July 13, 2019

Backpacking Gear List

This is Domonick’s (Co-owner, Operator, and Guide at Hiawatha Hiking Company) current backpacking gear list for East Coast/ Mid-West 3-season backpacking, which emphasizes rain protection, bug protection and mild to cool temperatures. This list is provided to give a general idea of what kind of gear Domonick is currently using. Gear often changes depending on location, season and the purpose of our trips. This complete backpacking gear list usually results in a pack-weight of roughly 7-10 pounds depending on the exact items (this weight does not include consumables like food, water and fuel which fluctuate greatly during a trip). This pack list has been used extensively on thousands of miles of trail and Domonick can personally attest to the quality of each piece of gear listed. This backpacking gear list may differ in many ways from other backpackers, so you are encouraged to research all available options to find the items that would work best for you and your needs. To learn more about what you should bring on our overnight trips, please visit our information page. It is hoped that the below lists are informational and will give you a sense of the gear needed for an overnight backpacking trip. If you do decide to book a trip with us, we will help you every step of the way and also have trail tested gear to rent.

*We are not affiliated with any of these companies and will receive no commission if you choose to purchase an item through a provided link

Backpack

Granite Gear Crown VC 60L (this exact pack is currently discontinued by Granite Gear, but they have replaced it with the Crown 2 which now has hip-belt pockets. Sweet!)
Trash compactor bag as a pack liner for water protection

Tent

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 (2-person tent) (Domonick and Carolyn use this when backpacking together- we have the old model, but Big Agnes has since updated to this version of their tent)
Zpacks Duplex (1 or 2 person tent) (We use this tent when reducing weight is a priority, such as for long thru-hikes)
Tyvek ground cloth cut to tent footprint size (grab leftover Tyvek from a construction site after asking permission or Zpacks also sells it)

Sleeping System

Warbonnet Down Quilt 30 Degree F Rating (For night-time temperatures above freezing. Domonick bought this quilt ten years ago and has used it on every long trip he’s been on. The model he purchased is discontinued but Warbonnet is a great company. Click here to see their current version of this bag. If you are not familiar with quilts, they are like a sleeping bag but without the back and offer the same temperature rating at a lower weight than similar sleeping bags)
Western Mountaineering 0 Degree F Sleeping bag (Used when night-time temperatures will be below freezing)
Sea-to-Summit Silk sleeping bag liner (Primarily used to keep down bags clean)
Thermarest Neo Air

Clothing

Lightweight running shorts
Marmot adventure pant (May leave these at home in warmer weather if bugs aren’t going to be too bad)
Columbia long sleeve adventure shirt
Long johns (For Spring and Fall cooler weather)
Mid-weight fleece pullover (I have no idea where I got my pullover, but it is similar to this)
Western Mountaineering Down jacket w/ hood (For Spring and Fall cooler weather)
Fleece hat
Thin gloves
Baseball cap

Rain Gear

Rain pants (only for colder spring and fall weather – any kind of lightweight rain pant will do)
Outdoor Research Helium II lightweight Rain jacket (used primarily for extra warmth/ wind protection; Outdoor Research has a lifetime warranty and Domonick has replaced this jacket twice when the fabric began to wet-out. This is an okay rain jacket (very light and compresses down to the size of a baseball), but in cold weather with heavy rain it will not perform well. I pair this often with a poncho.)
Frogg Togg lightweight poncho (big enough to cover a backpack, offers excellent rain protection, and it’s dirt cheap!)

Footwear

Altra Lone Peak trail running shoes
2-pair Darn Tough medium weight hiking socks (Darn Tough has a lifetime warranty on socks! Never buy socks again!)

Cooking

Snowpeak 700 ml titanium pot
Snowpeak stove w/ iso-butane canister fuel
Long handle titanium spoon
Ursack Major sack to hold food (Bear resistant Kevlar sack, no need to hang food, just secure to base of a tree or thick branch)

*A lot of the time Domonick and Carolyn do not take a stove and pot and prefer to eat stove-less meals. For this we use a re-purposed peanut butter jar where we cold-soak food like couscous, ramen and instant mashed potatoes – sounds great, right! Don’t worry, on our guided hikes, Domonick and Carolyn will be your chefs, cooking your meals and carrying the stoves and fuel.

Water

At least two 1L water bottles. These long Life water bottles are great (we also have collapsible Platypus 2L water reservoirs we take depending on our carrying needs).
Sawyer squeeze 0.1 micron water filter

First Aide Supplies

Variety of small and large band aides
Ibuprofen
Pepto-Bismol
Several alcohol swabs
Lighter
Safety pin
Antibacterial cream
Athletic tape

*This brief first aid kit is meant to manage small medical issues in the woods. For larger medical issues the goal is to find your way out of the woods safely and seek appropriate medical treatment. We bring a much larger first aid kit on all of our guided hikes and overnight trips. This enlarged first aid kit includes benadryl, itch relief cream, CPR mask, wound dressings, disposable gloves, etc.

Miscellaneous

Bug head net (this comes in handy in the UP where there can be a lot of black flies and mosquitoes)
Small microfiber towel
Black Diamond Trekking Poles
Bug dope (>90% deet)
Black Diamond Storm Headlamp (You don’t really need something this bright, but Domonick also uses this to run trail races in the dark)
Toothbrush
Travel size toothpaste
iPhone SE
Sony RX100 IV Camera (All the pictures on this site are from this camera. Here are some other pictures)
Anker 10,000 mAh battery bank (To recharge the phone and camera)
3x Sea-to-Summit water resistant stuff sacks for clothes, sleeping bag, miscellaneous items
Compass/ maps
Toilet Paper
The Deuce #2 lightweight Trowel (Dig your hole at least 6-8 inches and pack out your TP!)
Hand sanitizer
Dynema Rope 20ft
Small roll of Gorilla or Duct Tape, 10ft or so
Spot Device (GPS and Satellite Messenger, Call for help)

Carolyn is working on her personal backpacking gear list and will post it soon!

hiking clothing worn

gear spread out for our 2016 Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike

backpacking gear in stuff sacks

granite gear crown VC 60 backpack packed with gear

Hiawatha Hiking Company

28 Google reviews

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Jeremy Hunt

2022-01-31

Had the pleasure to join the Intermediate Backpacking Trip in Sept. 2021. Months before the trip Domonick and Carolyn met with us individually to go over the trip and preparations. They took the time to meet again with the entire group ahead of the trip to go over last minute items to ensure we are all set. From the beginning, their preparation and professionalism was top notch and it carried through the whole trip. They made sure everyone was comfortable throughout out the trip and everyone in the group had a great time. Domonick and Carolyn are extremely knowledgeable, prepared and all around great people. We had such a great experience and would love to join them again some day. If you are heading toward Pictured Rocks and want a great experience they should be the only ones you call!

Jamie Davies O'Leary

2021-10-27

This was my first backpacking tour and Carolyn and Domonick were excellent guides! They emphasized safety and planning - from months before the trip through the last day's details - and renting their equipment made things much easier as a newbie. They were responsive to my questions beforehand and helped me and my group have such an amazing time. Dinners were excellent! I also loved hearing about their travels and what they've learned being on various trails.

paul rusch

2021-10-07

Went on a 2 night backpack trip the first weekend of October. The trip was wonderful, the colors were about 90%. The only complaint was that my 66 year old body had a hard time sleeping in a tent. Dominique and Carolyn were great. They tended to our safety, training was good, kept up an appropriate pace, provided help when needed, had a good menu and stops at great views. It was great and I am very glad that I did it.

Christine Artes

2021-09-13

Did the beginner hike over Labor Day and OMG, this was amazing! From the moment you arrive you're well taken care of with food, gear, instructions and safety from the dynamic duo that is Domonick and Carolyn. They both know this area and this trail like the back of their hands! Every detail was spot on and never once did we feel unsafe. You can rent all of the necessary gear and it is top notch! All food...REAL food is provided and the water that we drank and cooked with was filtered straight outta Lake Superior!!! So cool! If you're thinking about doing a guided hike to see PR's, this really is the only company that you should book with. No one else compares!

KAREN WHITAKER

2021-09-08

The beginning backpacking trip was amazing from start to finish. Hiawatha is very organized,, they provided training advice to prepare, the food was good, and guides Carolyn and Domonick are not only extremely experienced hikers and campers, they are wonderful people. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a guided hiking experience.

Richard Clark

2021-08-26

Carolyn and Domonick were awesome! I could not have asked for a better first-time backpacking experience. All I had to do was show up with my list of everyday items, they provided the rest. Carolyn and Domonick helped with tent setup/takedown, filtered water, prepped meals and snacks, and provide moral support. The views are breathtaking. The hike is challenging but very doable. You are not rushed. The camaraderie between fellow hikers, Carolyn, and Domonick is something I will cherish forever. If you ever were apprehensive about backpacking, Hiawatha Hiking Company is the company to use and their Intro to Backpacking tour along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the tour to take.

Catherine Toms

2021-08-25

We had an absolutely wonderful experience! Carolyn and Domonick are incredibly kind, professional, and thoughtful guides. They thought of everything for our trip, and we were safe and well-fed. Every aspect of the hike was planned perfectly. They know the trails well, and led us to some of the most beautiful places in our country. Thank you Hiawatha Hiking Company!

Jeri Rodriguez

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. The hospitality provided from the minute I arrived until the minute I drove away was incredible.

Sarah Shields

2021-07-17

We had a great time on a sunset hike with Carolyn and Dominick on our last night in the UP! It was a terrific way to end our vacation. They were organized, well-prepared and very knowledgeable. They shared a lot of information about the Pictured Rocks and Lake Superior, as well as the surrounding area. Their pleasant demeanor made for easy conversation on the hike. It was not quite 3 miles and except for one short stretch at the beginning, mostly flat, so very manageable for inexperienced hikers. We stopped several times for beautiful photos, and then sat and watched the sunset together complete with hot chocolate and sweet treats they provided! We loved getting to see the cliffs from above - a perfect complement to the boat tour we took earlier. We highly recommend the sunset hike!

Maria Thomas

2021-07-02

Carolyn and Domonick are terrific, and the personalized sunset hike they organized for us was stunning. The hike was punctuated with quick stops and informative commentary about geology and area history. Every minute seemed ideal for a pause or a photo, from the first vista to last rays of sunlight, The adventure was made more precious because they agreed to guide us on the sunset walk on a day they don't normally lead hikes. They are personable and knowledgeable nature enthusiasts who clearly love the magnificent beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the surrounding area. Don't miss this opportunity.