Wesley's Lightweight Backpacking Packing List

Here is my packing list for a 3-4 day backpacking trip.  I assume you are doing this in Sept where the weather starts to get cold but not freezing.  

Shelter, Sleep, & Pack
  • Lightweight Down Sleeping Bag (3 pounds or less, 15-20 degrees F), & Stuff Sack
  • Sleeping Pad (Thermarest NeoAir is awesome, 13 oz. for the Medium length!)
  • Thermarest Pillow Stuff Sack (thrown in a fleece or down jacket and you have instant pillow!)
  • Eyemask & ear plugs
  • 2-Person Tent (split poles & tent up with your backpacking buddy)
  • Backpack
Cooking and Camp Essentials
  • Stove & Fuel
  • Cooking Pot
  • Water Filter or other purification system.  Make sure it kills Giarda as that is nasty to get in your system
  • Hydration/Camelback Bag 
  • Nalgene Bottle
  • Microfiber Towel
  • Sierra Cup
  • Spork (or just a spoon, I prefer heat-resistant plastic as it won't damage your pots)
  • Biodegradable soap (for dishes, washing hands) and pot-cleaning pad/sponge
  • Backpacking Trowel & Toilet Paper
  • Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and whatever else you need in a small ziplock bag
Backpacking Essentials
  • First Aid Kit (bandages, moleskin, Advil, antiseptic, hydrocortosine for bug bites)
  • DEET-based insect repellent (30% DEET or higher)
  • Sunscreen
  • Knife (I used to bring a leatherman tool but it was way heavier than my knife)
  • LED Flashlight
  • LED Headlamp
  • Optional: Compact digital camera
Clothing
  • Backpacking pants (w/ zippers that can convert to shorts is super awesome)
  • (2x) Capilene, Coolmax, or DriFit T-shirt (w/ antimicrobial coating to keep nasty smell out!)
  • Long sleeve Capilene or Dri-fit base layer (both shirt & pants)
  • Fleece or lightweight down jacket (stuff in the thermarest sack to make a pillow!)
  • Gore-tex paclite shell jacket
  • (2x) Hiking socks
  • Optional: Swim trunks if you plan to camp near lakes and want to go for a swim
Food - whatever you need for the entire trip.  
  • Breakfast - Peaches & Creme instant oatmeal, one pack per day.  I also have one Cliff Power Gel Espresso Shot (has caffeine of 2 espresso shots!)
  • Lunch - Cliff bars, dried pineapple, beef jerky, salami, hard cheese, pita bread
  • Dinner - Freeze-dried backpacking food.  Buy at your local REI.