My Backpacking Gear List - 2023

This video I break down the backpacking gear I will be using for 2023. ~ If you enjoyed my video please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE. Leave a comment with questions and check out my channel for more gear & backpacking videos.

To give you some idea of my backpacking profile, in the past 7 years I have averaged more than 30 nights in a tent and over 400 trail miles. For longer trips I typically hike about 15 miles per day. I am not an ultralight hiker, however much of my gear is ultralight. I use ultralight gear because it is often the best and the reduced weight enables me to carry more other items like a larger dedicated camera and tripod or to carry more food to go longer between resupplies. I have a few things which vary depending upon trip destination, number of days and expected conditions - however the bulk of what I carry is consistent throughout every trip.

Yosemite is my favorite backpacking destination followed by Kings Canyon and Sequoia - the High Sierra. I have numerous permits secured already for this year. I am hopeful that with all of the snow in '22-23 winter there will be no wildfires and the backpacking season can be smoke free all the way into next winter!

One thing I forgot to mention in the video because I was sitting on it is a small foam pad seat. I do not carry a chair because of bulk/weight. The foam pad works great on top of my bear can for a seat, or on top of many other things naturally available in the wild.

In 2023 I have multiple trips already planned to hiked in Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. I will do parts of the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. I have thru-hiked the JMT and Sierra High route. I have hiked sections of the Continental Divide Trail / CDT, Appalachian Trail / AT and North Country Trail / NCT. I would love to thru-hiked the PCT but I cannot get that much time off from work with my career. My second must frequented long-trail is the Ice Age Trail IAT in Wisconsin. I lived there most of my life and would spend lots of time in the Kettle Moraine Forest, mostly stealth camping off-trail. I still have many fond memories of the trails in Wisconsin, however I much prefer the western National Parks and mountain's. I now live in CA / Santa Cruz and can be in Yosemite or Kings Canyon in 3.5hrs. I love it here!

Here is my gear breakdown -

Zpacks Arc Zip Ultra backpack
SlingFin Portal 2 + Groundsheet + Upgraded Pole Kit + Long lines on all tie-outs
MSR Groundhog Mini Stakes
Enlightened Equipment Quilt Revelation 20F
NeoAir UberLite Regular Wide
Nemo Switchback Foam Pad Short
ThermaRest Z-Seat
Sea To Summit Aeros Pillow
Befree 1L 2x
HydraPak Seeker Water Bags 2/4L
Pocket Rocket Deluxe + Flat Cat Gear Windscreen + Canister Holder
Valtcan Titanium Pot 1L
Long Handle Spoon Titanium
Freezer Bag Coozy
Bear Cans - BV450 + Bearikade Weekender + Expedition
360 degree hat
Baseball hat
Julbo Glacier Sunglasses + case
Long Sleeve Hoodie - Wool Synthetic Blend
Nike DriFit leggings ¾ length
Smartwool Shorts
Injiji Toe Socks + Darn Tough Light Hiker Socks
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Altra Lone Peak trail shoes
GooseFeet Gear custom puffy
Patagonia Houdini Air wind shirt
MontBell Wind Pants
Outdoor Research Helium Rani Jacket
Zpacks Rain Kilt
Sun Gloves (various)
Buff for hiking
Insulated headband
Neoprene water crossing socks - NRS
Leather Gloves - Marmot
Smartwool long underwear + long sleeve shirt for sleep
Wool buff
Smartwool Balaklava
Smartwool knit hat
Goosefeet Gear Down Socks
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Sony a7c + lenses
Insta360 X3
DJI Mic
Carbon fiber tripod
Phone clip for tripod
Garmin inReach Mini
Garmin Fenix 5X
BlackDiamond rechargeable headlamp
Rechargeable tent light
Solar panel - Suntastics
Anker USB battery (various)
Airpump
Roll top dry bags
First aid kit, band aids, rubber gloves,
25ft of line
Hand sanitizers
2 chapstick
2 lighters
Small toothbrush +paste
Bug spray
50SPF sunscreen
Duce of spades
Various zip lock backs - non-slider kind. Freezer bag thickness
Zpacks Bear Bags
Emergency whistle
Compass + Thermometer
2 locking carabiners for attaching things to pack
Small multi-tool / pocketknife
Sun umbrella

TBD / Early season gear

Kahtoola Microspikes
Zpacks Trekking pole
Ice Axe

00:00 Intro
00:58 Backpack
01:35 Tent
04:00 Sleep system
08:09 Water filter
10:50 Stove / Cook Pot
15:05 Bear Can
15:51 Hiking Clothes
20:38 Weather clothes
28:00 Sleep clothes
29:53 Electronics
38:14 First Aid Kit and stuff
40:13 I hate ticks! Bug spray
40:42 LNT
41:58 Other gear
43:39 Early season gear
45:17 Physical map
45:42 Wrap up