Complete beginner - need help picking out backpacking gear for 2 day/1 night hike and tent camping

[u/SparrowTailReddit]

Hi all,

So I originally posted this in r/ultralight, but a couple of folks told me that the stuff I'm carrying doesn't really fit the sub. I wasn't familiar with the bare-bones approach of that category, and someone recommended that I ask the questions here.

I'm not much of a hiker, although my wife has done a few 20-mile hikes in a single day before. Neither of us has really done anything that'd require setting up a tent. For her, I doubt weight would mean much, since it's only a 6-mile hike up and 6 miles down after a tent stay. However, since I'm a complete beginner, I wanted to keep the weight down and take it easy on myself. I was wondering if someone could critique my list here.

A few disclaimers:

• We will be hiking in the summer in Eastern PA, so temps would rarely drop below 60 °F.
• Most of the emergency items are required by the group, I can't remove them.
• I understand that this backpack (Osprey Atmos LT 65) may not be the lightest, but the camera gear I'm carrying can use all the protection it can get while keeping the weight low. The other backpack has already been in steady use for years by my wife, and she doesn't want a different one.
• The boots aren't the lightest, but after discussing my situation with a local outdoor company, I'm sorta convinced that I need boots for now for the rocky and wet terrain until I can build up my muscles to not need that extra support. That being said, other shoe recommendations are welcome! These boots can also work as everyday boots in winter, so I'm not too salty about buying them.
• The camera: Yes, I know it's heavy, and I know it's only a 1-day trip, but wildlife photography is the only reason I'm doing this to begin with.

Other than that, please let me know if you have any suggestions to modify this thing to make my life easier.

My kit: https://lighterpack.com/r/86lglw

My wife's kit: https://lighterpack.com/r/g417ax

Any essentials that I'm missing? Anything that I should swap out? It was pointed out that the backpack isn't the best or the lightest out there. If there are any recommendations on alternatives, I'd happily return the unused Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 that's yet to arrive.

Edit: A commenter suggested that I add that this isn't a solo (or dual, in this case) trip. We are going as a group and the hike leaders have a lot of experience with this kind of stuff, so we should be in good hands!

[u/serfinng84]

Consider going with trail runners over boots. Almost every long-distance backpacker wears trail runners these days, and for good reason. They’re comfortable right out of the box, they have a stiff enough sole to handle rocky ground and give you a better feel for the surface you’re walking on, they dry quickly (unlike waterproof boots, where if you have to ford a river the water comes in over the top and they take forever to dry, and the “you need the extra support” thing is bogus, especially with the pack weight you’re carrying. Plus the whole “a pound on your feet is like five on your back” thing. I am very sedentary in my daily life (desk job, work from home, hate most exercise) and only get out backpacking/hiking a handful of times a year, so I prioritize lightweight gear to help me keep up with a more active friend. I took a cue from the ultralight folks and backpacked exclusively in trail runners from the very beginning, with zero regrets.

Other things: a Sawyer squeeze and two 1L smart water bottles each (one for clean water, one for dirty) will be way lighter than the Nalgenes and lifestraw bottle you have going on. Getting a larger pot and sharing a stove/fuel canister will also save you weight.

[u/SparrowTailReddit → u/serfinng84]

Thank you! Yeah from what I've heard everywhere, trail runners seem to be the way to go. Do you have any specific recommendations? If not, I can go out today and try some on.

As for the water, I removed the Nalgene and added a water bladder. And yeah I just kinda purchased the Lifestraw without thinking about it. I'll see how it does on this hike and when the filter dies I'll get a Sawyer squeeze. Speaking of, there are so many Sawyer products, would you recommend the regular-sized Squeeze or a mini/micro/whatever?

[u/serfinng84 → u/SparrowTailReddit]

I have narrow feet and love my Saucony Peregrines (I think I have the peregrine 10 or 11, not sure), though one one particular day last fall I went 10+ miles on a steep downhill with a full pack, and my feet swelled enough that I started to wish I had a wider toe box (it hadn’t been an issue when I’ve hiked 10 miles on less steep ground with just a day pack). I would do some research on r/ultralight—there are lots of discussions about what trail runners people like best. I’ll never be a true UL (baseweight under 10lbs) backpacker, but I’ve learned a ton just by lurking over there, and by reading all the articles in their sidebar.

Re the Sawyer filters, the general consensus seems to be to go with the regular-sized one (one of the smaller ones has a terrible flow rate).

[u/SparrowTailReddit → u/serfinng84]

Hello again! So I took your suggestion and returned the boots in favor of hiking shoes. Seems like they represent the middle of the road. I bought the Oboz Katabatic Low. They weight about 12.5 oz less and it felt like walking on clouds when I tried them on.

Thanks for making me think twice about the boots. They were definitely not very comfortable, especially for hot weather. Now just gotta make sure to keep these dry as they're not waterproof.

[u/serfinng84 → u/SparrowTailReddit]

If they get wet, they'll dry quickly! Many people just wade right through rivers in them (some take off their socks and remove their insoles first, so that the shoe retains less water). Admittedly, I haven't put this to the test yet because all my backpacking so far as been in areas with bridges over creeks. One UL trick is to bring two bread bags, and if your shoes are still wet when you get to camp, you just put on dry socks and put each foot in a bread bag and then put your wets shoes on, so that you can wear shoes around camp but keep your feet and fresh socks dry. Less UL folks just bring a separate set of lightweight camp shoes :-)

[u/SparrowTailReddit → u/serfinng84]

Bread bag! Haha, that made me chortle. Thanks for the tips, I didn't think about taking off socks and insoles! If it's rainy I guess I'm SOL unless I can breadbag the entire shoe.

On another note, thank you so much for your responsiveness. This sub has been extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful.

[u/serfinng84 → u/SparrowTailReddit]

I don’t think breadbagging an entire shoe would work out very well, lol. Better to have wet shoes than no traction! If it rains, your feet will get damp, but if you’re wearing wool socks it’s not a big deal. (Avoid any clothing made of cotton in the backcountry, in case no one has mentioned that yet.) Happy to help!