 | GoLite Men's Pinnacle Backpack
Buy new: $148.79 - $192.45 How much should an empty pack weigh? You can shed pounds with one of these super light packs. You won't notice what's missing, except the monkey. This model weighs 2 pounds and the capacity is 72 liters. Also consider the Jam model, which weighs 3 ounces less and can hold 50 liters.
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 | Ultralite Backpacker A-Sym (1 lb 14 oz)
Buy new: $209.99 Lighter than a tent, better bug protection than a tarp. The swaying motion of a hammock is supremely relaxing. The design of these hammocks is great. You will be colder in a hammock than on a ground, unless you put a pad or space blanket under you. For rainy climates, order from manufacturer and request the free hex fly option. Practice setup before you go out.
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 | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Air Mattress
Buy new: $94.93 - $169.95 Sleep on a cloud. Maybe a little more fussy than their earlier models, and definitely overpriced. However, the weight is great and it compresses to occupy less volume than a liter water bottle. It's a pity the stuff sack and repair kit are sold separately. The instructions say to keep it clean and don't contact with sunscreen or bug spray. Includes one repair patch.
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 | Clif Bar Energy Bar, Variety Pack of Chocolate Chip, Crunchy Peanut Butter, and Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, 2.4-Ounce Bars, Pack of 24
Buy new: $26.99 Power up with these nutritious and delicious bars. They make other flavors but this price is tough to beat. Cons: they are really sweet and induce thirst.
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 | Justin's Nut Butter Natural Classic Almond Butter 10 Count Squeeze Packs, 11.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 3)
Buy new: $25.20 Sure you could get your raw almonds in bulk but these single-serving packets make a great snack that's nutritious, unsweetened, and good.
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 | Vargo Outdoors Titanium Decagon Stove
Buy new: $26.75 An alcohol stove is mellower than one run by white gas or from a sealed bottle. It's a renewable fuel source, not a fossil fuel. It takes some practice to get proficient with priming phase and relation between water temperature and elevation. It is light and can nest into a titanium kettle or pot. Not suitable for large groups, winter camping, or boiling more than a half liter of water at a time.
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 | Platypus Platy PlusBottle - In Your Choice of Styles
These weigh almost nothing and fold down real small when empty. I haven't sprung a leak yet, either. No aftertaste.
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 | Katadyn MicroPur Purification Tablets - In Your Choice of Styles
Buy new: $7.88 - $20.91 These take 4 hours in darkness to purify a liter of water, and the water tastes a little bit of chlorine thereafter. I use them to prepare the next day's cooking water. You could do worse. They weigh nothing and the taste is passable.
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 | Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED Pen Flashlight
Buy new: $18.56 / Used from: $16.70 Runs for hours from one AAA battery, with a clear, focused beam. The clip is good and strong. Sometimes I wish for a headlamp but they require more batteries. Don't lose it! It's easy to forget about it in the morning.
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 | Mini Solo Hybrid by Snow Peak
Buy new: $44.94 This weighs 6 ounces, and includes a cup and combined lid/pot holder. It's not quite wide enough to nest the stove inside though. That aside, what's not to like?
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 | Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Italian Roast Coffee by Starbucks Coffee
You may eschew instant coffee, but try this before you go hauling a french press, espresso machina, or cone filter into the back country. No grounds to wash away, and it is pretty tasty, for instant.
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 | Backpackers Pantry Freeze-Dried Foods
Buy new: $2.25 - $20.12 Quick and easy. It's not haute cuisine but there are no dishes to wash and minimal effort for meal prep. The single-use pouch is used for preparation and serving. They pack out neatly, leaving no mess. Just add hot water and kick back.
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 | Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS
Buy new: $219.99 / Used from: $178.00 Heavy, and while not strictly necessary, a GPS receiver can enhance your outdoor experience. The trip computer can help compute how far you've gone and how far you have left to go. Ability to compute sunrise and sunset times also help planning and choosing camp sites.
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 | Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunblock, SPF 70, 1.4 Ounces (Pack of 2)
Buy new: $22.62 Even when cloudy, UV radiation can burn your hide. Wear sunscreen! This one isn't too greasy or smelly. Reapply early, reapply often.
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 | Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight & Watertight .3
Buy new: $6.99 Lightweight insurance.
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 | Sam Splint
Very light insurance, in case you break a leg.
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 | QuikClot Sport, Advanced Clotting Sponge 25G
Buy new: $11.38 Stops bleeding fast in an emergency with one of these beanbags, which contain a coagulating agent called Zeolite. Hope you never need it, but don't assume you can call for an ambulance when you're way out in the backcountry. Works best for wounds where direct pressure won't stop the bleeding, and the pack can contact the ruptured vessel.
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 | Water Jel Burn Jel, Pain Relief 25 ea
Buy new: $13.10 Perhaps a 25-pack is overkill, but be prepared, as burns are the most common injury among campers and backpackers. (Remember never to reach over a stove while it's running.) After that, it's cuts, most often from one's own pocket-knife.
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 | Sani-Hands Professional Economy Wipe 24 package
Buy new: $2.49 Do you wear contact lenses? Save water with these single-use wipes. Beware that some non-alcohol hand sanitizers use an active ingredient called benzalkonium chloride, a quaternary salt, which can cause eye injury. These are alcohol-based wipes and can be used for general clean-up.
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 | Sangean Dt-120 White Pocket Am/Fm Digital Radio (White)
Buy new: $36.02 / Used from: $30.41 Perhaps you don't need a radio, but if you want one, this takes an AAA battery, has mono/stereo switch (poor FM reception may be less noise in mono mode), AM/FM reception, and uses the headphone cable as external FM antenna.
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 | Duracell AA 4 Pre-Charged Rechargeable NiMH Batteries DX1500
Buy new: $11.19 / Used from: $10.07 For your GPS receiver. Long-lasting shelf life thanks low self-drain rate to Eneloop technology.
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 | Sanyo Eneloop AAA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (4 Pack)
Buy new: $9.42 For your flashlight. Low self-discharge rate means they hold their charge while stored. Why waste money and throw away alkaline cells?
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 | Cord Lock Light from Black Crater
Buy new: $6.44 Another tiny backup light, this weighs 8 grams, has 2 brightness levels. The clever design lets you replace a plastic drawcord lock. You won't lose it, and it's there when you need it. Includes 2 lithium CR1220 batteries, which run for up to 20 hours.
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