Alright folks, you asked for it, get your credit cards ready and prepare to have a heart attack lol. Seriously, it took me a few years to accumulate this stuff, I have a good career but I also have a 3 year old so I couldnt just buy it as I want it. I built my gear over years of refinement, buying, testing, selling it at a loss... lets start
1: Mountain Hardware Sprite 1 - This is my solo tent, not sure if its even still on the market. I bought it used on ebay, I watched every day for six months till a guy threw up a new one barely used and I paid $60 for it. Mine is actually purple and green. Lots of similar tents, comes in around 3lbs 8oz. Its big enough to lay in, sit in and has a vestibule to stash gear under at night to keep it dry.
2: Mummy Bag - cant remember where I got it but it was only about $50, I want to upgrade this but its doing ok. Keep in mind that you buy the zipper on the side you reach across to get out, a right hander wants a left zip and so on. Bags can get insane expensive fast, mine is rated to 30, ive had it down to 15 with no clothes in the bag but I am a hot sleeper. The general consensus is to save bag weight by only going with as low of a rating as you need for what you are camping in. Most people sleep fully clothed. The mummy bag is considered good cause heat lost through the head is the biggest loss. Obviously this isnt a concern early but if you start into the rut in the north you will likely need it.
3: Sleeping Pad : Big Agnes Air Core - $50 on sale - the foam are by far the lightest but I cant get down with that, ive got a bum knee and shoulder so if I dont sleep well ill be miserable. Because this is inflatable I use this AWESOME inflator called the Instaflator ($3), its basically a big bag you open, let the wind blow in then roll it to pump air in. It takes 1 fill to fill the bed. This thing is so light its gotta be in the ounces. ( http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... 9003,d.cWc )
4: Cook System - MSR Pocket Rocket/Fuel + Aluminum Backpacking Pot $100 - The stove runs about $40 then you need a pot system, titanium is best but aluminum will cut it. Sometimes you can find knock offs of both on ebay. I carry this all season because I hate cold sandwhiches for lunch. You should see people when they come out of the woods and im standing there making hot coffee or eating warm soup. One of my fav pieces of gear.
5: Water - Katadyn Hiker Pro - $85 - obviously you need things to fill I run a 1L bladder and carry a Blender Bottle, the bottle doubles for mixing drinks and also carrying water to cook with, getting water out of a bladder can be done but its not fun. Ive got quick hookups on the bladder so I can stop, drop the filter in the creek and fill up the bladder without removing it from the pack.
6: Knife - Havlon & Extra Blades - $30 - this knife is unreal, simply awesome is all I can say, light deadly sharp. I also carry a cheap gerber that I can pry with cause you cant pry with a a havalon the blade will break.
7: Alaska Game Bags - $25 - used to pack out meat, can be washed, they are great
8: Pack - KUIU Ultra $300-$400 - this bag uses one frame for multiple bags, it has so many configurations youll have to choose. You can go as low as the 1800 and stuff another 2000 between the frame and bag but thats probably pushing it. Youll be lashing stuff to the outside too, I love mine, best pack ive ever owned and ive had a lot from the full curl to the x2. BIGGEST BIGGEST BIGGEST thing with this pack is the torso sizing is adjustable, I cant state how much of a difference the correct torso sizing matters in carrying a heavy load.
9: Spot Rescue Device - $200 first year, $100 year after - If you are solo, this is a must in my mind because no one will know youre hurt. I carry it all the time, it gives my wife peace of mind.
10: Perimeter Alarm - $30-$40, dont own this yet but I live in bear territory so I will add it(http://thesolohunter.com/store/SOLO-HUN ... ystem.html) can be had cheaper
11: Extra Paracord - A million uses from hanging meat to hanging your food outside camp
12: First Aid - Super glue, Space Blanket, Thread, Needle, Quick Clot, Aspirin, Antihistamine(think bees)... dont take all of everything but take a little of everything. My kit fits in a ziplock about 1/3 the size of a normal one.
13: Packable Insulation - down is the lightest of all, it doesnt have to be a hunting company, my down vest is marmot, my pants are mountain hardware synthetics.
Last is clothes, wear good stuff, dont take cotton, dont take extra stuff you wont wear, oz = lbs and lbs = pain. My saddle is an aeroevo with muddy sticks and strap steps. My clothes vary all year long but one thing I didnt do is cheap on clothing. I have 100% wool base layers, I wear core4 in the heat, firstlite in the cold and hells canyon packable rain gear in the rain or high wind/cold. Good socks, yea its a bummer to pay $40 for a pair of socks but they wont be crusty nasty in 2 days. My hikers are keen targhees my bigger boots are danner high ground. A pair of gaiters isnt a bad idea either, I own mucks too but they are not the boot for this, you need ankle support. You could be coming out with 30lbs of gear and meat, speaking of it might be multiple trips if you kill back there. Dont forget to bring a toothbrush or some deodorant, neither of those items should be skipped multiple days(colgate whisps are an alternative). I also carry wet wipes, you can buy individual packaged ones like the hand wipes they give you eating wings(which by the way is another great thing to keep in your pack), few paper towels.
Look at what the guys in the west do, thats what I have been doing, thats normal for them, why it never caught on in the East is beyond me. Then again, people still drag deer and after you quarter one, one time, youll never drag again, much easier to walk it out.
Any questions Ill try to answer based on what I know, but I am certainly not an expert. Im not a fan of pointing people other places but theres a lot of hardcore hunters on rokslide.
Test everything before you ever think about this, ive been camping my entire life and just starting down this road. Ive been trying to convince friends without luck, they talk the talk but none walk the walk. Solo is how I will be which isnt anything new. One thing I know going into this is all my gear works well.
Also, get some cotton balls and a can of Vaseline, pull the cotton and work Vaseline into it then form it back into a ball. These will burn for 5 mins even in the rain. Have 2-3 fire options as well, know that pine sap burns like gas.
1: Mountain Hardware Sprite 1 - This is my solo tent, not sure if its even still on the market. I bought it used on ebay, I watched every day for six months till a guy threw up a new one barely used and I paid $60 for it. Mine is actually purple and green. Lots of similar tents, comes in around 3lbs 8oz. Its big enough to lay in, sit in and has a vestibule to stash gear under at night to keep it dry.
2: Mummy Bag - cant remember where I got it but it was only about $50, I want to upgrade this but its doing ok. Keep in mind that you buy the zipper on the side you reach across to get out, a right hander wants a left zip and so on. Bags can get insane expensive fast, mine is rated to 30, ive had it down to 15 with no clothes in the bag but I am a hot sleeper. The general consensus is to save bag weight by only going with as low of a rating as you need for what you are camping in. Most people sleep fully clothed. The mummy bag is considered good cause heat lost through the head is the biggest loss. Obviously this isnt a concern early but if you start into the rut in the north you will likely need it.
3: Sleeping Pad : Big Agnes Air Core - $50 on sale - the foam are by far the lightest but I cant get down with that, ive got a bum knee and shoulder so if I dont sleep well ill be miserable. Because this is inflatable I use this AWESOME inflator called the Instaflator ($3), its basically a big bag you open, let the wind blow in then roll it to pump air in. It takes 1 fill to fill the bed. This thing is so light its gotta be in the ounces. ( http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... 9003,d.cWc )
4: Cook System - MSR Pocket Rocket/Fuel + Aluminum Backpacking Pot $100 - The stove runs about $40 then you need a pot system, titanium is best but aluminum will cut it. Sometimes you can find knock offs of both on ebay. I carry this all season because I hate cold sandwhiches for lunch. You should see people when they come out of the woods and im standing there making hot coffee or eating warm soup. One of my fav pieces of gear.
5: Water - Katadyn Hiker Pro - $85 - obviously you need things to fill I run a 1L bladder and carry a Blender Bottle, the bottle doubles for mixing drinks and also carrying water to cook with, getting water out of a bladder can be done but its not fun. Ive got quick hookups on the bladder so I can stop, drop the filter in the creek and fill up the bladder without removing it from the pack.
6: Knife - Havlon & Extra Blades - $30 - this knife is unreal, simply awesome is all I can say, light deadly sharp. I also carry a cheap gerber that I can pry with cause you cant pry with a a havalon the blade will break.
7: Alaska Game Bags - $25 - used to pack out meat, can be washed, they are great
8: Pack - KUIU Ultra $300-$400 - this bag uses one frame for multiple bags, it has so many configurations youll have to choose. You can go as low as the 1800 and stuff another 2000 between the frame and bag but thats probably pushing it. Youll be lashing stuff to the outside too, I love mine, best pack ive ever owned and ive had a lot from the full curl to the x2. BIGGEST BIGGEST BIGGEST thing with this pack is the torso sizing is adjustable, I cant state how much of a difference the correct torso sizing matters in carrying a heavy load.
9: Spot Rescue Device - $200 first year, $100 year after - If you are solo, this is a must in my mind because no one will know youre hurt. I carry it all the time, it gives my wife peace of mind.
10: Perimeter Alarm - $30-$40, dont own this yet but I live in bear territory so I will add it(http://thesolohunter.com/store/SOLO-HUN ... ystem.html) can be had cheaper
11: Extra Paracord - A million uses from hanging meat to hanging your food outside camp
12: First Aid - Super glue, Space Blanket, Thread, Needle, Quick Clot, Aspirin, Antihistamine(think bees)... dont take all of everything but take a little of everything. My kit fits in a ziplock about 1/3 the size of a normal one.
13: Packable Insulation - down is the lightest of all, it doesnt have to be a hunting company, my down vest is marmot, my pants are mountain hardware synthetics.
Last is clothes, wear good stuff, dont take cotton, dont take extra stuff you wont wear, oz = lbs and lbs = pain. My saddle is an aeroevo with muddy sticks and strap steps. My clothes vary all year long but one thing I didnt do is cheap on clothing. I have 100% wool base layers, I wear core4 in the heat, firstlite in the cold and hells canyon packable rain gear in the rain or high wind/cold. Good socks, yea its a bummer to pay $40 for a pair of socks but they wont be crusty nasty in 2 days. My hikers are keen targhees my bigger boots are danner high ground. A pair of gaiters isnt a bad idea either, I own mucks too but they are not the boot for this, you need ankle support. You could be coming out with 30lbs of gear and meat, speaking of it might be multiple trips if you kill back there. Dont forget to bring a toothbrush or some deodorant, neither of those items should be skipped multiple days(colgate whisps are an alternative). I also carry wet wipes, you can buy individual packaged ones like the hand wipes they give you eating wings(which by the way is another great thing to keep in your pack), few paper towels.
Look at what the guys in the west do, thats what I have been doing, thats normal for them, why it never caught on in the East is beyond me. Then again, people still drag deer and after you quarter one, one time, youll never drag again, much easier to walk it out.
Any questions Ill try to answer based on what I know, but I am certainly not an expert. Im not a fan of pointing people other places but theres a lot of hardcore hunters on rokslide.
Test everything before you ever think about this, ive been camping my entire life and just starting down this road. Ive been trying to convince friends without luck, they talk the talk but none walk the walk. Solo is how I will be which isnt anything new. One thing I know going into this is all my gear works well.
Also, get some cotton balls and a can of Vaseline, pull the cotton and work Vaseline into it then form it back into a ball. These will burn for 5 mins even in the rain. Have 2-3 fire options as well, know that pine sap burns like gas.
