Category: Packing lists

1 min read

If you’ve read our Guide to the Milford Track you may be wondering what our packing list looked like. Well, here it is! Below you’ll find a detailed packing list that will…

If you’ve read our Guide to the Milford Track you may be wondering what our packing list looked like. Well, here it is!

Below you’ll find a detailed packing list that will provide you with great, trail-tested gear that won’t weigh down your backpack too much. This list reflects our personal packing list which will vary for each individual’s specific needs. However, this should serve as a great starting point for planning your own Milford Track adventure!

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1 min read

Packing lists

Backpacking Gear List

TMBtent

February 24, 2018 4:12 pm February 24, 2018

1 min read

4 Comments

1 min read

Camping Gear Personal Gear Women’s Clothing Men’s Clothing

Camping Gear

Item	Our recommended gear
Map & Compass	Sportneer Compass
Tent	Sierra Designs - Clip Flashlight 2	This is the best budget tent on the market!
Sleeping bag	Marmot Trestles 15
Sleeping pad	Nemo Astro Sleeping Pad	If you are a side sleeper this is a must!
Pillow	Therm-a-Rest pillow	If you're camping more than a few nights you will be glad you packed this!
Headlamp	Black Diamond Storm headlamp
Stove	MSR Pocket Rocket Stove	Ian has used this stove for nearly a decade and highly recommends it!
Bear canister (or nylon cord to hang food)	Bear Vault BV500
Backpacking pot	GSI Halulite
Utensils	Humangear Spork	Best $4 you will ever spend!
Plate/Bowl/Mug	MSR Deep Dish plate , MSR Stainless Steel mug

Personal Gear

Item	Our recommended gear
Water-treatment system	MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter
Multi-tool	Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier
First-aid kit	Adventure Medical Kits
Camel Bak	Camel Bak Crux - 100 oz.	Way easier than a water bottle!
Small day-pack	Cotopaxi Luzon 18L	Great for side hikes.
Pack-cover	Sea to Summit Pack cover	The best pack-cover we've ever used.
Men's backpack	Gregory Baltoro 75L
Women's backpack	Osprey Aura 65L
Trekking poles	Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking poles	Essential for long downhills!
Fire starter
Dry bags	Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack	Keeps your clothes and other items dry in a downpour!
Sunscreen

Women’s Clothing

Item	Our recommended gear
Underwear	Adidas Climacool underwear	Very packable and easy to wash on the go!
Socks	Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew	In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you!
Sports Bra	Brooks Rebound Racer Sports Bra	This is the most versatile, comfortable, and high-quality sports bra that Emily has found on the market.
Long sleeve base layer	Smartwool Women's NTS Mid 250 Crew
Short sleeve hiking shirt	Mountain Hardwear Wicked shirt
Leggings	Nike Power Essential Running Tight
Running shorts	Lululemon Run Speed Shorts	These shorts are so comfortable, packable, and quick-drying, that Emily didn't even feel the need to buy hiking-specific shorts.
Down jacket	Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket	Lightweight, super warm, and packs down small. This jacket was perfect for this kind of trip!
Rain jacket	Kelty All-Weather Jacket	An affordable and high-quality all-weather jacket that packs up small.
Hiking boots	Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot	Emily has had these boots for five years and hundreds of muddy, snowy hikes, and they are still going strong!
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter	Essential for steam crossings and thick willows.
Sunglasses	Suncloud Loveseat Polarized Sunglasses	Good quality sunglasses are essential when you're in the mountains all day. And these are stylish too!
Hat
Sandals/Camp shoes	Chaco ZCloud	These are a must for the stream crossings!
Bandana	Buff UV Headband
Poncho	Totes Rain Poncho

Men’s Clothing

Item	Our recommended gear
Underwear	Exofficio Give-N-Go boxer	Highly recommended!
Socks	Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew	In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you!
Long sleeve base layer	Smartwool Men's NTS Mid 250 Crew	Very versatile mid-weight base layer
Short sleeve hiking shirt	Moutain Hardwear Wicked shirt
Hiking pants	Prana Brion pants	These are great for hiking and also look great walking around town!
Hiking shorts	Prana Brion shorts	Awesome shorts that are great for hiking.
Down jacket	Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodie	Super warm, and super packable
Rain jacket	Outdoor Research Helium II jacket	A good rain jacket is a must!
Hat	Outdoor Research Performance Trucker hat
Sandals	Chaco Z1	Great for stream crossing and hanging around camp.
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter	Essential for stream crossings and thick willows.
Hiking boots	Vasque Talus Ultradry	Super comfortable and super waterproof!
Bandana	Levi's bandana
Digital watch	Casio Classic Sports watch	All you'll ever need
Poncho	Totes Rain Poncho	This is often the most effective way to stay dry while hiking. And it's cheap!
Sunglasses	Suncloud Mayor Polarized sunglasses

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1 min read

Packing lists

Snowshoeing Packing List

Emily@TMBtent

January 7, 2018 3:25 pm January 7, 2018

1 min read

1 Comment

1 min read

While snowshoeing shares many similarities with summer hiking, it does require some different gear. Our packing list will ensure that you have everything you need to stay warm and get…

While snowshoeing shares many similarities with summer hiking, it does require some different gear. Our packing list will ensure that you have everything you need to stay warm and get the most out of your next snowshoeing adventure.

Item	Our Recommendation	Comments
Snowshoes (Men's)	Crescent Moon Silver 9 Snowshoes	This local Colorado company makes the best snowshoes around. They are lightweight, comfortable, and durable.
Snowshoes (Women's)	Crescent Moon Silver 13 Women's Snowshoes	This women's-specific model is engineered for the female body to make walking in them feel more natural.
Men's Snow Boots	Salomon Men's X Ultra Winter Boots	Ian has used and loved his Salomon winter boots for over 10 years! They still keep his feet warm and dry.
Women's Snow Boots	Sorel Women's Caribou Boots	These boots are comfortable enough to hike in all and stylish enough to wear into town at night.
Baselayer	SmartWool Merino 150 Baselayer- Long Sleeve	These shirts are expensive, but they are truly amazing! Always warm, not too hot, never smelly, and they last for years!
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Men's Rocky Mountain High Gaiters	High-quality gaiters are an essential piece of snowshoeing equipment for keeping your feet warm and dry. These gaiters stay firmly in place and they are completely waterproof. Smaller women: Be sure to buy the women's-specific model, as the men's may be too large.
Ski Goggles	Bolle Mojo Snow Goggles	These offer much-appreciated protection from the wind, snow, and sun.
Snow Baskets (for hiking poles)	Kelty Snow Baskets	Poles offer great stability and support when hiking on deep or slippery snow/ice. These inexpensive baskets will keep your poles from slicing all the way through the snow.
Hydration Bladder	CamelBak Unisex Crux Hydration Reservoir- 1.5L	While not a necessity, a bladder will allow you to drink frequently without having to stop hiking and take off your gloves to open a water bottle. It also keeps your water from freezing, since it's kept warmer near your body and inside your pack.
Down Jacket	Patagonia Down Sweater	Super warm when you need it, and perfectly packable and lightweight for when you don't.
Fleece Jacket	Marmot Norhiem Women's Sweater Knit Fleece Jacket	This is the perfect mid-layer. It adds a lot of warmth without being too bulky.
Glove Liners	Seirus 2116 Innovation Heatwave Glove Liner	Sure, these shiny silver liners look a little silly, but they work! They add quite a bit of warmth, while being thin and flexible underneath your heavier outer gloves.
Gloves	Hestra Fall Line Leather Gloves	These are the warmest, most flexible gloves around. Well worth the money!
Hat and/or Ear Warmer	The North Face Triple Cable Pom Beanie	This hat is warm and cozy, stays in place on your head, and looks great.
Snacks		Bananas, peanut butter, dried fruit, and nuts all make great fuel
Thermos of Hot Cocoa or Coffee		Trust us, you'll be glad you brought it.

1 Comment

6 min read

Packing lists Travel for Free

Backpacking Gear on a Budget

TMBtent

August 18, 2017 12:47 am August 18, 2017

6 min read

1 Comment

6 min read

So, you want to take that first big backpacking trip. You’ve gotten your body into decent shape, you’ve saved up your vacation days, and maybe you’ve even used some of…

So, you want to take that first big backpacking trip. You’ve gotten your body into decent shape, you’ve saved up your vacation days, and maybe you’ve even used some of our strategies to book your travel for free. Way to go! You’re ready! Except, you just need a backpack…and maybe some trekking poles….and most of the other items on our packing list. If you’re like us, you enjoy spending your hard-earned money on experiences, not stuff. Before we embarked on the Tour of Mont Blanc, I didn’t have much gear to my name. As a Chicago native, I had acquired hiking boots at some point during my decade of living in Colorado, and I had running clothes, but little else. I’d previously gotten by borrowing Ian’s way-too-big, broken-frame backpack for shorter trips, but I knew that wouldn’t cut it for an 11-day trek. Believe it or not, I was able to procure all of the high-quality gear I needed for the trip without stretching my uber-tight budget even a little bit. Here’s how I did it:

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1 min read

Aspen to Crested Butte Colorado Packing lists

Aspen to Crested Butte Packing List

TMBtent

August 13, 2017 7:28 pm August 13, 2017

1 min read

2 Comments

1 min read

The hike from Aspen to Crested Butte is a Colorado classic. These two iconic mountain towns are linked by a spectacular trail that takes you over West Maroon Pass. You…

The hike from Aspen to Crested Butte is a Colorado classic. These two iconic mountain towns are linked by a spectacular trail that takes you over West Maroon Pass. You can read our Guide to Hiking from Aspen to Crested Butte here.

Below you’ll find our packing list for this adventure!

Personal Gear

Item	Our recommended gear
Backpack	Gregory Zulu 40L backpack	Perfect size for a quick overnight trip.
Pack-cover	Sea to Summit Pack cover	The best pack-cover we've ever used.
Camel Bak	Camel Bak Crux - 100 oz.	Way easier than a water bottle!
Dry bags	Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack	Keeps your clothes and other items dry in a downpour!
Multi-tool	Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier
First-aid kit	Adventure Medical Kits
Trekking Poles	Black Diamond Trail Back trekking poles	Great on the long downhill sections.
Headlamp	Black Diamond Storm headlamp
Camera	Sony a5100 mirrorless camera

Men’s Clothing

Item	Our recommended gear
Underwear (2 pairs)	Exofficio Give-N-Go boxer	Highly recommended! You can easily wash these in sinks or showers. A must!
Socks (2 pairs)	Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew	In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you!
Long sleeve base layer (1)	Smartwool Men's NTS Mid 250 Crew	Very versatile mid-weight base layer
Short sleeve hiking shirt (1)	Moutain Hardwear Wicked shirt
Hiking pants (1)	Prana Brion pants	These are great for hiking and also look great walking around town!
Hiking shorts (1)	Prana Brion shorts	Awesome shorts that are great for hiking.
Down jacket	Patagonia Down Seater Hoodie	Super warm, and super packable
Rain jacket	Outdoor Research Helium II jacket	A good rain jacket is a must!
Hat	Outdoor Research Performance Trucker hat
Sandals	Chaco Z1	You'll definitely want these for the stream crossings.
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter	Essential for stream crossings and thick willows.
Hiking boots	Vasque Talus Ultradry	Super comfortable and super waterproof!
Bandana	Levi's bandana
Digital watch	Casio Classic Sports watch	All you'll ever need
Poncho	Totes Rain Poncho	This is often the most effective way to stay dry while hiking. And it's cheap!
Sunglasses	Suncloud Mayor Polarized sunglasses

Women’s Clothing

Item	Our recommended gear
Underwear (2 pairs)	Adidas Climacool underwear	Very packable and easy to wash on the go!
Socks (2 pairs)	Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew	In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you!
Sports Bras (2)	Brooks Rebound Racer Sports Bra	This is the most versatile, comfortable, and high-quality sports bra that Emily has found on the market.
Long sleeve base layer (1)	Smartwool Women's NTS Mid 250 Crew
Short sleeve hiking shirt (3)	Mountain Hardwear Wicked shirt
Leggings (1 pair)	Nike Power Essential Running Tight
Flannel shirt (1)	Columbia Simply Put II Flannel Shirt	Emily enjoyed having something soft and cozy to put on after a day of hiking.
Running shorts (1 pair)	Lululemon Run Speed Shorts	These shorts are so comfortable, packable, and quick-drying, that Emily didn't even feel the need to buy hiking-specific shorts.
Down jacket	Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket	Lightweight, super warm, and packs down small. This jacket was perfect for this kind of trip!
Rain jacket	Kelty All-Weather Jacket	An affordable and high-quality all-weather jacket that packs up small.
Hiking boots	Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot	Emily has had these boots for five years and hundreds of muddy, snowy hikes, and they are still going strong!
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter	Essential for steam crossings and thick willows.
Sunglasses	Suncloud Loveseat Polarized Sunglasses	Good quality sunglasses are essential when you're in the mountains all day. And these are stylish too!
Underwire bra
Hat
Sandals/Camp shoes	Chaco Z1	These are a must for the stream crossings!
Bandana	Buff UV Headband
Poncho	Totes Rain Poncho

2 Comments

Category: Packing lists

Milford Track Packing List

Backpacking Gear List

Camping Gear

Personal Gear

Women’s Clothing

Men’s Clothing

Snowshoeing Packing List

Backpacking Gear on a Budget

Aspen to Crested Butte Packing List

Personal Gear

Men’s Clothing

Women’s Clothing