What I use from this list depends on the trip I’m taking (day hike, overnight, season, location, etc) and if I’m going solo or with another family member who will share a tent with me.
Here are a few discounts I’m able to offer my readers:
- Use code NANCYGG15 for most items at Gossamer Gear
- Use code HOPE15 to receive 15% off most Ultra Gam Gaiters.
Backpack
- BACKPACK | Gossamer Gear Gorilla (shorter trips)
- BACKPACK | Gossamer Gear Mariposa (longer trips)
- DAY PACK | Gossamer Gear Kumo
Shelter
- TENT | Gossamer Gear The One
- TENT | Zpacks Duplex
- TENT | Tarp Tent Hogback (fabulous family tent that sleeps 3-4 adults comfortably)
- TARP | Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp
- STAKES | MSR Ground Hog Stakes
Sleeping Bag and Pad
- SLEEPING BAG | Katabatic Gear Flex 15 Degree Quilt (colder trips)
- SLEEPING BAG | ZPacks 20 Degree Bag (warmer trips)
- SLEEPING PAD | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Women’s XLite (warmer trips)
- SLEEPING PAD | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (colder trips)
- ACCESSORY PAD | Gossamer Gear Thinlight Pad (used with sleeping pad for more insulation)
Hydration
- WATER FILTER | Sawyer Squeeze
- WATER COLLECTION BAG AND STORAGE | CNOC 2 Liter Bag
- WATER BOTTLE | Smart Water Bottles (33.8 oz and 20 oz size)
- BACKUP WATER FILTRATION | Aquamira Tablets
Repair Kit and Knife
- KNIFE | Swiss Army Classic Knife (yellow version stands out more if dropped)
- NECK KNIFE | CRKT Bowie Neck Knife
- TAPE | Duct tape (wrapped around a pencil nub)
- PATCHES | Tenacious Tape Mini Patches
- SEWING KIT | Dental floss and needle large enough to thread it
Fire
- LIGHTER | BIC Mini
- MATCHES | UCO Survival Matches
- TINDER | Wet Fire Cubes, Uberleben Tindar Wick and Bellow, vaseline cotton balls, or natural materials (birch bark, fat wood, old bird’s nest, dry pine needles, etc.)
- FERRO ROD AND STEEL | Uberleben Leicht Firestarter Necklace Ferro Rod and Steel
First Aid
- BLISTER CARE | Leukotape (for hot spots), non-stick bandage materials like Vetwrap and Telfa pads
- BANDAGING AIDS | Tegaderm, Waterproof Band Aids, and Butterfly Wound Closures
- OVER THE COUNTER MEDS | Benadryl, ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol, triple antibiotic ointment
- MISCELLANEOUS | Large safety pin for popping blisters (yep, I pop ’em if I get them)
Toiletries
- TROWEL | Deuce of Spades #2
- HAND SANITIZER | Purell 1 oz. travel size
- TOILET PAPER | Kula Cloth and compressed towels (a.k.a. “butt coins”)
- BIDET | Culo Clean (great for rinsing off salty sweat to avoid chafing in groin area)
- SUNSCREEN | Sawyer Stay Put Sunscreen
- LIP BALM | Joshua Tree Mini Lip Balm
- SOAP | Dr. Bronner’s (I add a small amount to one of these mini dropper bottles)
- TOOTHBRUSH | Travel Toothbrush
- DENTAL FLOSS | Silk Floss Biodegradable Sachets
- HAIR | Folding Travel Hair Brush with Mirror (great for putting in contacts)
Cooking and Camp Kitchen
- STOVE | BRS Stove
- COOKING POT | Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Cookset
- EATING UTENSIL | Sea to Summit Long Handled Spoon
- COLD SOAK JAR | Talenti Ice Cream Container
- FOOD BAG | Ursack Major lined with an Opsack
- BEAR CAN | Counter Assault Bear Keg
Light Source
- HEADLAMP | Nitecore NU25 400 Lumen Rechargeable
- HEADLAMP | Black Diamond Storm (I usually use this one for search and rescue)
- FLASHLIGHT | Olight Mini
Electronics
- SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR | Garmin inReach Mini
- CAMERA/PHONE | iPhone 11pro (with charging cord)
- CHARGER | Anker PowerCore 10000 Compact (for day hikes and short backpacking trips)
- CHARGER | Anker PowerCore 20000 (for longer backpacking trips)
- CHARGING CUBE | Anker 2-Port Charging Cube with Foldable Plug
- USB CORD | Anker Powerline II Lightning Cable (1ft)
Miscellaneous Gear
- STUFF SACKS | Hillsound Pro Pack Stacks
- HIKING POLES | Gossamer Gear LT5
- FANNY PACK | Gossamer Gear Bumster
- COMPASS | Suunto MC-2G
- COMPASS | Suunto Clipper Compact
- WATCH | Timex Ironman
- WHISTLE | Tahoe Rim Trail Association Whistle (a gift from a friend and it’s very loud which is great!)
- SIT PAD | Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad Cushion
- ACCESSORY POUCH: Gossamer Gear Feed Sack
- HEAT | Hot Hands and Toe Warmers
- CAMP SHOES | Oofos Sandals
- PACK LINER | Gossamer Gear Clear Liners or contractor 45 or 55-gallon trash bag (doubles as a emergency shelter, if needed)
- EMERGENCY BIVY | SOL Escape Lite Bivy (I carry this on day hikes)
- WILDLIFE PROTECTION | Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Spray
Rain and Wind Protection
- RAIN JACKET | Marmot PreCip (used most), Lightheart Gear, and Outdoor Research Helium
- RAIN/WIND WRAP | Lightheart Gear
- UMBRELLA | Gossamer Gear Lightflex with Attachment System (MVP for rain, sun and even bugs)
- WIND JACKET | Patagonia Houdini
- WIND PANTS | Body Wrappers Ripstop Pants
Clothing Worn While Hiking
- DRESS | Lightheart Gear (sleeveless, pocketless style–I loooove these dresses)
- SKIRT | Purple Rain Adventure Skirt
- PANTS | Prana Halle Pants (hardly ever worn except for search and rescue)
- SHIRT | Smartwool 150 Short Sleeve
- SHIRT | Ex Officio Long Sleeve Button Down
- SHORTS | Lululemon Speed Up 2.5″ (typically worn under my dresses–doubles as underwear)
- LEGGINGS | Lululemon Fast and Free Leggings
Insulation and Sleep Clothing
- DOWN JACKET | Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer
- MIDLAYER FLEECE HOODIE | Lightheart Gear Hoodie
- MIDLAYER WOOL HOODIE | Appalachian Gear Company
- SLEEP PANTS | SmartWool 150 or 250 Base Layer Leggings
- SLEEP SHIRT | Smartwool 150 or 250 Base Layer Long Sleeve Shirt
- SLEEP SOCKS | Thick Thorlo Socks (they were my mom’s and are now a discontinued style)
- SLEEP SOCKS | Goosefeet Gear Down Booties (worn over Thorlo socks)
Clothing Accessories
- GLOVES | Outdoor Research Versaliners (Versaliner mittens are great too, but they’re hard to find)
- HEADWEAR | Buff (I’ve never met a Buff I don’t like, so I wear a variety of styles)
- HATS | Gossamer Gear Trucker, Blue Ridge Hiking Co. Beanie, Appalachian Gear Co. Beanie
- SPORTS BRA | Patagonia Barely Bra
- SUNGLASSES | Suncloud Mosaic or Good’r (or whatever cheap ones I can find since I lose them so often)
Footwear
- SHOES | Altra Timps
- GAITERS | Ultra Gam (less expensive than Dirty Girl and hold up better)
- SOCKS | Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-crew
- INSOLES | Custom made by a podiatrist for my fussy right foot
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You don’t have to use my affiliate links, but I sincerely appreciate it if you do. Any revenue I earn is used for the financial upkeep of this website and for the search and rescue gear I purchase out of pocket.