Gear Menu
Gear Home
Buying Guides
Gear Finder
Packing Lists
Expert Menu
Expert Answers
Gear Forums
online favorites
Summer's Top Parks
Summer Mountain Festivals
Beach Travel Blog
Parks and Outdoors Guide
2008 Summer Buyer's Guide
from Outside Online
GEAR
Gear Expert - Annie Getchell

Expert Answers
Finding holes in a backpacker's
packing list

Dennis's Question:

I have recently made several purchases to outfit myself for backpacking. These purchases were:
* Mountain Hardware Vertigo Gore-tex shell
* Mountain Hardware Polartec 2000 fleece jacket
* Gregory Palisade pack
* North Face Cat's Meow 3-D sleeping bag
* MSR Dragonfly stove
* MSR Blacklite cook wear
* 2 one-quart Nalgene bottles
* 2 96 oz. Nalgene collapsable canteens
* magnesium firestarter
* USMC K-bar knife
* Adventure Medical fundamentals first-aid kit
* water purifcation tablets
* ASOLO MTX 650 GTX hiking boots
* old Army poncho
* poncho liner (quilted)
* Army water-proof stuff sack
* North Face Peregrine 3-season tent.

Ask the Expert

Annie Getchell
Annie Getchell

Gear expert Annie Getchell believes the key to happiness is buying quality gear and treating it with tender loving care.


* Meet Annie
* Answer Archive
* Gear Forums
My question is: What am I missing?

I have yet to go out on the trail, and I don't want to get caught short. Please help with advice.

—Dennis Blankenbaker

Annie's Answer:

Geez Dennis, You've assembled an outfit any outdoorsperson would stoop to drool over (and you'd stay dry). You're ready. You're dialed. Your credit card is toast.

What you seem to be missing is mileage. Only experience will tell you what you really need or could just as easily do without. Please just get out and go. Don't forget the matches.



Related Virginia Trips

Related Southeast Trips

Road Trip Guides

National Park Guides

Hiking Guides

Today's Gear Guy

Gear Guides
[from Outside magazine]