Some thoughts on the backpack I used, my tent, and my sleep system.
My backpack
Zpacks Arc Blast 55L (22.5 oz) VERDICT: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This pack worked really well for me. It's virtually waterproof so I didn't need a pack cover. I found it to be comfortable and highly adjustable. The 42L main body was more than enough room for my gear and food. (I'll do a separate post on how I packed/arranged my gear in the pack.) The "arc" mechanism to allow airflow between one's back and the back of the pack took a little finagling but I was very happy with this feature. The only negative for me was the water bottle pockets on the side. I had a very difficult time reaching them with the pack on so I almost always had to take it off. And, if I used the skinny Smartwater bottles that everyone uses, they'd fall out when I bent over with the pack on. That's why I went with the Penta brand water bottles. They were wider, which cured that defect. But otherwise, with its outer mesh pockets for extra storage, its light weight, and its waterproofness, I was really, really happy with this pack. There are a lot of great backpacks out there, especially from cottage industry manufacturers (like Zpacks), but this one is worthy of consideration.
Nylofume liner bag (1.0 oz) (barely visible to the right of the pack) VERDICT: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I used this as a pack liner for extra protection from rain/moisture for my down sleeping quilt. I also put my down puffy jacket in it. While my pack was virtually waterproof, I didn't want to risk getting the down wet. This bag was an easy, lightweight solution.
My shelter and sleep system
Clockwise from L-R:
Tarptent Aeon Li Tent (16.4 oz) VERDICT: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Aeon Li is a new, one-person tent from this cottage industry tentmaker. Extremely lightweight at about a pound, it was relatively easy to set up. There was plenty of room in it for me and a few pieces of gear that I'd need during the night. Made of Dyneema Composite Fabric (which makes it an expensive tent), it's single-walled with a generous vestibule that was more than large enough for my pack and other gear. Even though it was single-walled, I didn't have any major issues with condensation.
TNH Outdoors Aluminum Tri-Beam Tent Stakes x8 (2.5 oz) VERDICT: N/A Mostly used the TNH ones with the notch at the top. Carried two extra but will only take one extra from now on. They worked well.
HammockGear Premium Burrow Quilt (wide) - 20 degree rating (19.6 oz) VERDICT: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I decided to go with a sleeping quilt instead of a sleeping bag for this trip (essentially the same thing except it doesn't have a zipper to close it up, thus making it a lighter option). This quilt was lightweight, warm, and compressed well. I stored it loose in the bottom of my pack in the pack liner bag. There were a few nights when it got to the 40s and I needed every bit of warmth this puppy could provide. It didn't disappoint.
NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad (15.0 oz) VERDICT: ⭐️⭐️1/2 One of my few disappointing pieces of gear. It kept me warm and insulated from the ground but was not nearly comfortable enough for a good night's rest. I sleep on my side and had to constantly turn over when the pain in my hip bone got bad enough. May have to go with an inflatable sleeping pad or bring a sitting pad to bolster that area of the pad where my hip lies. On the positive side, it was easy to set up and durable and I could use it as a sitting pad while cooking and hanging out.
Big Sky DreamSleeper UL Pillow (1.4 oz) VERDICT: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this pillow. I used my buff as a pillow case and found it really comfortable. I would usually place it on top of my Hyperlite pod (the storage case for my clothes and electronics) to give it a little more height.
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