Gear List

Gear List

Clothing

Base Layer: Long underwear top & bottom. Non-cotton wicking layer.

Recommended: Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Zip-T and Bottoms.

Approx Price: Top: $43.00 Bottoms $30.00

This fabric doesn't stick to you when sweating, which makes it breathe a lot better than most base layers. Zip T's offer additional ventilation when needed.

Middle Layer: 100 weight fleece shirt.

Recommended: The North Face TKA 100 Glacier

Approx Price: $45.95

No Windblocker fleece. It doesn't breathe well enough to be used as a middle layer. Heavier (200+) fleece is too hot and bulky.

Outside/Shell Layer: Lighweight waterproof (Gore-Tex) with hood and pants.

Recommended: North Face Lightspeed Jacket and Marmot Precip Pants.

Approx Price: Jacket: $299 Pants: $70

For most trips, lightweight Gore-Tex works fine. If you are going to be out for an extended period of time and can expect rough weather, go for the tougher 3-ply gore text jacket and pant.

Softshell Jacket: Make sure to get one that is 100% waterproof.

Recommended: Mount Hardwear Synchro Jacket

Approx Price: $220

Some come with an optional hood, which will keep you dryer when the rain pours down.

Trekking Pants: Convertible "zip-out" legs offer more flexibility.

Approx Price: $100

At $100, these pants are expensive, but they have a lifetime guarantee, so you can just keep replacing them for free as they wear out. These pants also come in a version with built-in gaiters.

Headware

Sun Hat: Made of Nylon or some other water resistant material. Must have a visor to shade the face.

Recommended: OR Prism Cap

Approx Price: $35.00

This is a nice hat because it dries quickly and has earflaps that can fold down if needed.

Fleece Hat: Should cover the ears.

No Windstopper fleece. It makes it difficult to hear.

Balaclava: Lightweight balaclava

Recommended: The North Face Power Stretch balaclava.

Approx Price: $22.00

Also triples as a hat or a neck gaiter.

Handware

Synthetic Glove Liners: Polypropylene is best.

Recommended: Cloudveil Liner Gloves

Approx Price: $22.00

These work well on their own, or as glove liners for fleece and/or shell gloves when it is colder.

Fleece Gloves: Windstopper fleece is best.

Recommended: The North Face Pamir Windstopper

Approx Price: $50.00

Make sure they have a wear resistant palm.

Shell Gloves: Must be waterproof.

Recommended: OR Snowline Mittens

Approx Price: $39.00

Keep a pair of these as a backup stuffed in the bottom of your backpack. If it gets cold, you can slip the shell mitts on over the Grippers.

Footware

Sock Liners: Thin wool, nylon or Capilene.

Recommended: Wigwam Liners

Approx Price: $5.00

Warn under hiking socks to prevent blisters and hot spots.

Pile Socks: Wool or synthetic socks.

Recommended: Smartwool Hiking Sock

Approx Price: $16.95

Wool is warmer but can also be too itchy for some people. Synthetic socks tend to wick a little better.

Climbing Boots: Leather. Must be crampon compatible.

Recommended: La Sportiva Glacier

Approx Price: $225

Good when long approaches are involved as well as mixed climbing.

Gaiters: Waterproof and breathable. Should fit over the calf.

Recommended: Mountain Hardwear Ascent Ventigaiter

Approx Price: $50.00

Helps keep snow from getting your boots. make sure they can fit over plastic climbing boots. I like the Ventigaiters because they breathe the best.

Backpack

Daypack: 1750 - 3000 cu. in.

Recommended: Arc'Teryx Bora 50 (2800 cu. in.; 4 lbs 6 oz)

Approx Price: $245.00

Constructed with rain repellent urethaned fabric and storm sealing WaterTight™ zips. Thermoformed suspension makes light of heavy loads of gear.

Camping

Water Bottles: Lexan water bottles

Recommended: Nalgene 16 oz Lexan water bottles

Approx Price: $5.95

Wide-mouth bottles are easier to fill. Lexan doesn't give water the plastic taste that polyethylene bottle do. Use those for pee bottles!

Technical Gear

Helmet: Get a real climbing helmet. Don't skimp here.

Recommended: Petzl Ecrin Roc

Approx Price: $84.00

The standard helmet for climbing. Lightweight and adjustable.

Crampons: Lightweight for glacier trvael or technical trekking

Recommended: Grivel Airtech Crampons

Approx Price: $147

Super lightweight (1 lb). Good enough for most alpine treks. Easy and fast to take on and off. They work well with light hiking boots. If the terrain is pretty steep or more technical, don't use these.

Ice Axe: The lighter the better. Make sure it's the right size.

Recommended: Ushba Altai titanium ice axe - much lighter and stronger than steel ice-axes.

Recommended: Black Diamond Raven is also a pretty good ice axe at half the price of the Ushba.

Approx Price: Raven: $69.95

The Ushba is top of the line. The Raven is an excellent alternative at half the price.

Harness: Must have detachable leg loops

Recommended: Black Diamond Bod Harness -

Approx Price: $49.50

A good all-around harness. Works for rock climbing as wellas mountaineering--not to mention technical trekking.

Carabiners, Rescue Pulley and Prussiks: For glacier travel

Recommended: Black Diamond

Approx Price: $10.00

Get the lightweight 'biners and pulley from Black Diamond. The Prussiks are made with 40' of 6mm perlon.

Accessories

Trekking Poles: Get the lightweight, telescoping kind

Recommended: Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo

Approx Price: $149

Saves the knees when descending and helps keep your balance when carrying a heavy pack. These poles are very light and telescope down to the smallest size around.

Compass: Make sure it has a sighting mirror and a declination adjuster

Recommendation: Silva Ranger CL Compass

Approx Price: $75.00

The best all around compass available. If you don't know wilderness navigation, buy a good book and read it. It's a one night read and worth the time. Don't forget a map!

Watch/Altimeter

Recommended: Suunto Vector

Approx Price: $199

Never leave home without it. It is a watch, alarm clock, compass, altimeter & barometer. My favorite feature is that it calculates your ascent rate on a climb.

Swiss Army Knife: Look for knife, scissors, Phillips/screw driver, tweezers, etc. Keep it light.

Recommended: Swiss Army Mountaineer

Approx Price: $40.00

This is a small knife but has all the essentials you will need for camping, trekking and climbing.

Headlamp: Keep it small simple and light

Recommended: Petzl Tikka Plus LED Headlamp

Approx Price: $37.95

The Tikka Plus is tiny, has a really strong beam, is adjustable, and lasts forever on one set of batteries. Has an emergency strobe setting. Remember. you don't need a spotlight.

First Aid Kit: Keep it basic and light

Recommended: Adventure Medical Kits

Approx Price: $10 - $60

For taking care of cuts, scrapes and blisters. If going unguided climbing or on an extended multi-day trip, bring a comprehensive first aid kit. Know what's inside the kit and how to use it.

Stuff Sacks: Look for water resistant stuff sacks with compression straps

Recommended: Granite Gear Air Compressor

Approx Price: $22 - $29

I like the Granite Gear bags because you can see your stuff inside them. Consider a drybag for your sleeping bag when traveling to wet places, so you can still take a down sleeping bag with you.

Camera: Disposable camera are a nice option

Recommended: Kodak Max Outdoor Camera - 27 Exposure

Approx Price: $10

Disposable cameras are a good option for several reasons: they take good pictures; they don't freeze up on cold weather; they are light; no one will steal them.