Great Hiking Gear
I am often asked about the great hiking gear I use on my backpacking adventures. I have composed a list of my great hiking gear and where to get it. This is gear that I purchased and use regularly. I was not endorsed or paid to promote this equipment. I am an affiliate with some companies and will say that up front. If you click on the links below and buy something, I will get a small stipend from the company AT NO EXTRA COST to you. In fact, some companies have given me a discount code to pass on to you. So, you will actually save while you support me to bring you better videos.
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MY NEW BOOK IS PUBLISHED! My new book “Schooled by the Smokies” was released in 2022! This book shares life lessons that I learned on the trail. It is available through all major book distributors, including Amazon, and Barnes and Noble!
Some of you asked about my pack weight. Here is a list of my great hiking gear, weight of each item, and my overall pack weight. Below is a more detailed gear list with links where you can get discounts.
CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO VISIT THE VENDORS WHERE
I PURCHASED MY GREAT HIKING GEAR
GREAT HIKING GEAR DESCRIPTIONS
Hilltop Packs, Raven is a 45L ultra light weight backpack. It is made of dynema fabric that is very strong, durable, and very water resistant. If you order any gear from Hilltop Packs, click on the picture and use the discount code MONK10 at checkout for 10% off of your purchase.
Hilltop Packs created this roll-top fanny pack that can be worn with the provided waist strap, or attached with custom straps also provided. It is made of ultra-light, waterproof, dyneema fabric and is an awesome addition to the Raven backpack. Like all Hilltop Packs gear, click on the picture and use the discount code MONK10 at checkout for 10% off of your purchase.
ZPacks provides great tents. I have carried this Duplex Tent for the past two years. It is extremely light weight (at 19 oz.) and durable. After hundreds of miles, my tent is like new. It’s “2-person” rating provides plenty of room for me to sleep comfortably and store all of my gear inside the tent with me. It’s pricey, but if you are in this for the long-haul, it’s worth the investment. No discount for this one. Sorry.
REI is my favorite outfitter! They have quality gear, reasonably priced, knowledgable staff, and the best warranty around. I highly recommend joining the coop for even greater savings. Here are a few of the things I have from REI. This is my Igneo 17-degree sleeping bag. Sadly, this bag is no longer offered. It’s awesome and keeps me warm down to below 20-degree nights. REI now has a Trailbreak 20 sleeping bag. Check it out!
I also got my sleeping pad from REI. This Big Agnes Air Core Ultra has served me well. It’s insulated, so I’m not cold in the winter, and I stay cooler in the summer when I often sleep on the pad with a thin bag liner. I’ve never experienced a leak and it comfortably supports my side-sleeping. My old bones appreciates this pad.
This pump sack is the perfect companion to my air pad. It connects in the fill hole, open up the bag and then squeeze it down to fill the air pad. NO HEAVY BREATHING! After a long day of hiking, my tired lungs appreciates this thing! It also doubles as a dry bag and I stuff my sleeping bag in to keep everything dry and cozy. Worth it’s weight in gold (for me anyway).
This little Garmin keeps me connected to family when I have no phone signal. My family has appreciated the peace of mind that comes from being able to see exactly where I am on the Garmin website. There are various subscription plans. All of them are pricey, but there is a lot fo be said for being in constant contact. There’s also an SOS feature should things go bad on the trail. Everyone need to consider what is right for them. Again, it’s pricey, but I use it.
I like to eat. I like hot meals when I’m hiking. Breakfast gets me started and dinner helps me rest. The MSR Pocket Rocket has been the only camp stove I have ever used. This is the only camp stove I ever bought. Again, hundreds of miles and this little thing has never failed me. I am still carrying it and can recommend it to you.
Along with my stove, I carry this little 650ml Toaks pot to boil my water. It light weight, durable, and cools quickly. It’s easy to clean and a great partner to the MSR stove.
Keeping along the line of food and drink, hikers need a reliable water filter. The Sawyer Squeeze is probably the most popular filter on the trail. It flows quickly, and is low maintenance. I simply blow it out (from both ends) after each use. I also through it in the bottom of my sleeping bag during cold weather. Don’t let it freeze! That will destroy the fibers inside the filter. I also don’t use the bags that come with the filter. I have a CNOC 2-liter water bag to collect water and filter from that.
A good headlamp is a must for hiking. Use it in camp at night or for those early starts on the trail before the sun rises. Black Diamond offers several great models. I like this one. It uses AAA batteries. Other models are rechargeable. Think about what you prefer and get a good one. Make sure it has a red light function too. Your fellow hikers will appreciate it.
This little knife has been great! You don’t need a Rambo knife. You need a functional knife. This is small, lightweight, and the scissors are awesome!
I don’t know how folks hike without trekking poles. These things have kept me from falling, saved my knees and ankles, and double as my tent poles for pitching my Duplex.I think these REI poles are great. There are more expensive models, but I only need something that is durable. These are durable!
Darn Tough socks are the bomb! I bought 3 pairs when I first started hiking years ago. I still have the same 3 pairs. I haven’t been able to wear them out. If I do, they have a lifetime warranty. Really! Just take them back to REI or send them back to Darn Tough and they will replace them. I have warm feet in the winter and cool in the summer. They don’t itch and they’re comfortable. Feet are different for all of us, but these are the socks for me.
Along with good socks are good shoes. I wear Altra Lone Peaks. They are comfortable, protect my feet, and dry quickly. After more than 30 years in the military, I thought boots were the way to go. I quickly learned that I was wrong. They are heavy and never dry out. Your feet will get wet out here. But these shoes and my Darn Tough socks are amazing.
Some call this a “luxury item” but I call it a necessity. I began carrying a Flexlite Air Chair last year. My back thanks me for it daily. After about 10 miles, my back would be screaming at me. It was an old injury. Now, I stop for a break, sit in the chair, get back on trail and feel refreshed. My back doesn’t hurt. I’ve shaved my pack weight down from 35 pounds to 23 pounds. I figure I can add back one pound (the weight of this chair) and still be okay. Hike you own hike! 🙂
