Altered State
Well-Known Member
With the marketing / advertising put into hiking gear a person can easily buy gear not needed or just to heavy and not suitable for backpacking.
if your in a vehicle / camp site gear weight matters little as its as easy as unload the car and enjoy.
If on foot with backpack and steep trail ahead the choices start having an effect on the trips enjoyment.
If your in bear country your choices also matter this time to the 9th degree you will need to purchase bear spray and carry it on your side to prevent you from becoming an easy meal.
Its smart to bring and keep a Air Horn / stadium horn with you on your side as well as the spray.
The horn will scare them from afar the Spray will scare them from approaching if closer
You will want a first aid kit its best to buy separate bandages ointments snake bit kit etc for your specialized kit. / needs.
Water & purification
Your going to need to buy something to carry drinking water with
I like to slip a 2L water bladder stuffed in the main pack , look into your options and think light.
You can buy a backpackers water purifier that you pump or one that uses UV light or any number of different methods look into it and get what suits your area needs and price point.
Bring sterilization pills as a back up in the first aid kit.
Food
It must be dried it must be light and must have high energy buy it or make it at home your choice and the choices are endless I suggest to watch videos on dehydrating food for backpacking for recipes and ideas.
Your eating it and carrying it so use common sense think light think energy eat smart pack light.
Main gear list add your particulars.
Quality backpack
Lightweight hikers air pad
Lightweight Bivy sack and sleeping bag
Lightweight 7x10 tarp
Lightweight propane butane mix cook stove (titanium)
Canisters for the above stove
Titanium cook pot
Ti Mug
Ti spoon
Ti fork
lightweight bowl
Fire starter / flint
Lighter
Bush knife
Hikers GPS with appropriate maps and spare batteries
Cell phone
First aid kit
Biodegradable Dish soap
Tissue
The Bear kit
a bear bag to suspend food with , Air horn and Pepper spray
Clothing
To suit the environment , minimalists it bring spare set clothing use dish soap to wash in route
Hiking alone is not suggested if you must / do make sure family members etc are aware of your route and return date.
Its important as a slip could leave you stranded for bear and or cougar bait.
GPS unit
Choose a model made for the outdoors as they have good battery life and have outdoor maps.
I use a 5 year old Magellan explorists 310 summit series to navigate to pre saved waypoints.
IMPORTANT bring a trimmed paper TOPO map for back up / reference.
I consider these requirements for overnight+ hiking in my area on Vancouver island and am getting ready to go on a hike thought the list might prove useful to other hikers especially the bear kit. I hate bears and live in bear country and have had frightening encounters before..Bears don't always run from you sometimes they walk toward you despite your best efforts.
With that said A strong sativa strain will keep you on your toes making it difficult for cougar / bear to sneak up you
Sativa for safety Indica for bait haha
I bring both in case I get to alert / paranoid the Indica will bring me back down to earth ..
Be safe
if your in a vehicle / camp site gear weight matters little as its as easy as unload the car and enjoy.
If on foot with backpack and steep trail ahead the choices start having an effect on the trips enjoyment.
If your in bear country your choices also matter this time to the 9th degree you will need to purchase bear spray and carry it on your side to prevent you from becoming an easy meal.
Its smart to bring and keep a Air Horn / stadium horn with you on your side as well as the spray.
The horn will scare them from afar the Spray will scare them from approaching if closer
You will want a first aid kit its best to buy separate bandages ointments snake bit kit etc for your specialized kit. / needs.
Water & purification
Your going to need to buy something to carry drinking water with
I like to slip a 2L water bladder stuffed in the main pack , look into your options and think light.
You can buy a backpackers water purifier that you pump or one that uses UV light or any number of different methods look into it and get what suits your area needs and price point.
Bring sterilization pills as a back up in the first aid kit.
Food
It must be dried it must be light and must have high energy buy it or make it at home your choice and the choices are endless I suggest to watch videos on dehydrating food for backpacking for recipes and ideas.
Your eating it and carrying it so use common sense think light think energy eat smart pack light.
Main gear list add your particulars.
Quality backpack
Lightweight hikers air pad
Lightweight Bivy sack and sleeping bag
Lightweight 7x10 tarp
Lightweight propane butane mix cook stove (titanium)
Canisters for the above stove
Titanium cook pot
Ti Mug
Ti spoon
Ti fork
lightweight bowl
Fire starter / flint
Lighter
Bush knife
Hikers GPS with appropriate maps and spare batteries
Cell phone
First aid kit
Biodegradable Dish soap
Tissue
The Bear kit
a bear bag to suspend food with , Air horn and Pepper spray
Clothing
To suit the environment , minimalists it bring spare set clothing use dish soap to wash in route
Hiking alone is not suggested if you must / do make sure family members etc are aware of your route and return date.
Its important as a slip could leave you stranded for bear and or cougar bait.
GPS unit
Choose a model made for the outdoors as they have good battery life and have outdoor maps.
I use a 5 year old Magellan explorists 310 summit series to navigate to pre saved waypoints.
IMPORTANT bring a trimmed paper TOPO map for back up / reference.
I consider these requirements for overnight+ hiking in my area on Vancouver island and am getting ready to go on a hike thought the list might prove useful to other hikers especially the bear kit. I hate bears and live in bear country and have had frightening encounters before..Bears don't always run from you sometimes they walk toward you despite your best efforts.
With that said A strong sativa strain will keep you on your toes making it difficult for cougar / bear to sneak up you
Sativa for safety Indica for bait haha
I bring both in case I get to alert / paranoid the Indica will bring me back down to earth ..
Be safe
Last edited:
