
- Wallet: Zpacks Wallet Zip Pouch
- Helmet: Black Diamond Vapor (only if hiking on routes that have exposure – Class 3 climbing)
- Stuff Sack for All (Electronics, First Aid, Stove/Pot, Tolietries): Hyperlite Pod (11L)
iPhone Apps
- CalTopo
- Garmin Explore
- Peak Finder
- Strava
- Notes
- Google Drive
Traction and Snow Gear
- Microspikes: CAMP Chainsen Light
- Ice Axe: Petzl Summit 2 Ice Axe
- Crampons:
- Snow Shoes: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes
Cold Weather Clothing
- Gore-Tex Hard Shell Jacket: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket (small)
- Gore-Tex Hard Shell Pants: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Pant (small)
- Gore-Tex Boots: La Sportiva Trango Tech Boot (41 1/2)
- Gloves: Kinko Lined Heavy-Duty Leather
- Liner Gloves: Outdoor Research Vigor Midweight Gloves
- Waterproof Gloves: Showa 282 Temres Insulated Gloves (large)
- Down Jacket: Patagonia Down Sweater (small)
- Down Pants: Ghost Whisperer Down Pants (medium)
- Fleece: Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Pullover (medium)
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