Primary Gear
- Cabela's XPG GORE-TEX Mid Hikers - I really liked these shoes. They're good for at least several more years worth of hiking, at which point I'll want to replace them with something very similar.
- Wenzel Escape 50L Pack - I really like this pack, too. Last year, my son used it while I used one I got from a friend, who gave it to me for free after it didn't sell at his garage sale. It ended up not working well; it was really uncomfortable and parts of it broke. This was actually one of the main reasons I "gave up" early on my trip. I really need another Escape 50. Given that I've got most of the rest of what I need, even if I bring my son along again, I think I'll just buy a second Wenzel. If I go solo, I'll just take the one I have.
- Waistpack - I might want another one. I have several very small ones, and one larger one that got DEET spilled all over it and kinda sorta dissolved parts of it.
Camping Gear
- Outdoor Products All Purpose Tarp - I'm wondering how much I really need a tarp, honestly. Camping here in Michigan in the rain, I think it might have actually contributed to more water issues than it prevented. I'm tempted to toss the tarp and be done with it.
- Ozark Trail egg-shell sleeping pad. No issues. I might by a second Thermarest from Wal-Mart.
- Suisse Sport Adventurer Mummy Bag - I need to buy a second one. I replaced the little light bag I had the year before, but then ended up using it again anyway so my son could have the warmer bag. And then I was cold again. Blegh.
- Campmor 2 person dome tent - I'd love to get the Cabela's XPG Ultralight 2 person tent, but it costs $300. I bought this for a tenth of the price, and it works fine.
- Coleman inflatable pillow - I liked adding this to my line up. It's pretty lightweight, but it made a big difference in comfort at night.
Clothing You Wear
- Cabela's boonie hat - I might replace this with a regular baseball cap with a bandana clipped or sown in to cover my neck. Maybe. Or maybe not.
- Fleece jacket - I've got several to choose from. I'd like to add a lightweight puffer jacket to this, to keep me even warmer (especially at night) but I've been happy with the performance of my fleeces.
- Long-sleeved nylon t-shirt - I've got several of these too.
- Cabela's Lookout Peak Trail pants - although I've burned through one pair, I still have two more. Not bad. For the price, you can't beat 'em.
- Midweight merino wool boot socks - again; I've got lots of pair. I could pick up more if needed, since I use them day to day even when not hiking.
Clothing You Carry
- Extra socks - see above
- Manzella gloves - I might pass. I haven't really used them at all the last two years.
- C9 packable rain jacket - I've also got a Frogg Toggs rain suit. Either one would work fine. You aren't like to wear either anyway, unless the rain sticks around for a while.
- Beanie - the one I have is by Columbia, but any would do.
- Ozark Trail sandals - for stream crossings. It's a pain to change your shoes out to cross rivers, but not as bad a pain as hiking for a long time with wet shoes.
- Base Layers - I'll continue to use the ones I have; I bought them at Wal-Mart on an end of season clearance in January.
Cooking/Eating Gear
- I need a new pocketknife. After I got back from my trip the year before, I couldn't find the one I had brought anymore. I don't know what happened to it, and I did actually use it the year before. I don't really want to not have one. But small, lightweight pocketknives cost less than $5 and are readily available all over the place. No big deal.
- Lightweight camp spoon and fork.
- Elektek portable camp stove - a very small backpacking stove. Works fine.
- Stanley Camp cookset - fairly small, lightweight, and the stove packs inside. Not room for the fuel canister, though.
Water/Drinking Equipment
- Camelbak bladder
- Power-ade bottle, rinsed out.
- SteriPEN water purifier - no changes to any of this equipment. I'd probably add a few portable drink mixes, though. River water, even in the mountains, starts to taste blegh after a few days.
Personal/Miscellaneous
- Camera - I really need my own. Haven't decided yet which one to get, but for $100-$200 there's lots of choices.
- Compass
- First Aid Kit
- Headlamp - I have a slightly heavier Coleman one, and a very small, lightweight one. The very small one isn't really as bright as I like. I might get a second bigger one if we go in groups of two again.
- Insect treatment (permethrin) plus insect repellant - lots of mosquitos last year, but I didn't get a single bite. I'm sold.
- Map
- Wipes.
Other than adding a second to some of the gear that I liked, but only have one of and therefore if I bring my son with me we can't both have one, the only thing that I'd really like to buy is a puffer jacket. Here's a good deal on one:
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