"Lighten Up": Our Gear Saga
For the next five months, practically everything I need will be strapped to my back - contained in a 60L backpack and carried by my little self. A stark change from my apartment full of "stuff"; a bedroom with a nice big bed and fluffy duvet, a kitchen outfitted with utensils and champagne glasses, and a bathroom full of cabinets stuffed with pampering products... I'll need to carry the alternatives to these "necessities" on my back.
Months of research have culminated in a dialed-in pack that will meet all of my needs while at the same time contributing to the comfort of my trip in terms of weight carried and little luxuries.
Together, we've subscribed to a "UL Light" philosophy. Not quite making the mark for true "UL" (a term for ultra-light backpackers with a base weight under 10 lbs, generally forgoing luxuries such as a free-standing double-walled tent and cook system), we kept in mind the general goal of shaving ounces while making compromises for comfort as necessary.
THE BIG THREE
backpack
Our packs are the ULA Circuit, a cult-favorite of thru-hikers in America. We've tested these out over several overnights and have been pleased with the simple yet tough construction and overall light weight.
tent
One of the first "upgrades" we made to our backpacking system was the purchase of the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL tent. This free-standing, double-walled tent is extremely "luxurious" by thru-hiking standards, but after testing out several alternatives (tarps, Z-lights, smaller Big Agnes'), we ultimately decided that the tent was one of the Big Four items we would allow to trade off ounces for comfort and security. Having a free-standing tent allows us to easily set up the tent without having to find stake-able ground, and the roomy footprint allows us to sleep peacefully with our gear inside the tent without bumping elbows - a consideration that we felt was well worth the weight for the health of our relationship.
sleep system
Our sleep system consists of Thermarest Z-lite pads (with a few panels cut off) and Enlightened Equipment quilts. We fell in love with the adaptability of quilts as an alternative to sleeping bags - basically, instead of confining the sleeping bag into a mummy shape, a quilt allows the wearer to unzip and utilize the quilt as a blanket, and most importantly, the unique shape allows the down to perform its insulating features to the best of it's ability by reducing weight otherwise wasted underneath a hiker. Plus, we were blown away by the quality of Enlightened Equipment's construction and the array of customization options.
LIGHTERPACK
A full run-down of everything I am bringing (and their weight allocations) can be found below: