Speaking of gear....

[SteveO]

What is everyone using now? Packs, tents, Boots, stoves, etc etc?
Just like to see whats good and whats popular.

Myself,

Kelty Moraine pack (Best pack I have ever owned/used)
Kelty Redwing daypack
Kelty Ridge 2 tent
Columbia Razor Ridge boots
Hi Tec Altitude IV boots
North Face Wasatch bag
Kelty Light Year 20 degree bag
Thermarest Z-lite pad
Pepsi can stove
MSR 750ML pot

If you cant tell, Im a big fan of Kelty products. Never had any issues with them.

[Haveuseen1]

My general gear list is:

Kelty Coyote Pack (which I really like)
Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 tent
North Face Aleutian sleeping bag
MSR Pocket Rocket stove
Titanium pot
Gander Mtn sleep pad (a little heavy but comfy)
MSR Miniworks water filter
1 plastic cup
1 foon (fork spoon thing)
Leatherman Blast Multitool
Small flashlight ( thinking about a head light)

-CB

[toph]

Big Agnes Lost Ranger sleeping bag
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad & chair kit
Hennessy Hammock Expedition
Sierra Designs Hyperlight ASP 3 man tent
North Face Stamina backpack (~4400 cu. in.)
Snow Peak Gigapower stove
Snow Peak Trek 900 Titanium Cookset
PUR Hiker water filter
Vasque Wasatch GTX boots
Petzl Tikka XP headlamp
Mountain Hardwear Nut Shell High Gaiter
Leki Makulu trekking poles
Camelbak 100 hydration system
6 pack of Dale's Pale Ale  

[Lostsheep]

Thermarest Prolite 3
Hennessey Hammock Ultralight Backpacker asym
Marmot Never Winter 30*
The North Face Mens Paramount Convertable Pants
Boy Scouts of America Mens Converable Pants
Patagonia 1/4 button fleece
Mountain Hardwear Venura Shell
Mountain Hardwear Full Gaitors
PUR Hiker
Vasque Clarion GTX boots
1ea. wide mouth nalgene, narrow mouth nalgene
Pepsi Can stove
MSR Titan Kettle

*Camelback Rim Runner 100oz. hydration system. I use this as my cycling bag and gym bag every day. BOMB PROOF!

Secondary Gear
The North Face Cats Meow (20*/30* ?*)
Coleman/Peak 1 Cobra (colder weather)
Whisperlite International

[Magic City Matt]

Shared between Lesley and I

Tent - MSR Hubba Hubba (Formerly a Kelty Gunnison 2) Ok so the Hubbba series aren't exactly roomy but they are lite and they keep you DRYYYYYYY (No kidding around there)


Stove - Mark Jurey Design Penny Alcohol stove I can't say enough about these things, Self priming and they boil water like there is no tomorrow, (If you love alcohol stoves for weight but hate the priming and dealing with them in low temps PM me and I will mail you one)

Cookware - REI 1.3L tiware pot and homemade cozy

Utensils - Light my fire Sporks

Bowls - Orikaso Large Fold Flat bowls

Mugs - Snow peak Titanium

Water Denastifier - First Need Deluxe water purifier

Water receptacles -  Sigg Bottles Because BPA sucks

Wake up call - MSR Mugmates for coffee and tea.

Knife - A fixed 4' carbon steel knife of unknown origin and leather belt sheath . (My Father who is a long time knife collector gave it to me and despite it's weight I just can't find anything better. I tried the ultralite alternative and found that it does not suit my needs but I still carry it too for everything but the blade: toothpick, mini scissors, tweezers)

Matthew's gear

Pack - Gregory z55 My first internal frame and thus far favorite pack out there. It's cool, it's lite, it's comfy, It is hardly noticeable when you first put it on because it is so well balanced. What more could one ask for. I guess they could have made it water proof

Bag - Kelty Light Year down 15degree model. It's probably more bag than I need I end up venting a lot event down into the 30s. It is very suitable as far as weight is concerned and it doesn't have any major malfunctions as of yet.

Boots - Vasque Wasatch DO NOT MAKE MY WASATCH ANGRY 

Socks - Thorlos all the way baby

Boxers - Ex officio Because that's important

Lesley's Gear

well I well let her tell you

[Skippy]

Well let's see,I think that I could open another Outfitter store with all that I have bought and don't use anymore ( trial and error) but here's the list of what I actually use.

Clark Jungle Hammock with JRB Old Rag Mtn underquilt and a Western Mountainering sleeping bag used as a topquilt. Just can't sleep on the ground anymore

Osprey Aether  and a Lowe Alpine backpack ( like them both) just depends on the trip

Etowah Outfitter alcohol stove

MSR Titan kettle with a empty sour cream container for my bowl and a insulated Thermos cup.   The stove,bowl,and cup all fit inside my cookpot.

Katydyne water pump and a Platypus collapsible water jug

2 - 20 oz Gatorade bottles

Lowa boots and Leki treking poles

Granite gear food bag and compression sacks for clothes

[Rob]

Kelty Coyote Pack 4750 (love mine too!) also have Deuter and North Face day packs
North face Rock22 Tent ( to be upgraded with hubba-hubba )
Mtn. Hardware polarguard sleeping bag ( to be upgraded with down bag )
Thermarest Pro-lite 3 sleeping pads ( long and short )
MSR Whisperlite stove ( don't like the mess with fuel )
Jet boil cook system ( love it ) Giga power fuel
MSR Dura light cook set ( for trips with company )
Camel Back 100 Hydration bladder ( Fits in Kelty pack great )   Large mouth Nalgene bottle
Katydn Hiker Pro filter system
Petzel Tekka xp Headlamp
Leki Makalu Hiking poles
Montrail xcr shoes ( love the wide toe box and heel cup for a great wide foot fit )
Thorlo socks ( 2 different weights )
Columbia ROC Chino Pants
North Face TKA 100 fleece top and bottom
North Face Hyvent DT Rain suit top and bottom
Mtn. Hardware Windstopper Jacket
Various Mtn. Hardware, N.F., and Patagonia shirts and shorts
Lots of Misc. junk ( first aid kit, compass, etc. )
Pack Mule ( ME ) to haul all this junk around.......... . Obviously not all at one time ( usually ) some gear is secondary, depending on weather and length or solo/with company hike. Need to do some SERIOUS weight reducing.  Uh Oh, I just discovered I may be becoming a gear head.

[lawnmowwer]

 I have a lot of gear, but currently in use is.

  tent:        Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2
  pack:       Arc'teryx Bora 65 (water proof)
  bag:        Alps Mountaineering Navajo 20 (Down)
  pad:        Thermarest Pro Lite 4
  chair:       Big Agnes pad combo
  stove:      Jet Boil
  pots:        Jet Boil Personal and Group
  boots:      Asolo Sasslong GTX
  socks:      Smart Wool Back Packing with P-Pro liners
  rain gear:  North Face High Vent Dt or Columbia Titanium with micro fleece Liner vest or jacket and Stearns pants (on sale)
  purifier:     MSR MIOX
  water:      Camelbak 100 oz. and 20 oz. bottle
  poles:       Komperdell all season tele III
  sandals:    Chaco Z 2
  Multi Tool: Kershaw Locking pliers
  food:        McIlhenny hot sauce and most anything

  Trail Hound:  Ruffwear Med. Approach Pack and Olly Dog soft bowl
 

[Nalgene Ninja]

I kicked the $300 Challenge's butt. 

$300  challenge      

Item   cost   weight (lbs)
Camp Trails Catskill Pack (used via Yahoo Trader)   $20.00   5.188
Academy Broadway 2 man dome (on clearance)   $10.00   3.5
closed cell foam mat (bought in 93)   $5.00   0.5625
Coleman TruTemp 20 bag (Goodwill)   $15.00   4
2-man boyscout mess kit TS   $2.00   1
Ozark trail propane stove   $10.00   1.25
Slumber jack compression bag   $14.99   0.1875
Propane cylinder   $3.00   1
Boy scout folding utensils TS   $1.00   0.25
firstaid kit   $20.00   2
Flashlight (led keychain light) and LED lantern (gift)   $0.00   0.6
Candle lantern   $5.00   0.25
tea light candle (from wifes stash)   $0.00   0.1
2 pair hiking socks (bought in 93)   $12.00   0.2
Hiking staff (from retail salvage store)   $10.00   0.5
Walmart rain poncho   $6.00   2
OP watertight stuff sacks   $10.00   0.2
2 nylon stuff sacks (retail salvage store)   $2.00   0.1
2 pair poly briefs (bought for running)   $5.00   0.2
2 pair nylon pants (bought for running)   $6.00   0.5
2 poly ss tees (free for road races (running))   $0.00   0.2
2 poly LS tees   $20.00   0.5
2 pair nylon dress socks   $2.00   0.1
anorak pullover   $5.00   0.2
plastic coffee insul mug   $2.00   0.3
Merlitta coffee maker TS   $0.50   0.05
duct tape (from toolbox)   $0.00   0.1
Potable Aqua pills   $9.50   0.1
Water bottles (free from races)   $0.00   0.1
Silva Guide compass   $17.00   0.1
Dunham Wafflestomper boots (Joe's NB outlet)   $20.51   4
Total   $234    29.338

[Lesley]

Pack - Jade 50 by Gregory

Bag - Marmot Angel Fire 15^o 

Boots - Vasque, kinda muddy right now....

Socks - Wigwam or Smartwool

Light- Petzel Zipka headlamp

Pad- Pacific Outdoor womens something or other... Actually I'm in the market for a new pad if anyone has any recommendations. .

Must have* Turtle fur hat, toboggan or beanie

North Face Jacket ~ kids XL - doubles as rain jacket (the exact same thing was being sold for adults for 20 bucks more; Ladies if you're small try some kids XL clothing)

Ex-officio for the panties...they dried super fast after river wading and won't chafe when wet
Bras- Under Armour, Champion,  Ex-Officio... No hooks, no sliders and covered seams are a must!

Any time I catch a good sale I'm happy, so I  have no true brand favorites except my hat 

Loads of patience and a good map!

[Nalgene Ninja]

[
Stove - Mark Jurey Design Penny Alcohol stove I can't say enough about these things, Self priming and they boil water like there is no tomorrow, (If you love alcohol stoves for weight but hate the priming and dealing with them in low temps PM me and I will mail you one)

Well if you're just giving them away, count me in. [/yogy]

[lawnmowwer]

 Looks like Kelty has the packs so far.     
 Vasque has the boots.
 Termarest has the pads.

 Other gear of mine includes.
 Coleman Peak 1 extrenal fex frame pack (to large now). Kelty ext. frame, Camp Trails ext. frame, and a few others to include Gregory,and a BSA canvas ext.( my first pack).
 Coleman Apex 2 duel fuel stove, and a Primus stove.
 An original Thermarest full pad ( got barrowed and replace before it was returned), several closed cell pads.
 2 North Face bags, a Peak 1 bag, and a Slumber Jack bag
 Pur hiker filter(broken by scouts), tablets and drops
 To many boots, clothes, sticks, chairs, bottles, etc. to remember or name.

[SteveO]

Is the only difference between my Moraine pack and everyone else's Coyote pack size? Any other major differences?

[sam4msu]

OK...Here we go...
Sleep: Speer hammock with overstuffed Peapod
Stove: Snopeak Gigapower Ti
Cookset: Snopeak Ti Mini Solo
Utensil: Snopeak Ti Spork
Backpack: ULA Catalyst
Boots: Keen Targhee II(lightweight) Aloco Summit(heavyweight)
Socks: Smartwool(most of the time)
Water filter: MSR Hyperflow(it is on backorder right now)
Hydration: Camelback bladder and 1 Gatoraid bottle
Poles: Cheap ass Wal-mart poles...Do you folks that use Leki's notice a difference? That may be my next splurge.
Clothes: Whatever nylon stuff I can find on sale
Raingear: Frogg Toggs...Usually I just carry the jacket.
Knife: Just a folding Gerber for emergencies
Food: Whatever I have in the freezer that I have dehydrated. Tobasco and Tony Chachere's!!!

I think that about covers it.  That puts me at about 30-33 pounds including water and food.  I am still trying to lighten it up a little but am running out of options and money.   By the way FlemDawg...I failed the $300 challenge by a LONG shot!!!

[Nalgene Ninja]

According to BP mag's Gear Chic the Swiss Gear poles are OK.

http://www.backpacker.com/gear/ask_kristin/54

[auwesman]

I know this theard is kind of old, but thought I'd try jumping in

Shelter: Big A Seedhouse 2 UL or M.H. Hammerhead 2
Sleep: Big A core pad.  Marmot Sawtooth 15 or REI down travel bag (45) and the Big A big easy chair.  Thermarest compression pillow
Eat: Primus Techno Trail. Titanium "spork" and Titanium pot
Hike: I like to use poles. Just got a new set of Black Diamonds. VERY exctied about using them.  Osprey Aether 60 pack (I've got a Gregory X55 in the mail and I'm pumped!).  Black Diamond Icon or night ray headlamp.  Katadyn Hiker water filter. Burnton Nomad Alt/Comp./Therm.  Camelback 3L w/ water filter attachment.

Clothing....real ly too much to count but a few favs.
M.H. Epic jacket. M.H. Voodoo Parka. Arc'teryx wool long sleeve shirt. M.H. wicked T shirts. Smartwool socks and liners. Various patagoina and ice breaker capaline. M.H. windstopper jacket and vest. M.H. Typhoon rain pants.....blah blah blah.  Anyhow that's a start 

[bpitt]

You're gonna laugh at some of this, but hey, I'm a newbie and still learning.....

Pack- Kelty Redcloud...yes, I had to buy the biggest, heaviest pack out there.....I know, I know..now...

Boots- Merrel Chamelon something or another....I love them, no prob's on the section hike, no blisters

Tent- Ya know that little 2-kid dome tent at Walmart for $19.95? Well, I and my pack just do fit in it, and, it's light and CHEAP!

Sleeping bag- Some 20 degree bag Walmart had on clearance. Scored it at $20 Works, but bulky and heavy.

Pad- Again, wallyworld blue foam thing $10....and no, it doesn't seem to help!

Stove- A got a Pocketrocket, works great, no complaints.

Current jacket- A heavy London Fog......yeah, I know.......don't say it.....

Socks- Some nice wool ones from the Gander Mtn. they opened here in Hattiesburg

Pants- Some of those water resistant, zip-off legged things. They're comfortable and were on sale for $20.

Underwear- Who wears underwear when hiking?

Hat- A nice UV protection hat scored on sale at TJ Maxx.

[Rob]

No laughing here Barry, It is all functional and obviously worked for you. I'm sure most all of us started that way and some of us still use gear that others may view as laughable! What matters is what works. And whatever gets you out on the trail works for me. Goes to show you that it don't gotta be expensive to be useful and fun. Thanks for the reply.

[Cuffs]

Pack - ULA Catalyst 
Hammock - HH Desert Rat
UQ - JRB Nest
Bag - Montbell UL Stretch Hugger #1
Kitchen (stove, pot, stand, screen) all homemade 5 oz.
Utensil - Ti spoon, 9"
Bowls - Zero, freezerbag cooking
Mugs - cheap give away coffee cup w/ lid
Water Filter - Katadyn Hiker Pro
Knife - Victorinox Classic
Boots - Garmont -
Socks - Smartwool outer
Socks - Injinji liners
The appropriate maps/guides for the area being hiked
Hat or visor, depending on mood
Headlamp - Petzl e+lite - 3oz
Lighter
WP matches in WP container
Trowel
TP
Trekking Poles - Leki Super Makalu Ti - CORTEC PA-AS
Bandana
Sitting pad
Scree Gaiters
Pack cover
Digital Camera
P-Cord 50'
Duct tape - approx 3'
First Aid Kit - homemade
Personals Kit - homemade
Journal
Pencil
Homemade hoser bottles  OR Hydration Bladder
GPS
Rain Gear - Marmot Precip Jacket (pants carried depending on season)

[highlife]

Backpack =   Ula Circuit Pack  2lb.
Tent =  Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo tent  2.7 lbs I'm going to say 3 lbs. cause of tyvek footprint and floor I had installed.  3lbs.
Sleeping Pad =  Thermarest Prolite 3    20oz  < I had been on a blue foam for 10ish years..no more of that.
Water filter =  Amiga Pro Water gravity water filter 7.5oz    < YES SIR!!!...no more pumping for me, and lighter than my hiker pro.


Summer time bag...I use just a silk liner. 10 oz
for colder weather I use the Sierra Designs Wicked Light 45 bag with the silk liner 1.6 lbs.
For winter time I use the campmor 20 down bag 2.6 lbs

Clothes, well I can't even begin to start listing those. I take so little clothes, except socks.
Knife, I take a serious knife. Its a 4" blade carbon steel Frost Mora knife made in Sweden. 2.7oz.
on the knife issue, I used to take the super small micro Gerber but it's no fun. I have a little bit of bushcraft in me, I like to make tables, tent stakes, and I love the fact that I have a well made reliable knife. actually, just give me the kinfe and leave all my other gear at home.

Headlamp I use a princeton tec scout 1.8 oz
Boots/Shoe = Keen Targhee II , or if going for longer distance I wear New Balance 806's
Stove = I have a crapload of alcohol stoves...I will never use white gas or similar unless I'm climbing Hood or Everest.

Trish carries our kitchen, but its mostly made of a dualist GSI cookset., heck I'll let her explain.
As far as food we dehydrate mostly everything, so weight varies on all that. Once again she can explain more on that.


summer weight = 7.62lbs
winter weight =  9.50lbs

Now remember this doesn't include water that I'm carrying and clothes....I'm usually always around 20lbs starting out on a hike.

[Lesley]

So, I swapped my Pacific Outdoor pad for a Big Agnes Air Core.  I'm so much more comfortable it's crazy.

I've also added the SnowPeak single wall mug to the list. Matt has the double wall. I almost like his more. It keeps the beverage warmer longer, and your lips don't burn when you try to drink while hot. But it weights a tiny bit more.... clearly more field tests need to be done