Maximum pack weight without food, water, tent, and crew equipment should be no more than 20-25 pounds (depending on your body weight). Shared group gear and water will add about 20-25 pounds (food, water, and shared tent adds 14-16 pounds per person, while the other common crew gear adds another 6-9 pounds per person). Total pack weight should be 25-30% or less of your body weight. Without your share of group gear and food, your pack should feel incredibly light.
If your pack weighs 25 pounds without food, tent, water, and crew gear, then it will weigh about 50 pounds when you hit the trail! So, unless you weigh at least 170 lbs., that's way too much.
Food will average 2 pounds per day per person. A seven-day hike will add 14 pounds to your pack.
Blue jeans may be comfortable and stylish, but are not recommended for the trail. Leave them home. When wet, an average pair of jeans can hold ten pounds of water!
INDIVIDUAL ITEMS
pack and containers
- backpack & cover (compartmentalize all gear in ziploc bags) (line with plastic bag)
- bags (a few small plastic ones from grocery store)
- compression straps (don't use bungee cords)
- dirty clothes bag (small plastic)
- ditty bags for personal stuff (small) (helps compartmentalize gear)
- fanny pack or small day pack
- sleeping bag rated to at least 30° (20-25° is best) (line stuff sack with a plastic bag)
- sleeping pad (foam or small thermarest recommended)
- stuff sack lined with plastic bag (at night food, toiletries and other smellables go in here and in the bear bag)
- trash bags (2-50 gal. bags)
- ziploc bags (one small, one big and one extra large to wash clothes on trail)
- bandannas (2)
- camp shoes (lightweight) (sandals or open-toed shoes not recommended!)
- glasses (if you wear them) (consider a backup pair or contacts)
- gloves (1 pr. lightweight polypropylene) (socks can be used as extra gloves if needed)
- hat (baseball style) or hat (wide brim for sun and rain) (also put a shirt on your head if it's really cold)
- hiking boots (not new ones!)(use Kiwi Camp Dry Hvy Duty Water Repellant Spray or Tectron Boot/Shoe Protector or snow seal)
- jacket or sweater (fleece, wool or Polartec is best)
- lightweight stocking cap
- long johns (polypropylene)
- rainsuit (jacket with hood and zipper legs) (leave your poncho at home)
- sahara-style convertible pants (shorts with zip on/off legs) or other long pants (not jeans)
- Scout t-shirts (3 only) (2 shirts to wear and another to stay in your sleeping bag at all times!)
- shirts (one very lightweight long sleeve and one long sleeve polypropylene)
- shorts for hiking (2 pair mesh or lightweight synthetic -- only 1 pr. if you have convertible sahara pants)
- shorts for sleeping (stays in sleeping bag at all times!)
- sock liners (2 pr)
- socks (2 pr) (heavyweight synthetic/wool) (SmartWool is good)
- sunglasses
- underpants (2 pair CoolMax, nylon or polyester -- no cotton)
- bowl (deep one for eating - forget the mess kit!) (strong plastic - tupperware is good)
- coffee cup (large plastic with handle)
- utensils (Lexan is best -- no plastic) (mark with your name)
- water bottles, bladder bag or folding water bag (be able to carry 4-5 qts. of water and drink 4 qts./day-8lbs. or 8 qts/day-16 lbs. in hot weather) (dry camps will require each person to carry at least 4-5 qts. of water - that's 8-10 lbs.)
- batteries for flashlights
- chapstick
- compass (GPS unit is optional) (learn to use a compass!)
- contact lenses, case and cleaning solution (bring glasses also!!) (optional if you wear them)
- daily itinerary and schedule (adults & hike leader)
- first aid kit (put in small, red, stuff sack) (small personal kit - see crew gear for items to include)
- flashlights / headlamps (2 very small ones with new batteries)
- hand lotion (at altitude your skin will become uncomfortably dry)
- knife (small pocketknife that locks) (sharpen before leaving)
- lighter
- map of area
- matches in waterproof container
- medication required on a daily basis plus Tylenol, Advil or aspirin (all dates on medicine must be current!)
- mirror, small (non-breakable)
- pen
- personal hygiene items (toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, etc.)
- sanitizing gel for hands (Purell at Wal-Mart or similar)
- soap (biodegradable) (Camp Suds work great)
- sunscreen (at least 15 SPF non-scented)
- toilet paper (about 1/4 roll) (put in plastic ziploc bag)
- towel (old & lightweight or super absorbent synthetic)
- trowel (for catholes)
- watch with an alarm (especially hike leader!)
- whistle on lanyard
- wipes for hygiene
repair kit
- dental floss (this is a great emergency repair item!)
- safety pins
- stakes for tent (take 2 extra)
- string (a little)
- tape (just a small amount of duct & electrical) (wrap around a pencil, flashlight, or something)
- twist ties for trash bags & emergency repairs (just a few)
- wire (small amount -- thin & medium thickness for repairs)
- "O" rings and pins for backpack repairs
- parachute chord (6-10')
optional - athletes foot or talcum powder
- camera & film (extra batteries) (4+ rolls of film) (panoramic camera is good)
- cards, playing
- caribiners
- coffee/tea bags (adults only)
- comb / hairbrush
- gaitors
- insect repellent (no aerosol)
- mesh bag (can be used to dry clothes on backpack while hiking)
- pad or notebook for writing (optional except for crew leader, journalist and lead advisor)
- parafin / votive candles
- pillow case (small, stuffed with clothing to use as pillow) (leave pillow home!)
- razor (use soap to shave) (or try and grow a beard!)
- rubber bands
- shampoo (use Camp Suds instead)
- survival blanket (silver)
- trail tape (a very small amount of bright surveyor's tape)
- tripod (lightweight -- for camera)
- vitamins
- wash basin (collapsible or use large zipbag)
- wash cloth (use one of your bandannas instead)
GROUP EQUIPMENT
- bear bags (3)
- rope (150' of 1/4" nylon rope) for bear bag
- nylon cord (1/8 in. - 3x50')
- dining fly (12'x12')
- dining fly tent stakes (10) (needle-type -- ground can be hard as a rock)
- first aid kit (group size)
- snake bite kit
- stoves (2) (white gas/dual fuel -- not propane/butane)
- fuel bottles (6 - 16oz.) (16 oz. allows for better weight distribution)
- groundcloth (one for each tent - heavy duty, fitted to tent size
- iodine tablets & neutralizer (one bottle for every 3 crew members)
- cooking pots (8 qt, 6 qt, 2 qt, frypan and lids)
- dishwashing soap (Campsuds)
- yum-yum bag (for food scraps)
- pot tongs (1)
- scrub pads
- sump frisbee (strainer)
- sump scraper
- trash bags (10)
- utensils for cooking (2 large spoons, 1 large spatula)
- measuring cup (8 oz)
- tent & tent fly (seal seams at least 1 week before leaving) (1 for every 2-3 hikers)
- poles for tents
- radios (2-way) (with fresh batteries) (optional)
- toilet paper
- tools (multitool)
- water filters (2)
- sanitizing tablets for rinse water
- water jugs (two collapsible plastic) (2.5 gals)
Sure, its a long list. You may not need everything on it, or you may need something you don't see here, but it is a good starting point to build your own.
