A look at what’s in my pack for a recent Winter Backpacking Trip. Full Gear List is below.

Gear List:
(32lb Base + 7lbs Food & Water = 39lb Total Pack Weight)

EMS Long Trail 70 Backpack
Kelty Salida 2 Tent (3 season tent, not actually built for winter)
Zero Degree Down Sleeping Bag – Kelty Cosmic 0

Therm-a-rest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad
Klymit Inertia X-Frame Sleeping Pad
EMS Packable Pack – Used as pillow (but it’s really a stuffable daypack)

Nalgene 1 liter water bottle inside EMS insulated hip pouch.
Disposable 1 Liter Water Bottle kept in Pack
1 Liter Platypus Bladder for backup water storage

DeLorme PN-60 GPS
Paper Maps and Forest Service Print-Outs if available
Brunton Classic Compass

Layers of various synthetic clothing (worn plus spares):
(long underwear, short sleeve and longsleeve shirt, EMS fleece lined pants)
MontBell Ultralight Down Parka – 800FP
Water Proof Outer Layer – EMS Thunderhead Jacket and some cheapo synthetic track pants

Garmont GTX Snow Boots
Carhartt Sock Liners paired with EMS Mountaineering Socks
Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters
Kahtoola MICROspikes (ice traction for boots)
Alps All Terrain Snowshoes 25″ (make sure to get the right size for your total weight)
Swiss Gear Hiking Poles

EMS ‘Altitude’ Mittens with fleece inner gloves
Regular gloves, knit ski cap, balaclava etc.

‘Light My Fire’ Mini Fire Steel, waterproof matches, small lighter
PTEC Byte Headlamp & Preon 2 Penlight
Leatherman Squirt Multi-tool (2oz)
2 ReVive Solar ReStore chargers for video camera, phone, etc
Spare Batteries! (AA, AAA, cell phone)

Large trash bag, paracord, extra assorted zip-lock bags
Toiletries — TP, toothbrush, toothpaste
First Aid Kit — Bandages, antiseptic, ibuprofen etc
Chap stick
Duct Tape — wrapped around credit card
Superglue — Small single use tubes
Space Blanket

Tin Can Cookset
$8 Ultralight Canister Stove with small Jetboil 4 Season Mix Fuel canister
Light My Fire Spork
Meals and snacks for each day: Ramen Noodles, Mountain House Pro-Pak dehydrated dinner, jerky, trail bars etc.
Instant Coffee!