Realms of Inquiry Outdoor Program - 3-Season Backpacking Equipment List

Personal Gear - Required Remember that everything on the equipment list, as well as food and group gear is going to be carried on YOUR BACK. We need to be sure to take everything we need, and nothing that we don't need. It will be cold, it will probably rain, and it could snow. The point: pack smart & pack light. All of the below equipment is required (except the optional list). It is also all on the list for a reason - your safety and comfort! If you are questioning not bringing something, it needs to be approved by a trip leader. Pack base weight (before adding food, group gear, and water) should not exceed 20 lbs - 15 would be ideal!)

Backpack - Internal frame pack. Packs must have adjustable shoulder straps and padded, adjustable waist belt with a sturdy buckle. Hip belt pads must cover hip bones with room to tighten and loosen the belt and take weight off shoulders. Pack must be sturdy and durable, and large enough to carry your personal things as well as your food and some group gear. ~4500 cubic inches or should be adequate. Tip: Backpacks can be expensive, so renting is a great option if you’re not sure about the investment. ALWAYS have someone knowledgeable check the fit of your pack well before a trip. *See equipment suggestions for good lightweight options!

1 extra large garbage bag - for extra waterproofing in your pack.

Sleeping bag - Lightweight down or synthetic: NO COTTON. Sleeping bags need to be rated to at least 20 degrees Fahren- heit (no warmer). This an extremely important item and students must have adequate bags in order to go on the trip. *See equipment suggestions for good lightweight options!

Sleeping pad - Closed-cell foam or Therma-rest-type self-inflating pads, please. Foam pads (such as egg-crate-type mat- tresses) and many inflatable mattresses (Coleman-type) will absorb water and have no insulating value. Sleeping pads are for comfort but more importantly, they prevent conductive heat loss to the ground from your body! Tip: To save some weight/ space, you can trim down foam pads to fit your body. Most people use a pillow of some sort (clothes in a stuff-sack work great) and you can prop your feet up on your pack - so, sleeping pads for the conditions we might encounter can extend from just above your shoulders to your calves and do a great job of being comfortable, insulating, and be lightweight and compact! Therm-a-rest type pads should be compact and not the super-thick luxury versions that tend to be very heavy - save those for car camping!

Hiking footwear - Light or medium-weight boots. They can be all leather, synthetic, or a combination. Court or running shoes are not acceptable as they do not provide enough ankle or footbed support for the loads we carry on our backs. All boots or shoes need to be of a quality that they will hold up in rough terrain under heavy loads. They need to come to or above your ankle bones to provide adequate support for carrying expedition packs. It usually takes ~10 days of walking in boots to break them in. Waterproof boots expensive and not necessary. If we cross rivers or hit mud on the trail, we will walk right through with boots on.

2 1-liter water bottles - Gatorade and Aqua Fina type bottles are light and very durable compared to Nalgene bottles - and, you can find them in your recycling bin! Camelbak-type water systems are fine, but you still need 2 quart capacity and you also need a rigid bottle for back-up in case your Camelbak fails.

Water purification - We recommend chemical treatment. Iodine (Potable Aqua) or chlorine-based (Aqua Mira), lightweight, and quick. Filters are bulkier, heavier, more expensive and take more time to use. Tip: If using chemical treatment the addi- tion of some flavored powdered drink (such as Emergen-C) eliminates any remnants of chemical taste after purification. DO NOT GET THE 4 HOUR TREATMENT - Chemical treatments should work in <30 minutes!

Headlamp - No flashlights, please. LED lights are very battery efficient and lightweight (as compared to halogen). Be sure the batteries in your LED headlamp are fresh and they should last you the whole trip!

Sun hat - brimmed hat that can be used on sunny days for protection. Ball caps are fine.

Sunscreen & lip balm - SPF 30 or greater, please. Small bottles or several people can share a larger one.

Sunglasses - Eyes can get sunburned too - especially at high altitude, on snow and rock - please have a case.

Eating gear - Bowl and spoon/spork. Not “mess kit” style. Mess kits are heavy and have lots of parts that get lost and bro- ken easily. Bowls should be big enough to hold a full meal and more deep than wide. A cottage cheese, yogurt, or sour cream container out of your recycling bin will be lighter, cheaper, and just as durable as anything you would buy from an out- door store. Utensils can be plastic or metal. You can use your water bottle or bowl for hot drinks and save the weight of bringing a mug!

Pencil/pen & paper - small notebooks work great - or just a few sheets of paper stapled together.

DO NOT BRING: Music devices, cell phones, electronic games, etc! Realms of Inquiry Outdoor Program - 3-Season Backpacking Equipment List

1 lighter - keep it light and small. Lighters are to be used only for stoves in the kitchen - if they become a problem, we might hold on to them.

Hand sanitizer - small 2 oz. bottle is fine. Re-fill before your next trip! Remember, there is no substitute for hand washing and good hygiene. Realms will provide soap and a hand washing station.

Bandanas - 1 or 2 (for girls). Can use for washing and first aid and a whole lot of other things!

Toiletries - Toothpaste (travel size) and toothbrush (yep - that’s all you need). Feminine hygiene products for girls - bring what you anticipate needing and then just a little more. Remember that everything gets packed out, so include a system for disposal. DO NOT bring: deodorant, make-up, lotions, shaving gear, etc. We often camp in bear country and all of those things have the potential to attract bears. We will keep toothpaste, sunscreen and lip balm with the food to minimize attract- ing bears. Tip: this is one area people tend to bring way too much - think about what you will really need, not what might be nice.

Personal Clothing - Required. Synthetic (or wool) clothing - polyester, polypropelene, capilene, fleece (etc.) layers wick moisture away from your body and keep you warmer when they are wet. Cotton clothing holds moisture and does not retain any insulating qualities when wet - in fact, it makes you colder! Wool fabrics also keep you warm and dry but can be more expensive. Bottom line - read the la- bels! If it contains cotton, its not appropriate unless otherwise specified. Tip: There are inexpensive options - synthetic is synthetic re- gardless of brand or price.

1 pair shorts - Synthetic material (will dry quickly). Note: shorts with heavy seams, buttons, belt loops can be very uncom- fortable to wear under a pack belt.

1 T-shirt - Short or non-sleeved. Synthetic shirts keep you drier than cotton shirts which helps eliminate chafing under packs, chills in cooler weather, and they are quick-drying.

1 Base layers (shirt) - Synthetic or wool long sleeved layer that is worn next to your skin. 1 light to medium weight top.

1 Base layer (pants) - Synthetic or wool next-to-skin layer for your bottom-half. Any weight will be fine depending on how cold you tend to get.

2 Insulating upper layers - fleece or pile jackets, wool sweaters, synthetic or down filled jackets or vests. The idea here is something with some loft or thickness to keep heat in and insulate from the cold.

3 Pairs of socks - these should not be cotton! Synthetic or synthetic/wool blend help prevent blisters by keeping feet drier. Must fit comfortably with boots. If you know you like liner systems, the liners don’t count as one of the 3 pairs.

Warm hat - wool or fleece hat that can cover your ears.

Light gloves or mittens - Small and thin - just a little protection. Glove liners are fine. Synthetic or wool.

2 pairs underwear - underwear is a layer too. Synthetic fabrics will keep you drier and less chafed.

Rain Jacket - A good quality rain jacket that could keep you dry during a day hike or a rainy night in camp. Fabrics that are waterproof and breathable are the most comfortable for wearing during activity. Many companies have their own proprietary fabric that works just as well as Gore-Tex but is much less expensive. Insulated ski jackets are too heavy to use for rain gear, unless the outer shell can zip out and that can be used as a rain jacket alone. A good rain jacket can make or break a trip and a quality jacket will last many years. Rain layers also work as wind layers.

Wind Pants - Nylon pants that block the wind. Rain pants would be fine. The idea here is to trap heat that you’ve generated with a nylon wind-proof (could be waterproof too) layer.

Optional Equipment

DO NOT BRING: Music devices, cell phones, electronic games, etc! Realms of Inquiry Outdoor Program - 3-Season Backpacking Equipment List

Camera - waterproofed with extra batteries, memory cards, etc.

Trekking poles - can just be ski poles! Highly recommended for anyone with knee, ankle or hip problems. Also recom- mended for lighter people whose pack to body weight ratio is particularly large. Great for whole body integration, posture, and stability.

Personal medications - If you have prescription medications, bring them! Please present them to trip leaders with instruc- tions. High Schoolers need to complete the prescription medications form.

Compression stuff sack - for getting your sleeping bag as small as possible to create space in your pack.

Camp shoes - Lightweight closed-toe shoes. Crocs work well for camp shoes - anything heavier might not be worth bring- ing! We will spend lots of time making sure we take care of our feet and drying them out in the evenings.

Good places to rent equipment U of U Outdoor Recreation Program - 2140 E. Red Butte Road, Fort Douglas, 801.581.8516 REI - 3285 East 3300 South, 801.486.2100

Good places to buy equipment REI - 3285 East 3300 South, 801.486.2100 Kirkham’s - 3125 South State Street, 801.486.4161 Wasatch Touring - 702 East 100 South, 801.359.9361

Sales at gear stores (Patagonia, Kirkham’s, REI. etc.) - can get high dollar items for up to 50% off

Notes:

DO NOT BRING: Music devices, cell phones, electronic games, etc! Realms of Inquiry Outdoor Program Equipment Suggestions

Backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags are the areas where you are most likely to cut weight off your pack. Below is a list of some recommended gear that might help you with your purchases. Remember that good gear translates almost directly to comfort, safety, and an enjoyable experience. Realms has recently acquired lightweight 4 person tents that students will use on trips, so students don’t need to worry about providing their own tents - focus your en- ergy on good sleeping bags and packs! 3 lbs or less is a great weight to shoot for as long as your pack has the volume you need and your sleeping bag has the minimum temperature rating you need.

Backpacks All of the below packs weigh less than 5 pounds. Their capacities are adequate for extended 3-season trips provided that the gear packed inside is also compact and light. All of the below packs are internal frame packs that are made in a range of sizes. Don’t forget about fit! Be sure the pack you purchase will be comfortable with weight and fits well for several years (or is adjustable).

Pack Name Manufacturer Volume (cubic inches) Approx. Price ($) Weight (lbs. oz.)

Quest GoLite 4250 175 3lbs 2oz

Odyssey GoLite 5500 200 3lbs 8oz

Pinnacle GoLite 4500 130 25oz

Catalyst ULAE 4600 225 2lbs 13oz

Aether 70 Osprey 4200 250 4lbs 9oz

Starlite Six Moon Designs 4200 165 1lb 10oz

Vero 55 Mountainsmith 4300 240 5lbs

Sleeping Bags Fill, or insulation type might be the most important decision to make when thinking about sleeping bags. Synthetic fill pro- vides warmth even when it is wet. It is also usually heavier and bulkier taking up more space in packs and not providing as much warmth to weight. Down fill has an excellent warmth to weight ratio, is very compressible and light. A disadvantage of down is that it provides no insulation if it gets wet. Packing well and being careful about exposing your sleeping bag to the elements can eliminate the chance of down getting wet.

Bag Name Manufacturer Fill / Insulation Temp. Rating (ºF) Approx. Price ($) Weight (lbs. oz.)

Helium Marmot Down 15 340 2lbs

Pinnacle Marmot Down 15 340 2lbs

Subkilo REI Down 20 240 1lb 13oz

Volt Sierra Designs Synthetic 15 200 2lbs 8oz

Fission North Face Synthetic 20 230 2lbs 2oz

Lightyear Kelty Down 15 180 2lbs 11oz

Mystic Big Agnes Down 15 299 2lbs 4oz

DO NOT BRING: Music devices, cell phones, electronic games, etc!