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.
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: NEMO Equipment Fillo Elite
- 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 - Water Bottle: Smart Water Bottles (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
- Hand Sanitizer: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Liquid Soap
- Lip Balm: Dermatone Lip Balm
- Sunscreen: Banana Boat Kids Sport 50 Stick
- Toothbrush: GUM Travel
- Toothpaste: Uncle Harry’s Toothpowder
- 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
- Satellite Messenger: Garmin inReach Mini 2
- Cable: Anker Powerline II Lightning Cable (1ft)
- Stuff Sack (Electronics): Gossamer Gear Ditty Large
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)